I felt like the Energizer Bunny!

This week I had one of the most amazing experiences of my voiceover career: a 10-HOUR voiceover session.

Yep, 10 hours.

It was an ISDN session where I was in a studio in NJ and the client was at a studio in San Diego, CA.

I have to say that while it was the longest session I have ever had, it was also one of the most fun, rewarding and personally enriching experiences I’ve ever had. Because I now know that when it comes to long sessions…I can pretty much handle anything!

I thought I’d share a few tips I think might help you prepare for some of those long narration sessions you may have:

- Make a habit of drinking at least 8 glasses of room temperature water or herbal tea everyday. I am SURE that my voice would never have held up if my vocal chords/folds were not well pre-hydrated prior to the session. Remember: it takes at least 2 hours after you start drinking for that hydration to start having an affect. I drink tea throughout the day everyday.

- If you get the script ahead of time: READ IT! The worst thing you could do is walk into the session saying…”I have a few questions…..” when you’ve had the script for several days. Yes…this prep work IS part of the gig. Ask as many questions as you can before the actual session, as this will help keep the session moving once you’re in the studio. Nothing slows down a session like asking a question that needs a phone call to an outside person before being able to continue recording. Get those questions answered beforehand. Of course…if you don’t get the script…well then, prepare for a longer session! ;-)

- Supplies to bring to the session:
o At least TWO PENCILS with an ERASER. I say a pencil because every once in a while the client will say “cut this part out” and then change their minds. You want to be able to erase the line through the copy you just made! And two, because one pencil point might break!
o Tissues
o Room temperature water
o Herbal tea bags – one of my favorites: Twinings “Herbal Unwind”
o “Throat Coat” Tea bags – MY lifesaver!
o Bagels & Peanut Butter – Carbs & Protein!
o Granola Bars – My favorite? Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Honey
o Bananas

Yes, it may seem strange to walk into a session with a bag full of this stuff, but believe me, they come in handy!….You don’t want your stomach growling during a session, do you?

- Wear comfortable clothes
o Skintight jeans are not what you want to wear to a long session!
o A cotton shirt – remember polyester makes noise!

- Get friendly with the engineer so that they can help keep you in cups of tea throughout the session! :-)

- Keep a positive attitude! Long sessions are taxing on all concerned, but lets’ face it, would you rather spend ten hours in front of a mic or digging a ditch?

- Don’t be afraid to ask for breaks. If the session goes longer than two hours. Ask for a break at a point in the script that makes sense.

- If you “hit a wall” and start feeling tired, ask for a break, go to the restroom & do some jumping jacks, quick arm punches, anything that will get your body moving. It’ll get the blood flowing and re-energize you. Throw some cool water on your face…and then look in the mirror, smile and think about what an amazing gig this is! Walk back into the booth smiling!

- Remember, your job is to make the client’s job easier. If they want something said 3 different ways, then record it 3 different ways. The easier you are to work with, the better the chance you’ll have to get re-hired. No one likes to work with a prima donna!

- Have Fun! This is a great gig!

I have to say that I walked out my 10-hour VO session feeling amazing. I know that the client who was on a super-short deadline was happy to have gotten everything recorded, and I was thrilled to know that I could get this done. I felt like the Energizer Bunny® that kept voicing, and voicing, and voicing!

Yes, it was a long day, but I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else! I was in front of a mic, living my voiceover dream! I LOVE my job!

VO Cold Remedies - Take 3

My friend, and talented Voice Over artist Peter Drew posted yet more remedies that voice talent can use to help prevent or shorten the span of a cold.

Hope this helps!

"As we all know, there is still no cure for the common cold, but there are a
few things you can try to reduce a cold's severity.

• At the first sign of a cold, try Oregacillin from Physician's Strength. The
  active ingredient has been isolated from Greek oregano oil, which has been
  used for thousands of years to fight infections. A Johns Hopkins study showed
  that the active ingredient in Oregacillin kills viruses better than
  pharmaceutical antivirals. I use it and it does seem to prevent a cold from
  getting worse and cuts the time a cold hangs around.

• Try nasal irrigation and zinc. For more info on nasal irrigation, visit this
  site: http://www.ent-consult.com/#nose-and-sinusitis From what
  I've heard, zinc lozenges are much less effective than zinc ointment that is
  put inside the nostrils.

