Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Our Past Lives

I've been a voice actor for 12 years now and each morning I wake up and walk into my studio, I know this is where I am meant to be. However, like most of today's voice actors this was not my first job.

In fact, if you've been a voice actor longer than say, 10 years, chances are you had never even heard of voice over until you were already doing it! It's become so much more main stream recently (thanks to amazing voices like Don LaFontaine, Joe Cipriano, Melissa Disney, Beau Weaver, and so many more!) that I often receive e-mails from children who one day hope to grow up and be a voice actor!

Last week, my dog became very ill with an unusual infection. Over the weekend, we had to make two separate trips to the emergency vet to get her some relief from the pain and put her on the road to healing. I'm thankful to say she has improved drastically, and we are nearly out of the woods. Since I'm a firm believer that the power of prayer and positive thoughts can work wonders, I turned to my friends and fellow voice actors to send healing thoughts for my little girl. (I don't have kids yet, so I'm guilty of treating my dog as if she was my baby!)

I was not one bit surprised by the kind e-mails and messages I received wishing Macy a speedy recovery (the voice acting community is incredibly generous). However, I was surprised by an e-mail I received from my friend, September Day Leach. As it turns out, September was a vet tech before she was a voice actor- and she offered to answer any questions I might have! Well, I sent her Macy's lab results- and she offered not only her thoughts- but some very practical things I could do to make Macy more comfortable (For instance- did you know that keeping the food bowl elevated helps prevent stomach pain?? It really does!)

I can't thank September enough for offering to help- she was (and is) an enormous comfort!

So, all of this got me thinking about 'past lives', A.K.A.: the things we did before we became voice actors. For me, my career began in radio. I spent 11 years co-hosting a variety of shows before moving to full-time VO. Prior to that, I leased apartments, worked as a waitress (boy was I terrible at that one!), taught TaeKwon-Do to children, and was a Sonic Carhop. Oh- I also taught an in-line skating class once, and dappled in ESL.

If you have a moment, I would love to hear what you did in your 'past life'! Maybe it's a job you still do in addition to voice over- or maybe it's something you still can't believe you ever did.

Feel free to leave a comment!

And again, thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Yeah, she's just a dog- but she's the best little dog I've ever known!

Oh- and as a quick side note...I promised recently that I would post pictures of my new studio soon. I still plan to- but I'm waiting on my ISDN line to be installed and my new studio rack. Then- there will be many photos :)

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad she's doing better, Kara! I'll have to make a special trip to come down to see her and visit. Hey, while I'm there, I could make us some killer coffee; I also used to be a Starbucks barista, trained in Seattle no less! ;)

Kara Edwards said...

September,

She is doing better- thank you again for you advice and expertise!

You are welcome here anytime, and BTW- we are BIG coffee drinkers! :)

Kara

Anonymous said...

Kara,
I must comment on this one...
Our 13 year old Jack Russell terrier "Ollie" is our CHILD! No kids for us. The thought of him being gone one day is hard to even imagine! I am glad your baby is doing better. September Day Leach wrote back and we will get together sometime when I am in Atlanta. Brian H. was helpful as well. Now- PAST LIVES:
TV host & producer, actor in L.A, skydiving coach, Tae Kwon Do instructor in Dallas Tx, Casting Director & Talent agent-Dallas Tx. timeshare sales tour guide-yikes, telemarketing-yikes yikes!
Hey- check out my youtube video:search- Rodney Stoner. It is one of my skydiving videos (click the: watch in high quality option)
Later from Charlotte NC
Rodney S.

Kara Edwards said...

Rodney,

Thank you for the comment! I was a wreck when Macy was sick, so it's wonderful to see her improving slowly!

WOW- you've done a ton of stuff! We'll have to chat- I lived in Dallas for a long time- I bet we have many mutual friends!

Kara

Anonymous said...

Yeah..I was thinking we may have crossed paths at some point in Dallas..or at least some friends in common. I was a casting director in Dallas with Shirley Abrams and helped cast Barney & Friends/Wishbone..etc..I was represented by The Campbell Agency for acting. Worked as an agent for Take One Talent & was an actor in the films JFK, Necessary Roughness, Touch & Die..etc. Lived in North Dallas..Preston rd @ Beltline. I was in Dallas between 1990-1993..then back and forth to L.A.

Kara Edwards said...

Interesting Rodney!!

I was in Dallas from 1987-2001 (originally from West Texas). I was with the Mary Collins Agency for a number of years and worked quite a bit with Funimation. A friend of mine is the current voice of Barney. Small, small world!

Kara

Josh said...

Hi Kara,

I have to say I think that voice acting is a facinating job and it's something I would love to get into someday. My friend and I do these little podcasts during our freetime (usually in the summer when we don't have college classes to worry about), and we'd always do commercials and things like that and try to do different voices and make up characters. It's definitely fun and I think you're really blessed that you have been able to make a career out of it!

On a side note, I'm really glad to hear that your dog is doing better! It's always hard when a loved one is sick, pets included.

Hope to read more blogs from you in the future!

Josh

Kara Edwards said...

Josh-

Being a full-time voice actor is literally a dream come true for me. Not a day goes by that I don't count my Blessings! Podcasting and creating characters are both great ways to get started, let me know if I can ever help or answer any questions!

Thanks for stopping by!
Kara

Scott said...

Hi Kara -

Good to hear Macy is on the mend. Thanks for posting the pics of the new studio also. It's always interesting to see how people have things set up.
I was a pastor before doing vo, but I think you may have known that.
"See" you around!
Scott

Kara Edwards said...

Scott-

Thank you for stopping by and commenting!

Kara

Anonymous said...

Hey Kara,
How goes it? Things are moving along here in Charlotte. I just posted my latest on-camera hosting demo reel to youtube, Facebook & VO Universe. My VO website is almost finished and the home studio is 90%..(gotta work out some software kinks)..
Hope all is well in Florida and HAPPY NEW YEAR! OH...you mentioned that your friend does the voice of Barney back in Dallas. Is that Bob West?? I know he used to do the voice. I did alot of casting on Barney. My old roommate did the voice of "Wishbone" and now does "Boz the Bear"..Larry Brantley.