Real Talk with Kelly Wilson

Some thoughts on my new gear. This week on "Real Talk." I’m Kelly Wilson, this is “Real Talk”, A podcast about voice over: Working with them, hiring them, the stories inside AND outside of the booth. If you have questions you’d like for me to cover on this podcast, EMAIL ME: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com. If you hire voice actors, check out my demos: www.KellyWilsonVO.com If you need more VO’s for your roster, download my freebie, “5 Fantastic Voice Actors For Your Roster” and I will keep you in the loop on this podcast, voice over projects, and my studio book out dates:  https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Studio Book Out Dates: Friday, December 24 & 31, 2021. Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com Ratings and reviews are always appreciated and help me out a LOT! Hook up the stars!!! Don’t forget to subscribe and share this podcast with someone who will enjoy it. Check out the podcast, weekly everywhere, or direct at Anchor.FM/KellyWilsonVO .

Turnaround times...When do you really need it by? This week on "Real Talk." I’m Kelly Wilson, this is “Real Talk”, A podcast about voice over: Working with them, hiring them, the stories inside AND outside of the booth. If you have questions you’d like for me to cover on this podcast, EMAIL ME: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com. If you hire voice actors, check out my demos: www.KellyWilsonVO.com If you need more VO’s for your roster, download my freebie, “5 Fantastic Voice Actors For Your Roster” and I will keep you in the loop on this podcast, voice over projects, and my studio book out dates:  https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Studio Book Out Dates: Monday - Friday, November 22 - 26, 2021. Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com Ratings and reviews are always appreciated and help me out a LOT! Hook up the stars!!! Don’t forget to subscribe and share this podcast with someone who will enjoy it. Check out the podcast, weekly everywhere, or direct at Anchor.FM/KellyWilsonVO .

What's a voice actor to do when you work with a client who you just can't please...This week on "Real Talk." I’m Kelly Wilson, this is “Real Talk”, A podcast about voice over: Working with them, hiring them, the stories inside AND outside of the booth. If you have questions you’d like for me to cover on this podcast, EMAIL ME: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com. If you hire voice actors, check out my demos: www.KellyWilsonVO.com If you need more VO’s for your roster, download my freebie, “5 Fantastic Voice Actors For Your Roster” and I will keep you in the loop on this podcast, voice over projects, and my studio book out dates:  https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Studio Book Out Dates: Monday - Friday, November 22 - 26, 2021. Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com Ratings and reviews are always appreciated and help me out a LOT! Hook up the stars!!! Don’t forget to subscribe and share this podcast with someone who will enjoy it. Check out the podcast, weekly everywhere, or direct at Anchor.FM/KellyWilsonVO .

What's more important: better gear or better talent? I’m Kelly Wilson, this is “Real Talk”, A podcast about voice over: Working with them, hiring them, the stories inside AND outside of the booth. If you have questions you’d like for me to cover on this podcast, EMAIL ME: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com. So what is more important...better gear or better talent? I discuss this week on "Real Talk." If you hire voice actors, check out my demos: www.KellyWilsonVO.com If you need more VO’s for your roster, download my freebie, “5 Fantastic Voice Actors For Your Roster” and I will keep you in the loop on this podcast, voice over projects, and my studio book out dates:  https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Studio Book Out Dates: Thursday, November 11, 2021 & Monday - Friday, November 22 - 26, 2021. Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com Ratings and reviews are always appreciated and help me out a LOT! Hook up the stars!!! Don’t forget to subscribe and share this podcast with someone who will enjoy it. Check out the podcast, weekly everywhere, or direct at Anchor.FM/KellyWilsonVO .

I bought a bunch of equipment recently and I wanna talk about it. I’m Kelly Wilson, this is “Real Talk”, A podcast about voice over: Working with them, hiring them, the stories inside AND outside of the booth. If you have questions you’d like for me to cover on this podcast, EMAIL ME: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com. About a month ago I was sick, lost my voice, not fun, BUT I did do a LOT of YouTube research…and fine, I bought a bunch of equipment. And it finally arrived and I’ve been tinkering, testing, getting frustrated, then figuring it out. If you hire voice actors, check out my demos: www.KellyWilsonVO.com If you need more VO’s for your roster, download my freebie, “5 Fantastic Voice Actors For Your Roster” and I will keep you in the loop on this podcast, voice over projects, and my studio book out dates:  https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Studio Book Out Dates: Thursday, November 11, 2021 & Monday - Friday, November 22 - 26, 2021. Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com Ratings and reviews are always appreciated and help me out a LOT! Hook up the stars!!! Don’t forget to subscribe and share this podcast with someone who will enjoy it. Check out the podcast, weekly everywhere, or direct at Anchor.FM/KellyWilsonVO .

Backups calm me down! And I have 2 pairs of headphones now. I’m Kelly Wilson, this is “Real Talk”, A podcast about voice over: Working with them, hiring them, the stories inside AND outside of the booth. If you have questions you’d like for me to cover on this podcast, EMAIL ME: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com. Backups are good AND how I justify buying equipment to my spouse. ;-) If you hire voice actors, check out my demos: www.KellyWilsonVO.com If you need more VO’s for your roster, download my freebie, “5 Fantastic Voice Actors For Your Roster” and I will keep you in the loop on this podcast, voice over projects, and my studio book out dates:  https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Studio Book Out Dates: Thursday, November 11, 2021 & Monday - Friday, November 22 - 26, 2021. Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com Ratings and reviews are always appreciated and help me out a LOT! Hook up the stars!!! Don’t forget to subscribe and share this podcast with someone who will enjoy it. Check out the podcast, weekly everywhere, or direct at Anchor.FM/KellyWilsonVO .

The best clients pay fast or on-time. I’m Kelly Wilson, this is “Real Talk”, A podcast about voice over: Working with them, hiring them, the stories inside AND outside of the booth. If you have questions you’d like for me to cover on this podcast, EMAIL ME: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com. Do you ever notice that the best clients are just the best. They’re organized, they communicate, they pay early or at-least on-time, and they keep coming back for more! This works with other vendors I hire also. Recently, I had an arborist come and trim my trees at home and he rocked it! He showed up when he said he would, he did a fantastic job, AND he educated me and helped me better take care of my trees. Then, I paid him right then and there. I get it, everyone has a bad day, humans are NOT perfect, BUT the best clients are just good humans. That is all. If you hire voice actors, check out my demos: www.KellyWilsonVO.com If you need more VO’s for your roster, download my freebie, “5 Fantastic Voice Actors For Your Roster” and I will keep you in the loop on this podcast, voice over projects, and my studio book out dates:  https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Studio Book Out Dates: Thursday, November 11, 2021 & Monday - Friday, November 22 - 26, 2021. Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com Ratings and reviews are always appreciated and help me out a LOT! Hook up the stars!!! Don’t forget to subscribe and share this podcast with someone who will enjoy it. Check out the podcast, weekly everywhere, or direct at Anchor.FM/KellyWilsonVO .

