OK, having trouble breaking this circle...

Kim White

Anyone else with this dilemma?
Consistent workers have their own equipment.
Equipment costs money.
Must make money to buy equipment.
Can't make money without auditioning.

Anyone else do auditions out of a studio? Any other ideas to help me think outside the box to get enough money to buy equipment?

Putting it on a credit card is not an option, as we just purchased a home.
I've thought about doing "talking homes" for realtors to generate the income... but looking for any other success stories and ideas. Surely, someone in this forum has been there....

Thank you!

Kim White · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007, 21:03 (GMT) Post subject: P.S.

Philip Banks · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007, 21:27 (GMT) Post subject:

Dateline 28th February 1990 - For my first job I did not audition. The producer listened to my demo and hired me on the basis of what she heard - fee $130 in todays money that would be equal to a $320 job.

Dateline 16th July 2007. So far this month 32 sessions (didn't count the number of jobs). Number of auditions 0.

Philip Banks, lives in a little fishing village on the north east coast of Scotland 100 yards from the beach. No big, not clever, not famous and not showing off.

You would be amazed at what is possible, pick up the telephone and tell people what you do. Send them demo's on a CD. Make 10 phone calls per day for 3 months ........ I did. You can too.

My only caveat - You have to be able to deliver the goods.

I'm guessing that if 100 people read this most will curl their upper lip in disdain - One person might think "It's worth a shot" . In my case it was and hope it is for you too.

Bon chance (very continental)

Vance Elderkin · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007, 21:36 (GMT) Post subject:

Kim:

What do you already have, and how much do you have available right now?

Kim White · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007, 22:03 (GMT) Post subject:

Maxine Dunn · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007, 22:22 (GMT) Post subject:

Philip Banks · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007, 22:54 (GMT) Post subject:

Not wanting to get into debt is a great goal. Now you need to think about where you are, where you would like to be and set out "one step at a time goals" to get there.

Once you get your demo's out there lots of people will give you work without the need to do auditions and you'll have the budget to hire a good studio too.

Vance Elderkin · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007, 23:49 (GMT) Post subject:

Philip's long-term advice is excellent. Getting a plan together is crucial.

Now, a cheap starter studio...here's my best shot.

You didn't mention if you had a computer, but I assume you do if you can post on this bulletin board. The Snowball mic is a good starter mic. Another alternative is the Samson C01U. You can find it around $US 80-90. This mic also plugs directly into a computer USB port, no preamp needed. If you look on eBay, you may be able to get either one of these mics at a little better price. (Last time I checked, there were a ton of C01U mics available--don't know about the Snowball.) You also need a cheap mic stand, either a floor stand or a desk stand. If you really want to splurge, a shock mount is nice.

SoundForge is good software for recording, but your least expensive alternative that will do a decent job is Audacity. It's absolutely free -- you download it and install it. Works on a Mac, a PC, even on Linux. Be sure you also get and install the LAME encoder (also free) -- that way, you'll be able to painlessly save your work in MP3 format. (The link is
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/)

If you have a large enough walk-in closet, with clothes hanging around, that might be a good recording booth for you. Failing that, you just need a place as quiet as possible where you can minimize sound reflections. Cheapest way is to sit in front of the mic and pull a quilt or a bedspread over your head. If there's a window next to you, stick a pillow in it.

Hope that helps.

Kim White · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007, 00:57 (GMT) Post subject: Maxine, Philip, Vance....

Wow! That's some great advice! Next week I'll spend some time planning and researching all these options. I have more than I thought...

1. A computer
2. A Dynamic mic (no interface -- any inexpensive suggestions?) and cable
3. Cool Edit Pro & I'll download Audacity.
4. I'll get a mic stand
5. I have a GREAT closet for recording. Even when planes land on the runway across the street (I'm not kidding -- we live on an air force base), I can't hear them in my closet.

I'll check into the mics you've mentioned, as well as the software. Now the big question (preparing for tomatoes headed my way).... is voice123 worth the price?

You all have been so generous to help me get started... really, thank you.

Adam James · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007, 01:03 (GMT) Post subject:

Kim,

If you have CEP I shouldn't worry about getting audacity, unless you need it to convert/save to Mp3.

I built my home studio on a minuscule budget; mixer (with built in preamp for my microphone) £70, mic £100, cables around £20, sound card for PC £100 - total cost around £300, but in the states equipment is cheaper. grrr...

Adam

Vance Elderkin · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007, 01:45 (GMT) Post subject:

Ditto Adam...Cool Edit Pro should be perfectly fine for VO work. You might try Audacity anyway, because it costs you nothing. You will need something that allows you to convert to MP3.

What kind of dynamic mic do you have? Maybe it's good enough, maybe it isn't. Tell us the model, and we can tell you if it's worth getting a preamp for it.

A preamp for a dynamic mic starts at around $30-$40, and the sky's the limit. I can't give you much help quality-wise, except to generically look in the specs for a signal-to-noise ratio that's the highest negative number you can find....perhaps someone else can help here. Take a look at sites like zzsounds.com, sweetwater.com or musiciansfriend.com and see what's available. Or, you'll probably find these on eBay, too. (A friend of mine with a really nice sophisticated setup got ALL of his gear on eBay.)

Seriously, this is ALL the equipment I'd get right now until you get the feel for this.

I would also recommend that you spring for a book--James Alburger and Penny Abshire's The Art Of Voice Acting. Best possible source for explaining what you're getting into. It's available from their web site (voice-acting.com), or a Barnes & Noble may have it in stock. A little less than $30. I was a radio pro for 20+ years. Believe me, this is NOTHING like radio announcing. This book could save you a ton of wasted effort & money!

Is V123 worth the money?...I would tactfully say that the jury is still out on that. IMHO the system is still in the shake-out-the-bugs stage, so it's hard to say. You will find some heated opinions on this board both ways. In the end, it's a business decision that everyone will have to make for themselves. Is it somehow contributing to your bottom line, or not?

Let us know how it's coming.

Kim White · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007, 01:58 (GMT) Post subject: Vance

Vance,

I have the book, read it cover to cover. Great stuff. Actually, it should be required reading for every radio DJ, too --- could you imagine what a wonderful world it would be if our airwaves were "puker-free?"

I think the Dynamic mic is model "POC" ....LOL! I'll be checking out the other mics suggested here....

Have a great evening!

Vance Elderkin · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007, 02:07 (GMT) Post subject: Re: Vance

Maxine Dunn · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007, 02:22 (GMT) Post subject:

Kim White · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007, 03:52 (GMT) Post subject: Maxine

Maxine,
Could you post a sample of the Blue Snowball, so that I can hear what it sounds like???

Thank you!