Theresa C. Ho Voice Overs

Storytelling and Storytellers

April 20, 2022 by Theresa C. Ho 10 Comments

During good times and difficult ones, storytelling is so important in so many ways. Stories help connect us and have no geographical boundaries. They are magical, allowing us to use our imaginations. As well, they transport us to a different time and place. They allow us to experience different cultures, characters and experiences that we may never get to live in our own lives.

We tell stories that are happy, sad, informative, inspirational, historical and the list goes on and on. Stories are not only an outlet for the creator, but also allow others to empathize or to live vicariously through them, whether they be written or verbal. They give us hope and allow us to share history and to learn from them. In addition, stories help us heal, whether as the storyteller or as the audience.

Storytelling allows us as humans to share a bit of ourselves, lives, experiences, thoughts, beliefs, imagination and creativity.

Stories that Need to be Told

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you know that the last two years have been pretty difficult for many people, all over the world, due to the pandemic. Alas, we now have the invasion of Ukraine to add to the sadness and heartbreak.

For those of us living through the pandemic, we will have numerous stories, good and bad, to tell future generations. From the panic buying and hoarding of toilet paper, to the heroic stories of our frontline workers. These and so many other stories of the pandemic will be remembered because they will be recorded and passed on through time.

The same goes for war stories. Not only are the stories of the atrocities in Ukraine being recorded by official news outlets, but also by regular people. Storytelling is such an important and powerful medium for those who are being oppressed.

Storytelling – Then and Now

Humans have always been storytellers, throughout our existence. Storytelling comes in so many forms, including oral traditions, artwork and the written word.

With today’s technology so readily available, many are taking advantage and using it to tell their own stories through blogs, social media posts, vlogs and podcasts. Once upon a time, we needed a publisher, film or TV producer, or an official news outlet to be able to share our stories with the world. Advancements in technology and changes in how people consume information has allowed everyone and anyone to share their stories.

Voice Overs = Storytelling

As voice actors, we are oral storytellers. We use our voices to tell stories, using the written words of the author or copywriter. We use many different techniques, following written or verbal direction, and give it our own unique flavor. And that is why every voice actor is unique. The way I sound and the way I interpret a script can be very different from a different voice actor. We have unique speech patterns and backstories that shape the way we speak and narrate.

Audiobooks is an obvious genre for voice over storytelling, but there are so many more. Almost every type of video uses voice overs. Voice actors are storytellers for corporations, non-profit organizations and more. Even commercials use the art of storytelling to craft their messages to their target audience. E-learning also uses storytelling to engage the learner and for optimal information retention.

Tweaking your Story

When telling a story, especially one that is timely, you may want to “read” the audience. For example, the tone and content of advertisements, social media posts, podcasts, television shows, etc. were all affected by the pandemic. At the beginning of the pandemic, we heard messages with a more somber and inspirational tone. People really needed comforting, so advertisements, etc. needed to pivot. Content creators certainly don’t want to be tone deaf to the happenings around the world.

Stories at all Ages

Stories are important at all ages. We tell them to our babies and young children to entertain them, educate them, comfort them and so on. It’s a form of communication that continues throughout our lives. We tell stories to our friends, family, coworkers. People enjoy sharing their stories with others, perhaps to make a connection or to entertain them. Turning that around, people love to hear other people’s stories. Is that not why gossip is of such interest to so many people?

Sharing the Love of Blogging

I want to give a huge shout out to some of my fellow voice over bloggers who are not only amazing voice talents, but who also share my love of storytelling through the written word. These are wonderful bloggers who inform, educate and entertain. Please click on their names to check out their blogs and subscribe.

My Stories and Yours

I’m very grateful to have this creative outlet for me to share my thoughts, experiences and stories. I am very thankful for all of my readers!

Diversity in Voice Over and Beyond

February 24, 2022 by Theresa C. Ho 8 Comments

As we celebrate Black History Month, I thought that it would be the right time to address the topic of diversity in voice over. As a person of color and a woman myself, this is a topic that is of great interest and importance to me and so many others.

