The Voiceover Social
By Rob Bee and Helen Bee
The Voiceover SocialMay 31, 2020
64. The Handover Episode
Find out what all the hoo-haa was about in the last episode.
Spoiler alert: we say goodbye to Nic and Leah and welcome our new hosts Rob Bee and Helen Bee from B Double E.
We get a brief introduction to Rob and Helen, and a promise for a fuller intro next month.
If you have any questions for them for the next episode you can email them to listen@thevosocial.com
Also revealed is the new audio branding and we get a playback of the full theme tune in all its glory. Many, many thank yous to everyone who contributed their audio for this. You’re all wonderful.
Your presenters are Nic Redman, Leah Marks, Rob Bee and Helen Bee.
For more information about The Voiceover Social visit:
- The Voiceover Social Website
- Email us listen@thevosocial.com
- Subscribe to our newsletter
- See which events are coming soon
- Find your closest VO Social group
Find us online:
Podcast sponsored by B Double E.
Opening theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license, with violin by Alice Gilmour.
Closing theme tune by Rob Bee.
All audio production by Rob Bee.
63. An update!
Find out what Leah learned on the BBC Radio Drama Company and hear all about Nic's ongoing conquering of the entire world in this quickfire catchup episode!
Our Goal Setting Masterclass is on the 5th December 2023! Here's the link (don't forget to use the discount code PLOG5 to get £5 off) https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/planet-plan-it-is-back-tickets-756140294977
Also, join us for an announcement of GREAT MAGNITUDE on the 16th December at 3pm GMT!
But as you've now missed it, you can read the Big Announcement HERE
Or watch it Here complete with very patchy internet
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Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license, with violin by Alice Gilmour
62. Scripts Out Loud
This is one for people who love working in animation AND for people who want an update on the very exciting collaborative episode we’re making with Spotlight in 2023!
Book your ticket for our planning party: https://www.gravyforthebrain.com/event/youre-invited-to-a-planning-palooza/
Get your copy of the VO Career Planner: https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Find out more about Scripts Out Loud: https://scriptsoutloud.com/
Many thanks to organisers Julie Ann Dean and Sarah Jane Rose, (plus co-founder Rhian Marston) director Barry Purves, writers Fintan O’Higgins and Hannah Rose Smith, actors David Holt, Nic Redman, Amina Koroma and Julie Ann Dean and Elena Wurlitzer from Jellyfish Pictures.
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license, with violin by Alice Gilmour
61. A lot of news. Like, a LOT.
Find out about the six big things that Equity needs you to know, Leah's mad news, Nic's thrilling new project, and some VERY dramatic gossip about the future of the podcast...
Also, here are some links:
PLANNER: Get 10% off your Voiceover Career Planner with the code XMAS10 here: https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
VO SOCIAL NORTH: Here's the event page https://fb.me/e/3H4j3WtfJ but you'll have to join the VO Social North group here first: https://www.facebook.com/groups/409394646729749
SIGN UP TO NIC’S MAILING LIST: https://nicolaredman.com/newsletter/
Everything Annette mentioned:
https://www.equity.org.uk/news/2022/october/shape-equity-s-audio-action-plan/
The survey
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Equity-Audio-Action-Plan
Sign up to the Mailing List
https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-up-to-equitys-audio-mailing-list
The updated Audio Guide:
https://www.equity.org.uk/media/6272/equity-audio-guide-170622.pdf
Stop AI Stealing the Show
https://www.equity.org.uk/getting-involved/campaigns/stop-ai-stealing-the-show/
Write to your MP
https://equity.eaction.org.uk/StopAIStealingtheShow
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license, with violin by Alice Gilmour
60. General American
Well howdy pardner! For this episode we’ve got the world’s leading expert on the General American accent to describe its features, talk us through common mistakes people make when learning it and help us figure out how to adjust for age, gender and ethnicity. We also hear from a bunch of fantastic, real-life American voiceovers about their experiences with using it, and even a little bit about the psychological impact of conforming to a geographically non-specific standard.
Find out more about Rebecca Gausnell here, including a page where you can buy her book, Mastering The American Accent: https://www.gausnell.com
Here’s the American dialect website Rebecca mentions: https://aschmann.net/AmEng/
Thank you so much to our lovely contributors:
Anna Klein https://www.annakleinactor.com/
Robynne Orr https://www.vororr.com/
Thomas Wynn https://www.thethomaswynn.com/voice-acting
Zara Hannaford https://zarahannaford.com/
GET YOUR VO CAREER PLANNER: https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license, with violin by Alice Gilmour
59. New York New York
Come with us on the trip of a lifetime as we hunt down the New Yorkiest New York accent AND the best pizza in the whole of NYC!
