2024-02-15 10:55
Will I ever return to social media, or am I going to stay away for good?
As you may have noticed, I’ve removed myself from social media since Christmas. At least professionally speakin… Read More
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Nethervoice blog, written by Paul Strikwerda, packed with opinions, tips, reviews and resources for (voice) actors and other solopreneurs.
2023-12-21 10:55
I’m going to do something I don’t even know I’m capable of. I’m going to take a short social media holiday break.
What do I mean by short? Well, at least for the rest… Read More
2023-12-14 10:55
What are some of the things you stopped doing in 2023? If you tell me yours, I’ll tell you mine!
Over the years I have blogged about best business practices for freelancers. You can fi… Read More
2023-12-07 14:40
If you’re at the SOVAS That’s Voiceover Career Expo in Los Angeles at the moment, you should know this:
You are giving business to a boycotted hotel.
Don’t believe me? Go… Read More
2023-12-06 00:20
The Union has spoken.
After Thursday’s blog post entitled “SOVAS slaps striking hotel workers in the face” I contacted SAG-AFTRA for a reaction. This reaction came on Decem… Read More
2023-11-30 10:46
If you’re planning on going to the Voice Arts Awards (VAA) Gala at the Beverly Hilton on December 10th, chances are that you will have to cross a picket line to ge… Read More
2023-11-23 10:45
A while ago, I started #goodmouthmonday. It was my way to “goodmouth” someone who I believe deserves more credit than they are getting. Click here to read about how I got this id… Read More
2023-11-16 10:45
You may not like what I’m about to say, but I’m going to say it anyway. You don’t have to agree with me. Just hear me out. It won’t take long.
I have many social medi… Read More
2023-11-09 15:33
I am a man with a message.
If it weren’t for social media and this website, very few would even know about me. I would just be another guy who talks into a microphone for a living. Bu… Read More
2023-11-06 14:12
I’ve been blogging for over 20 years, and in those years I’ve managed to piss quite a few people off. I’m actually proud of that because if you piss people off, it means th… Read More
2023-11-02 09:45
I visited LinkedIn today like I do every day, and my whole timeline was overtaken by colleagues telling the world they were nominated for a Voice Arts Award.
They were all using the same Vo… Read More
2023-10-26 09:50
I admit it: I probably spend way too much time on social media, but I have a good excuse (or several if I’m honest).
I like to stay on top of the news. In a previous life I was a broad… Read More
2023-10-19 09:45
One of my readers wrote:
“Paul, I get a lot out of your blog – love your Dutch bluntness – it’s always a refreshing addition to my inbox. On my studio wall is a… Read More
2023-10-12 09:45
It’s a well-known tendency in the world of professional musicians. If you mess up a performance, you can always blame it on the instrument.
You’d be surprised how many “ins… Read More
2023-10-05 09:45
Let’s be honest. Being on social media is not always fun. You put yourself out there for the whole world to see. You create content with the best of intentions; content you hope people… Read More
2023-09-28 09:55
You know what they say about commercials, right?
“If things look or sound too good to be true, they usually are.”
However, it’s the job of a copywriter or advertising agenc… Read More
2023-09-21 09:55
Before I give you my take on Dan Friedman‘s book “Zen and the Art of Voiceover,” there are a few things you need to know. The most important thing is that, even though we… Read More
2023-09-14 09:55
Okay, let’s do a quick thought experiment, shall we?
Anyone can do it. The only things you need are a few minutes of your time, a quiet space, and an open mind.
Once you’re set… Read More
2023-09-07 09:55
Do you ever get emotional as an audiobook narrator, and is it okay to show (and record) your emotions?
I know it’s hard to speak in generalities because there are so many books and so… Read More
2023-08-28 20:23
Sorry, people. Summer is officially over! We can all go back to our small home studios and spend hours a day inside, talking into a microphone.
For some, summer is the season of missed oppor… Read More
2023-08-24 09:55
David GuerreroIf there’s one thing we need to be as voice overs, it is this:
We need to be convincing.
We have to be believable so people will trust the message we’re being paid… Read More
2023-08-17 11:16
emcee at the farmers marketIf you’re following me on social media such as Facebook and Instagram, what you’re about to read will be no news to you. But I know some people are jus… Read More
2023-08-13 09:55
I want to thank everyone who has read and commented on my “10 reasons not to attend a voice over conference” article. If you haven’t read it, click on the blue hyperlink in… Read More
2023-08-10 09:35
Today marks the start of the One Voice Conference (OVC) in Dallas. If you didn’t know that, you must have been living under a big fat rock.
For weeks now, my social media news tickers… Read More
2023-08-03 09:55
Do you want to hear something crazy?
