New Too!

[Whitley]

Hi to everyone...and thanks for being here! It is good to be a part of a supportive community.

Making the jump from radio (20+ years) to voice overs exclusively.

I've been threatening to do it for a long time, but it has been scary. Kind of like Linus letting go of that old security blanket. I'm very blessed to have a supportive husband who cheers me on every step of the way and now a career where I can stay at home with my two sons (one of which has high functioning autism). Life is good and we are blessed!

I told one of my friends yesterday that I've had my parachute packed, I've been in the plane, and now, it's time to see if the parachute works. Let's jump!!! :afro:

[JoeActor]

Hi Whitley,

Yeah, it can be scary to leave that secure job, but it's nice to have such a supportive family. My wife is the same way - very encouraging.

We've got a number of radio folks here that are in various stages of trasition to VO work, so you're in good company.

Jump!

Looking forward to more of your posts - take care,
Joe J Thomas
www.JoeActor.com (http://www.JoeActor.com)

[Jodi Krangle]

Hi Whitley. Yup. As Joe says, you're in good company. And part of jumping off that plane is *flying*. :D As a radio person, you have a lot of the skills already (and you probably have a lot of the contacts already too!) - so it just takes a little cultivation. Though I probably don't have to tell you that. You likely know better than I do. :D Good luck and let us know how things progress, ok? I'd love to hear about it.

(And yeah - I know about the spouse thing too. My husband is quietly encouraging, ... for which I will always be eternally grateful. :) )

[Whitley]

Joe & Jodi...thank you for the warm welcome! As we say in the Mid-South, y'all are awesome!

I guess the difference I'm finding in radio vs. voice over is genuine people. No matter how great a v/o talent you happen to be (and I have heard some great voices on this board!), you have time for newbies. No one talks down to anyone. Very encouraging. And I appreciate that more than I can tell you! Love being around positive people!!!

W

[Jodi Krangle]

Hi Whitley. I haven't been doing this all that long but the people here have been *fantastic*. Very encouraging and positive, as you say. That's especially appreciated (and needed!) when you're dealing with any profession that has to do with creativity - and people will be choosing you or not choosing you based on how they perceive your performance. That encouragement is what keeps me *sane*. ;) For instance, you can do *awesome* on an audition and still not get it. Not because you were *bad* (even if that's what that nasty little voice in the back of your head is saying...), but because you just weren't what they were looking for. Or because you sounded too much like someone's ex-wife. <laugh> (Or not *enough* if they were really looking for a voice that *did*. ;) ). So having a supportive community keeps our egos from breaking into fragile little pieces. ;) I love this place. :D

[Whitley]

LOL! I love the part about sounding like "someone's ex-wife". That's great Jodi! ROFL!!! :-)

Yes, I have to admit, it is hard making the transition from jock (when you have your minions who LOVE you and call you to tell you that every day) to doing voice over and you can BUY a gig! But, I'm still trying to figure this out. Someone very wise told me that my audition was good but it was all regional stuff. And if I wanted to play with national people, I needed to put national reads on my demo.

Also, have a question. Do you do the Facebook/Myspace/etc as a part of your voice over career? I actually didn't use them as a jock. Probably should have. What are your thoughts?

W

[Jodi Krangle]

Hi Whitley. Yeah ... this business can certainly be damaging to one's ego. ;) But as mentioned, boards like this one can keep us sane. At least was can commiserate with each *other*. :D

As for the Facebook/MySpace issue, I'm there - but I've been there for a while for my songwriting website promotion so ... I think it's a good idea to *be* there, but I don't think you have to spend a huge amount of *time* there. The way I think of it is in Internet Marketing terms - because that's what I did for 12 years prior to this. A good link pointing to your website is a good thing and helps your site rise in the search engine standings for your key terms. It helps your presence in general.

Also, if you haven't checked it out yet, visit irockthemicvo.com (I think that's the address...) I think they've changed their name to Voice Over Universe now - but that url should still work. It's a *great* place - and just for voice over folk!

[Whitley]

Jodi....can I adopt you as a sister? Seriously, thank you!!! I cannot believe how helpful and nurturing you all have been. Makes me glad that I finally made the move into v/o. I should have made this move years ago!

W

[Jodi Krangle]

Jodi....can I adopt you as a sister?

Hee! I'd be honored. ;) If you ever make it up the Toronto way, let me know. ;)


Makes me glad that I finally made the move into v/o. I should have made this move years ago!

