ENTER VoiceOver New Year's Resolution Contest HERE!

[kim]

Twas the night before New Years and all through my house
Microphones, voices, were quiet for now
I’d packed up the invoices last year had brought
In hopes that next year, much more would be sought

I carefully traced down the lists that I’d made
Of studios, clients and voices portrayed
I counted producers I’d gotten on board
And said in a voice good enough to record

”NEXT year I know, I know JUST what to do
I’ll talk to these contacts TEN times, yes, plus two!”
I’ll bet there are MORE jobs they have just ahead.
I bet if I’m nice, and professional, yes,
I’m SURE they would lead me to sessions unknown
I’ll send out new demo’s, I’ll market full blown!

As all of the options spun round in my head
I plugged in my headphones and headed to bed
My voice on the audio book in my ears
And a plan for success in my new VO year!


:)

(sorry Moe - wrote this b4 I saw we had the same idea!)

[bobbin beam]

Mission: To increase my voiceover income by at least 10% in 2008 I will…

10. Complete new website and launch no later than January 31, 2008
9. Update all demos by end of first quarter.
8. Increase postcard mailings and prospect database by 50% utilizing direct mail, four times per year.
7. Invest in more voice coaching, workouts, classes.
6. Attend Voice 2008 and plan on meeting as many new people as possible.
5. Complete last year’s reading list of voice business books.
4. Finish business and internet marketing plans by 2/14/2008.
3. Keep mind, body and spirit healthy by stimulating cognitive and acting skills through continuous education, eating healthy and exercising no less than 4 days per week, attending church and being charitable and active in the community.
2. Spend more time with family. REALLY turn off computer by 8PM.
1. Ignore husband’s suggestion to increase my efficiency by placing a recliner in sound booth so I can work while sleeping.

Note: No number 11. Writers on strike.

Thanks for listening! Bobbin Beam, Voice Actress

[alvanik]

I vow to dedicate myself to overcoming my speaking imperfections.

[voicy1stef]

I will continue to work on in 2008:

• continued professional development as a voice over artist
• keeping eyes and ears open and letting all and sundry know that I am a full time professional career voice artist--and I sound like this--- (sound of demos and emails whizzing out from my office at the speed of light)
• increasing my client base
• joining local Creatives Group (there are a few AV peeps there--how do you do? my name is stefania and I can help you!)
• forming alliances with voiceover agencies/organisations in which we work together positively for each other's happiness and prosperity--helping each other's business to grow. I am happy to be useful and of service!
• increase my income leading to a full time voice artist career serving a wide variety of clients/organisations
• do more anime work! increase my client base for anime work! increase my range of voices for anime work
• work with my singing CD's for improving my voice and vocal range
• work out at gym (Yayy!) for increasing stamina and keeping my girlish figure (ha,ha!)
• drink lots and lots of water to offset cappucino and muffin attacks!
• keep in close contact with my v.com forum cyber buds, learning and making contributions to the gang as I am able
• under Grace and perfect ways, it's done

Signed,
Stefania

13/12/07

[SeptemberDay]

Dear Judges of the Voice Over New Year's Resolution Contest,


Greetings! My name is Maybelle and I am a professional Fairy Godmother. I am writing to you on behalf of one of my charges, September Day Leach. I understand that your contest has some fabulous prizes in store for the winner and according to this wish I just received, my September sure could use them. You see, she is moving from Atlanta,Georgia all the way across the country to Los Angeles next year, all by herself. She is leaving behind all of her friends and family just to chase her star and she's called on me for some help. Now, I've already taken care of transportation (she was out of pumpkins, but managed to dig up some bok choi which I was able to mold into a Honda) and she's been a very good girl by avoiding going to the Mall with her seed money from a few choice gigs I was able to get her. But I still think she needs a little something more and having all of this great coaching and exposure timed with her move could really help launch her career. September assures me, should her wish come true, that:

• she will never, ever, ever plug her microphone directly into her soundcard again
• she will stand up for every recording
• for 2008, all extra money will go to marketing and equipment
• she will stay in touch with her real and internet voice over family while she's on the West Coast
• she will stay focused on her dreams every day
• she will only stalk Brad Pitt once every two weeks

If you could help, I would be most grateful and would be happy to throw in a few incentives as well. How about making those holiday calories not count? All green lights for one week? We'll talk.

Sincerely,

Maybelle Merriweather, Fairy Godmother

[PierceVoice]

Next year I will continue my evasion of real work.

In 2008 I will begin calling the years by twenty. Twenty-oh-eight. A lot of people think you shouldn't start doing that until 2010, but by taking this approach I'll be taken as a hip trendsetter who lays golden eggs of inspiration wherever I go. My creative omelet is wonderfully fulfilling, and also available in sunny-side up and poached. Plus, coining phrases can be good for business. Clients will see my name and picture "cool, innovative and sexy."

Also in twenty-oh-eight I will become sexy.