We also popped into VOcation to run a workshop and talk on a panel while we were there, so we recorded a bunch of lovely VOs talking about what the most interesting and useful things were that they learned at the conference. Also featuring an appearance from the accent expert's accent expert Mr Erik Singer! Who's walking where? We're walking here!
GET YOUR VO CAREER PLANNER: https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license, with violin by Alice Gilmour
58. Who Are You And What Do You Want!?
It's the clash of the branding titans! Committed anti-branding cynic Leah goes head to head with branding evangelist Clare... who will win? Will referee Nic Redman's blatant bias sway the match either way? Find out in our first episode back after a summer away... oh how we've missed you!
Also in this episode, a brilliant chat with our partners Spotlight about everything they’re doing to help voiceovers with their careers!
- GET YOUR PLANNER: https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
- WORK WITH CLARE: https://clarereevesvoiceovers.com/
- LISTEN TO TUN UP: https://soundcloud.com/3beat/jus-now-ft-bunji-garlin (Note from Leah: I've just watched the official video for this song for the first time. It's quite, erm, twerky. Just so you know.)
This episode is sponsored by Spotlight, the Home of Casting.
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license, with violin by Alice Gilmour
...one quick last thing!
In this very quick last hurrah before we disappear for the summer, find out what sort of antics we're planning for later this year, including stuff in AMERICA, another big accent investigation, and a return to an old favourite but with a brand new live element just to keep things spicy...
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
BIG THANKS to Natalia Schwartz, Tony Francis, Natalie Silverman, Jordan Moore and Barry Ring.
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license, with violin by Alice Gilmour
57. The One Voice Conference 2022
All the very best bits of the One Voice Conference in one bumper edition of the VO Social!
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here: https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Speakers
Friday Keynote - Dirk Maggs
Saturday Keynote - Debbie Arnold
Instinctive Audio - Sam Crowther
Effort Sounds - D’arcy Smith
Emote Strings - Stephane Cornicard
Radio Commercials - Jack Oddie
Agents panel - Camilla Grevstad Laxton, Peter Morris, Daniel Richards
Core Issues Panel - Tim Odofin
De-Stress In The Booth - Elroy Spoonface Powell
Disney - Kristin Paiva
Thanks to Alan Dedicoat, Jo the VO (www.jotroy.com), Kelly Condron (www.kellycondron.co.uk) and Jon Culshaw for your fantastic contributions
And huge thanks to Ruth Urquhart, Alex Hill Knight, Brendan McLatchie, Tom Hillenbrand, Leonor Lemee, Leonie Schliesing and Stacey Arther for introducing the clips!
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license, with violin by Alice Gilmour
56. Animal Noises
MOOO! WOOF! SQUIRK! It’s time for some animal noises! Join us in the Voiceover Zoo to find out why it’s a great idea to practise your donkey impression in the shower AND how to think technically about the things your voice is doing.
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
With enormous thanks to:
The Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast: https://www.20k.org/episodes/creaturespeakers
Eloise Whitmore from Naked Productions: http://nakedproductions.co.uk/
Dian Perry: https://dianperry.com/showreels/
Darren Altman for his David Attenborough impression: https://www.darrenaltman.com/voiceover-services/
The following VOs for their contributions to the Voiceover Zoo: Drew Campbell, Jason Warner, Cromerty York, JD Gibson, Can Duthie, Caroline Ashby, Tim Uffindell, Cheryl Holling, Stephanie Cannon, Natalie Beran and CP Engelbrecht
Jo the VO, as ever: www.jotroy.com
Listen to all the episodes of Source Elements’ Witch and Cat series here: https://www.thevosocial.com/the-vo-social-podcast/episode/55991cfc/how-to-find-a-podcast-sponsor-without-selling-your-soul
The person with the L in their miaow is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQgbBRKAWVo
The person with the two noises at the same time is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htSYVnHKq_Q&list=RDCMUCy_pH0l1ENt0keocE09jYDw&index=33
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license, with violin by Alice Gilmour
This podcast is sponsored by Source Elements
55. Breathing
Breathing. It's the most basic of all the necessary functions, but if it's even a little bit out of kilter it can have a catastrophic effect on your voice... In this episode we have:
- Nic chatting to breathworker Hannah Kendaru (https://inspire-breathwork.org/) about why breath awareness can be key to a successful voice career
- A whole guided breathing exercise to help with breath control for voiceovers
- Leah telling a (somehow relevant) story about the time she was caught living in slightly reduced circumstances in Australia...
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Find out more about Jo the VO here: www.jotroy.com
Find out more about...
Wim Hof/cold water breathing: https://www.wimhofmethod.com/
Free Diving: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freediving
The Body Keeps The Score By Bessel Van Der Kolk - if you buy it (in the UK) through Blackwells they send us about 14p, at no extra cost to you! Here's the link if you're feeling fancy... https://www.blackwells.co.uk?a_aid=TheVOSocial.