What is Diversity?

When I use the term diversity, I am referring to different ethnicities, skin color, genders, ages, cultures, sexual orientations, etc.

Voices of the Past and of the Future

It was not that long ago that the majority of voice roles went to Caucasian men. You would almost never hear a woman doing radio or TV promo work, movie trailers, etc., but these days, female voices are increasingly being used for this genre of voice work. The same goes with voices of different ethnicities and accents.

The world has become a more open place, in our hearts and minds, and this is being reflected in the changing landscape of voice over. We are all consumers, and we all want to see and hear people who we can relate to, represented and reflected, in all forms of media.

Authenticity in Casting

There is so much more diversity in casting than ever before. When they are casting for ethnic roles, for example, the casting specs often ask for authentic accents and people who are from that ethnic background. Or perhaps it may be for a role that is asking for a specific sexual orientation, and they do not want people auditioning if they don’t identify with these groups. There is a growing casting trend for the real thing. It’s about authenticity, but also about diverse representation. There is now a big demand for the inclusion of all types of people.

The topic of casting authentic BIPOC voices can sometimes ensue with a heated discussion. Some voice actors say that everyone should be able to voice any role because as voice actors, we should be able to portray any character because no one sees the color of our skin. It’s just the voice, right? While it is true that we are actors and can “play” different characters, let’s not forget that there is a backstory that people of a different gender, ethnicity and age, etc. may not get if they are not part of that specific group.

The Changing Landscape

We are even seeing more and more demand for real children in voice over. Sure, some adults can sound like children, but do they really sound like REAL children? They don’t really. They just don’t have the same speaking patterns and way of seeing the world as a child does. And these are elements that will come across in a read.

Every voice over conference that I have attended in the past couple of years has had a Diversity Panel to discuss this very important topic and how the industry is shifting in terms of casting. I think that it’s great that these discussions are being had, and if these panels and topics exist, it means that there is a need for it.

Different Cultures

Mainstream media is not only accepting, but finally embracing diversity in all forms. More and more we are seeing and hearing from people of all types of cultures, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientation, ages, etc. The popularity of Squid Games on Netflix, Encanto on Disney +, Queer Eye on Netflix, etc. demonstrates that the general population wants this diversity and inclusion.

Promoting Diversity in Voice Over

There are some fantastic initiatives promoting diverse voices, including the PMG (People of the Global Majority) VO List and Voices of Color. These are resources open to anyone looking to cast diverse voice actors and also to find ethnically diverse voice over coaches.

These initiatives promote people who have been historically underrepresented, even though they represent the global majority. The glass ceiling may be invisible, but it’s a real as concrete and has affected women, people of color and members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. And thus, the reason that we need to try to balance things out. It’s not about reverse discrimination, it’s about equality for all.

How Do We Get There?

To create more diversity and inclusion for everyone, we need to see diversity in all professions, from the creators, the casting directors, the writers, the advertisement executives, the corporate leaders and beyond.

It’s not just the world of voice over that is recognizing the need for more diversity. Doing a quick search on the internet will find you job titles like Chief Diversity Officer, Diversity Recruiter, Diversity and Inclusion Advocate and Inclusion Specialist.

While the discussion of diversity may be uncomfortable for some people, it’s an important one that we must continue to have. Diversity and inclusion are not about making it more difficult for one group of people to succeed, but instead about creating an openness so that it will eventually be an even playing ground for everyone.

New Year – New Goals!

January 11, 2022 by Theresa C. Ho 5 Comments

We’re already into our second week of the New Year! Is it too late to wish all of you a very Happy New Year? Either way, I’m going to wish you a fantastic one, filled with good health, happiness and prosperity!

Now, let’s get down to business. Many of us have new resolutions or goals that we’ve set for ourselves. If you haven’t, what are you waiting for?

