Did the dog eat my homework?  No.  But WordPress ate my blog.  So this is take 2.  Who’s got the clapperboard?  Anyway, I had this very detailed, very involved blog indexing all of my entries from 2011.  It took me two hours to research, write, and link everything up.  I won’t say it’s gone, however the HTML was messed up, so it’s far more complicated to fix than just start over.  Here is the intro from the first blog, followed by details of how this blog is now indexed to save me time as opposed to the first time through.

I’ve been leading a solitary life as of late.  I’m staying in more focussing on treating my voice like a business, taking some holiday time off the karaoke circuit, and since I’m no longer on the radio or in the paper, my obligations to socialize have become void.  I’ve also limited my charity work, which really took a toll on my life, to just things I can assist with voiceovers and being the Entertainment Chair for the ACS Relay for Life of Sonoma.  That means I have a few more weeks before I have to worry on that front as well.  Due to my social coma however, every time I run into someone, they want to know, “Where have you been?”  or, “Weren’t you moving to L.A.?”  I respond by telling them they should follow my blog!  But seriously, it is too much to tell.

In reality, I have 7 months of blogs here, so my saying people should catch up with my by reading my blog isn’t exactly thoughtful of their time anymore.  Also, even though you wouldn’t see it from the amount of comments I receive here, my readership is growing so people are naturally curious to find out what I’m about, where I’m coming for, and short cuts to the specific information they need.

With New Year’s Eve quickly approaching I thought it may be most productive to quickly index my postings from 2011 so everyone may find the specific answers they’re looking for.  Most likely, this is my last post of 2011, however, we’ll see how the sentimentality and inspiration of Saturday night finds me.  Thank you for reading and please stay tuned as this journey can only get better! 

With all of that repeated, on to the blogs… My first time through, I linked each to their specific blog.  The first method was a direct link of everything and now I’m unfortunately asking you to do a little extra clicking.  On any given page, whether it’s the home page or a single blog page, to the right you will see links to Posts by Date, and below that, Older Posts.  To the right of that is also a section of links that help you find a blog by topic, but my keywords I must confess, may not be all that accurate.  New Years Resolution #1, accurately archive blog entries utilizing keywords.  At any rate, I will list below the blogs by month with a description of each blog.  All you will need to do is simply click on the month in the Older Posts on your right and it will take you to the archive.  Then choose the blog you are looking for.

1. The Beginning of the Journey- How I strayed so far from my original path, why I began the blog, and my motiation for going gung ho into my voiceover persuit.   A little about my background and where I was at the beginning of this journey.
2. Are You That Girl from NCIS?- The first day recap of my trip to LA and being asked if I was Pauley Perrette.  (That happens often.  Not exactly am I here, but, “Gee, you sure look like…”)
3. Every Mermaid Needs a Tail- My birthday- After a production meeting for Audacity’s Cabaret, the search for a tail.
4. Birds of a feather… well, some just have more feathers.- My first chance to rub elbows with someone on my trip to LA
5. Do the trade papers exist in print?- After spending the day looking for a copy of Variety or Backstage West, an article I found on Yeardly Smith, the voice of Lisa Simpson.
6. Sing Out Louise- Rehearsing for Audacity’s Cabaret
7. Oy Gevald!  The traffic.- Shopping and info for Cabaret… mostly just a story.

July 2011

1. Done Playing Catch Up!- After some blog loss, a recap of the rest of LA instead and updating IMDb.
   

   The Amazing Chuck McCann!

2. Fairwell to a Treasured Group- A farewell to SonomaSong
3. Voice for hire- A specific exercise I chose to do after reading a book of this title.
4. The Cost of Learning- My search for classes and the why for it.
5. You’ve reached the voice-mail of Cat Smith- A goal I have yet to accomplish but one important for every VO actor.  That’s on the 2012 resolutions- follow through with the challenges I post in my blogs!
6. Chuck McCann says, “You’d better listen to her demo!”- Benefits of Comic Con or similar conventions and following through on referrals.
7. Money makes the world go around- My search for a voice coach and deciding not to move to LA (at least for the time being)
8. Dear friends and family, and acquaintances, and...- My small attempt at guerilla marketing and its fruits. 
9. A dream is a wish your heart makes- updates on the email blast and voice coach
10. Thank you for your patience, please continue to hold…- Supporting me through eBay actions (more up January 2012)

August 2011

1. Eye of the storm- A little life update
2. Two posts in one day?- a few quick things I learned from voice coach
3. There’s no place like LA.  There’s no place like LA.- Preparations for the next Audacity’s Cabaret & meeting the voice coach in person.
4. Every exit is an entrance.  So where’s the door?- Trip to LA cancelled.

September 2011

1. Hello?  Echo!  ECHO!!- The absolute decision not to move to LA and a rare audio clip from an 8 yr old Cat Smith

October 2011

1. To subscribe or not to subscribe… that certainly is a question.- My research on online casting services, i.e. Voice123 and voices.com
2. I need to “invite the avalanche,” says Bob Souer- Things I learned in other people’s blogs and voiceover conferences
3. No money?  No problem.- Steps to setting up my free trial of Voice123.  (voices.com never offered btw)
4. The Audacity of it all- Dealing with a delay in the headphones when setting up the home studio
5. Welcome to frustration.  Population 1- Further trial and error in the home studio set up

Halloween 2011

November 2011

1. Halloween is over and it’s time to audition- Social appearances and my first auditions for Voice123

Halloween 2011

1. It works if you work it- Achieving success by being responsible with your actions
2. Goooooooodmorning Sacramento!- My commercial airs in Sacramento and other projects in the works
3. Tap, tap… is this thing on?- More blog advice I found to share and a program for sharing large files (i.e. voice work, hint, hint!  Just say I sent you!  Or just click the link in there.)

December 2011

1. New Year’s Resolution in the works- my thoughts for the new year and running voiceover like a business
2. On gluing Mickey ears to headphones a.k.a. cans- Information on Voice2012, voice over convention in June at the Disneyland resort
3. The clock is ticking- Updates on a couple of projects and the reasons for using headphones as a voice actor
4. Stage fright makes a case for voice over classes- Why classes are a good idea for newbies and seasoned pros.
5. You like me!  You really like me!- a link to the Go!Animate video I did for the Voice123 contest
6. Which came first?  Today it was the baby chicken followed by the crispy chicken.- An audition story.
7. And the winner is…- An ode to FB and my experience with Go!Animate
8. Trust me, Voice123, you really do want my opinion- The positives of using Voice123 in response to a negative post.
9. Lost voice.  If found…- How to handle laryngitis
10. Ode to great customer service- a special thank you to Voice123 and tips for getting your profile set up.

Author: Administrator

Cat Smith is a voice over actress in Northern, CA. She has been a popular radio host of several shows on Sun FM 91.3 KSVY Sonoma, including the award winning Mornings in Sonoma, Girls Night Out, The Mix Tape, and more. She is also the voice of Skip, a puppet in Eco Beeps with Skip & Molly, winner in the category Independent Short Ages 2-5 at the Kids First Film Festival (Episode 1, Plastic Bags).