This episode is supported by Source Elements.
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license, with violin by Alice Gilmour.
54. Editing
Fancy sharpening up your editing game? A bit nervous of all that technical business? Well guess what! We've brought in expert Rob Bee to tell us exactly what we need to know as voiceovers to keep things tight.
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Find out more about...
Nic's "Ultimate Voice Getaway" Retreat: https://nicolaredman.com/voice-coach/courses-and-retreats/ultimate-voice-getaway-retreat/
Rob Bee: https://b-double-e.co.uk/
Jo Troy: https://www.jotroy.com/
This episode is supported by Source Elements. Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license, with violin by Alice Gilmour.
53. The Good Session
Right then, let’s all cheer ourselves up a bit! After last month delve into some of the worst experiences anyone can have in a booth, it’s time to turn our attention to some of the very BEST.
This episode is produced in collaboration with the Talking Creative podcast, and features a live workshop stacked with advice for voiceovers AND producers on how to make every session as successful as it can possibly be.
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Listen to the Talking Creative version of this episode here: https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative/
Put your name down for a planner here: https://www.thevosocial.com/product-page/the-voiceover-career-planner-by-the-vo-social
Find out out more about Jo the VO here: https://www.jotroy.com/
Find out more about Heather Loreto here: https://agencemeriemchaieb.com/heather-loreto-eng/
Find out more about Leonie Schiesling here: https://www.spotlight.com/6538-6750-1689
This episode is supported by Source Elements and SOVT Straw. Get 15% off your SOVT Straw by using VOSOCIAL at checkout here: https://www.rayvox.co.uk/products/sovtstraw
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license, with violin by Alice Gilmour.
BONUS - News From Equity!
A couple of updates from the union about AI and gaming that we couldn't fit into the big episode at the start of the month...
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Tickets for the workshop: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-direct-and-be-directed-tickets-223282984417
#SendItToShannon: ssailing@equity.org.uk
Gaming Agreement: https://www.equity.org.uk/news/2021/december/uks-first-ever-agreement-for-voice-artists-engaged-on-video-game-recordings/
52. The Bad Session
What do you do when things go wrong? How about when they go really, really wrong?
Find out what YOU can do if you see or experience abuse in any of its hideous forms, plus tales of the worst directorial notes VO Socialites have ever received, and even the odd spot of singing...
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here: https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Tickets to “How To Direct And Be Directed” with the Talking Creative Podcast - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-direct-and-be-directed-tickets-223282984417
The CNN article https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/08/us/metoo-voice-coach-peter-rofe/index.html
The rest of the #MeToo VO School podcast episode from 2018 - https://soundcloud.com/voschool/episode-23-metoo
More about Jo Troy here - https://www.jotroy.com/
More from our sponsors Source Elements about how they're supporting people that are under represented in the audio industries - https://www.source-elements.com/about-us/diversity/
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license
51. The Voiceover Career Planner
Do you want to make this year your best professional year yet? This episode is going to help you do exactly that! Find out how to create great habits that stick, and why everyone's talking about the VO Social's new Voiceover Career Planner...
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Find out more about Dan Bradford here: https://www.mindfulacting.co.uk/
Find out more about Jo Troy at www.jotroy.com
Join in with the big VO Social Challenge here: https://forms.gle/BEQqGcaSCaJkjo6n9
This episode is supported by Source Elements and Rayvox, the makers of the SOVT Straw. Get 15% off by clicking here: https://www.rayvox.co.uk/products/sovtstraw and using the code VOSOCIAL.
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
50. The Negotiator
Rates. It’s a constant question - are we quoting high enough? Are we quoting TOO high? Will we lose work if we push for usage? How do we convince clients we’re a better prospect than someone off Fiverr who’ll do it on the cheap? Too often, voiceovers feel like they're on the back foot in the conversation, so in this live episode we’ve convinced expert negotiator Simon Horton to help us change the balance of power and improve relationships between voiceovers, producers, agents and casting directors alike.
Also in this episode:
- Get to grips with TVRs thanks to a perfect rundown by VO Louisa Gummer, recorded at the One Voice Conference 2021
- Equity Audio Committee's Annette Rizzo talks us through Equity's new template contract for voiceovers.
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
This episode is supported by Source Elements and Rayvox, the makers of the SOVT Straw. Get 15% off by clicking here: https://www.rayvox.co.uk/products/sovtstraw and using the code VOSOCIAL.
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
49. Accent Discrimination
Regional accents are every commercial producer’s new best friend lately, so in this episode - recorded live at the One Voice Conference - we look at why showing off your native accent could be the most powerful, career boosting choice you ever make!