Reflecting on the Past

Before we start implementing those new goals, we should take some time to reflect upon the past year, evaluate what worked for us and what didn’t. Sometimes it can be beneficial to literally and figuratively “clean house”.

For example, evaluate your rates. Do your rates reflect of your worth and industry standards? For voice actors, to see what standard rates are, you can consult the GVAA Rate Guide or the Gravy for the Brain Rate Guide.

For those in other industries, especially freelancers, make sure that you’re not underselling yourself. Be on top of what the going rates are for your line of work.

You may want to reflect upon your professional relationships, including those with your agents, coaches, industry partners, suppliers and even with your clients. How are those partnerships and relationships working out for you?

Setting those Goals

Why is goal setting so important? And why is writing them down equally as important? Without clearly defining and noting your goals, you might as well just consider them a daydream. You need to create a plan of action with specific and strategic steps. Each one of those steps completed will get you that much closer to your goals.

Let’s Get Real!

When setting your goals, make sure that they are realistic and achievable. I’m not saying that you should set goals that are only super easy to achieve, but you don’t want to set yourself up for failure either.

What’s your Timeline?

For me, goal setting should include dates and deadlines. I have set up my one-year goals, followed by three- to five-year goals. Within the one-year goals, I have smaller goals that will help me achieve the bigger one-year goals. I will make my smaller goals more achievable by creating tasks, steps and objectives to obtain. Some of those are broken down by per day, per week and per month.

Make Yourself Accountable

I make it a point to write my goals down, as well as the smaller steps that I plan on taking to realize them. By writing them down, I can visualize my plan of action. It’s like a business plan.

There are many tools available to help you note and track your goals. If you like pen and paper, you can simply use a regular notebook or you can use something that is designed for goal setting, such as the Clever Fox Planners. Or maybe you prefer a digital means of tracking. Trello is a popular, free online tool and app that can help you organize and track your goals and objectives. But for sure, there are other options than those I listed.

Making yourself accountable also means measuring your goals. Make sure that you’re able to measure your progress as you work towards those goals. Are you tracking your auditions? Are you counting those marketing outreaches? What about social media? Are you making those posts? Do you have a certain number of posts you want to make within a certain time period? Is the audience reach of your posts important to you? If yes, how can you grow that reach?

An additional way to keep yourself accountable is to be part of an accountability group. I cannot understate the benefit of them. This is one very important tool that I use to keep myself on track throughout the year. With my accountability groups, we list and discuss our goals, such as financial, performance, sales and marketing, as well as equipment and technology. We talk about our challenges, what may be holding us back, and we try help each other overcome our obstacles.

Celebrating Successes

Once said goal or task is achieved, it gets crossed off as accomplished, but not deleted. It is satisfying to be able to actually see that you are getting things done!

Some examples of goal setting could include financial goals. How much money you want to make for the year? You can make it easier to track by breaking them by earnings per month or per quarter.

Do you have any professional development goals? Maybe this is the year that you start coaching with someone new.

Do you have plans to network? Networking in person during Covid times may not be realistic, but there are so many options for those interested in virtual networking, including with your local chamber of commerce. In person conferences seem to be a thing again. I’m really hoping to attend at least one in-person voice over conference this year.

Part of your goals may encompass your work-life balance. A lot of voice actors, including myself, have other jobs and professions. And it’s important to be able to balance everything without burning out.

We can also incorporate some personal goals in our annual goal setting exercise. Afterall, we are a whole person that is not only about business.

Another important thing to remember is that our goals are not set in stone and can be changed along the way. People change and so can our goals.

Rewarding Yourself

It’s important to give yourself recognition when you hit those milestones. Make sure to give yourself a pat on the back at a minimum or maybe even a little reward of some kind! In one of my accountability groups, we agreed that we should treat ourselves to a little something once we hit certain income milestones, as we work towards the larger annual goal.

The most important message is to just start and get going! Make those 2022 dreams a reality, one step at a time!

Bilingual Voice Actor