What do you do when you’re sick?  I’m Kelly Wilson, this is “Real Talk”, A podcast about voice over: Working with them, hiring them, the stories inside AND outside of the booth. If you have questions you’d like for me to cover on this podcast, EMAIL ME: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com. What do you do when you’re sick? Hopefully you have great clients. Next, communicate, do your best, and optimize your time.  If you need to sleep, SLEEP! If you feel OK, maybe just resting your voice, BUT you need to do something….clean your studio/workspace, optimize your studio, upgrade your studio, or learn something on YouTube.  If you hire voice actors, check out my demos: www.KellyWilsonVO.com If you need more VO’s for your roster, download my freebie, “5 Fantastic Voice Actors For Your Roster” and I will keep you in the loop on this podcast, voice over projects, and my studio book out dates:  https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Studio Book Out Dates: Thursday, November 11, 2021 & Monday - Friday, November 22 - 26, 2021. Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com Ratings and reviews are always appreciated and help me out a LOT! Hook up the stars!!! Don’t forget to subscribe and share this podcast with someone who will enjoy it. Check out the podcast, weekly everywhere, or direct at Anchor.FM/KellyWilsonVO .

It’s Kelly Wilson with “Real Talk”, a podcast about voice over: Working with them, hiring them, the stories inside AND outside of the booth. Question for voice actors, have you ever heard this? “BUT all you do is read!” I was talking to a family member over the holiday weekend about voice over, what I do, what types of projects I work on, etc. Inevitably, they ask about money...I give them a range and they almost drop their hotdog and beer. THEN I heard it, “BUT all you do is read! You get paid that much for one hour of work?“  I just said yes, because that was easier, BUT it gave me an idea...for this podcast. For me, I don’t think about my hourly rate in terms of my time now...I think about it, in terms of...ALL the other stuff I did to get me to this exact moment...to this hour long directed session. From years of coaching, auditions, practicing, reading out loud, timing myself to reading for a specific time, singing classes, even karate helped me with focus and breathing. And so many other experiences….and they never stop. So, getting to this moment, to this rate, took a LOT of time, sweat, tears, AND hard work. Also, when it comes to my family and my business or my work, they don’t get it. And that’s ok. I think most creatives and freelancers get that. So if you ever hear: “BUT all you do is read! You get paid that much for one hour of work?“ If it’s family, just say, “yes.” If it’s a potential client, they probably need to know more about you. If you want to hear me in action, demos, studio specs, background, my story at www.KellyWilsonVO.com . Email me your questions: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com Check out my demos: www.KellyWilsonVO.com Download my freebie, “5 Fantastic Voice Actors For Your Roster”: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe  Studio Book Out Dates: Monday, October 11, 2021. Positive ratings and reviews are always appreciated and help me out a LOT! Hook up the stars!!! Don’t forget to subscribe and share this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kellywilsonvo

It’s Kelly Wilson with “Real Talk”, a podcast about voice over: Working with them, hiring them, the stories inside AND outside of the booth. This week I’m talking about something I do so quickly and automatically, I almost missed noticing myself doing it.  I’m talking about: stepping into character for REALLY dry copy. This can be used for any type of character work really, but I was reading some very dry copy yesterday and I did this, automatically. I’m talking dry copy about math, science, concepts I don’t honestly understand in real life, but I’m an actor, so I mask up. Here’s what I did yesterday without even prompting myself to do so: I step up to the mic and I imagine myself as a teacher (to adults), not in a school setting, but a corporate setting, teaching adults. So I’m this teacher, I’m wearing this constricting/conforming/uncomfortable business professional skirt/suit thing. I only describe it like this, because I hate wearing skirts. My hair is up and tight. I can smell hairspray, I know I have makeup on, but not too much. I’m actually wearing jewelry. Oh, I hate it. I’m uncomfortable, but the audience doesn’t see that. All they see is a smart, poised, confident teacher, who talks slowly enough so others can absorb these difficult concepts, BUT inflects her voice just enough to make sure certain points are highlighted and remembered. They see a confident consultant that they trust, like, understand, and respect.  Then, I walked out of my recording booth rocking ripped jeans, a Pikachu t-shirt, and mismatched fuzzy socks. I didn’t even realize I did this until later that night while showering...showering is the best place to get ideas. For me, I’ve always done stuff like this. I’ve always watched people, studied them, seen how others react to others. Social anxiety for the win!! Acting and singing classes have also helped me hone this skill. I think the big one though is I always ask for voice direction on a project, even if I look at the script and just know how to deliver it. For me, I ask about voice direction, because I want to know what the client wants AND because of different industries, different countries/regions, etc. I’m looking for micro notes...so I can make any micro tweaks needed during the read. Also, I’m learning...learning about that industry or client and feeding my internal database for future recording sessions. Email me your questions: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com Check out my demos: www.KellyWilsonVO.com Download my freebie, “5 Fantastic Voice Actors For Your Roster”: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Studio Book Out Dates: Monday, August 23, 2021. Positive ratings and reviews are always appreciated and help me out a LOT! Hook up the stars!!! Don’t forget to subscribe and share this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kellywilsonvo

It’s Kelly Wilson with “Real Talk”, a podcast about voice over: Working with them, hiring them, the stories inside AND outside of the booth. I always thought my weirdness was a personality trait, a quirk. However, in 2020, I learned some new things about myself. In 2020, I decided to get screened for ADHD. It’s something I always assumed I had, but wasn’t completely sure. WHY 2020? Well, it was a REALLY hard year...probably THEE hardest, even harder than the “Great Recession” in 2008...probably because I have kids now and a mortgage and MOM PANTS! Here’s the really annoying thing...When there is hardship, there is learning...lots of it. I was so stressed out in 2020, that I decided to find out if ADHD was a part of me. Why did I even care? Well, I was just so stressed, that I thought, let's find out if ADHD and stress are related, get diagnosed, get help, get less stressed, be a rock star voice actor swimming through piles of money while wearing MOM PANTS. Surprise, yes, I have ADHD: Combined Type (Hyperactive AND Inattentive). While I’m not yet swimming through piles of money (I keep it in the bank), I am moving in the right direction of better understanding who I am, why I do what I do, and how to do it better. So no, getting my ADHD diagnosis did not magically fix everything in my life, but like all of us, I’m a work in progress and I’m a million times less stressed out than I was a year ago. WINNING! Do I fall into those same unhealthy, lame-o habits that I have in the past? OH YEAH! BUT, not as much. So what does this have to do with voice over? I’m a business owner. I work for myself, out of my home office and home studio, sometimes with my children all around me, PURE chaos. Not everyone can do this: the skills needed, the drive, being scared and doing it anyway. I wanted a better understanding of myself, so I can eventually master my mental health. And THAT, helps me bring voice over to the next level. I’ll be honest with you, I was supposed to do this podcast topic a LOT sooner, but I chickened out. And I’m still scared. Scared that you’ll judge me for having ADHD. Scared that you’ll believe all the misinformation that is out there, But here I am. So I tell you all of this, to encourage you to get your mental health right. Have you been putting off being screened for something? Think a therapist will help? If you have the means or the people around you to help, it’s important enough...yes, even for business. Because everything impacts everything. Email me your questions: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com  Check out my demos: www.KellyWilsonVO.com  Download my freebie, “5 Fantastic Voice Actors For Your Roster”: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe  Studio Book Out Dates: Monday, August 23, 2021. Positive ratings and reviews are always appreciated and help me out a LOT! Hook up the stars!!! Don’t forget to subscribe and share this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kellywilsonvo 