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
This episode features the superb talents that are:
Ally Murphy - https://www.allymurphy.co.uk/
Shelly Atton - https://www.shellyeah.co.uk/
Michelle O'Callaghan - https://www.voicegirl.co.uk/
Ian Brannan - https://www.ianbrannan.com/
Dan Pye - https://www.danpye.com/
Thanks to Martin at Sonic Pond for providing scripts for Show Offs’ Corner - http://www.sonicpond.co.uk/
This episode is supported by Source Elements and Rayvox, the makers of the SOVT Straw - get 15% off your SOVT Straw with the code VOSOCIAL
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
48. The Voice Exercises
Nic goes on and on and ON about lip trills, so in this episode we explain how they fit into the world of SOVT exercises, when to use them, why they work, and why adding a straw into the mix might be just the thing!
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Enter our competition to win an SOVT Straw all of your own by retweeting this tweet: https://twitter.com/theVOsocial/status/1437552041853915139 or if you can’t wait till the 14th Oct to see if you’ve won, make sure you get your 15% discount by using the code VOSOCIAL at www.rayvox.co.uk
This episode is supported by Rayvox
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
47. The One Voice Conference 2021
As the official podcasters at the One Voice Conference we are delighted to bring you this jam packed hour of highlights, quite a lot of swearing, and all these wonderful people:
Keynotes - Rory Bremner and Jess Robinson
Continuity - Pete Nottage and Danny Cowan
Africa’s VO Industry - Emeka Onunkwo
Agents Panel – Natalie Hill (Excellent Talent) Katie Berkes (VO Gallery)
Radio Imaging – David Wartnaby and Juliette Nicholls (Pineapple Audio)
Radio Rates – Annette Rizzo (Equity)
TTS/AI – Sophie Hind (Voiceworks.ai), Rolf Veldman (Voice 123)
Character Work – Stephane Cornicard
Pay To Play Panel – Marcus Hutton (Equity), Abigail Longstaffe (Mandy Voices)
Equality and Diversity Panel - Ally Murphy, Roly Botha, David Monteith
Outtake Nominee – Alex Pitcher
Also, thank you to Ore Apampa, CP Engelbrecht, Tim Odofin, Natalie Miller, Nick Fleetwood and Andre Refig for your impeccable contributions!
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
46. The Five Books Every Voiceover Should Own
We've done it! We've chosen our top five (with just a few extra ones surreptitiously sneaked in at the end)...
The link to buy them through Blackwells (if you're based in the UK) is https://www.blackwells.co.uk?a_aid=TheVOSocial. Also, huge thanks to our in-house Boltonian Dave, more of him here: www.davejonesVO.com.
- Dramatic Adventures in Rhetoric, by Giles Taylor and Philip Wilson.
- This Is A Voice, by Jeremy Fisher and Gillyanne Keyes.
- Actions - The Actors Thesaurus, by Marina Caldarone and Maggie Lloyd-Williams.
- How To Do Accents, by Edda Sharpe and Jan Haydn Rowles.
- Finding Your Voice, by Barbara Houseman.
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
45. Geordie
So you probably think the Geordie accent has something to do with the Vikings, right? Well wor lass, you think wrong! Nic’s had a poke around in some serious historical research and has made some very surprising discoveries. Also in this episode – four voiceovers at Newcastle’s recent VO Social chat about how their accents have shaped their careers.
Massive thanks to Leah's slightly confused but enthusiastic mum who picked up a guitar for the first time in years to record old Geordie ballad "The Water of Tyne" for this month's Source Elements ad, and extra thanks to these wonderful voices:
Dan Pye https://www.danpye.com/
Rachel Kershaw https://rachelkershaw.com/
Jack Oddie https://jackoddie.com/
Zoë Hakin https://www.spotlight.com/2611-3425-5215
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Get involved with a free straw phonation workshop here: https://www.rayvox.co.uk/pages/sovt-workshop
Come to the social on Saturday: https://www.thevosocial.com/summer-social-2021
Get 15% off your Studiobricks booth here with the secret password, VO SOCIAL PODCATS here: https://www.acousticabins.com/vocal-booths-studiobricks-vo-edition/
Nic’s sources:
https://englandsnortheast.co.uk/geordie-origins/
https://www.bl.uk/british-accents-and-dialects/articles/geordie-a-regional-dialect-of-english
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
44. Imposter Syndrome
Recorded live at the British Podcast Awards; how actors and voiceovers can deal with the dreaded brain lurgy #begreatnotperfect
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Listen to our friend Nat's podcast at https://www.thefertilitypodcast.com/
Get 15% off your Studiobricks booth with the secret password "VO SOCIAL POD CATS" at https://www.acousticabins.com/vocal-booths-studiobricks-vo-edition/
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
43. AI - The Worst Has Happened
Less than a year after our enormous investigation into the AI invasion, we are back to report on its first big battleground. A VO in Canada is suing social media giant TikTok over the alleged theft of her voice, and as she womans the barricades, we take a second look at how the UK government is getting on with the boringly-named-but-actually-terribly-important Beijing Treaty…
Here are a couple of fun things to do:
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Find out about straw phonation! All the cool kids are doing it, so join our friend Oren for a free Zoom workshop to find out what it is and how it can help strengthen your voice. https://www.rayvox.co.uk/pages/sovt-workshop
Come to the real, in person, free social we’re running in Manchester on the 7th August! It’s outdoors behind a brewery near the train station and it’s going to be an absolutely blimming lovely time: https://www.thevosocial.com/summer-social-2021
Get 15% off your Studiobricks booth at Black Cat Music by using the secret password; VO Social Pod Cats
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
How To Get Nominated For A Major Podcast Award
At the risk of turning all Pop Will Eat Itself, we've decided to share the award entry that got us nominated for Best Business Podcast in the British Podcast Awards 2021! (And if you’re wondering where the AI update is that we promised you, it’s coming on the 1st July).
