Are you renowned for your impressions or impersonations of people or creatures? Is your voice different or extraordinary in a way that amuses others, or are you considered to have a reassuring voice? If so, you can use that sound for a career in voiceover acting with just a small amount of voice over training. Television, radio and movie productions rely on all require some variety of voice over work at some point of another. They need skilled voice over actors to work on their projects. Even if your main interest lies in front of the camera, you can employ voice over training and voice acting as a jumping-off point to working on camera. Voice over training is also imperative if you are wanting a career in professional speaking. Although there are plenty who like to work in the entertainment industry, without the requisite voice over training and accrediting, you will not have be able to view casting calls and it is unlikely to make it very far in the voice over business.

One of the staples of voice over training revolves around proper annunciation. Will regularly need to become regular-lee or reg-you-lurly? Some production staff will have a guide with the particular way to pronounce some common or unusual words. Because pronunciation can vary by area it is vital to verify the script before you begin taping. If you are not supplied these guidelines along with your script, then it is your responsibility as voice over talent to reexamine and verify the script. Some first names or last names may be wary. A fast read through will square away any potential problems so that the work can be finished with as little takes as possible. This can also enable you to acquire a reputation of courtesy and professionalism.

Ever wonder how those professional voiceovers are accomplished without respiration? Whenever we hear these voice over vocals, we seldom hear them breathe. These narrators are working with microphone and amplification instruments so the slightest breath would be detected. Yet we do not hear any breathing in or exhaling on these voiceover tracks. We assume that they must be holding their breath as taugh to them during some strict voice over training. This is typically, and hopefully, not the case. These breaths are taken out in post production. Sometimes, instead of removing entirely, the editor will lower the pitch or volume on the breath so that it is less noticeable but still evident. This is why having access to a voice over production studio is so important to your project. Without it, your voiceover talent will be forced to deliver lines in one take without breathing which is not ideal to say the least.

When doing areas that are consistently shaded, or in dark recessed areas, make sure that you remove the excess water to avoid the growth of algae. If you are doing anything inside a building that’s over water or anything similar to this, make sure that you remove as much water as possible. You may also want to, in certain situations where their docks warrant it, use a staining product to re-stain the docks to keep them up since a lot of them get weathered and they are consistently exposed to sunlight and harsh salt air and water. For the best products on wood we recommend Lifeguard Water Proofing Products which are guaranteed for five to seven years depending on which grade you buy. You can purchase them at Eagle Hardware, in Canada at Depots.

Other products we recommend are Behr Products, which are the second best and can be found at Home Depots around the country. If they ask you for a wet look go buy a product called Sikkens and this is also available at Home Depot.

If you do any re-staining on decking, be extremely careful not to let the stain material drop into the water as it can sometimes drift and attach itself onto the gel coat of other boats right at their water line. Although it can create some work for you, there will be some unhappy boaters and they will know directly who to go to if you do not work carefully. So, just be cautious, since most stains are lighter than water and they float until they wash up against something, such as a boat hull.

Wood Discoloration Factors and Procedures for Dock Cleaning

There are many types of stains, which can get on a dock at the Marina, if you do not have a pressure washer or steam cleaner and you need to clean these stains you may wish to know how to clean them without expensive equipment. If you have the proper equipment but a stubborn stain, you might want to use these procedures to increase your success.

Algae: Use a diluted bleach* solution (4:1). Saturate algae growth and allow to sit five to ten minutes. Scrub and rinse well.

Extractive/Tannin Bleed: Use a four to five percent solution of oxalic acid. Allow solution to remain on spot until the darkness disappears, then rinse well with water.

Grease: Use a strong household detergent in warm water and agitate with a brush. Automotive degreaser has also shown to be effective when used according to directions.

Mildew: Use a diluted bleach* solution and scrub.

Mill Stamps: There are no solvents available to remove these stamps. Sanding is the most effective means. They will also fade with time.

Leaf Stains: Use a diluted bleach* solution and scrub.

Pitch/Rosin: Scrape the excess material from wood using a putty knife or steel wool and clean the area with hot, soapy water. Turpentine is effective in removing pitch, which is still sappy.

Rosin from surrounding trees: Wipe area with a wet cloth with turpentine.

*Sometimes when cleaning wood with a stain, especially with bleach, the natural color of the wood may disappear. Check with your distributor/supplier for products than can be used to ensure uniformity and restore the wood to its natural color.

Wolmans, Behr, Sikkens, Lifeguard and others have company websites with all this type of information and more. You would be wise to understand these procedures to insure a perfect job. Do it right, do it efficient. Think about it.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

In the age of sail yore, sailing ships had crucial military applications. Several wars were fought using sailing ships. For example, Spanish convoys returning with gold and silver plundered from the newly-discovered Americas needed protection from the pirates. Naval battles were fought among the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and the Netherlands with the help of sailing ships. The sailing ships had ferried a large number of slaves from countries in the African continent to the United States, during the time of flourishing slave trade.

With regard to the structure of the sailing ships, every vessel has a hull, rigging, and a mast to hold up the sails that tap the wind to power the ship. Ballasting helps to weigh down the bottom of the ship so that the waves would not push the ship over. Convention had it that only a vessel with three or more masts was called a ship. Others were called a boat. Now, the norm is ignored. The crew members who sail a ship are called sailors or hands, who take turns to take the watch.

In modern times, the voyage of sailing ships for transportation of passengers and cargo is not desirable, as this would take months. Expeditions, explorations, and scientific voyages or training jaunts are undertaken on sailing ships even at present.

Fine models of sailing ships are on display at the prestigious American Marine Model Gallery in Salem, Massachusetts. During the Great Age of Sail, Salem, Massachusetts, was one of America’s busiest seaports and maritime centers.

Sailing ship models are available with hundreds of dealers at prices ranging from $100 to $400. There are museum-quality sailing ship models that can cost up to $15,000.

Underneath the ice at the South Pole is a land mass that used to be much nearer the equator, where it was forested with a normal variety of animal life. AS the continent drifted south, at a rate of centimetres a century, the species living there evolved to cope with the changing climate.

Those animals still live there. The continent, or at least the Southern Ocean surrounding it are teeming with wildlife. This is the only place on Earth where wild animals have not learnt to be afraid of humans, meaning that you can get really close to these animals in their natural habitat.

This area may not be inhabited by many people but there is an enormous variety of wildlife, including various species of whales, seals and sea-lions. You will see Rockhopper penguins, Magellanic penguins, Adelie, Chinstrap, Gentoo and King penguins. For those interested in flying birds there are Albatross, Kelp Gulls and Terns.

Most people are interested in seeing Orca, killer whales, and this is certainly an impressive species, especially when seen in family groups.

An Antarctic cruise will enable you to see the Antarctic coastline and visit some of the islands of the Southern Ocean. Many of these islands have only a very small human population, others are uninhabited (by people anyway.) The silence away from the ship is simply stunning.

Visit the graves of some of the early Antarctic explorers such as Shackleton and venture amongst the islands and icebergs in a Rigid Inflatable Zodiac Boat (RIB).

That’s just the activities OFF the ship. Of course you have the normal exciting cruise ship lifestyle on board, with all luxuries available. No ordinary cruise this, though. You will have so much to tell people when you return home from your out of the ordinary holiday to the Earth’s least known continent at the end of the world.

Ciara McGrath has four daughters and travels widely. For more articles click here. For more info visit Antarctic cruise and Antarctic travel.