Hey, it’s “Real Talk” with Kelly Wilson. I’m a voice actor based in Twin Falls, Idaho and I work with clients all over the world. Which is one of my favorite things, BUT communication is HARD...in general, BUT when you're a native English speaker and you work with a non-native English speaker, it can be VERY difficult. Before I get into this week’s topic, I’d love to know what you’d like for me to cover on this show. Comment on here (I do this live first with StreamYard on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter) OR email me: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com . Recently, I worked with a client in the middle east region. During this call, there were at least 3 other people on the call, all spoke English very well, BUT none were native English speakers...so, when they directed me, I had trouble understanding what they really meant. Let me paint the picture for you. I had one sentence to do...a short sentence...BUT it was a one hour session. I went in there thinking, I’ll bang this out in 15 minutes tops, done. FUN. NOPE. Ya know when you do a directed session and you can tell that you are NOT getting it...well, that’s what was happening. Finally, they played for me, a demo I did (don’t remember doing it) for a different script...They said that’s what they wanted...in my head I was like, OHHHHH OK, I get it. BOOM, I was able to give them what they wanted. I know better and I should have asked for this at the start of the session. My excuse, it was five AM my time (MTN) and I have a toddler and his sleeping is NOT good. I just wasn’t as alert as I usually am. No complaints here… it was great practice, I gave them that one line 21 different ways. They were very nice and a great learning experience for me. So if you’re having a hard time communicating with a non-native English speaker, just ask them for a sample of the type of voice or style, inflection, whatever they are looking for. It can be a sample you did yourself OR someone else….doesn’t matter. This works well with anyone really, but if you’re a non-native English speaker, there’s something about context and growing up here that helps with communication. Also, because they were not native-English speakers, I try to NOT talk too much during those calls, because I don’t want to confuse them and I tend to speak in non-concrete ways when it comes to voice over in the context of the creative side of it...in the art form of voicing. Which for a non-native English speaker, I’m always afraid that I will just confuse them and they won’t understand anything I’m talking about. Hope it’s helpful. Thanks for checking out “Real Talk”. Remember, I want to know what you want me to cover on this podcast, (You can comment on social media: I do this live first with StreamYard on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter) OR email me:  Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com . If you hire voice actors, check out my demos: www.KellyWilsonVO.com .   If you need more VO’s for your roster, download my freebie, “5 Fantastic Voice Actors For Your Roster” and I will keep you in the loop on this podcast, voice over projects, and my studio book out dates:  https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe . Studio Book Out Dates: Monday, August 23, 2021. Positive ratings and reviews are always appreciated and help me out a LOT! Hook up the stars!!! Don’t forget to subscribe and share this podcast.    Real Talk, a podcast about voice over, comes out weekly everywhere or direct: https://anchor.fm/kellywilsonvo . Have a great weekend, my family and I are going to the splash park today!!!!

What are you most excited about, right now?! Yesterday, I couldn’t have answered that question for you. That’s this week on Real Talk...a podcast about voice over and other stuff. What topic do you want me to cover on the podcast? Email me: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com So, what are YOU excited about? My point is: I need excitement and FUN in order for my brain to get motivated enough to do...anything. If that is NOT you, lucky! Knowing this about myself, understanding this about myself has been helpful. So if you’re not sure if this is you...think back to anything you have ever accomplished in your life. Why did you do it? What was the thing that got you out of bed? How did slug through the “I’m tired’s” and “I don’t wanna’s”... ? What was it? My last podcast episode was about leaving your usual surroundings for new inputs...taking a vacation is one way to do it, a walk, whatever you need. New inputs lead to new and fresh ideas, perspectives, and ways to solve old problems. And one thing leads to another…. Hence this podcast: Get excited about something! For me, I know that safety is an important value of mine. In this case, it was financial safety that I was looking back on. Over a decade ago, I moved here to Twin Falls, Idaho for a radio job...I was broke as a joke, in debt, starting my career. I discovered Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps. It took me about 3 years to become debt free: paid off the credit cards, student loans, I already owned my car outright. And I still loosely follow Dave Ramsey’s “Baby Steps.” Today, I checked in on those “Baby Steps” and I’m still debt free (except for my house), I have 6 months of expenses saved, and I’m working on increasing my monthly retirement savings. Wait…I thought you said you only do stuff that is fun and exciting to you?! How is following Dave Ramsey’s “Baby Steps” FUN to you?! I donno...it just is. Maybe it’s that safety and security value of mine? Maybe it’s the realization that when my car needs to be fixed, I just fix it. For me, having a strong foundation allows me to chill out more, worry less, and actually have more fun. So, what excites you, right now?! Figure it out, then loop it into your quarterly goals...that’s what helps me, hopefully it can help you too. Thanks for checking out “Real Talk” If you hire voice actors, check out my demos: www.KellyWilsonVO.com If you need more VO’s for your roster, download my freebie, “5 Fantastic Voice Actors For Your Roster” and I will keep you in the loop on this podcast, voice over projects, and my studio book out dates: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com Ratings and reviews are always appreciated and help me out a LOT! Hook up the stars!!! Don’t forget to subscribe and share this podcast with someone who will enjoy it. Check out the podcast, weekly everywhere, or direct: https://anchor.fm/kellywilsonvo

Changing your environment gives you new ideas. I work from home, my kids are here, the dog, the fish with the creepy eyes...always here, I like our snail...the dishes, the laundry, cooking dinners, the daily grind...Physically leaving this place is what I need to recharge my batteries. I don’t think I truly understood that about myself until about a month ago. Beginning of June, I took some unplanned time off. I attended a funeral in Florida. I’m from Florida, most of my family lives there. Myself and my kids flew to FL (flying alone with 2 kids sucks), (summer is a busy time for my husband, he’s a fish farmer, lots of fishes are making babies and such)... Anyway, I assumed after the funeral, my kids could get their grandparent time on...hit the pool...beach...Publix...Greek Food...NY Style Pizza….drink some local craft beer….Key Lime Pie...ya know...FL it up. So, we did some of that. The funeral was very sad, but it was nice to see my family, it was too long...plus sunshine and Florida rain is my favorite. However, during the trip, my kids, my parents, my brother, his wife and child...all got super sick! I did NOT get sick. Yay for hand washing and NOT sharing food or drinks EVER!!! So taking care of gross sick family members is NOT my idea of a vacation, but I did stay in Florida longer than expected, I did have some me time, some down time, reflection time, and I was removed from my office, my home, even the state of Idaho. I was in a different time zone for goodness sake. Eventually, everyone felt better, and we hit the pool again. During that down time: I listened to the local TV channels, paid attention to the commercials in between SpongeBob and LifeTime...I remembered that Bright House Networks is a thing…. So when I had a free moment, I looked up some of the people in the Tampa, FL area and said hello. I even had a random, real story to tell them about. For me, removing myself from my usual surroundings allows my brain to come up with new ideas. Heck, that experience helped me create this podcast. New inputs, new environments - They recharge my brain, give me new ideas, allow me to look at the same old problems in a different way. So if you need a new look at the same old problems, trying new inputs...try a vacation...like a real one though...and wash your hands. Speaking of real vacations, I’m taking one: July - I’m going to Yellowstone with my family! Get a heads up on my studio book out dates, join my email community at: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe  Hey, if you have a question you’d like for me to cover here on the podcast, ask me: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you hire voice actors, check out my demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Ratings and reviews are always appreciated and help me out a LOT! Hook up the stars!!! Don’t forget to subscribe and share this podcast with someone who will enjoy it. Check out the podcast, weekly everywhere, or direct: https://anchor.fm/kellywilsonvo 