Big thanks to VO Socialites Natalie Winter, Dave Jones, Andrew Dennis, Amina Koroma, Millie Jones and Alice King for your wonderful contributions.
Get your VO Career Planner at https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Get 15% off your Studiobricks booth at Black Cat Music by using the Secret Password, VO Social Pod Cats
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
42. Imaging (And How On Earth To Quote For Podcast Work)
Podcasts are a relatively new avenue of work for voiceovers, which sounds exciting but can also be a bit infuriating - in this episode we take a look at what sort of jobs are available, as well as the HUGE inconsistencies in rates. Also, find out what happens when we challenge a podcast branding specialist to create an ident for the VO Social that can get past Leah's anti-branding defences...
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
- Missed the AI episodes last year? Get up to speed before our update on the 14th June by listening to both parts here: https://www.thevosocial.com/the-vo-social-podcast/episode/1baf6691/32-the-ai-voice
- Niche voices! Email Izabela at help@musicradiocreative.com
- Let's all support Equity's new super-woman Shannon Sailing as much as we can - She's at @equityshannon on Twitter and her email is ssailing@equity.org.uk
This episode is sponsored by Black Cat Music and Source Elements - Huge thanks to Rob Bee for his work on our Source Elements Ad!
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
Shine Online! Part 3: Social Media For Voiceovers
Get ready to go into battle with the algorithm! Join us for a big chat about how to conquer social media without being annoying.
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
This episode is the third and final instalment in the Shine Online With the VO Social series, and it's sponsored by Black Cat Music - get 15% off your Studiobricks booth by calling them up and using the secret password: VO Social Pod Cats
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license
41. Shine Online! Part 2: SEO
We've somehow managed to make an episode about SEO that isn't boring!
In the second part of our "Shine Online With The Voiceover Social" series, we wheedle recent search terms out of producers from animation, commercials, audio drama, IVR and gaming, find out from branding and web design expert Helen Bee exactly how to make SEO work for you, and ask the most popular female voiceover on Google - "Is it even worth it??"
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Here's the unofficial list of ranking factors Helen mentions: https://backlinko.com/google-ranking-factors
This episode is supported by Source Elements and Black Cat Music, who are the only UK distributor of Studiobricks booths - if you're in the market for a sound isolation booth we've sorted you out with a 15% discount worth hundreds of pounds if you use the secret password “VO Social Pod Cats”!
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license
Shine Online! Part 1: Help Out The Casting Director
If a casting director was looking for your exact voice, right now, how easy are you making it for them to find you? Leah's been dabbling in a spot of casting lately and was so horrified by what she found she's turning the experience into a whole three part series. We won’t let our beloved VO Socialites put pointless obstacles in their own darn way!
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
This episode is supported by Black Cat Music - The only UK distributor of Studiobricks booths. Get 15% off yours with the secret password "VO Social Pod Cats" at https://www.acousticabins.com/vocal-booths-studiobricks-vo-edition/
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license, with violin by Alice Gilmour
40. Commercial Demos
This rummage around in the world of commercial demos was recorded live with an audience of pro VOs, and features:
- An interview with expert commercial demo producer Martin Fisher from SonicPond
- Sample demos by Sarah Paul and Mark Oxtoby
- Competitive performances by Elizabeth Price, Natalie Chisholm, Alice King, Natalie Winter, James Brown and Dave Jones
- An epic Source Elements ad produced by the all-out wonder that is Rob Bee at https://b-double-e.co.uk/... do go to him for all your studio-sorting needs, we really recommend him.
