Broadcasts.com - "My home studio is open for business!" (Pharmacist's Voice)

I have a home recording studio.\xa0 It has never been more important to have one, according to the voice actors I know and the ones I follow on social media.\xa0 They\u2019re right, too!\xa0 As I record this on April 2, 2020, from my home studio, the corona virus has changed the American definition of \u201cworkplace.\u201d\xa0 I live in Ohio, and there is a list of \u201cessential businesses\u201d allowed to conduct business as usual.\xa0 Everyone else is working from home or not at all.

How has the corona virus affected my voiceover business?\xa0 My availability is similar.\xa0 On previous episodes of this podcast, I have talked about my voiceover business being a part-time job I can do from home.\xa0 That\u2019s still true.\xa0 Instead of working while the kids are at school, however, I work before the kids are up, at the end of my husband\u2019s work day, and on weekends.\xa0

Learning Opportunities

The corona virus caused two unexpected changes to my learning opportunities this spring, specifically my improv training and my Toastmasters meetings.\xa0 My Level Two Improv Class has been postponed; it was supposed to start this week.\xa0 I miss laughing and playing games, but I will get back to it some day. \xa0

My Toastmaster\u2019s Club meets via Zoom now instead of in-person.\xa0 Not a bad alternative, if you ask me!\xa0 Toastmasters is helping me become a better public speaker.\xa0 I love it, and the people in my club are great.\xa0 We meet each Friday morning from 7-8:30 AM Eastern Time.\xa0

Medical Narration Demo

I got my medical narration demo back.\xa0 I think it sounds great, and if you would like to listen to it, you can check it out by visiting my website or my LinkedIn profile.\xa0 The website is thepharmacistsvoice.com, and my LinkedIn profile can be found using the link in the show notes.\xa0 The demo was produced by David Rosenthal and his team at the Global Voice Acting Academy. \xa0

What does one do once they have a demo?\xa0 That\u2019s a great question!\xa0 Other than sharing it on my website and including it on my LinkedIn Profile, I still have a lot to learn.\xa0 The right next steps are important, and I am excited to learn more from my coach this month.

Direct Marketing

My sources tell me that direct-marketing using LinkedIn is the way to find medical narration and e-learning voiceover work.\xa0 I\u2019m not a marketing person, I\u2019m a pharmacist.\xa0 I didn\u2019t know what it meant to direct-market on LinkedIn at first.\xa0 I needed help!

When I was at a voiceover conference in New York City last September, I heard about an on-line course called The VO Edge.\xa0 It was created by a voice actor who found success direct-marketing to potential clients using LinkedIn.\xa0 It took me about 8 hours over the course of one week to complete the course and update my LinkedIn profile.\xa0 It was worth my time, and I\u2019m looking forward to expanding my network and direct-marketing soon.

On a related topic, I\u2019ve had the good fortune to connect with many voice actors, either online through social media or at the VOcation conference in September.\xa0 They are very generous with what they know and have taught me many things.\xa0 Every other Thursday I meet with a group of voice actors who have become my voiceover accountability buddies.\xa0 We talk about what we have accomplished in the past two weeks, what we are working on now, what\u2019s coming up, and what\u2019s in our way.\xa0 Everyone is very helpful, and I feel really lucky to be part of the group!

Other than my accountability buddy group, many voice actors have kindly offered to have a conversation with me and share what they know or help me with a small task.\xa0 In fact, last month, I needed to test my Skype call recorder for a podcast interview, and a voice actor friend came through for me.\xa0 He even recruited a third caller to help me out!\xa0 I got the call recorder working, and they generously stayed on the call to talk some shop and give me some advice.\xa0 That was really awesome, and I appreciated it!

Audiobook narration training

In other news, I continue to train to be an audiobook narrator with Sean Pratt.\xa0 I love what I am learning, and I have a lesson scheduled for next week.

Learning while sheltering in place

There is a lot of buzz on social media about learning new skills while stuck at home as the corona virus sweeps through the US.\xa0 I love to learn, and I fully support this suggestion.\xa0 I already learned about LinkedIn, like I said.\xa0 Next, I\u2019m planning to finish some on-line courses on using my recording software and audio repair software. \xa0

Keeping busy

Other than working when I can, I have been getting out with my husband and kids and walking at parks or around our neighborhood.\xa0 The weather has been pretty decent here in Ohio.\xa0 It\u2019s finally spring.\xa0 When it\u2019s 40 degrees out and sunny, being outside feels great.\xa0 If you\u2019re from the midwest, you might also say that it\u2019s finally warm enough to drive with your windows down.\xa0 In fact, I\u2019ve seen people doing it already, especially the dog owners.\xa0 People in Florida and California are probably thinking I\u2019m nuts, but I\u2019m serious.\xa0 It\u2019s an Ohio thing! \xa0

To keep busy, I\u2019m also, reading Steve Martin\u2019s book, Born Standing Up and enjoying it!\xa0 Books written by American comedians are awesome.\xa0 They\u2019re funny, and I always learn something. \xa0

Thank you's and celebrating innovation

Thank you to all the pharmacists and other healthcare workers who are on the front lines on the corona virus pandemic.\xa0 Thank you to everyone doing everything they can to help.\xa0 From the families who are staying home to the food industry workers keeping the shelves stocked in the stores.\xa0 Thank you.

I am very proud of the innovation I am seeing in the US right now too.\xa0 So many human interest stories are showing up, exemplifying what it means to be an American.\xa0 We get knocked down, but we get up again and try to innovate the heck out of a bad situation.\xa0 Just some examples:

Places of worship are streaming worship services
Teachers are teaching from on-line platforms, using short videos, and otherwise making lemonade from the lemons sheltering in place has given them. \xa0
I even heard that Ford Motor Company is retooling to make ventilators. \xa0
Quilting groups are making fabric masks for food industry workers. \xa0
And, my friend Claudine co-founded a Facebook Group for Individuals with Special Needs.\xa0 The Group gives activity ideas to families sheltering in place with a family member with special needs.\xa0 This hits home for me.\xa0 I have a 17-year-old son with autism.\xa0 This is a tough time for him and our whole family.\xa0 We can\u2019t have caregivers in our home right now.\xa0 He loves us, but he misses them.\xa0 He misses school and classmates too.\xa0 We will get through this.\xa0 \xa0

April is starting off fairly well.\xa0 Working from home is nothing new.\xa0 I have a home recording studio, a great medical narration demo, supportive friends and coaches, and new skills.\xa0 I\u2019m a self-starter, and I\u2019m excited about what comes next.

FYI, I\u2019m in 26 US states and 15 countries!\xa0 Thank you for listening!