Its voice actor Kelly Wilson. On this week’s episode of “Real Talk”... “How I handle changes AFTER a project has been negotiated.” Got a question? Email me and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com First up, before going into a project, I like to know what’s coming my way: The script, who the client is, the voice direction, the rate, the usage, planned revisions AFTER audio is delivered, directed session or NOT… I want to know what I’m getting myself into AND I want to understand how to best deliver for my client. However, sometimes things change...what do you do? First off, I try to plan for everything, which isn’t possible, but with each new experience, I think about how I can better prep for that next time. If you hire voice actors, check out my demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/ If you need more VO’s for your roster, download my freebie, “5 Fantastic Voice Actors For Your Roster”: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com Ratings and reviews are always appreciated and help me out a LOT! Hook up the stars!!! Don’t forget to subscribe and share this podcast with someone who will enjoy it. Check out the podcast, weekly everywhere, or direct at: https://anchor.fm/kellywilsonvo

Its voice actor Kelly Wilson. On this week’s episode of “Real Talk”... “Why I Tell My Clients About Other Great Voice Actors” Got a question? Email me and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com Why I Tell My Clients About Other Great Voice Actors?? Because it is a plentiful world, karma is real, sales is about taking care of your clients….even if you don’t financially benefit each time, AND I’m not the right fit for every project, so referring another voice actor to your client is not only helpful, but it’s the right thing to do. So, that’s why. Here’s an example, I took some time off recently for a trip back home to Florida and during that trip I had a client who was looking for a younger sounding male voice for a cartoon-type voice. I shared some names with my client and whadda ya know...that exact same client hired me earlier this week for a different project. I prefer to work collaboratively...it’s fun...and I get to work with cool, talented people...I dig that. That’s why I tell my clients about other great voice actors. Speaking of sharing other great voice actors, you can download my freebie: “5 Fantastic Voice Actors For Your Roster” at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe If you hire voice actors, check out my demos at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com Ratings and reviews are always appreciated and help me out a LOT! Hook up the stars!!! Don’t forget to subscribe and share this podcast with someone who will enjoy it. Check out the podcast, weekly everywhere, or direct at https://anchor.fm/kellywilsonvo 

Its voice actor Kelly Wilson. On this week’s episode of “Real Talk”... “Project Credits."  Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk.” If you hire voice actors, subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe  Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thank you!

Its voice actor Kelly Wilson. On this week’s episode of “Real Talk”... “Math is hard. Accountants rock!"  Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk.” If you hire voice actors, subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe  Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thank you!

Its voice actor Kelly Wilson. On this week’s episode of “Real Talk”... “Mommy guilt is real. Real lame."  Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk.” If you hire voice actors, subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe  Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thank you!

Its voice actor Kelly Wilson. On this week’s episode of “Real Talk”... “Always Have A Business Card On You. Always."  Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk.” If you hire voice actors, subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe  Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thank you!

Its voice actor Kelly Wilson. On this week’s episode of “Real Talk”... “Why you should seek out state college advisory councils." Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk.” If you hire voice actors, subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe  Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thank you! 

Its voice actor Kelly Wilson. On this week’s episode of “Real Talk”... “Perfection is Slooooow.” Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk.” If you hire voice actors, subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe  Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thank you! 

Its voice actor Kelly Wilson. On this week’s episode of “Real Talk”... “How I Roll During a Voice Over Directed Session.” Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk.” If you hire voice actors, subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe  Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thank you!

Sometimes its NOT all about voice over. What if the thing you need to work on is NOT directly related to voice over? BUT still impacts it?? Today’s Topic: Sometimes its NOT all about voice over. Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk.” If you hire voice actors, subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe  Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thank you!

THE most asked question...I answer it. Well, this is how I did it.  Today’s Topic: How Can I Break Into Voice Acting?  Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk.” If you hire voice actors, subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe  Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thank you!

The Ides of March 2020 was no joke, worldwide. My structure shattered. One year later, I survived. Thankful for it. 2020 was more challenging than the Great Recession. It was the most difficult year I have faced so far in my life. As I reflect on the past year, the same theme keeps popping up. In 2020, I said "no", a lot. Today’s Topic: Lots of "No's" in 2020. Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk.”  If you hire voice actors, subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe​​  Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/​​    Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thank you!

Hi, I’m Kelly Wilson, a voice actor based in Twin Falls, Idaho, check out my story at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/ and this is my podcast, "Real Talk." Today’s Topic: Here's how I voice match myself when there is a line pickup from a REALLY long time ago.  Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk.” If you hire voice actors, subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thank you!

Hi, I’m Kelly Wilson, a voice actor based in Twin Falls, Idaho, check out my story at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/ and this is my podcast, "Real Talk." Today’s Topic: My client's ROCK, but...they won't be at my funeral.  Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk.” If you hire voice actors, subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thank you!

Hi, I’m Kelly Wilson, a voice actor based in Twin Falls, Idaho, check out my story at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/ and this is my podcast, "Real Talk." Today’s Topic: Understanding your client's needs, only helps them.   Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk.” If you hire voice actors, subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thank you!

Hi, I’m Kelly Wilson, a voice actor based in Twin Falls, Idaho, check out my story at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/ and this is my podcast, "Real Talk." Today’s Topic: Sometimes I forget my own talents.  Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk.” If you hire voice actors, subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thank you!

Hi, I’m Kelly Wilson, a voice actor based in Twin Falls, Idaho, check out my story at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/ and this is my podcast, "Real Talk." Today’s Topic: Client feedback and how to receive it.  Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk.” If you hire voice actors, subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thank you!

Hi, I’m Kelly Wilson, a voice actor based in Twin Falls, Idaho, check out my story at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/ and this is my podcast, "Real Talk." Today’s Topic: Why I watch the commercials.  Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk.” If you hire voice actors, subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thank you!

Hi, I’m Kelly Wilson, a voice actor based in Twin Falls, Idaho, check out my story at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/ and this is my podcast, "Real Talk." Today’s Topic: Learning how to portray a REALLY good teacher to children vicariously through my son's virtual first grade teacher. Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk.” If you hire voice actors, subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thank you!

Hi, I’m Kelly Wilson, a voice actor based in Twin Falls, Idaho, check out my story at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/ and this is my podcast, "Real Talk." Today’s Topic: The highlight of my day...as a voice actor (and a proud parent moment).  Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk.” If you hire voice actors, subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thank you!

Hi, I’m Kelly Wilson, a voice actor based in Twin Falls, Idaho, check out my story at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/ and this is my podcast, "Real Talk." Today’s Topic: What a normal week looks like for me...as a voice actor, content creator, business owner, mom, virtual homeschool teacher... Got a question for me? Email me your question and maybe I can cover it here on the podcast: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk.” If you hire voice actors, subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thanks and Happy New Year! 

