KRYSTA WALLRAUCH

VOICE OVERS

513-708-2667

krysta@krystawallrauch.com

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Krysta Wallrauch

What’s in Your Voice Over Booth? 

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An overall view of my newly built VO booth
An overall view of my newly built VO booth

It’s been about a year and a half since our family packed up seventeen years of our life and moved out of state. Let me tell you something, as a Voice Actor, when you have to move, the main thing on your mind is HOW WILL I RECORD?! If you’re anything like me, not only do you care about stellar acting, but you are also PASSIONATE about your audio. Can I get an Amen? However, circumstances beyond our control can sometimes throw a wrench in our plans, am I right? So my future voice over booth was  top of mind before and during the move.

Auntie Em, We’re Not in Ohio Anymore! 

 In the front seat of my car lay all the most important elements of my studio. My files were in the trunk. I kept all this precious cargo with me as we headed to our interim housing in Mayfield, KY. The rest of our belongings were housed in the basement of the house we were planning to purchase. Following our arrival in Kentucky, a massive tornado hit the state. It destroyed so much…including the house that our belongings were in. I’m not going to tell you that I wasn’t devastated, because I’d be lying. I will tell you that I prayed and sought peace in the storm as I reassessed our future. Then, we found a new place.  

 

The 'desk' space in my newly DIY voice over booth
The ‘desk’ space in my newly DIY voice over booth

When Prayers Turn into Blessings – Doin’ it My Way!

 The blessing of our new residence was a very spacious loft with an oversized closet. I knew when I walked through the area that I would use the space for my office. I priced pre-built studios (thanks to all my friends who recommended some to me!), but the specs of the loft area weren’t conducive for my needs. Then it hit me; I’m going to build my studio. That way, I can do whatever I want. Next call I made was to my friend, Tim Tippets. If you don’t know him, but you know you need a professional recording booth, he’s unmatched in his skillset! He worked closely with my husband and I as we gathered all the tools and equipment needed to turn this space into something amazing.  

 

Last view of my new VO booth - the insulated door!
Last view of my new VO booth – the insulated door!

My new VO Booth – Smells Like a New Car! 

Now, as I step into my office and gaze at my studio, I just smile. I’m not stressed about what my audio will sound like anymore. It smells like a new car to me. I have space to move, and I’m not concerned with whether I have enough clothing hanging in there to dampen the sound, because it’s not a closet anymore. It’s been a long road to get to this place of preparedness, but it definitely takes the stress off when working with my agent and clients. So, what’s in your booth? 

 

 

The Warrior VO Mom: Taming the Jungle of Life!

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The Warrior VO Mom: 

Taming the Jungle of Life! 

This blog segment is dedicated to those warrior moms (including warrior VO moms!)

who juggle so much more than just their careers. I feel ya! It’s a jungle out there! Time to start taming the jungle of life!

Embracing Change: Taking the Leap into Voice Acting 

I remember the moment I made the decision to dive into full-time voice acting. I even remember my first job (can we say, anxiety attack?!), and I remember that if it weren’t for the support of my husband, I could NEVER have accomplished it all. So, hats off to those moms out there without support. For me, this was approximately nine years ago…whaaaattt???!!! Also, did I mention that I was home educating two kids at the time? My eldest….with autism. 

Overcoming Challenges: Juggling Career and Motherhood 

To share that I was scared during this time as a new business owner is an understatement. I was petrified! Being a mom was everything to me, yet vopreneurship (I just made that one up…LOL!) was equally important, but on a different level, if you get my meaning? You see, my desire was to help benefit my family, while simultaneously using my creativity to help others. It was also an outlet for me, in a way. I wonder how many moms can resonate with that! So, what was my top challenge, you ask? TIME MANAGEMENT, of course! 

From Chaos to Clarity: Mastering Time Management 

Let me tell you a truth; keeping lists was NEVER one of my things…UNTIL I became a business owner. Everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE was depending on me. I had to find ways to fit wife-ing (another made up word…), instruction and work into each day. I’m not ashamed to admit that I added crying to my list sometimes (*wink!*). There were days I felt defeated, guilty, completely stressed out AND like I had bitten off more than I could chew. However, I slowly found ways to make time for my family and my career. How in the world did I accomplish this? I stopped trying to do it like a man (insert hysterical laughter here!). 

