The web log for Karen Commins - A VOICE Above The Crowd

Karen Commins is a professional voice-over talent with her own soundproof studio in Atlanta, GA. While she loves to voice radio and TV commercials and computer games, Karen specializes in performing long-form narrations and audiobooks. She is creating podcasts containing new content, as well as literature in the public domain. Those who are getting started in voice-over and professional voice talent alike enjoy Karen's insight and commentary about working in the industry and the marketing ideas in this blog.

October 2008 Archives

Think/Write/Speak what you WANT into BEING!

By Karen on 25 October 2008 8:52AM | Permalink | Comments (0)  Subscribe by reader or email

Cruiser Karen Commins contemplates the Caribbean colors

I just wrote the subject line on Twitter in response to voice talent Alison Pittman's tweet:

A negative mindset can be picked up so easily,even over the internet airwaves.
seeps through yr fingers into the keys of yr keyboard&beyond

A negative mindset will prevent you from achieving the success in voice-over that you desire. I previously have written about the power of words and the reason you shouldn't compare yourself to other people. However, I admit I'm not always good at implementing these points for myself.

What exactly is a negative mindset? According to Esther and Jerry Hicks, authors of numerous books on the Law of Attraction, you will have a negative mindset any time that you feel a negative emotion. They say that a negative emotion indicates you are feeling a lack of harmony with what you really WANT.

Continue reading Think/Write/Speak what you WANT into BEING!.

Social networking in voice-over

By Karen on 12 October 2008 11:06AM | Permalink | Comments (0)  Subscribe by reader or email

In the attitude of silence,
the soul finds the path in a clearer light,
and what is elusive and deceptive
resolves itself into crystal clearness.Mahatma Gandhi

I am and have always been a voice-over actor in my soul. I am passionate about my work and cannot imagine my life if I didn't express myself creatively behind the microphone. However, even with my boundless enthusiasm for and commitment to my voice-over work and clients, my soul also needs quiet time for nourishment and relaxation.

I feed my soul in several ways, both large and small. Most recently, I took a large portion by allowing myself to totally be on vacation while on a cruise. 

Whenever we travel for pleasure, I notify agents and clients that I will be unavailable for recording within a range of dates. I have thought many times about taking a portable voice-over studio when I travel. In reality, though, my desires to travel lightly and enjoy fun, uninterrupted time with Drew coupled with the airlines' increasingly smaller allowances for checked luggage have deterred me from including a portable studio with my baggage.

As a business owner, I always have a laptop on these trips. I check my voice mail and e-mail throughout my vacation so that I can quickly respond to potential clients. Since I'm usually paying high per-minute charges for phone and computer access, it's easy to limit the time spent in those activities while on vacation.

I must also feed my soul in small ways during my regular working days, so I choose to limit time for all on-line activities, especially for social networking. I have read messages from many voice talent who seem to feel that they must have a presence on every social networking site. Perhaps my thoughts on these sites will be helpful to others.

Continue reading Social networking in voice-over.