http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/articles.htm VoiceOverXtra.com Articles en-us Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:48:58 EDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss johnflorian@voiceoverxtra.com (John Florian) Copyright © Voice-Over Xtra!. All rights reserved. http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/article.htm?id=xh72zwfa If a picture tells a thousand words, what does the "look and feel" of your marketing say? Gabrielle "Gabby" Nistico, VP and co-founder of VOCareer.com, suggests chucking the cliche graphics of many voice-over web sites. Instead, hone an image that exemplifies your "sound" - and use it in all your marketing. Here's how ... Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:12:32 EDT http://www.voiceoverxtra.com.com/article.htm?id=xh72zwfa http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/article.htm?id=3okzs2ot At one time or another, every voice actor will face periods of time when it seems like their voice-over career has come to a screeching halt - and the phone just stops ringing! What are you going to do when that time comes? You'll find the answer Wednesday night, March 17 - St. Patty's Day! - in an exclusive webinar with top voice acting trainers James Alburger and Penny Abshire ... Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:47:55 EST http://www.voiceoverxtra.com.com/article.htm?id=3okzs2ot http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/article.htm?id=oid8x6tt Voicing and managing your e-learning projects can be an education in itself - keeping all the records straight as projects often change and drag on. Rick Gordon, owner/co-founder of e-Learning Voices.com - an online marketplace for such projects - knows the process well, and offers these checklists for ensuring you please your client - and get paid properly ... Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:16:02 EST http://www.voiceoverxtra.com.com/article.htm?id=oid8x6tt http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/article.htm?id=ba4n15yz While you'll never know for sure what the client has in his/her mind for "the voice," you can certainly improve your chances in landing the gig - and try to synch up with the client's vision - by preparing each audition carefully, says veteran voice actor Bobbin Beam. Follow her routine - starting at dawn - to better performances ... Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:45:43 EST http://www.voiceoverxtra.com.com/article.htm?id=ba4n15yz http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/article.htm?id=qkycu906 Not all voice-over jobs are created equal - but every one should be approached with the same enthusiasm and effort to be at your best, says veteran voice actor Amy Taylor. Here are her six tips to always shine for clients - and get their repeat business ... Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:21:24 EST http://www.voiceoverxtra.com.com/article.htm?id=qkycu906 http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/article.htm?id=pm54qixq In a self-employed voice-over business, you don't get a "regular" paycheck with taxes deducted. Instead, you pay "estimated taxes" on a quarterly basis to hopefully avoid penalties and a rush for funds at tax time. But there can be nasty surprises if income drastically changes from year-to-year - or even month to month. Tax expert Kristin Delfau tells how to cope ... Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:03:57 EST http://www.voiceoverxtra.com.com/article.htm?id=pm54qixq http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/article.htm?id=0a5u8zpq Voice actor Jean-Marc Berne watched TV news of the Haiti earthquake. "I couldn't help but sob at the images of rubble and dead bodies," he says, "wondering if any of them might be an aunt or a cousin of mine." But living in New York City, what could he do to help? Plenty. He made raising funds a personal mission, and at the request of VoiceOverXtra, shares his story ... Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:34:10 EST http://www.voiceoverxtra.com.com/article.htm?id=0a5u8zpq http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/article.htm?id=qgzm2w1r Would you describe yourself as disciplined? It's probably not the word we'd use to describe how we move through our days, weeks, months and years, says Miata Edoga, an actor and president/founder of Abundance Bound - an organization supporting actors, voice actors and artists. But discipline in these five areas will not only help our voice-over careers - but also enhance our joy of life (yes, even having fun) ... Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:10:41 EST http://www.voiceoverxtra.com.com/article.htm?id=qgzm2w1r http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/article.htm?id=4sxx6d1r A disappointing experience for voice actor Mandy Nelson led to an eye-opening opportunity: voicing short Internet videos. Look around your home town, she says. The business is there! Here's why and how to pursue it (before she grabs that biz from you) ... Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:39:37 EST http://www.voiceoverxtra.com.com/article.htm?id=4sxx6d1r http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/article.htm?id=s1rr4rkw Are you wasting your time in efforts to begin or expand your job opportunities in narrating audiobooks? There's a knack to obtaining these jobs - starting with a "killer" demo and continuing with marketing savvy that elevates you above the competition. Top coach Bettye Zoller teaches this and more, Monday night, March 1 in AUDIOBOOKS: DEMOS & JOBS, presented by VoiceOverXtra ... Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:14:53 EST http://www.voiceoverxtra.com.com/article.htm?id=s1rr4rkw