Building a Supportive Network: Connecting with Other Moms 

Most of my coaches…no, actually ALL of them at the time were male. So, I began connecting with other moms. When I started this journey, I didn’t have the funds to hire a nanny to step in for me, nor could I just let the house fall apart so I could spend hours in my booth. That told me that I needed to create a space within my sphere. After all, this stubborn mom wasn’t willing to give up important moments with my family, but I COULD shift my schedule! Wonder how this might look? Here are just a few little tips. 

Leaving a Legacy: Lessons for Future VO Moms 

First, get up earlier! Oooohhhh!!! I can hear the moans all over the globe! Cherished rest is SUPER important to me, even now. It’s how I’m able to give my clients the best. However, that quiet time before my house came alive, allowed me to get a head start on auditions, emails and all things business.  

Second, utilize your kids nap time! I originally used that time for catching up with chores, but I shifted it for work purposes and incorporated short bursts chores during the day (Timers are helpful in these instances. It also helped me feel like I wasn’t slacking). Lastly, if I had a trainwreck day (let’s be honest, we have more of these than anything! At least, that’s how it felt for me.), I just rolled with it. After all, I was still booking work, everyone was alive, and I could use my experiences in some way for future work! 

Look, there’s nothing greater, harder, or more rewarding than being a mom. I never want to diminish that. It’s part of my legacy. I just want my fellow mommas out there to know that it’s OKAY! Take it one step at a time. Incorporate quiet time for your heart and mind. Remember to LAUGH OUT LOUD! What a story you’ll have to share with future VO moms out there. 

The Power of an Exhilarating Voice

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Introduction: Unraveling the Exhilarating VoiceExhilarating Mountain View

Exhilarating. This is one of the ways in which my voice is described on my website. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever really thought about it, but then I decided to look up the definition of this impressive sounding word. It means, “causing strong feelings of happy excitement and elation: thrilling.” (Merriam-Webster.com). Wow! Didn’t see that one coming.

 

Defining “Exhilarating” and Its Impact on Audiences

Then, I began thinking about one of my most recent sessions with a client. There were approximately five people on this project, and one of the reasons they wanted to work with me was because my voice was…exhilarating. Not only that, but during the recording (we were on camera), there were moments when one of the clients was swaying when I spoke (I’m giggling at this particular memory). When my clients are happy, you had better believe I experience an elation of sorts. How does one go about attaining this when voicing projects?

 

The Role of Expressiveness and Emotion in Voice Acting

Well, expressiveness and emotion play a role in voice acting. By trade, I was an actress and singer before I even KNEW VO was a thing! I’ve always enjoyed becoming someone other than myself. Moreso, I enjoyed how when I performed, it carried others along and caused them to emote; whether through laughter or tears, it brought me joy. This is one of the reasons why when folks tell me they have a great voice, I think to myself, “Yeah, you do! But can you act?”

 

Voice Acting vs. Acting: The Importance of Evoking Emotions

Possessing the ability to evoke strong emotions through speaking isn’t something that everyone can do. And you know EXACTLY what I mean! Especially when someone’s monotone voice is at the helm of a nice looooonnnggg lecture! There’s a passion that goes into voice acting that I can’t begin to describe. You just have to live it! When I get behind my Sennheiser and that script is in front of me, I mentally jump into it, and it becomes a part of me. What the heck am I talking about?

Possessing the ability to evoke strong emotions through speaking isn’t something that everyone can do.

– Krysta Wallrauch

Breathing Life into Scripts: Changing the Atmosphere

Exhilaration is about changing the atmosphere. When I embrace a script, I bring it to life for the client. See, they already have a vision for their project. I’m just a piece of the puzzle. When they begin to pair my performance with their hopes, they become more exhilarated. That’s what our voices do when we provide our skill set for our clients. We change the atmosphere. Isn’t that cool!? It’s how we breathe life into something that would otherwise feel flat and impersonal.

 

The Precious Gift of Bringing Exhilaration to Others

I don’t know about you, but I don’t EVER want to lose the precious gift of being able to bring exhilaration to another human being. Especially since there’s a reciprocity exchanged between me and the receiving party. How about you?