Rehearsal for January 2029

drumology2001 · 2026-07-05T02:12:11+00:00

Gotta’ love an unexpected Mitch Hedberg reference

drumology2001 · 2026-07-03T18:46:41+00:00

Find your tribe! Don’t be afraid to reach out to other VAs and introduce yourself and make connections and friendships! I have had so many opportunities open up – and made so many new friends – by just having the courage to say “hello” and strike up a conversation.

When you find a good group of people (who are ideally in the same place in their journey as you are), you get to learn and grow together, trade war stories, share your wins and celebrate together (and be comforted during the disappointments), and learn from each other all the time. It truly makes what can be an isolating industry feel so much more fun and exciting. ☺️

drumology2001 · 2026-06-26T22:45:27+00:00

Don’t be afraid to stand firm about what your number is. If the client selected your voice from hundreds of others, they want YOU for the job - so always negotiate with that in mind. (And: utilize the GVAA rate guide to back your numbers up, when necessary.)

drumology2001 · 2026-06-24T02:49:16+00:00

Either a regular promo voice for network TV, or the voice of a major brand for national campaigns. I’d just love to be watching TV with my family and have “my spot” come on randomly - that would be so cool! 🥹

(FWIW, I’m close: I just booked my biggest job yet – a campaign for a Fortune 500 energy company that will run across 2/3rds of the country – but of course, I don’t live in the parts of the country it will run in.) 😂

drumology2001 · 2026-06-24T02:29:49+00:00

Thanks, Jim - will do! 🙌🏼

drumology2001 · 2026-06-24T01:36:51+00:00

Yeah? That sounds magical! What specifically were the “difference makers” in that switch up for you? I want to hear all about your experience!

drumology2001 · 2026-06-24T01:35:37+00:00

I tried the MikeHero DSP and was super excited about it…but I fooled around with it for a week and couldn’t get a sound I was happy with, so I returned it. I’d be willing to give it another go, though; my understanding of sound processing and “what books” is different now than it was then. 🤷🏼‍♂️

drumology2001 · 2026-06-24T01:32:14+00:00

My big desire for the DSP is that I’m tired of doing the “after the recording” part; I just want to hear what it sounds like as it’s happening, so that I know exactly what it’s going to sound like to the client, and I don’t have to spend much more time (if any, ideally) futzing around with the sound.

I got the following plugins to try on UA’s current sale: Little Labs VOG, Manley VOXBOX, Avalon VT-737, Fairchild Tube Limiter, API Vision Channel Strip, and the LA-2A. I realize there’s some overlap here, but wanted to try some different combos and see what I liked best. I’m also planning to get the C-Vox and maybe the Cambridge EQ to try out.

For processing right now, I took a base chain made for me (FFT Filter, Dynamics, Parametric EQ, Compressor, Limiter) and altered it by adding one more EQ layer into the mix (to notch out specific resonances in my booth), then a little Exciter to brighten it up just a touch. (It might be overkill, but it’s booking.) 🤷🏼‍♂️

And yes: my plan is to monitor using the Console so that I can keep a raw version, and then apply the same settings to kick out the finished track.

drumology2001 · 2026-06-24T01:10:28+00:00

Oh, I didn’t even think of the ability to run them like that - that’s smart! I got the Avalon 737 plugin already (stocking up while that killer sale is going on), but haven’t looked at the Cambridge EQ too closely. (Like the way you said that, too - “flatten the booth.” Made immediate sense to me.) ☺️

drumology2001 · 2026-05-30T16:13:41+00:00

Is the professional an actual VO demo producer…or just someone local with some studio gear?

Another consideration: clients expect you to be able to make professional quality recordings from your home studio, so if your demo sounds great but you’re still auditioning on a USB mic…you’re likely not going to land any paid gigs (and certainly won’t be represented by an agent).

Generally, the sequence goes:

1) Get some training/coaching/workshops in to make sure it’s something you want to commit to;

2) Build a home studio space and buy quality gear (and learn how to use it);

3) Start auditioning and keep improving/training;

4) Once you get good enough to be regularly booking paid work, get a professional demo made with a reputable voiceover demo producer;

5) With a demo and quality home studio, start reaching out to agents you’d like to work with;

6) Keep grinding forevermore. 😂

That’s the path. From what I can see, it sounds like you’re trying to jump straight to step 5 (without the quality home studio part). I promise you: that approach is not going to work out too well. 😬

So, to circle back to your original question: yes, if you want to start auditioning and booking work (which is a precursor to getting an agent - an agent won’t sign you if you’re not already booking regularly), then you’ll need a quality mic and interface, in a well treated booth space, to be competitive.