Hi, I’m Kelly Wilson, a voice actor, mom, mismatch sock wearer, a real person with a real voice, based in Twin Falls, Idaho, check out my story at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  And this is my podcast, "Real Talk." Today’s Topic: When sweet validation hits...when someone you really look up to calls you a professional. If you have a question you would like me for me to cover on this podcast OR if you want to interview me for your podcast, email me: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk.” And if you hire voice actors, you can Subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thank you.

Hi, I’m Kelly Wilson, a voice actor, mom, mismatch sock wearer, a real person with a real voice, based in Twin Falls, Idaho, check out my story at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  And this is my podcast, "Real Talk." Today’s Topic: Goal setting....90 Day goals instead of one year goals.  If you have a question you would like me for me to cover on this podcast OR if you want to interview me for your podcast, email me: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk.” And if you hire voice actors, you can Subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thank you. 

Hi, I’m Kelly Wilson, a voice actor, mom, mismatch sock wearer, a real person with a real voice, based in Twin Falls, Idaho, check out my story at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/ . This is my podcast, "Real Talk." Today’s Topic: Figuring out if you’re actually afraid of something REAL or fake. I have night terrors and they tend to come on when I’m really stressed out. I call them my reoccurring spider dream. I probably had those night terrors about once a week from March till May of 2020. It was a stressful year, no question, BUT if you're frozen in fear, here's what worked for me...and I hope it will help you out too. If you have a question you would like me for me to cover on this podcast OR if you want to interview me for your podcast, email me: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe to my podcast “Real Talk”, available everywhere you can hear podcasts: https://anchor.fm/kellywilsonvo  Hire voice actors? Subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/ Rate, review, share, and tell a friend. Thank you.

Today’s Topic: Did you know that kid snacks and a voice over directed session are intertwined? They are for me. Hi, I’m Kelly Wilson, a voice actor, mom, mismatch sock wearer, a real person with a real voice, based in Twin Falls, Idaho, check out my story at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com. This is my podcast, "Real Talk". If I’m going to be hired for a directed session, just know that I take it seriously. Here’s how I prepare for a directed session...and yes, kid snacks are included.  If you have a question you would like me for me to cover on this podcast OR if you want to interview me for your podcast, email me: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe, rate, review, and share my podcast “Real Talk” with a friend! Available everywhere you can hear podcasts: https://anchor.fm/kellywilsonvo  If you hire voice actors, you can subscribe to my email community at: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe  Listen to my demos at: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/ 

This week on the podcast: I’m talking about that as a voice actor, I understand that when you are hired for a project, YES, you need the goods, you need to deliver, but FIRST… You need to take complete ownership of your client’s project, because if you are hired by someone, that means, that YOU have been trusted to be part of THEIR team and you better BRING IT. If you have a question you would like for me to cover on the show, email questions to Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com .   If you hire voice actors, subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe  Demos here: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com  Audio Podcast: https://anchor.fm/kellywilsonvo

Talking about myself feels like bragging, but the truth is people are SO BUSY, in their own heads about their own problems and never remember what you can do, because they’re too busy worrying about their thing….so, it's good to tell people about how you can help them. Here are some ways I can help: I have a varied background, which means various experiences and that is very good for voice over. I like to set expectations and boundaries when I work with someone new.  I voice out of my professional recording studio (which is still so cool that I have one in my house...I'm still stoked about that! I was put on this Earth to be a voice actor (and annoy my husband), so I take it seriously (both things). I prefer being an "artist" and a performer, but I can Type-A it up as well.  I can sound like a little kid, usually I get typecast as a little boy voice, that's actually how I started in voice over, as a cartoon boy voice. I have even sang as the little boy voice for a couple of children's eLearnings.  If you need a voice that is NOT like mine, please ask, I can always refer you or ask around for leads.  I’m sure I will think of more to add here, but that’s what people should know before working with me. Join my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe  Demos: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/  Rate, review, share, tell a friend, hug yourself, take nap, be well.

And now to complain about my son… He spends more time complaining about all the work he has to do, instead of just focusing on one problem at a time. He gets overwhelmed easily by the work. He gets frustrated when he does not get the answer correct on the first try. He doesn’t want to practice boring things like math and reading and those building block activities. He tries to just power through and not take breaks so he can finish all his work quickly, but then since he didn’t take a break, he can ’t focus. Watching him do these things made me think about voice over…naturally. When I try something new, a new voice over genre, a new way to approach a script, a new audio editing software plugin…well, if I don’t get it 100% right on the first try, I get really frustrated with myself. Sometimes I don’t want to practice the little things that add up to big things after doing them day in and day out. I spend a lot of my day trying to convince my son that he won’t get it all right the first time and possibly not the fiftieth time, but if he keeps on trying, he will get better. He will get his practice reps in, he will learn, he will sharpen his skills, he will get faster, better, strong, smarter. This is the work. The grind. This is what living the dream is. Now get to work.

Today’s Topic: I hate myself as much as the next guy…. Here’s the truth…Most of the time, I think ONLY about my faults, the bad stuff, the things I mess up, I nitpick myself, I troll myself. Sometimes out loud and sometimes just in my own head. If you only knew the horrid things I think about myself. And I fully understand that it’s all a lie. Sometimes it feels VERY real, but it’s all a lie. Also, I know that other people hate on themselves also. I think everyone is worried about themselves, their “not enough-ness.” THEN, if someone hates on ME, for example, I fully understand that the person who shared the hate was either giving valuable feedback or just having a bad day, overtired, or just hurt themselves. Hurt people, hurt people…right?! My whole point of this podcast is: I’m an actor, so I will act like I love myself till I can actually love myself. OK now back to this visibility thing: Most social media platforms are set up to throttle your content unless it is consistent, engaging, and good. So, if you are afraid of putting yourself out there for fear that your content will…well suck. It probably will at first, but guess what? Not many people will see it. So problem solved. Get out there, get visible, and you will get better. By the time you do get better, you will be more visible. Also, if your crazy aunt sees your content and gives you lip…if she ain’t buying, then you ain’t listening. If one person listens to this podcast and just starts their journey in getting more visible in their business, I will call that a success. Also, if one person listens to this podcasts and hires me or send me an audition opportunity, I will also call that a success. :-) My last piece of advice: Sleep…it heals the brain, allows you to be rational, and recharges you. Get some sleep. Finally, surround yourself with good people. You see, my best friend and I had a falling out a couple of years ago and I currently don’t have a best friend, so I have to do that best friending myself example I did. So do that if you need to too. If you’re liking what I’m doing here, subscribe, rate, review, and share this podcast with someone who will find it useful.  If you hire voice actors, subscribe to my email community: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe Demos here: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com 

Welcome to Real Talk. I'm Kelly Wilson. I'm a voice actor for commercials, eLearning, politicals, explainers, medical narration, corporate training, IVR, children's content, commercials, and a whole lot more. Hear my demos at www.KellyWilsonVO.com or subscribe at www.KellyWilsonVO.com/Subscribe Today's Topic: Don't work with meany butts I have kids so I’m training myself to not say potty words. I have some great clients, but it wasn’t always this way.  I am thankful for all the meany butts that I have worked with, because they taught me what I don't like. I am a BIG believer in attracting your tribe and when you do attract those you do NOT want to work with, it is a lovely test from the universe saying, "are you sure?" It has taken me a LOT of learning to get here and sometimes I still need to learn this lesson, but most of the time, I just don't work with meany butts. :-)  Thanks for listening to “Real Talk” with Kelly Wilson, voice actor for commercials, eLearning, narration, explainers, training videos, children’s content, political commercials, and more. Hear me in action at my website: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/ For more “Real Talk”, subscribe, like, share, rate, review...show me some love! Stay Connected: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe

