Being an Australian voiceover artist, you’d think I’d take some time off during the holidays, right? Well, as it turns out, I can’t resist a good opportunity—especially when it involves something as iconic as the Australian Open! Here’s how a surprise voiceover booking on Christmas Eve turned into one of the most fun (and slightly unconventional) gigs I’ve had in a while.
A Christmas Eve Email That Changed Everything
It was Christmas Eve. I’d just woken up, rolled over to check my phone (because, let’s be real, I do that way too much), and bam—there it was. A voiceover booking email. My first thought was, “Nah, not today. It’s Christmas Eve. I’m supposed to be off.”
But then, I looked a little closer and saw something that made me sit up straight: Entrance Announcements for the Australian Open! 🎾🤩
Who on earth turns that down? Not me, that’s for sure. So, with zero hesitation, I said yes and dove right in.
How I Managed to Record the Australian Open Announcement on Holiday
Here’s how the whole thing went down:
Accepted the gig: No time to overthink it. AO, baby!
Warmed up my voice: You can’t just roll out of bed and nail a gig like this without a little vocal prep.
Jumped in the car: Now, here’s where things get a little interesting. I was visiting my parents in New South Wales for the holidays, so I didn’t have access to my usual recording setup. What did I do? I recorded in my car. Yep, you read that right. The car was way better than trying to record in my parents’ house (more on that in a sec).
Recorded 20 prompts: I made sure every announcement was crisp, clear, and ready to go.
Edited and submitted: Quick edits, quick split of the files, and boom—they were off to the client.
Client’s approval: By the end of the day, my recordings were signed off. I couldn't believe it—what a way to wrap up the year!
Why My Car Was the Best Place to Record
So, why the car? Well, my usual studio setup was nowhere near me, and I wasn’t about to let that stop me. You see, recording in my car wasn’t just a random choice—it was a genius one. Here’s why:
Soundproofing: My car has way less background noise than, say, a bustling household filled with excited holiday-goers (and a certain 5-year-old niece who’s basically glued to my side the whole time). The car had that sweet spot of quiet, making it perfect for recording.
No distractions: Inside the house, there’s always someone asking, "What are you doing in there?" But in the car, I could focus completely on getting the job done.
Crisp sound: To really tighten up the sound, I threw a light sheet over my head (yes, really!) to block out any unwanted noise and make the recording nice and crisp. It might sound a little quirky, but hey—whatever works!
And you know what? It worked. The result was a clean, professional recording, and my client was thrilled!
The Joy of Flexibility as a Voiceover Artist
It’s moments like this that remind me how much I love being a voiceover artist. I can work from anywhere—whether it’s my fully-equipped studio or a car in the middle of nowhere—and still deliver top-quality work.
If you’re at the Australian Open this year, keep an ear out for my voice announcing all the action! And if you catch a video or snap of me on the speakers, feel free to send it my way—I’d love to see it!
As an Australian voiceover artist, I’m always ready to jump on new projects, whether I’m at home, in a car, or anywhere in between. If you’re looking for a voice that’s engaging, professional, and a little bit fun, let’s chat. I’d love to help bring your next project or event to life!
Email me at jackiebowker@hotmail.com
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