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Don't forget! Get 15% off your Studiobricks booth at Black Cat Music with the secret password “VO Social Pod Cats”
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
Brummie
Peaky Blinders may have gone some way towards helping the magical Birmingham accent out of the pit of scorn it's been abandoned in for decades, but many Brits still confidently pick it as their least favourite, without necessarily knowing why. WE know why, though, thanks to the extremely well informed and universally respected linguist David Crystal. We saved this little bit back from the RP episode he featured in, because it truly deserved its own bit of the limelight. Three cheers for all accents!
Tickets for the live episode at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-vo-social-live-commercial-demos-tickets-142531544687
Get your VO Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/ Sign up for the newsletter at www.thevosocial.com Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
39. Sex Noises; Getting Far, Far Out Of Your Comfort Zone
Snogging the back of your hand is one way to do it, but sound designer Eloise Whitmore from Naked Productions says if you want intense and honest intimacy in audio drama, there are a lot more things to think about... Pack your Fairy Liquid and your baking trays, VO Socialites, we're going on an adventure!
IMPORTANT WARNING! READ THIS WARNING! - This episode includes sex scenes from audio drama, and unbeeped swearing. THAT WAS YOUR WARNING, DID YOU READ IT? Okay good. Carry on!
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Listen to Sour Hall HERE
Credits:
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
Additional music by Kevin MacLeod of incompetech.com, Joseph Earwicker, and Cloud Nine by Hayden Folker - https://soundcloud.com/hayden-folker. Cloud 9 promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
This Is A Voice
Astonishingly, the actual King and Queen of voice teaching have been listening to the The Voiceover Social and like it so much they asked us to be guests on their podcast! What a lovely surprise! Anyway, we had such a nice time appearing on This Is A Voice that we thought we'd share a little bit of it it with you... To hear the rest, click here: https://thisisavoice.buzzsprout.com/
Get your VO Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
38. RP
Sure, you THINK you know what RP is, but do you? Do you REALLY? In this episode we ask the most marvellous linguist in all of the land to tell us where it came from, and how it’s progressed through the ages. We also had a brilliant response to our call for your RP samples, so we use those to have a big think about what RP means in its modern form.
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
This episode features submissions by: Andre Refig, Andrew Dennis, Millie Jones, Alice King and Amina Koroma
Here are some links, as promised in the show:
Nic’s Big New Thing “The Voice Coach Podcast” is HERE, or wherever you listen to podcasts!
Find Jan and Edda’s book on English accents HERE
Find Erik Singer’s Wired video HERE
Find Chi Luu’s essay on why RP is the accent of choice for movie baddies HERE
Sponsors and discounts!
This episode is sponsored by Source Elements, Black Cat Music, and Vocalmist
Get 10% off any new VocalMist bundle and travel case with the code VOSOCIAL
Get 15% off your Studiobricks booth from Black Cat Music with the secret passcode “VO Social Pod Cats”
Also, some important credits:
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
The violin music under the e-Learning Narrator part of the Vocalmist ad is by Joseph Earwicker
The music in the Source Elements ad is by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
How To Find A Podcast Sponsor Without Selling Your Soul
Five years after the VO Social’s innocuous start as an audio invitation to the pub, it’s now become a thriving monstrosity featuring award nominations, regular involvement from our talented listeners, and – VERY EXCITINGLY - a treasured collection of hand picked sponsors! In this episode, find out exactly how we convinced them to get involved.
This bonus episode is supported by Source Connect, who are the future of voiceover recording and Black Cat Music, who are the UK’s only distributor of Studiobricks booths. Oh we do love them.
Most of the content of this episode comes from the experience and knowledge Leah’s gathered from working on the podcast, but she also read a LOT of blogs and articles for extra info – and you can too! Here they are:
https://www.eofire.com/podcast-sponsorships/
https://convertkit.com/podcast-sponsorship
https://www.buzzsprout.com/blog/get-podcast-sponsors
https://bellocollective.com/how-to-get-podcast-sponsors-72e3ee81c57d
https://www.midroll.com/research-podcast-ads-perform-host-read-ads-outperform
https://www.asa.org.uk/advice-online/recognising-ads-podcasts-and-audio-streaming.html
https://mediaradar.com/blog/state-of-podcasts-covid-19
https://www.ranieriandco.com/post/the-science-behind-podcast-ads
https://www.warc.com/newsandopinion/news/study-establishes-roi-of-podcast-ads/44097
https://www.marketingweek.com/untapped-potential-podcast-advertising/
Get your VO Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
37. The Extreme Voice - Screaming
At some point you might have to scream as part of your voiceover work, and the very idea that you might not have warmed up properly is filling us with a cold dread, so we've talked to the lead singer of the metal band Impavidus about how screaming and growling can be a safe, expressive part of your everyday repertoire. RRRAAAARRRGGHHH!
