Opportunities...

Folks, it's been an interesting 24 hours. Yesterday afternoon I had a last-minute audition for a Japanese-slasher-flick-English-dub. They record next week. I would love the gig, I'd be playing a teenager that's killed by the Yakuza. Woot.

Other news in the realm of VOs, I have an audition on Saturday for an animated fairy tale. It's been a while since I've auditioned for anything musical; I'm looking forward to it. I've been practicing the songs they supplied; and any opportunity to get back into cartoons would be a welcome one.

Last but not least; I'm in the running for an Editing position at a magazine that my brother and I have been writing for in a freelance capacity. If I get the job... well, that would be fantastic. Keep your fingers crossed on all these seedlings.

Maybe one'll grow.

Life Getting In The Way of Life; Where Life = Work

Damn it.

The search for work continues, leading to a temp job Tuesday, Thursday & Friday of the week, with a job interview Wednesday on which it is difficult to comment. I'll get to that in a minute.

Tomorrow, I have a voiceover audition that I'm greatly looking forward to. It could be for repeat business, doing the sort of narration that's very Casey-appropriate. It's also at 12:45 and impossible to reschedule. I don't want to reschedule it, even if I could.

The burr in my shorts is over the temp job I have scheduled from noon to eight; and my necessarily late arrival is throwing it into question. I don't know what else I'm supposed to do.

I'm not missing this audition. If I have the opportunity to find some work in my field, then I'm going after it. I moved to New York for office work to accommodate my theatrical and voiceover careers, not the other way 'round.

This item is the umpteenth on my list of stressors at the moment. Single. Broke. Seeking work...

Speaking of work: The interview on Wednesday is for a charity organization; my job would be on the streets, seeking to enlist donors/givers/whatever the term is. Street work. I feel conflicted about this. I'm hesitant, but honestly? At this point I don't have the luxury to be picky! If the best job I can get is as a walking pop-up ad, so be it. I've submitted dozens of job applications in the last several days via Craigslist, and the grand total of responses has been one: The charity gig.

It's frustrating. Immensely so. The whole thing. On top of the returning health issue, necessary-and-unwelcome alterations to my work-out routine and the ongoing internal debate of whether or not I can make it to Maryland for Christmas.

Balls.

I need to vent. I need to unload some stress, hopefully at the gym. I need to get these things straightened out immediately if not sooner. I feel angry, frustrated and generally ticked that things have gotten to this point. Ain't life grand.

Bad Luck & Good News

Here's the straight poop.

A few days ago, my phone fell out of my belt holster thingie (the technical term) and clattered noisily to the floor. Since then, several buttons no longer work. Nothing important, just the SEND button. And the 5. Oh. The 7 and * buttons, too. I can't make outgoing calls to anyone that isn't already in my 'rolodex'. I took it to the store, and it can't be repaired.

That's bad luck.

The good news is they can replace it. The total fee I'll be paying is: $0.00. Whew. New phone should be here in two to three (business) days. They'll be able to transfer over my phone list, no problem. The saved pictures might be lost... but it's a small price to pay, all told.

What the hell, more good news while I'm at it. I have a short gig in the morning, at 8, so I'll be getting to bed early tonight, by hook or by crook. In this instance, crook = sleeping pill, since I've been somewhat nocturnal of late.

In any case: Best news of all? I have a meeting with a VO agent on Friday! Woo hoo! He's heard my demos and may have some scripts I can audition for. No idea what manner of work is available, but the fact that we're having a sit-down can only be good.

Ciao, kiddos. Off in a short while to attempt counting sheep. Adios.

Cripes.

It's nearly 3, and I can't sleep. I've had two cups of Sleepy Time tea, and so far, nothin'.

Since I'm up, I've decided to get a bit of work done. Namely, on my next Character Demo. When last I was in the booth; my teacher strongly suggested that it was supposed to sound like it was plucked off the air-- like it was on TV or the radio.

I've started writing some material that will use a variety of voices in different situations. The so-called tricky part will be to blend in sound effects and background music, but that's nothing I haven't done before.

The real challenge will be picking out voices that sound nothing like each other, or like me for that matter. It needs to be a diverse mix, each part lasting long enough to establish that I can keep the voices consistent. Also I'm trying to work on giving them some life; allow them to be less flat. Range, people. Range.

I'd much rather be catching forty winks. But since that's not an option at the moment, I might as wellZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Important & Not So Important Stuff

Tomorrow (or later today, rather), I have an important meeting w/ a VO guru. We'll be discussing my new demos, and what the next step will be. I hope it'll be mass-production of said demos and then the mailing of to select agents in the Big Apple. I expect nothing of the kind. We'll see.

On my rather long ride home today, I indulged in a fun and on-the-whole new experience. Pulp fiction. Inspired by the phenomenal flick Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, I sojourned to the nearest bookstore and picked out a few trashy lit-noir gems. The Vengeful Virgin did not disappoint.

I like the occasional bit of junk food. A candy bar, whatever. Consider tripe like the above-mentioned book a delightful bit of junk food for the brain... and not a bad way to kill a few hours.

Getting Ready...

Tonight is the first half of my cartoon voice intensive class. Four solid hours w/ a professional and a small class of others like myself, eager to learn. I've been looking forward to this since December.

I'm freakin' excited. Anything that can improve my range and sharpen my vocal skills is going to be very beneficial. Bwa ha ha.

Ciao for now, folks.

In Other News, Woo Frickin' Hoo!!

I have a callback on Thursday for a cartoon role. No mere guest villain, but what looks to be a season-length character. The word I'm looking for is: Shazam.

Which, naturally, is just the right time to develop a sore throat. I've been feeling enflamed all evening. Crap.

The snow has sent people to the grocery store to load up on supplies for the coming days. I went out and picked up hot cocoa mix (I already have tea), lozenges, and ice cream. I'm not 100% on the medicinal properties of mint chocolate chip, but if they give it to people when their tonsils are taken out, it can't be bad, can it? That's where I'm going with it.

Woo Hoo! Wish Me Luck!

I have an audition later this week with a cartoon company that shall remain nameless (for now); for a character with an Australian accent. Mwa ha ha ha ha.

I also may soon be going on my first date in a while. It'll be good to get out of the apartment for a spell.

OH-- and we're counting down to Wednesday. There may be very good news to report, or there may be nothing. In either case, that's when I'll spill the beans.

Ciao for now, folks. Be well.

*Does A Little Dance*

I just confirmed my voice-over gig tomorrow afternoon, right in Manhattan. My first since I moved here. Woot.

My teeth (and ex-teeth) feel great, I feel good, we're good to go. Might have to celebrate or something afterwards, who knows!