Welcome to Real Talk. I'm Kelly Wilson. I'm a voice actor for commercials, eLearning, politicals, explainers, medical narration, corporate training, IVR, children's content, commercials, and a whole lot more. Hear my demos at www.KellyWilsonVO.com or subscribe at www.KellyWilsonVO.com/Subscribe Today's Topic: Educating your client about the process Sometimes my job as a voice actor is NOT to voice, but it is, my job is to educate my client and/or my client's client how I roll. How voice over works. The process. How long it takes. What I need. What I don't need. What they need.  Sometimes the job is to educate the client about the world of production and voice over.  Thanks for listening to “Real Talk” with Kelly Wilson, voice actor for commercials, eLearning, narration, explainers, training videos, children’s content, political commercials, and more. Hear me in action at my website: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/ For more “Real Talk”, subscribe, like, share, rate, review...show me some love! Stay Connected: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe

Welcome to Real Talk. I'm Kelly Wilson. I'm a voice actor for commercials, eLearning, politicals, explainers, medical narration, corporate training, IVR, children's content, commercials, and a whole lot more. Hear my demos at www.KellyWilsonVO.com or subscribe at www.KellyWilsonVO.com/Subscribe Today's topic: This is how I use LinkedIn to network as a voice actor 1 - Optimize your profile. Make it easily searchable with keywords that describe you. Keep it up-to-date. 2 - Search for people you want to work with using the LinkedIn search tool. 3 - Connect with people you want to work with. 4 - Once they have added you back, message them and say hello. DON’T sell them anything, please god! Sure LinkedIn is for networking, but who wants to get hit on as soon as they walk into da club? No one! It’s annoying and a HUGE turn off. I hardly ever sell to anyone. We all know what we are doing there. I see it this way, I know what I offer, so it’s my job to get in front of people who can use my services and remind them I exist. (In a non-annoying way.) Find people you want to work with, then cultivate a real relationship with them, then follow up with them, forever. :-) 5 - Post at least twice per day on LinkedIn...as in you write social media posts at least twice per day. Make those posts something your ideal client would actually want to read. Experiment here. You will get better. More ideas will come to you the more you create content and actually talk to your ideal clients. 6 - Sign up for LinkedIn Live and then actually use it. Again, experiment with this. Create lives your ideal clients would actually want to watch or talk about your process. Again, you will get better the more you do these and you will get more ideas the more you do them. That’s how I do it. Thanks for listening to “Real Talk” with Kelly Wilson, voice actor for commercials, eLearning, narration, explainers, training videos, children’s content, political commercials, and more. Hear me in action at my website: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/ For more “Real Talk”, subscribe, like, share, rate, review...show me some love! Stay Connected: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe

Welcome to Real Talk. I'm Kelly Wilson. I'm a voice actor for commercials, eLearning, politicals, explainers, medical narration, corporate training, IVR, children's content, commercials, and a whole lot more. Hear my demos at www.KellyWilsonVO.com or subscribe at www.KellyWilsonVO.com/Subscribe Today's topic: A former colleague emailed me and asked me to pick my brain for advice about voice over. I'm at the point where I don't always have time for that kind of stuff, so I am answering it here on today’s podcast. He's looking for tips, advice, good places to start for someone looking to begin a career in voice acting. He is currently a videographer, so he has experience with production and knows that world. He says he's got a quality microphone set up. And he's got a small, soundproof closet situation happening that he can record in, and he has no idea where to go from here. It all seems fairly daunting. Dude, well put, yes, it's overwhelming for sure. My three pillars of advice are always this: 1 - Get training, get a VoiceOver Performance coach, never stop coaching. Check out https://rhondasvoice.com/ . She is a fantastic coach, voice actor, and human. 2 - Get a professional demo or demos. Once your coach clears you to record a demo, THEN do it. Beware of demo farms. Listen to your gut and get a couple of different opinions. 3 - Market your butt off! These three things are A LOT! I highly recommend only setting 90 day goals. Check these out, I highly recommend: https://12weekyear.com/ https://www.90dayyear.com/ (I REALLY like this one!) So pick one thing, if you are just starting out, pick the first one and start with a coach. Only work on one project at a time, ONLY THEN move on to the next project. As for your home studio…does it sound like a professional, studio grade recording studio? Get it checked by the best: http://www.georgethe.tech/ Also, invest in BASS TRAPS: https://youtu.be/41liBn-QNW4 Next, go down the YouTube rabbit hole of voice over: Check out Bill Dewees, Booth Junkie, Gabby Nistico, & Lisa Biggs (there are more!).  It’s a lot, but I hope this will help those who are interested in starting the path of voice over. Thanks for listening to “Real Talk” with Kelly Wilson, voice actor for commercials, eLearning, narration, explainers, training videos, children’s content, political commercials, and more. Hear me in action at my website: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/ For more “Real Talk”, subscribe, like, share, rate, review...show me some love! Real Talk Podcast Real Talk YouTube Channel Stay Connected: https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe

My name is Kelly Wilson, This is “Real Talk” where I talk about voice over. I am a voice actor for commercials, elearning, explainer videos, medical narration, trainings, children’s content, and more.  You can find out more about me at KellyWilsonVO.com and if you want to score my freebie, 5 fantastic voice actors to add to your roster, then go to www.KellyWilsonVO.com/Subscribe and get it.  Yes, one of those VOs are me.   Why taking singing lessons was THE BEST thing for my voice over career.  5 years ago, I took my first singing lesson.   Local community college.  Saved money.    Time. This was one hour each week with a professional opera singer…one - on - one time.    Uncomfortable. This was HARD!!!!    Practice…I had to practice EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.    Pressure. I was supposed to do a live singing performance at the end of the semester.    Performance.  Just like in a live directed session, I was going to have to perform on stage for actual humans.    Mind, Body, Voice Connection. Singing every day allowed me to figure out what my body is doing, so then my voice would be able to follow. How I stood, what I did with my body, where my voice was coming from in relation to how it sounded. I use all of that TODAY in voice over.    Confidence. My singing teacher told me, out of the blue, that my voice is unique and it’s full/robust/and some other words that I can’t remember, but I remember feeling surprised and delighted when he said that. THEN, I was able to hear how amazing sauce my own voice was too.   Singing lessons gave me a LOT of tools in my voice over tool box that I continue to use today, it went over a full semester, which means the learning stuck, and it was fun and affordable.    I’m Kelly Wilson….I am a voice actor for commercials, elearning, explainer videos, medical narration, trainings, children’s content, and more.  You can find out more about me at KellyWilsonVO.com and if you want to score my freebie, 5 fantastic voice actors to add to your roster, then go to www.KellyWilsonVO.com/Subscribe and get it.  Yes, one of those VOs is me.  Subscribe/rate/review/follow/ALL THE THINGS!!! so you can check out the next episode AND never miss out on what I’m putting out into the world.   If you have a question you would like for me to cover on here, please pop them in the comments or email me Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com   This has been “Real Talk” where I talk about voice over.    Have a fantastic day and I hope you found this helpful…Remember…Fill your cup first, THEN you can actually help others.    Later.