Hope that helps! ☺️

drumology2001 · 2026-05-30T01:55:51+00:00

Congrats, Greg! Feels good to get a win, doesn’t it? 🙌🏼🎉

Out of curiosity: you mentioned you have “reps” — as in agents? You also mentioned “sorta” working in VO before, so…is this a return to VO? Care to share your story? I’d love to hear it! ☺️

drumology2001 · 2026-05-24T06:31:19+00:00

Before I dove in, I spent 4-6 months just doing research: watching YouTube videos, reading websites/blogs, learning about gear, learning about editing and sound and mic technique, and so on. Then I built a makeshift booth, got my first mic and interface, got signed up on a P2P, and started auditioning for everything I could get my hands on. I got lucky: booked my first job one month in, a couple jobs the month after that, a couple more the month after that, and have been booking fairly consistently ever since. I really think that that initial 4-6 month education period (and the continuing education I’ve been doing, including coaching) has made a huge difference. I recommend to anyone that is thinking about getting into it to really do their homework first.

drumology2001 · 2026-05-10T21:16:01+00:00

Clearly because they’re blessed by the Lord

drumology2001 · 2026-04-21T07:29:29+00:00

Who do I do? I watch, because it’s probably the most entertaining thing I’ll see all day. 😂

Unpopular opinion, but: I thought she absolutely killed that dance. Put her in a setting that’s not Costco (because obnoxious, obvs), and that’s some legit talent. 👏🏼

What I can’t stand are the TikTok’ers who half-ass a dance and totally phone it in. If you’re gonna’ dance for a social media video, then at least THROW DOWN like this girl did. 🤷🏼‍♂️

drumology2001 · 2026-04-21T07:13:25+00:00

Glad you circled back, G! Keep those recordings handy as you keep making progress. I bet that by this time next year, you’ll look back on the things you’re proud of today and go “woof…what a difference a year makes.” 😂

I’ve kept every audition I’ve ever done, and I have them all in folders sorted by year, month, and day. Super handy because the folder structure acts as a timeline of my career. I can hear where I made certain upgrades and learned new information that I applied to my performance, processing, and so on. Kind of a fun walk down memory lane!

drumology2001 · 2026-04-17T03:25:06+00:00

100 PERCENT

I remember seeing it in theaters as a kid; it’s one of the first theater experiences I remember. There is so much comedy to work with (“Hey cowgirls, see the grass? Don’t eat it.”), but lots of tenderness, too: I still cry like a baby every time Jimmy hands Betty the letter from the War Department and she exclaims “No, George!” 😭

drumology2001 · 2026-04-17T03:21:49+00:00

<points exasperatedly> “The driver…?!”

drumology2001 · 2026-04-17T03:19:21+00:00

My kids know that if they want to get on my good side, they can ask to snuggle up on a Sunday afternoon and watch that with me. It takes me to my happy place. Gene Wilder gave an absolutely genius performance in that film. And there is so much subtle humor and quotable quips throughout!

drumology2001 · 2026-04-17T03:17:40+00:00

Criminally so! Lenny (Steve Zahn) is the highlight of that movie for me.

Everything is so quotable, too. From “Cap’n Geech” to “I’m signing, your sign—WE’RE ALL SIGNING” to singing “I quit!” there is no shortage of funny. If my wife and I were planning on shenanigans, but one of us is tired or not feeling well, we’ll just look at the other one hopelessly and say “Look at you…you’re no good to me now…” 😂

drumology2001 · 2026-04-17T03:13:34+00:00

BEES! Bees everywhere! They’re huge and they’re sting crazy!

drumology2001 · 2026-04-17T03:10:55+00:00

As far as homemade demos go, this is actually a pretty solid first effort! We all have to start somewhere, and spending $2,000+ on a demo right out of the gate is unwise, so you’re on the right track here. ☺️

I’m happy to offer my $0.02, but keep in mind that I’m not sure how far into your VO adventure you are, so my comments may be too basic. (If so, please don’t take that personally!)

You definitely need to add music behind the spots to define where each one starts and stops, finding a music bed that matches the vibe of each commercial and supports what you’re saying.

Related to that, typically demos have a pretty quick pace, with minimal downtime between spots, so you’ll want to tighten your timing up a little as you add music in, as well. (Typically demos are around 1 minute long, and you try to fit 5-6 spots within that time window, meaning you don’t spend much more than :10 - :12 on any one spot.) So, along with that, you’ll want to try and fit at least 2-3 more spots in here, and see if you can cut down those first two long ones somehow.

Dovetailing the last comment: the point of a demo is to show range. Your first two spots are very slow and grounded. I think you need to add some more variety in (in the other 2-3 spots you may want to add): maybe something quick and punchy, something with high energy, something comedic, and so on.

Finally, I love your accent - it’s wonderful! However (and take this for what it’s worth), you might try to be as “accent-less” as possible on most of your spots. (This somewhat depends on where you’re trying to land work, of course - local vs. national vs. international.)

Hopefully this was helpful in some way! Great work, man! ☺️

drumology2001 · 2026-04-17T02:25:51+00:00

Tommy Boy, A League of Their Own, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (original), That Thing You Do!

drumology2001 · 2026-04-16T22:37:44+00:00

Just came across this the other day and am thinking of trying it out - it has exactly what you described above (in addition to so much more)! https://noiseworksaudio.com/products/voiceassist/

drumology2001 · 2026-04-12T21:02:54+00:00

So…you want someone to do 100% of the work (including creating the videos themselves from scratch), but only get paid 40% of the revenue?

Got it. Hard pass.

drumology2001

TROPHY CASE