People have different routines in life that they are accustomed to. Some start their day by checking their social media accounts, praying, eating breakfast and taking a bath before going to their destination. For a single voice actor their daily routines are different from a normal one. They need to wake up early in the morning to make some voice workouts, check the different things they need to do and preparing as early as possible.
Through their responsibility, they tend to apply new routines and strategies to adapt the changing environment of the voice acting industry. In life, there are times that people are expected to have a phase of challenges, like today, time of pandemic. Due to COVID-19, people forced to make major changes in their daily lives in the last few months. From maintaining interaction with friends and families at a distance, people learn to use social media like video calls, chat and discovered online meetings.
From face to face the new normal homeschooling students emerged, some workers are working from home which is new for them specially for voice actor who are accustomed doing work in a studio, while everyone else remains from home for safety.
For advice on how to create a new voice over routine and beyond, we asked our three Certified Voice Artists to give us a glimpse into their daily lives and share how their routine has changed when COVID-19 hooked in. They are among the Top 20 CVAs, a group of experienced voice artists who can share their knowledge and advice with the community in order to help talents at all levels and improve their careers.
VOICE ACTOR DAILY ROUTINES
Joshua Anthony Simeon
“First, I have to get up at noon because I usually do my voice over recordings at midnight, and then I have to prepare my brunch. After that, it's just a matter of taking my time by doing chores or going online to check my emails or potential auditions. I also work out at home using just a bench and a pair of dumbbells. Thanks to my favorite YouTube PewDiePie because he has the same equipment to work out. So I decided to try it out and make it into a lifestyle. Then I will have my dinner and play video games with my brother while waiting for the silence here in my neighborhood, so that I can start recording the voiceovers for my projects. I guess that's it, hehe. It is simple and I think it will be my regular routine even if the pandemic is over.”
Pau Castillo
“Actually, nothing much has changed. I still get to do my usual routine as a professional. But if I get VO opportunities, I do them at night when everything's settled and quiet. To be honest, I don't have a lot of VO experience. Mostly, I host and do talks, which is both a skill and a passion that I have just discovered during this pandemic. I did a few hosts in college and some talks when I was still a part of "When in Manila," but I didn't give it much thought at the time. Only now, thanks to CVAP. And I'm very grateful for the opportunities CVAP gave me! I was always dragged to VG8 Radio (as a guest / guest host, lol!) and, of course, to CVAP-related events (Summer VoicesCON, GMMs, and Anniversary), also hosting Success Voices on VG8. But today, we are on season break, and the latest addition is I am now a permanent CVAP speaker along with Joshua Simeon.”
Bryan Dave Perez
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, I have been looking for different activities and groups that will help me to cope with this pandemic. After I graduated from the Certified Voice Artist Program Batch 3, my life literally changed from nothing to something. I’ve been invited to different shows and offered to co-host 3 shows on VG8 Radio. But as days and months passed by, something changed everything. I am now one of the hosts and the Managing Director of the Voice of the Youth Network, one of the producers of PrompTalk, an online host, a motivational speaker, and an up-and-coming director.
Challenges That a Voice Artist Facing in Daily Voice Over Routines
Joshua Anthony Simeon
- Be
immune to rejections after auditioning
- Do
not envy other people's success. Instead, support them.
- Do
not forget the people who helped you to make yourself a better person.
- Focus
on the things/people that will help you be a better person.
- Being
confident rather than getting nervous about the things that you will do is
good. Just remember to put your heart into it.
Pau Castillo
-
Noise and environmental circumstances. We won't be able to record the best
things for a while, but once we have the necessary equipment, we'll figure out
when to do so.
- Competition. Admittedly, this is really a
challenge. If we really want to thrive in this art, we should push through by
practicing and auditioning.
- While you're in the course of "trial
and error" when finding the right voice for you, keep on the lookout for
your potential niche as well. It's really tempting to go and get all the voiceover
and dubbing opportunities. But I always make a conscious effort to thrive in
areas where I excel. Personally, I want to become a dubber, but that is one of
my flaws. Haha! As previously shared, hosting was one of the set asides, but
that's what I thrived on later on.
- This is not just about voices. There is a
common misconception that talking in a modulated voice or using slang is
sufficient. You should sound like a radio DJ. Here's the thing: different needs
require different voices. So, we must be versatile in being able to adjust to
what's needed. Again, timing favors those who try. So, push yourself and try
your hardest! But be open to the idea that there are specific needs that you
need to address.
- Keep in mind that rest is important. I can't stress this enough. We are sometimes too excited to speak up. We also tend to push ourselves to the limit. Some people think that if we don't drink cold water, we're not going to speak that much or have enough time to work, but proper overall rest is also necessary. Trust me, being tired will be heard in your voice.
Bryan Dave Perez
- Noises from the Environment
- Unfamiliar words and pronunciation
- Quality of the Microphone - Hoarse and/or
Sore Throat
-
Rejections and Frustrations Additional Advice on Voice Artist Routines
Additional Advice on Voice Artist Routines
Joshua Anthony Simeon
-
Practice.
- Listening to other Voice Artists works so
that I can try and learn how to do voice overs better.
- Reading aloud.
- Not eating or drinking sweets before and after recording.
- Responding to other people's questions regarding doing voice overs.
Pau Castillo
-
Don't be afraid to take on new opportunities. Sometimes you may feel that it's
not for you or it's not something you're good at. But, you know, it's just a
skill that needs to be unlocked (when I was a CVAP student, I kept telling to Sir Jeff that I couldn't be a host. As in, I'd rather do anything except
hosting. But look how well that worked out hahaha).
- Equipment is a worthy investment. In the industry of voice acting and voice overs, especially in the new normal of using a voice from home, your equipment must compete with studio quality.
- Build
genuine friendships and camaraderie, especially within the CVA family. It is
different from the support of CVAs for each other. At the minimal, you get
tagged for opportunities you excel in. At most, you get a solid group of
friends who will be your "tropa" even outside the context of the
CVAP.
- Timing doesn't favor those who are ready.
Timing favors those who TRY. This goes along with Sir Choy's "Availability
is the best ability." We're never fully ready. It would be pointless to
say that we are 100% ready. So, if we're waiting for that, then we're waiting
for nothing. Jump and dive in, because there will ALWAYS be people who will
keep you afloat.
- It's okay to get tired, but not to give up. We all get tired, we all get burned out. That's okay. The most important thing is that we let it pass and find the strength within ourselves to stand up and move forward again. You're always one decision, one audition, one opportunity away from changing the course of your path, especially in the art of voice artistry.
Bryan Dave Perez
-
Voice Rest after every hosting event
-
Voice Exercises before recording
- Not drinking too many cold drinks
- Practice, Practice, Practice
- Grab the opportunity (Availability is the
best ability)