This will be my last blog entry for a couple of weeks as I’m going on a real vacation!

The hubster and I celebrated a BIG anniversary this year, so we’re taking a little time for ourselves and heading to Europe. We’ve been talking about doing this for 15 years but work & family committments, and funding college educations came first.

In voice over,  talent rarely rests or even takes breaks, much less a real vacation. We’ll occasionally take our long weekends and our remote recording rigs come with us! Often we’ll spend hours in our hotel rooms, then take a wee bit of time to dip our toes in the ocean.

But this time, I’m traveling lightly. Just my Apogee mic and my iPad loaded with Twisted wave for short…short things. Yes, I’ll post pictures upon my return! I’ve loaded WhatsApp on my phone and can Facetime with Family. But I’m pretty much electing to be off the grid to experience Barcelona’s culture, museums, architecture, cathedrals and galleries, tapas and tempranillo and the beach at Sitges. Ah, Spain, here I come.

In recent weeks, I’ve been working on something I’ve been reading about and putting into practice. It’s a way of becoming super-productive and focused so I can get more done.  The trick is to act as if I were going on a long vacation and try to get everything done that I needed to do. About a month ago I notified all my clients in an email blast of my upcoming schedule, and asked that if anything comes up with my name on it that any scripts come well in advance.

Well, the fact is I am taking a vacation, and I have had a ton of work to do, I’m leaving tomorrow and I haven’t packed yet. And I was swamped with scripts at the last minute. (almost)

However, what I have done today has astonished me: (Hint: it’s all about urgency)

8:30AM- A remote recording session over Source-Connect for a new client. three :30 radio spots for a hospital to air in New Hampshire and Vermont.

11:30AM-Remote recording session for a :30 radio and Sports Authority to air in Milwaukee

1:00 PM- Skype session with a new client for a corporate video /documentary style recording for the Encina Wastewater Authority in Carlsbad, CA.

2-5PM- a 27- minute finished recording of IVR prompts for a major call center in the UAE…all done is a British accent!

5-5:30PM- Radio Imaging recording for a new contract client in Canada, complete with some French pronunciations sprinkled in.

6-7PM Finished administrative billing, and answering emails, and write a blog.

Yes, I took a lunch and dinner break, and now it is 7:07 PM and am about to call it a day to recover. And start packing. That was a LOT of talk.

My hubster said to me, “Ya know, you really need to be in pretty good condition to be a voiceover talent…stamina, focus and energy all day long.” I said back with a sigh, “Yup, now I’ll rest this voice, take a shower, get a good night’s sleep, and take a vacation starting tomorrow. I’m so ready.”

Until the third week of October, Adios mis amigos!