• Gargle with salt water. Recent research indicates that much of a cold's
  infection actually resides in your throat. Gargling with salt water can help
  clear out that infection. Over the counter cold products and decongestants
  dry up mucous production, which can actually prolong a cold because there is
  no mucous to carry away the infection and products of the body's immune
  response to the cold.

• If you're prone to catching colds, then a good defense is necessary. Penn
  Gilette of Penn and Teller fame says, since he went on the road with their
  act years ago, he's become a fanatical hand washer. He avoids shaking hands
  with people if he can and if he does shake hands with someone, he's very
  careful not to touch his face until he can wash his hands. He admits it
  sounds obsessive, but he can't afford a cold that will prevent him from
  working.

• On hand washing, stay away from the antibacterial hand sanitizers you can
  pick up at the supermarket or drug store. Most of them contain triclosan, an
  antibacterial that has been linked to creating more resistant bacteria, and
  they don't have enough alcohol to kill viruses, which actually cause a cold.
  The only hand sanitizers that kill enough bacteria and viruses to be of
  value are the ones containing 60 percent or more of alcohol. The best way to
  sanitize hands is simple soap and water. Work up a good lather and wash rub
  your hands for at least 20 seconds and then rinse. Clean under your
  fingernails while washing, too."

Thanks Peter!

Remember...these are just suggestions, go see your doctor if you feel you're getting sicker than usual. You know your body best!

More VO Remedies

An other great voice talent, Kitzie Stern wrote a great piece on her blog about more voice over remedies.

Read the readers comments too!

Thanks to my friend Bob Souer for pointing me in the direction of Kitzie's blog!

Here's to staying healthy!

I feel so much better now!

It has been a few days....OK over a week...since I've posted...so to all my thousands of readers I'm really sorry! ;-)

Sometimes life gets in the way of blogging, but I'm much better now & raring to go!...get ready!....she's baaaaaaaack!

So on that note of "feeling better."

As Voice Talent, one of the WORST things that can happen to you is to get a cold and/or sore throat. So we do all we can to prevent that from happening. But sometimes we just can't. So what can you do to at least shorten the duration, symptoms & effects of a cold so that you're not totally out for count & missing sessions?

Disclaimer: I am not a Doctor...(although I have played one in narrations!)

-When I first feel as if a cold is coming on, I hit my nose with ZICAM, it's a homeopathic remedy that really does work as long as you use it right at the start of any symptoms. You can find it at pretty much any grocery or drug store these days.

- Oscillococcinum (try & say THAT 10 times fast!) by Boiron: another homeopathic remedy that I have found helpful, as long as you take at the first sign of symptoms.

- Throat Coat & Herba Tussin Herbal Teas from Traditional Medicinals are great at keeping your throat soothed.

- A Neti Pot....OK to be blunt, this is a way to wash out your nasal passes with saline....it's not pretty, but it really helps keep your nasal passages clear. This is more a preventative measure, and I know several voice talents that swear by this little contraption. I have just started using one and it does seem to help.

- Vitamin C: The old standby. Studies are now suggesting that it may not be as effective in high doses as we once thought, but hey, you don't want to get scurvy, do you! ;-) I take it everyday, and add one capsule if I feel something coming on.

- Echinacea: This extract of the cornflower has also been said to help in the treatment of colds. Again, studies vary, but I have found it helpful.

- Entertainer's Secret: a throat spray that you can use if you have a scratchy/sore throat and you still need to record! It will help sooth your throat and make you sound less like you have...well...a frog in your throat! After the VOICE 2007 conference last year, many of us Voice Talents came back with what we have come to call "Vegas Voice" due to the dryness of that air, the smokey casino where the conference was held, and well, all the cheering we did! Entertainer's Secret helped a lot of get through he following week's recording work without making our clients wonder what had happened to the golden voices that thought they hired! ;-)

- Try to keep a positive attitude. I can tell you from personal experience that when you're down emotionally, it DOES affect your immune system and your body's ability to fight off colds. Try to be as positive as you can, or surround yourself with people who will support you as you're going through your "stuff."

So that's what I do! Again:
Disclaimer: I am not a Doctor!

Obviously if you are feeling sick for longer than is normal for you, go see a doctor! My husband, who rarely gets sick, got the flu last year, went to the doctor and was given Tamiflu right away which really helped....and then I did the same thing when I saw the synptoms coming on.

The key is to know your own body. If you feel something coming on, deal with it right away in whatever way feels comfortable for you, don't wait, that'll only prolong the discomfort!

Let me know if YOU have any tricks or tips to keep your voice healthy!

That's it for now! Here's to your health!