If not, you may benefit from a little formula I’ve devised:

 

Access + Process = Success

Let me break it down for you ...

 

ACCESS

The audio files we produce rely on a fairly complicated software/hardware interface associated with a deadline-oriented process.

 

If even the slightest glitch or hitch interferes with you walking into your studio, turning on your audio chain, and beginning the recording, you have slowed your ACCESS.

 

Over time, this glitch grows into an enormous mental block, preventing - instead of facilitating - your next audition.

 

 

For one, you need easy access to your VO tools. Example:

 

My pre-amp came with no on/off switch. I had to reach around behind my monitor, find the plug, feel for the receptacle, and insert the plug. It was a hassle.

 

Over time, I began to resent that, then used it as an excuse to just NOT do what I really needed to do.

 

Once I realized that stupid little ritual was my major mental roadblock to conducting hassle-free auditions, I went to Home Depot, bought an in-line switch, and solved the problem.

 

Click/Click…on/off. No hassle.

 

 

Maybe for you it’s something that interferes with quickly printing out scripts or an extra troublesome step or two that gets in the way of you launching your recording software.

 

Eliminate the roadblock. The devil’s in the details.

 

See an audition you need to get out? Within one minute of your computer coming on, you should be able to start recording. Wouldn’t that be nice? It is.

 

(Granted: you may not have the tube warm-up to optimize your pre-amp performance in that time - see process below.)

 

However, ACCESS would be nothing without PROCESS ...

 

PROCESS

 

Process is:

In other words, once the access is there, you have to have a PLAN to use it.

 

This is particularly tough for us right-brain, set-our-own-schedule, creative talent-types.

 

Sure you need to be an ACTOR to do your work, but the business side of your operation must be practical, and that means having a plan …a schedule … a calendar … a PROCESS.

 

 

I’m a night-owl. When I get home from my TV anchor job after midnight, I like crawling into my comfortable studio and recording away - especially on the more moribund eLearning and technical narration jobs.

 

That’s part of my process ... my plan to tackle work.

 

But I’m finding a good many bursts of audition requests - from whatever source - tend to come during typical business hours.

 

Since I’m hindered by my TV job’s hours from reacting as fast as I want to those requests, I’ve put into my process about two hours of every morning - when my voice is a little rested - to plow through auditions, especially those that require a bit more creativity and acting.

 

 

Here’s the thing about process: devise the plan, then stick to it like a postage stamp, cause this is something you can’t mail in!

 

That takes discipline and will power - not something I can explain, but something you have to find on your own.

 

Here's where you can find more about removing mental roadblocks:

Hope this helps you in some small way!