Just as I announced that I’m scaling back my presence as an -for lack of a better word- “influencer,” you may have noticed that my Inst… Read More
2023-07-27 09:50
You’re reading this because we’re both on social media, and you’re either a subscriber, or some mysterious algorithm has determined that this is content you may enjoy. &hell…Read More
2022-11-03 11:00
Jamie Muffett is a little bit like me. A transplant from Europe, living and working in this strange land called the USA.
When I first came to America, I settled in beautiful Bucks County, P… Read More
2022-10-27 10:45
Bob van der HouvenToday, I’m doing something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I am going to interview the person whom I consider not only to be one of the best voice overs in t… Read More
2022-10-20 10:00
In an earlier post I’ve compared audio book narration to running a marathon in the mud.
It seems like such a fun and easy job, until you actually start recording one.
If you have… Read More
2022-10-13 02:00
If you don’t want to ruffle any feathers, there are three topics you are not supposed to talk about: politics, money, and religion. Why?
Because people tend to have strong beliefs arou… Read More
2022-10-06 11:00
It’s no secret: I would like to increase my social media reach so more people will read what I have to say. This may sound rather hubristic to some, but any content creator who does no… Read More
2022-09-29 02:00
When I finished my last audio book I sighed a huge sigh of relief. It’s called “Economy, Society, and History” and this book is a transcript of a number of lectures given b… Read More
2022-09-22 02:00
Because I’m a presence on social media and podcasters interview me regularly, people seem to know who I am, which isn’t a bad thing.
In fact, one could say that this is pretty m… Read More
2022-09-15 11:00
Last Saturday I revealed that market leader voices dot com will be introducing a $5 minimum rate in response to “changes in the marketplace.” They say they’re exited to do… Read More
2022-09-10 10:32
The other day, I was talking to a voice over business insider, and he shared a bit of news with me.
Voices dot com (VDC), the Canadian P2P that is no longer welcome at any voice over confere… Read More
2022-09-08 02:00
CNBC has an online magazine called “make it.” One of the things they write about, is all the amazing, lucrative jobs you can do on the side.
You’ll see stories about a coup… Read More
2022-09-01 02:00
Léon BoëllmannA student of mine recently inherited a nice chunk of change, and she wanted to know if she should invest it all in her new voice over career.
She was looking at hou… Read More
2022-08-18 02:00
When people ask me to be a guest on their podcast, they usually want to talk to me about what I do for a living, and not about who I am as a person. I’m happy to talk about voice actin… Read More
2022-08-11 02:00
J. Michael CollinsYou’ve probably seen them on social media: announcements of JMC’s European Voice Over Retreat. JMC stands for J. Michael Collins, by the way. I think it’s… Read More
2022-08-04 02:00
If you’ve been following the news in the USA, you know the nation is divided into those who believe the 2020 presidential election was stolen, and those who know for a fact it wasn&rsq&hell…Read More
2022-07-28 02:00
You know how they always say that it’s important to stay POSITIVE on social media? By the way, do you even know who they are and what they are basing this on? The same people tell you… Read More
2022-07-21 02:00
Let’s begin this blog post with a Facebook question from a colleague:
“Hi, all! After a live directed session, do you just send the entire session audio over or do you clean it u… Read More
2022-07-14 02:00
Maarten van GestelThis is a love story.
A story about a Dutchman named Maarten, and his love for “Boxy.”
“Boxy” is the name he gave the voice that came out of the G… Read More
2022-07-07 02:00
In my award-winning interview with Val Kelly on the “Live with Squacky” podcast, Val asked me a few questions I want to share with you today:
What or who inspires you?
Me: &ldquo&hell…Read More
2022-06-30 02:00
click to enlargeThis is not the first time I’m writing about a company I hold in high esteem: Austrian Audio. As soon as their first microphone came out, I knew it would be something s… Read More
2022-06-23 02:00
What’s it like to win a major voice over award? Does it open doors that were previously closed? Is it all hype and little substance?
To answer those questions (and more), I turned to… Read More
2022-06-16 02:00
One of my coaching students just sent me this pair of socks and I love them! Music has always played a big part in my life, and I will wear these Treble maker socks as a badge of honor.
You… Read More
2022-06-09 02:00
click to enlargeA few days ago I finally finished my new workspace. We’ve been in our Vermont home since November 5th, and last week the very last piece of furniture arrived from Polan… Read More
2022-06-02 02:00
To most people, May 30th has no special significance. For the voice over community however, it’s different. One of the greatest voice actors who ever lived, was born on that day in San… Read More
2022-05-26 02:00
In the recent interview with my colleague and coach Terry Daniel, I asked him:
The big thing most coaches run into, is resistance from the student to do certain things they don’… Read More
2022-05-19 02:00
By now you may already know that this was my second year as a judge for the One Voice Awards (OVA), UK edition. That doesn’t mean that I will be back again next year, but if I am, you… Read More
2022-05-12 02:00
Terry DanielIf you’ve been following me on Instagram, you know that I caused quite a stir last week, when I called out a voice over coach for telling his YouTube followers that anyone… Read More
2022-05-06 02:00
In my previous blog post I reviewed the latest addition to my microphone locker, a U87 clone I bought on eBay for only $218. The man who made it is Ian Davidson. Ian works as a tech in a fe… Read More
2022-05-05 02:00
Please listen to the sound file first, before reading the article below.