Things to do:
BUY your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
SEE the Zen of Screaming by Melissa Cross for even more information
SEND your RP read of the sentence we announce at the end of the episode to listen@thevosocial.com by 25th Jan 2021 RT THIS
TWEET to be in with a chance of winning our VocalMist bundle!
Get more Nic! Here's the Youtube channel and here's the Voice and Accent Hub Facebook group!
This episode is supported by VocalMist, Black Cat Music and Source Connect
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license
What You Might Have Missed So Far
A collection of some of the best bits of the VO Social podcast's lesser known episodes, in case you've missed them.
Also, while you're here... get your Voiceover Career Planner at https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/ !
The Cocktail Party
29 - The Continuity Announcer
27 - The Promo Voiceover
25 - Doc Brown
23 - The Puppeteer
22 - Ode To Studio Engineers
19 - The Radio Commercial Producer
11 - The Sound Designer
We also mention The AI Voice episodes, the one about the Mid Atlantic Accent, and "How To Get More Work In Gaming", but you've probably already heard them because they are our most popular ones of ALL TIME
This episode is supported by Black Cat Music, the only UK distributor of Studiobricks booths. Get 15% off using the secret password, VO Social Pod Cats!
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
36. Manchester Animation Festival
We decided it was about time animators and voiceovers got to know each other a bit better, so we joined forces with the world famous Manchester Animation Festival to put everyone in the same room! In this episode:
Animation Director Kitty Taylor (Charlie and Lola, Dennis and Gnasher, Tree Fu Tom etc) helps us figure out how we can all work more collaboratively
AND
We are exorbitantly proud to present the international premiere of "Escapado", a new piece of writing by Mark Oswin (Dangermouse etc), featuring characters designed by Hammo, and brought to life by our multi-talented actors Kenny Blyth, Lisa Graydon, Kate Harbour, Verity Henry, Dave Jones and Greg Jones.
See all the characters for yourself HERE and join us in the Facebook group HERE
ALSO... Want to get involved in something very exciting? Scripts Out Loud has just been launched by a couple of absolute champions; Julie Ann Dean and Rhian Marston-Jones. It's a regular event bringing together voiceovers and animation writers, and you can get updates on Instagram and Twitter.
Get your VO Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
This episode is sponsored by Black Cat Music and Source Connect
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
News Voice
There's been quite a bit of good news around recently, (90% effective vaccine! All the other stuff!) so we thought we'd celebrate by bringing you this previously unheard, teeny-tiny clip of Mr BBC Radio 4, Zeb Soanes. We spoke to him back in May for Episode 29. The Continuity Announcer, but saved a few minutes of him on how to not be a terrible newsreader till now.
Get your VO Career Planner! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Also, WIN A VOICEOVER SOCIAL WATER BOTTLE! It's insulated y'know... See this tweet for how. Competition ends 28.11.20
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
35. Gender
Learning gender-switching techniques for your audiobook characters or animation work is one thing – but what about when the character is you, the audiobook is your life and people can’t hear you properly without the techniques? In this episode we talk to delightful Trans creative Kate O Donnell about her relationship with her voice, and Nic takes us through some of the ways you can move around the gender spectrum for work. Also – The Voice Realm’s appalling behaviour… what’s THAT all about?!? News From Equity is back to explain everything.
Get your VO Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/ Enter the extraordinary water bottle competition HERE Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
What The Voice Coach is REALLY Thinking
Our Nic doesn't hold back in this handy bonus episode... find out what her most challenging job has been to date, whether she's ever turned down a client, and what "do your research" ACTUALLY means.
Get your VO Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
34. The Character Voice
If you’re from the North West of England or thereabouts you’ll probably already know about Buzz Hawkins; his series, The Bradshaws, is a cultural beacon for Northerners wherever they live in the world.
He's got some highly useful things to say about finding and developing characters that can be sustained over three decades and 700+ episodes – and about not letting them get too big for their boots, too. Then, in the Panic Room, Nic deals with the issue of keeping your character voices consistent once you've nailed them.
Get your VO Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Get your VO Social Live/Manchester Animation Festival tickets here
Join our snazzy new Facebook group here
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
33. How To Get More Work In Gaming
Expert gaming voice director Kirsty Gillmore explains How To Get More Work In Gaming in front of a live zoom audience! Includes:
- What to put on your demo
- Where to find work
- How to submit an audition that gets you the job
- A couple of highly revealing anecdotes from Nic and Leah that possibly should have been edited out.
Also featuring tiptop contributions by Sara Starling, Philip McGuinness, Cherise Silvestri, Bryan Boston and Chris Tester.
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
AI - The Good News
Things are much less gloom and significantly less doom than we thought! Listen to this episode and be filled with the golden glow of optimism. Huge thanks to Natalie Winter, Dave Jones, Sara Starling, Mark Ryes, Marcus Hutton, Katy Maw & Hugh Edwards for your contributions. To everyone else - we really appreciate you getting in touch, and and we're sorry we couldn't include every response.
