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VOICE ACTING
When You're Having 'One Of Those Days' ...
Disconnect, Take A Break! Reconnect
March 20, 2015

By Rob Marley
Voice Actor

Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints. We've all had days where nothing seems to go right: 

  • You lose a client.
  • You forgot to edit out that huge expletive you shouted in the middle of the recording before sending the "finished" audio.
  • You sent a marketing postcard to the right address, but the wrong company.
  • There's a buzz in your audio chain.
  • Your preamp dies.
  • You can't seem to get past a particular sentence in the script without flubbing the line.
  • Your computer greets you with a "blue screen of death" in the middle of a lengthy narration project, etc. etc. etc.
So, what can you do when everything seems to be going sideways?    

Simple: fall back, regroup, and attack.  

DISCONNECT - RECONNECT

In your personal studio, when you're presented with a nuisance buzzing or things just don't seem right, I've found that sometimes the best method is to disconnect everything, then re-connect it all back together.

It seems counter-productive at first, but really, it's the a core principal to troubleshooting a problem. Sometimes the simple act of disconnecting / reconnecting the equipment can fix the issue.

I've crawled under stages in the middle of a concert trying to get subwoofers to function.

Computer not behaving the way it should? When was the last time you restarted it? Or ran a maintenance or virus program?   

STOP! TAKE A BREAK

If it's something you did - some bone-headed mistake for which you should have known better, but did anyway: Stop what you're doing and take a break.

When I can't seem to get through even the shortest script without butchering the words or sounding like I've got a mouth full of marbles, I take a break. 

Go outside. Let the sunlight hit you in the face for a few minutes. Breathe in some fresh air.

I've found that taking a short walk can increase blood flow to the brain, which can help improve creative thought.  

REALLY A CONSPIRACY?

When it gets to the point where it feels as if the entire world is conspiring against your very existence, it's time to step away from the microphone, take a break and re-wire the circuits. 

When you come back to it later, you'll be able to look at things differently, which is usually enough to get you past that stumbling point. Or hiccup. Or meltdown.      

Don't let a bad day psyche you out. Just fall back, regroup and attack again!
-------------------
ABOUT ROB
A Los Angeles native, Rob Marley is an accomplished voice talent, producer and writer, now living in the hill country of Austin TX.


Web: www.MarleyAudio.com


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Comments (1)
Rebecca aka LoveThatRebecca
3/20/2015 at 5:05 AM
SUCH IMPORTANT a reminder Rob - Great! I agree and will add that when you feel exhausted and try to push on, that can also be very detrimental and put you in this same mental place. Take a break and a nap if needed!!! Drink some water, play with a pet, care for a plant or garden or get some exercise... it'll be worth it.
Rob - great share!
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