Before we get into this topic, if you want to listen to one of the audiobooks I produced, you can check it out here. If any of the books seem interesting, let me know and I can give you a code to get it free. BUT you have to pinky promise you'll leave a review! ( ๑‾̀◡‾́)σ"You don't know, what you don't know, right?
Starting out with anything new is scary. It's intimidating. Daunting? Yes, that too.
I didn't know a single thing about voice acting except that you needed to... well, use your voice. I started by going to a site called #Librivox where they produce free audiobooks that are available to the public domain. I chose to do two sections from a book called 'American Leaders and Heroes' by Wilbur F. Gordy which I will link at the end of this post if you'd like to check it out (Spoilers: I talk way toooooo fast in it). But I digress.
Okay! Let's go. I can do this!
Just talk into a microphone. JUST TALK INTO THE MICROPHONE!!!!
---Timeline of Recording---
Forgot to push record
Messed up a word
***Panic***
Try to re-record the line
Spoke before hitting the record button
Messed up more words
The cycle continues till I finish the chapter
Phew, the recording is finished. Now onto post-production!
---Timeline of Post-production---
Starts Listening
Oh gawd, I hate my voice!
***Disassociates to listen***
Why am I so quiet?!
Researches how to increase volume
Hold on, what's gain? Oh, that is volume! (sort of)
Does more technical stuff
And that goes on for a little bit.
Here's the thing, I did watch videos and read tutorials on all of this voice-acting/voice-over stuff beforehand, but until I put it into practice, nothing would stick.
And guess what I failed...a lot!
Because then I started to do auditions on voice-over websites. Even though not getting a role isn't necessarily a failure, I definitely considered it one.
That was difficult to work through. I tried not to let it bother me at first, but little by little, all of those supposed 'failures' were getting to me.
This was supposed to be easier, why can't I get this?
So I stopped.
I stopped for ~2 years.
It took me that long to come to terms with the fact that I NEEDED to fail. It was okay.
Just like every other part of life, it's just what happens when you are learning something new.
Still sucks, but it is what it is, unfortunately.
After getting back up from my self-imposed ~2-year pity part, I started trying again. This next time is going to be different. I started to audition for everything, not with the intention of getting the part, but just to get myself out there. I started getting more small parts (to be fair, I still am but it's becoming more lucrative) and it gets easier and easier. I don't worry as much anymore.
If I get it, I get it, if not...I probably forgot I auditioned for it anyway!
I watched a ton of 'motivational videos' but one I want to share with you helped me a ton in moving beyond my idea of failure, which I'll have below.
At times, it felt cheesy to reference these types of videos. But hell, if they don't get the job done.
Be kind to yourself. If you're trying something new and you fall, get back up. Imagine yourself as a baby first learning how to walk. We don't berate the child for not knowing how to walk. We encourage them (unless you're an asshole, I'm assuming you are not if you're reading this).
That voice in your head is tough to keep positive. I know that. You know that. And I know that you know that I know that.
So watch these types of videos until you can get that voice in your head, your voice, to work with you and not against you. That's the next step and probably every other step after that too.
Anyway, if you want to check out my first VO stuff check it out here at Librivox.
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