I see that plenty of voice folk are vowing to get their name out next year. Not that your idea isn't good, but hasn't that been done to death? I mean, can you think of anybody who DIDN'T get their name out there? No. You can't. But in twenty-oh-eight, I will be that name that you don't know. And for that, I will be known.

Equality in the workplace, lower taxes, improve schools, and give homeless children food. If you don't choose me, I won't take it as a lack of support for these initiatives... but THEY might.

[edgood]

Be positive as I proceed.
Lean into the wind of adversity.
Be still and listen-for the spiritual.
Find a vocal coach here in Southern Oregon-for the physical.
Practice reading at least 1 hr/day-for the strength.
Increase knowledge of the business of VO-for the bills.
Post work using edsgoodnight.com, Librivox, SFFAudio, etc.-for the fun.
Launch my web site to start the journey.
Contact, build relationship with others-for networking and social growth.
Have a less quiet web presence. It’s not communicating if I don’t add to forums.
Go to L.A. Voice 2008 International in August to open up the world.
Leave current job behind and don’t look back-for peace of mind.

-Ed

[LindaJCarter]

Dashing through LA
Fightin' traffic all the way.
Getting’ to those payin’ gigs
To help me on my way.
I will quit my job
So I can be at home
To grab all those auditions fast
And do them right away-o

I will do, all it takes
To get the software on
To my Vista computer.
Then my woe will be gone.
I know the driver will
Soon be on its way.
Then I can just double-click
And record right away.

I won’t need to switch
From one box to the next.
I can leave my stuff plugged in
I’ll no longer be hexed
By the techno stuff
That might at some point work
If I keep my fingers crossed.
And then I will just smirk.

I will do, the research
‘N’ see if I am good
At voices and at characters:
Can I sound like a hood?
I will try, looping. Yes,
I will get some gigs.
I will read the books I have
And many other things.

I will book enough
To pay all my dang bills.
I’ll update my reel
And it will give you chills.
I will clean my booth
(Er, closet - they’re the same),
So I can stand or sit right down
In comfort: that’s the game.

I will live all my life
As a full human being.
I will love myself a lot
And so be worry-free.
I will train, all I can.
I will network, too.
I will do the things I need
To keep out of the doo.

I will send them fast.
I’ll record a lot.
I’ll subscribe to anything
That can be had or bought.
I will look around
To see if I can find
An agent who will help me out,
“Get me out of this bind. Please!”

When I’ve done, all these things
I’ll be a success.
What that means is that I’m proud
And not under duress.
I’ll be so confident
That I will surely see
Enough money within the year
To go see family. Whee!

[roger]

Hi, my name is Roger and I'm a recovering announcer. (off mic voices: "Hi, Roger). I've been involved in TV announcing for nearly 30 years.
To achieve Voice Artist sobriety, I resolve to follow these twelve steps in the coming new year...2008.

1. Admit I am powerless over my burning desire to become a voice-over talent and without it my life is unbearable and unmanageable.

2. Believe that a VO Power (not necessarily Mr. LaFontaine) greater than myself, can bring me to voice acting fulfillment and sanity.

3. Make a decision to turn my voice and career aspirations over to the care of the Great Voice Coach and enter all contests with VO related prizes.

4. Make a searching and realistic inventory of my talents and abilities (ok, and business plan).

5. Admit to the Great Voice Coach, myself and colleagues, my career doubts and fears.

6. Show I am ready and willing to have Voice Coach remove flaws and impediments to a successful VO career.

7. Humbly ask Voice Coach to remove any arrogance (unless called for in copy),or false modesty from my performance.

8. Make a list of all persons and entities that could possibly further my career and find out from them how I might better serve them.

9. Make direct contact with them by all means available and necessary, to offer my services, except where it might be harmful to my career or the audience.

10.Continue vigilance in maintaining a personal inventory of my strengths and weaknesses and graciously defer to the client or director, even if they are wrong. (could that happen?)

11. Seek, through continuous training and practice to improve my skills and my relationship with my Higher Powers (Voice Coach, Agent, client), as I understand them, striving to always keep up with the desires and demands of said Higher Powers and possess the ability to carry them out.

12. Having experienced the awakening resulting from the performing of these steps, to carry this message to all the VO Forums and to continue to embody that "natural, real guy, next door delivery". Sincerity, that's the key. Once I can fake that, I've got it made.

Serenity Now! ( Director: can you say it again with more conviction and up and slower and sound like Jason Alexander? No? Sorry...NEXT!)

-roger

[ROBIN]

Ode to a Voiceover Artist

The old year is waning
Holidays are frenetic
I’ll start ’08 resolutions
By waxing poetic!

For e-mail marketing
Here’s a new strategy:
Send demos to more
Than just Mom and Aunt Dee.

Buy more music! More equipment!
Will Santa help me record?
What I want is a Neumann
It’s more than I can afford.

Change my old closet studio
From a cramped, tiny place
To a three room addition
With couch and fireplace.

Now give me Wi-Fi, FTP
And Bluetooth.
It’s all tax deductible
If you just stretch the truth.

Investing in more stuff
Is a personal choice
But you’ll never get hired
If you don’t have “the voice.”