Intro U87 blog post Paul Strikwerda
https://www.nethervoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Intro-U87-blog-post-Paul… Read More
2022-04-26 02:00
Common wisdom tells us:
Fix the roof when the sun shines.
However…
Many of us tend to take action when things go wrong. After all, when everything’s hunky dory, why bother?
Here… Read More
2022-04-21 02:00
Unicorn winner Bev Standing (photo credit: Josh Alexander)Every year, at the VO Atlanta conference, a new “Unicorn” is crowned.
A Unicorn is someone who has distinguished him- o… Read More
2022-04-14 02:00
Back in September of 2012 I wrote one of my most popular blog posts. It was a review of a microphone no one had ever heard of. Yet, after the article was published, scores of voice over col… Read More
2022-04-07 02:00
Did you know that most freelancers are getting stiffed by clients? Apparently, we are an easy target.
The Independent Economy Council surveyed freelancers in the U.S. who earn the majority… Read More
2022-03-31 02:00
Did you know that two of the so-called “industry standard” voice over microphones were never specifically designed to record voice overs? Come to think of it, no microphone I kno… Read More
2022-03-24 02:00
Certified NLP TrainerThere’s something about me that many people don’t know. I’m an internationally certified trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). Most people don… Read More
2022-03-17 02:00
“What do voice actors actually do?”
It was a question that popped up some time ago, on the Voice Acting Alliance (Unofficial Group) on Zuckerbook. It is one of the groups I gladl… Read More
2022-03-10 03:00
As someone who coaches voice actors, I’ve noticed that one of the most common areas people want to improve has to do with their DELIVERY. The word “conversational” is often… Read More
2022-03-03 03:00
Like many of you, I have been following the tragic developments in Ukraine closely. I strongly believe that violence is never a solution, but I understand that the people of Ukraine have a r… Read More
2022-02-24 03:00
click to enlargeWhen I was new to the voice over business, I made one basic mistake many aspiring VO’s make. I thought my biggest investment would be to buy a nice microphone and a sol… Read More
2022-02-17 03:00
No matter how you look at it, Instagram is the second most popular social media platform on the planet (after Facebook).
Instagram has more monthly active users than Twitter. About one… Read More
2022-02-10 03:00
Throughout my career, eLearning has been the bulk of my business as a voice over.
I’ve voiced modules for opticians, lab techs, surgeons, pharmacists, power plant operators, shopkeepe… Read More
2022-02-03 03:22
Stop the presses!
My new voice over studio is finally coming together, as you may have seen on Instagram (@nethervoice). It’s in a corner of a basement room. Coming from a small enclos… Read More
2022-01-27 03:00
My wife teaches flute and piano, and one of the things she’s really good at, is picking the right music for the right students.
She teaches students of all levels, ages, and experience… Read More
2022-01-20 03:00
What’s your favorite time of day, and why?
Do you like to sleep in, and have breakfast in bed? Are you a night owl? Or are you like me, an early riser?
I love getting up in darkness, w… Read More
2022-01-13 03:00
The Dutch have a very uplifting saying that goes like this:
“If you were born a dime, you’ll never be a quarter.”
I’ve always hated this saying because it’s ver… Read More
2022-01-06 03:00
the slick salesmanI have a proposition for you. You may not like it, but please approach it with an open mind.
Here’s what I’d like you to do:
STOP SELLING FOR ONE DAY
And by the… Read More
2021-12-31 17:51
It’s been a year that none of us will easily forget, for many reasons. I’m so glad it’s over!
What will forever stay with me is the friendship, the camaraderie, and the su… Read More
2021-12-30 03:00
Back in 2011 I wrote a blog post called “Why you are boring me to death.” It went something like this:
You’d think that voice over pros always have something to talk about… Read More
2021-12-23 03:00
There are two types of musicians. Those who can only play from sheet music, and those who can play without it.
There are two types of home chefs. Those who need to follow a recipe to the let… Read More
2021-12-20 13:41
Instead of watching the 8th annual Voice Arts Awards, I caught up with a live stream from the Göteborg Konstmuseum in Gothenburg, for the tenth annual gala of the Svenska Akademin f&oum&hell…Read More
2021-12-16 03:30
When you’re a voice over and write about it every day, people easily assume that you must be living and breathing voice overs twenty-four seven.