I've been feeling that way myself. And I don't have the very helpful background of radio that you do! But we all have to start from somewhere, right?

[billelder]

Whitley,

I'm an old radio guy myself. The biggest difference to me is the priority. When I did a morning show (for 26 years) my concern was the show. I started radio when I was 15 and had never done anything else. You know the drill. You do the air shift and the sales department handles everything to financially keep the thing going.

When I started the voiceover thing, I was now in sales. <g> That was a whole new thing for me, although you do sell yourself on the air. Best of luck to you!

[Whitley]

Jodi...absolutely! If you find 4 people with Southern accents parked outside your door, that's us!!! :-) And same for you! Your family is welcome here any time. We are a hospitable bunch ;-)

Bill, thank you for the welcome! I have run into so many folks like us. With consolidations, etc., in order to make a living (and to have fun doing it), so many of us have left. I did it as a hobby, to be quite honest. My husband makes a good living and pays the bills. So, even my full time gig was a hobby to me. My salary wasn't enough to be considered "real money".

Finally, I decided that my family time was more important and I loved voice over work more than air work. Bought the equipment and here I am. Now...I'm a sponge. Learning from all of you and trying to un-learn all of my bad radio habits. :-)

I have appreciated all of the warmth everyone has shown me here! It has been truly amazing. I only hope that, one day, I can return the favor.

Blessings to all-

[Jodi Krangle]

:D Whitley, maybe we could meet in the middle some time? I'm typically in the Alabama and Atlanta area around the beginning of January ... Do you ever find yourself in that area? Maybe we could meet for coffee and have a gab. :D

I'm doing pretty much the same as you - bought the equipment and now I'm a sponge. ;) I like the description. With the on air work, you're probably pretty comfortable behind a microphone though, so that's definitely something you have going for you that a lot of beginners still need to learn!

[Whitley]

I don't know Jodi....with your stage experience with singing, I think it's all the same.

What Bob Bergen said to you the other day still rattles in my brain. You gotta own it! It was wonderful advise to you, and to all of us.

I have had production directors direct me all of these years. Trying to tell me how to read, interpret the copy, how best to sound, etc.... Until I thought my head would explode!!! LOL! Then you throw in program directors, "well meaning" co-workers (don't get me started...lol!), all think you should SOUND a certain way. And it certainly isn't the way I'm going to get a job out here in voice over/acting land!

This is going to be a great adventure! I cannot wait to get my feet wet, my ego bruised and un-learn all of these bad habits that I have accumulated over these past 20 years. This is going to be sooooo much fun!!!

[Jodi Krangle]

Unfortunately, Whitley, my experience on stage singing *also* gave me some bad habits - so I feel your pain. ;) Voice overs are different, no doubt about it. But what Bob said was very true - we DO have to own it. You're right to draw my attention to that advice.

Ultimately, I know I'll succeed in this business because there are some qualities to my voice that I know are appealing to others. I have to focus on my uniqueness - know that there are some things I can bring to a read that others may not be able to (not that what *they* bring has less value or anything) - and be confident in my ability to let others HEAR that. The qualities I have to my voice and interpretation (which is improving all the time) would be very different to the qualities someone else would have. Ultimately, it's up to the client to decide. And I take no offense if they decide that I don't fit what they need today. Maybe I'll fit what they need tomorrow. :D I'll keep at it.

I hope this doesn't sound arrogant or anything. That's certainly not how it was meant. I'm just taking Bob's advice and "owning" it. ;)

[Whitley]

No way, Sister! Not arrogant at all. I think we all have to realize, at this point in the game, that we all sound unique and we all "bring something to the table". Or, why bother? Why bother with the time or the money? Why invest? Why leave our jobs? Why ask our families to invest the time and effort?

You ARE good!!! You are just a few jobs away from making it. I'm a bit farther down the line than you. And that's being realistic. I had some health issues (a small stroke that I'm almost completely recovered from...tell ME I'm not a fighter...lol!) But, I'm rolling again. It's going to take me a while, but I believe. You should too!!! There are so many talented people on this forum that should believe in themselves. We all need a group hug!!!

[Jodi Krangle]

:friends:I'm there for that group hug. ;)

Sorry to hear about your health difficulties, Whitley - but yeah - you're certainly a fighter! Keep it up and *nothing* will stand in your way! :D

Looking forward to hearing some demos from you when you're ready to let us hear.

And I'll keep plugging away too. :D