When someone says, “You should do THIS!”  AHHHHHH! NOOOOO!   I love listening to tips, tricks, and trainings, and then cherry pick the things that work best for me…Do you do this?   I explain more on this week’s podcast episode of “Real Talk.”  For more Real Talk with Kelly Wilson, join my email community at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe and receive my free gift of 5 voice actors to add to your voice over roster, including myself.

Getting into character is well, what you do as a voice actor...you're an actor. Sometimes dressing the part helps.  For more Real Talk with Kelly Wilson, join my email community at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe and receive my free gift of 5 voice actors to add to your voice over roster, including myself.  For more Real Talk with Kelly Wilson, join my email community at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe and receive my free gift of 5 voice actors to add to your voice over roster, including myself.

My life is all mixed up. As in my children are at home with me while I work. I do have quiet times to record my voice over projects, but when that is NOT happening, they are being children and children are loud. I found myself apologizing for my children…as if…how dare I have them. Saying that out loud sounds ridiculous. Now with this pandemic, everyone’s lives are all smushed together. This is how it is. This IS the new normal.  For more Real Talk with Kelly Wilson, join my email community at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe and receive my free gift of 5 voice actors to add to your voice over roster, including myself.

Did you live and work through the last recession? The Great Recession? I did and so much good came out of so much pain. Now in this recession, I know more learning and growth are to come.    For more Real Talk with Kelly Wilson, join my email community at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe and receive my free gift of 5 voice actors to add to your voice over roster, including myself.

Have you ever engaged with someone, then the moment passes, and you replay that full conversation in your head, only you recreate it in the perfect way you can best imagine? That’s how I see voice over. Full control over the conversation, images, story, end result, the win, the loss, everything. For a moment, you are a movie director and you create the reality. For more Real Talk with Kelly Wilson, join my email community at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe and receive my free gift of 5 voice actors to add to your voice over roster, including myself.

Six months into a pandemic and both my children are home with me now, I work during naps, early morning, late night, and when they're distracted. It's hard to think I am making it work. I am. Voice over has been a saving grace...like a comfortable pair of jeans I can slip right into VO. As for mom life, that's a hot mess though, but I'm doing what I love to do with the people I love.  Talking about the messiness of it all and honoring it and embracing it. Bring it on.  For more Real Talk with Kelly Wilson, join my email community at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe and receive my free gift of 5 voice actors to add to your voice over roster, including myself.

Hey, I’m Kelly Wilson and I am a voice actor, however, when I worked in previous jobs in corporate settings, I have hired and worked with other voice actors. The hardest part about hiring the voice actor, I found, was convincing my colleagues that a quality, professional voice actor was worth it. The BEST way I found to do this, was one of two ways: 1 - Give up. Yup, some people will never be convinced and you can better spend your time elsewhere.  2 - Let them hear it. Make a spec ad with a professional voice actor and play the old project next to the professional project. Let them hear the difference between the two.  For more Real Talk with Kelly Wilson, join my email community at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe and receive my free gift of 5 voice actors to add to your voice over roster, including myself.

The next time you walk through a store or your own home and you hear a child speak, it sounds different right? Does it stick out more? It does for me. So, if you can, get a real kid when you are casting voices for a child part. Real kids sound…real. BUT real kids are real unpredictable. So let’s say you want an adult who can sound like a kid, because maybe it’s more of a cartoon character instead of an authentic kid. Many women can sound like little boy voices, hello Bart Simpson. I can do a crazy, mixed up squirrel voice myself. Really no difference here in hiring a voice like this. If you work with a usual voice actor anyway, ask them if they can provide the voice, you never know…but also ask them if they can refer anyone. If they know someone who would fit the project, they will be able to quickly connect you to someone in their own network. So let’s say you want an adult who can sound like a kid, because maybe it’s more of a cartoon character instead of an authentic kid.Many women can sound like little boy voices, hello Bart Simpson. I can do a crazy, mixed up squirrel voice myself. For more Real Talk with Kelly Wilson, join my email community at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe and receive my free gift of 5 voice actors to add to your voice over roster, including myself.

So what if you DON’T want to direct a voice actor, but you do want some multiple takes? Just ask for it. Whoever you hire for voice over, just communicate what you want to the voice actor. Here’s what I usually do, depending on the length of the script, for example, if it is short and I don’t want to direct them, I do this: I tell them about the brand, the video, who they are playing and who they are specifically talking to. Then, I will ask for three takes. The first two are variations on how I want it done. The last take I ask them to just give me a version they prefer or they think how it should sound. Don't want to direct the talent? No problem. Just tell them what you want.  For more Real Talk with Kelly Wilson, join my email community at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe and receive my free gift of 5 voice actors to add to your voice over roster, including myself.

When I was a kid, I did this science project with playing cards and we tested people’s memory recall. We learned that people remembered the cards far more often when we showed them the playing card and said the playing card type aloud to them. I’m reminded about this experiment anytime I’m working on an eLearning project. So when you are hiring a voice actor for a project where recall and/or learning is required, you will want to make sure they slow down so the viewer can fully comprehend the content. For eLearning, I find it helpful to bring the voice actor into your project. If you have a scratch track or previous versions of your project, show it to them. Let the voice actor know how the voice over and the video will come together. For example, will the final project live inside a Learning Management System (LMS)?  Remember, you are the project creator…you are the parents. Think of the voice actor as the cool aunt or uncle. While the project is your baby, bring the voice actor into your world, so they can take care of your baby, but also livin’ it up, bring it to life, and possibly sugar it up and spoil it. For more Real Talk with Kelly Wilson, join my email community at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe and receive my free gift of 5 voice actors to add to your voice over roster, including myself.

Should you use a male or a female voice? Now we could go on this long rabbit hole of branding, BUT skip all that. Now ask yourself about the end user. Who are you talking to in your project?  NEXT, who does the end user need to talk to in order to have the outcome you want. NOT, who do they want to talk to, but WHO DO THEY NEED to talk to. For example, when I ask my husband if he likes what I am wearing, I fully understand that he will say yes no matter what I am wearing. I also know that he really means it. He is not who I need to ask..maybe who I want to ask, but not who I need to ask. For more Real Talk with Kelly Wilson, join my email community at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe and receive my free gift of 5 voice actors to add to your voice over roster, including myself. 

Be honest, have you ever been emailing or texting someone back and forth and you are more confused then when you started? So you pick up the phone and you say, “hey, I am trying to say X, can we do Y. Oh yeah, let’s do that. Done.”  This is how I feel about a voice over directed session. Some projects just move faster if they are directed by you. Now this episode is NOT for advertising agencies or voice over agents or anyone who knows all about directed sessions. This episode is for corporations, small businesses, or videographers who don’t often partake in directed sessions.  So what is a voice over directed session? A set time where the voice actor, the director, audio engineer, and sometimes other people, like…copywriter, client, producer, mother in-law, and others…all get together, either in one room OR one conference line and live direct the voice actor through the script or scripts.  There are MANY ways to connect online with a voice actor: phone, Skype, Zoom, WebEX, and also Source Connect. Source Connect, which isn’t the only option like this, but is the only option that will connect you into the voice actor’s studio and it will sound like you are actually in the voice over’s studio with them.  I am a big fan of Source Connect. There is a paid version and a free version. The free version is Source Connect Now, and you must download Google Chrome to use it. Also, make sure you have the voice actor record a back up of the audio on their end, just in case.  Leave a review and rate! Join my email community and never miss out on an episode of Real Talk with Kelly Wilson - Visit https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe . When you join my email community you will receive my gift of five fantastic voice actors to add to your roster, including myself.