Get your VO Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Get a whacking great 15% off your Studiobricks booth by quoting "VO Social Pod Cats" at Black Cat Music! Find out more about why it's such an excellent idea here: https://www.blackcatmusic.co.uk/studiobricks-sound-isolation-cabin.html Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
32. The AI Voice
They say “But AI sounds so robotic!”
Then they say “There’s no expression! No emotion!”
And then they conclude “It will never take over from a real human.”
But they are wrong.
In the latest episode of the Voiceover Social, we hear from the company that created "Faith, The First AI That Can Cry" and the actor whose voice was used to make it. Then we ask the actors’ trade union, Equity, what practical steps we can take to stop voiceovers’ livelihoods being completely annihilated.
Get your Voiceover Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Get the treaty ratified! CLICK HERE: https://becs.org.uk/help-us-make-your-voices-heard-beijing-treaty/
Send us your thoughts and feelings! Email listen@thevosocial.com
This episode is sponsored by B Double E and Source Elements. Huge thanks to Chris Cantrill for the artwork.
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
So, You're Thinking Of Starting A Podcast
Voiceovers of the world who are thinking of starting a podcast! Here’s a very brief overview of some of the things that have worked for us, pitfalls to avoid, and recommendations for a couple of creative shows already being made by our fellow VOs.
Note: There are two separate incidences of the word "w*nker" in this episode, and zero apologies for either of them.
Podcasts we recommend: Tales From The Tannoy + The Offcuts Drawer + Tiredness Kills
Get your VO Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
WIN tickets to our live show all about how to get more work in gaming: www.thevosocial.com
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
31. The Extraordinary Voice
Sure, we’ve all got lovely voices – but imagine if your voice was EXTRAORDINARY. What if every time you spoke, people properly paid attention? What if really, truly, no one else could do what you do? For this episode, we have a lovely chat with Ralph Ineson and Krystal Dockery about how their lives and careers have been shaped by their exceptional voices.
ALSO - In this episode’s Panic Room, Nic takes us through a few exercises to explore different parts of our pitch ranges – do join in and let us know how you get on!
AND! Here’s a visual aid to help when Nic starts losing the room (at about 45:00) by demonstrating a tighter-than-average cricothyroid muscle tilting the thyroid cartilage to lengthen the vocal folds and change pitch. You might not need it if you've also reached High Wizard levels of voice geekery, but just in case... https://youtu.be/rswXWzzAUXg
Get your VO Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Email us - listen@thevosocial.com
Sign up to the newsletter - www.thevosocial.com
Find Krystal on Instagram as @KrystalDockery, but also as @bunnimoretto for her burlesque work and @juiceboxevents for Womxn & LGBTQ+ Empowerment
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
One Voice Conference: Extra Bits
The One Voice organisers call us up to report some serious shuffling of the diversity deck for One Voice USA since we had a big chat about it in episode 30. Also, since it turns out everyone spent the 90s watching Eurotrash in their bedrooms with the volume turned right down, you'll be glad to hear that this episode also features ten minutes with the extremely fantastic Kate Robbins. Sign up to the newsletter at www.thevosocial.com Follow us on Twitter @thevosocial Email us at listen@thevosocial.com - we'd love to hear from you!
Get your VO Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.
30. The One Voice Conference 2020
Come with us behind the scenes at One Voice 2020!
We’re bringing you a rather frank chat with the organisers about the tribulations involved in shifting the entire thing online, their response to concerns that there wasn’t enough diversity among conference speakers and some ground-shaking predictions about MASSIVE changes in the VO industry.
We’ve also jammed together some of the best bits, including:
How to “go faster but sound slower”
Why “What voice do I use for this audiobook character?” is the WRONG QUESTION
How to avoid being an appalling bore on social media
Get your VO Career Planner here! https://thevosocial.myshopify.com/
This episode is sponsored beautifully by Black Cat Music, Bee Double E and Source Connect.
Get 15% off Studiobricks Booths at Black Cat Music by contacting them with the secret password: VO SOCIAL POD CATS
Sign up to the monthly newsletter at www.thevosocial.com for all the news, offers and opportunities we can muster.
The Cocktail Party!
We're having a bit of a soirée round at ours, so fling on your best outfit, grab a nice drink and marvel at the extraordinary voiceover party tricks our talented listeners have sent in. With immense thanks to: Chris Clarkson, Emma Stannard, Kenny Blyth, Liz Drury, Marni Penning Coleman, Sara Starling, Simon Jackson and Simon Naylor
Please do leave us a review if you can! We would really like that. Also, sign up to the newsletter at www.thevosocial.com
Theme tune written and performed by Martin Stirrup under this Creative Commons license.