In my case, nothing could be further fr… Read More
2021-12-09 03:04
Here’s something that doesn’t make sense to me.
As a society we own more stuff than at any point in the history of the earth. Yet, we have less and less time to use and enjoy wha… Read More
2021-12-02 03:30
Last week I told you about our reasons to move from lovely Easton, Pennsylvania to Newport, Vermont. It’s a seven hour drive.
Newport is a town of about 4,400 people, close to the Cana… Read More
2021-11-25 03:30
my new homeLife is movement. To be alive means to move.
Whether we realize it or not, all of us are either moving away from something we wish to avoid, or we’re moving toward something… Read More
2021-11-18 03:30
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I tend to write a lot. Some days I probably spend more time behind my writing desk than in the recording studio.
I’ve come… Read More
2021-10-28 02:00
the authorThere’s this cartoon about music that I think is very telling. I’ll try to describe it to you.
Imagine a tall white wall with two doors. Both doors are wide open. Above… Read More
2021-10-21 02:00
Squid Game halloween costumeAre you binge-watching the South Korean survival drama “Squid Game” on Netflix? You are not alone!
[BTW bold blue words are always hyperlinks]
Now, ar… Read More
2021-10-14 02:30
Josh AlexanderAny voice over colleague who is even remotely active on social media knows the person I am interviewing today: self-styled VO Superman Josh Alexander.
Joshua just did something… Read More
2021-10-07 10:54
Paul “nethervoice” Strikwerda“How do I become a social media success?” one of my students wanted to know.
As part of my visibility coaching, I always spend time on us… Read More
2021-09-30 02:30
“Sh*t happens” as the saying goes, and it’s true. Life is messy and full of excrement. No wonder why we’re all so pooped at the end of the day. Too much to do. So lit… Read More
2021-09-23 02:30
I’ve always had a soft spot for those who left everything and everyone behind to start a new life in a new country. Sometimes, the decision to move is entirely voluntary, but often, pe… Read More
2021-09-15 14:30
You know what?
I rarely discuss my rates anymore. I just tell my clients what they are.
If you want to know what has been one of the biggest time-savers for me, this is it. No more haggling… Read More
2021-09-09 02:30
I learned a new word today: Omphaloskepsis.
It means navel-gazing, and it has nothing to do with people staring at oranges. It actually refers to the contemplation of one’s navel durin… Read More
2021-09-02 02:30
Someone asked me the other day why I didn’t submit anything to the One Voice Awards or the Voice Arts® Awards. Wouldn’t it be nice to be recognized by my peers, and take home… Read More
2021-08-26 02:30
photo credit: Machteld van der GaagThe One Voice Conference 2021 American edition just started in Dallas. It’s the brainchild of Hugh Edwards and Peter Dickson, the masterminds behind… Read More
2021-08-19 03:30
If you’re ever in Bennington, Vermont, and you want an extraordinary cup of coffee, please stop at the Loose Cannon Café. It’s next to the Paradise Inn, tucked away on Mai… Read More
2021-08-12 02:30
Clients say the darnest things:
“I want you to sound stern but relatable.”
“Can you be friendly, yet authoritative?”
“You need to come across as decisive, but… Read More
2021-08-05 10:00
father and daughterThis post is published a little later than usual.
Earlier today I had no time to focus on you. Rather than hastily putting something together, I think you deserve my full… Read More
2021-07-29 02:00
Maria CallasThe famous opera singer Maria Callas had a reputation. The director of the New York Met said that Callas was the most difficult artist he ever worked with, “because she was… Read More
2021-07-22 02:00
Performing under pressure and with an audience. We’ve all had to do it. It probably started when you were quite young.
Tell me, how did you deal with the butterflies and the anxiety?
F… Read More
2021-07-15 01:30
“YOU PRACTICE FOR REHEARSAL, NOT DURING REHEARSAL”
If you happen to be a professional musician or you’re in a relationship with one, chances are that you’ve heard thi… Read More
2021-07-08 03:09
Nic Redman (L) and Leah MarksI have never met Nic Redman and Leah Marks, and yet I feel as if I’ve known them for a long time. That’s because they are the team behind one of my f… Read More
2021-06-30 13:07
Are you ready?
This is going to be one of those harsh critiques you’re not going to like. You’ve been warned!
So, the other day, someone on some voice over Facebook group posted… Read More
2021-06-24 01:26
Here’s one of the fundamental flaws of social media:
Negative posts get more engagement than positive posts.
A new Cambridge University study suggests that posts are TWICE as likely to… Read More
2021-06-17 02:07
Stress doesn’t come out of nowhere.
Quite often, it’s a self-inflicted wound.
I think we can all agree that there are at least two types of stress. Positive and negative stress… Read More
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