"Please use your confident librarian voice." Honestly, the first thing that pops into my head is Van Halen, but I get it…instantly. When I am working on a voice over, I will ask my client, WHO am I here? WHat’s happening? So last week, I heard, “you are playing a confident librarian.” I’m transported there, to the library. What is this confident librarian wearing? How is she sitting? What is her specialty? What fires her up? Who is she talking to? If she’s talking to a student, she might slow down her speech, point when she talks, write it down or draw a diagram for the student? If she’s talking to a coworker, she’ll probably still be a bit quiet (because we’re in a library here), but she’ll be less formal, more laid back. Is that same confident librarian presenting to her department? Is she now in power suit mode? So once I know WHO the character is, I like to next find out WHAT am I doing? WHO am I talking to? At this point, I am pulling from all my past experiences in my life. Movies I’ve watched, books I’ve read, actual meetings I have been in, actual conversations with confident librarians I have had, actual power suit moments. All the things.  It’s like I am accessing all my memories in my brain or data base…like Neo in the Matrix or something, I’m putting all the pieces together, taking only what I want to access and use, then boom, it comes out of my voice. This is why I am a HUGE fan of having past jobs in corporate, in higher education, (I was even a TSA agent for awhile) so I can pull actual real life situations to translate them into real voice overs, so they sound real. (How many times did I write the word "real"?) That is why I always want to know who I am playing when I get a part or an audition. Or if I am hiring another voice actor, I give them a brief about the project so they can deliver.  Please do me a huge favor and share this podcast with a friend or a colleague who wants to know more about what it’s like to hire and work with a voice actor. Leave a review and rate! Join my email community and never miss out on an episode of Real Talk with Kelly Wilson - Visit https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe . When you join my email community you will receive my gift of five fantastic voice actors to add to your roster, including myself.

Auditions are like dating and LinkedIn is like Tinder. In this strange example, I’m on LinkedIn and say I post a voice over project that I worked on recently. Now instead of swiping right (or is it left, I’ve never been on Tinder) you send me a direct message, we start a conversation, then you have me audition your project. At this point, you think I sound good, there’s an attraction, but am I crazy…are you crazy? That’s why we go on our coffee date or audition. During the audition you are trying to figure out if my voice will fit your project, but I also have a feeling you are trying to see: What does my studio really sound like? How long will it take for me to respond? Do I ask good questions? Do I seek clarification? Do I self-direct well? Do I give you multiple takes? How’s are my production skills? How do I interpret your script? How do I deliver the audio? How do I follow up? Am I annoying to work with? Am I crazy? Do I mess up? And if I do mess it up, how do I handle it? (Because we’re all humans here, I believe it’s all in the recovery. SO that’s what you are trying to figure out about me. Here’s what I’m trying to decide: Do you communicate well? Are you looking for quality or just a transaction? (I’m after those who seek and understand quality voice over and not just a transaction.) What kind of projects do you work on? Is this something I personally believe in, which doesn’t always have to happen, but it’s nice when it does. Is this a client I could refer one of my other voice over friends to? Sure an audition is about seeing if I can pull off the job, but it’s also a laid back way to see if we both work well together and want to continue to work together. That is why auditions are like a coffee date…on that note I’m so glad I’m married, because real dating sucks! Please do me a huge favor and share this podcast with a friend or a colleague who wants to know more about what it’s like to hire and work with a voice actor. Leave a review and rate! Join my email community and never miss out on an episode of Real Talk with Kelly Wilson - Visit https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe . When you join my email community you will receive my gift of five fantastic voice actors to add to your roster, including myself.

When you need to be someone’s internal monologue...Ya know those voice overs when you need to sound like the internal monologue inside someone’s head, but inside THIER HEAD, NOT your head? The fun part about voice over is I get to play other people and sometimes multiple people at once and get inside their heads. Luckily, I am an introvert and naturally live here…in my own head….every…second…of my life. You see I’m a natural observer of life, people, social situations. At times I feel like an alien from another planet, watching how others interact only to assimilate and parrot the human race to fit in…when honestly, I’m just weird…but now it's my voice over super power. NERD! Anyway, have you ever stopped to listen to the inside of your mind? It’s a crazy house in there, mine at least. So there are all these forces at play…internal monologue, childhood memories, memories from five seconds ago when you were slighted by the candy machine in the break room, that “talk” you need to have with your boss, and on and on. So knowing we all have these racing thoughts in our heads…most of the time, allows me to know that when I am asked to play the part of someone’s internal monologue, I am doing a couple of things simultaneously. So I pull up the script and any notes about the script, the product, service, company, direction, anything of note. OK, I’ve established the context of the ad, video, whatever the project is. Next, who is talking…or thinking in this case? Where are they now? What just happened to them? What has happened to them? Where is their head at? OK, now who’s my audience, what are they thinking, feeling, doing when they watch this video? How will the audience react to what my character is thinking? Then I put it all together and do the voice. Honestly, I was challenged to break down my process and it sounds like a lot, but it happens so quickly so automatically now, but that is why I ask for context, I ask for voice direction, I look at who the company is, what the product or service is. Perks of being an introvert. Use what you’ve got. For more of my podcast “Real Talk with Kelly Wilson” subscribe, share with a friend or colleague who would enjoy it, and it would help me out if you rate and review it. Be sure to join my email community so you never miss an episode at https://www.kellywilsonvo.com/subscribe . Later!

No matter who I work with. No matter what I work on. I ask these two question: What do you want them to do? How do you want them to feel? Writing copy? I ask the questions. Voicing a script? I ask the questions. Picking out a music bed or even the sound effects for the project? I ask the questions. Meeting with a friend or colleague who's trying to help their employee succeed. I ask the questions. Concrete Action First I start with what do you want them to do first, because if you’re selling something, it’s usually easier to say the result you want. Just is. It’s the concrete thing that will help you achieve your goal (which needs to be the solution to your customer’s goal too.) Abstract Thoughts Second Then, I ask how the customer or listener or viewer or end user wants to feel. This is the branding, the tone, the mood, the big picture, the customer service part. Now, just because I ask this part second does NOT make it any less important, it’s just less concrete and sometimes more difficult to emote. So, for example, in this article... How do I want you to feel? That I am an expert in my field. What do I want you to do? Subscribe to my email community (and score five fantastic voice actors you should add to your roster…including yours truly). Click here to subscribe. Bonus For each answer to those two questions, you should ONLY have one answer per question. In a perfect situation, just focus on one thing. One thing they should feel. One thing they should do. Stay well, Kelly Voice Actor, Mom, Mismatch Sock Wearer www.KellyWilsonVO.com