Slow Season Survival Guide: Turning Downtime Into Playtime

Calendar quiet? Perfect. This is creative playtime. Here’s my fastest, most fun hit list for audio/VO/production folks.

Studio Play (10-minute drills)

• Move the mic; record in booth, closet, bathroom, car-in-rain. Chase textures, not perfection.

• Speed-run five reads: automotive, pharma, cereal, game trailer, kids’ toy. One take each.

• Make a fake ad for your pet’s product. Keep the funniest 15 seconds.

Cross-Training, Lightning Round

• Build three go-to chains in Audition/Pro Tools: clean VO, promo punch, soft narrative. Save presets.

• Cut a 15-second sizzle in DaVinci Resolve with your VO and a music bed. Export vertical.

• Study a hero: transcribe 30 seconds (Morgan Freeman/Tara Strong), mimic once, then remix with your spin.

Micro-Content That Plays

• Post a 30-second character or accent daily for seven days. Tag and pin your favorite.

• Voice a friend’s panel, musician bumper, or pod intro. Trade skills and cross-post.

• Trailer-ize the mundane: weather report, IKEA manual, cookie recipe.

Rest, On Purpose

• One full off-day: no mic, no DAW. Hydrate, steam, straw phonation for five minutes.

• Sleep 7+ hours. Light jaw/neck stretch. Your instrument resets.

Skill Snacks

• Drop into one acting class this month.

• Learn one new vowel shift for a dialect; run 10 lines cold.

• Review compression/EQ/noise reduction basics; lock in a quiet-room and travel-room preset.

Money Moves (so play feels safe)

• Park 30% of your next invoice.

• Prep your rate sheet with rush rates and deposit terms; save the email template.

• List one digital product or coaching slot this week.

Comeback, Fast

• Save your best three clips; refresh the demo sting.

• Email five past clients: “Been experimenting with automotive—want a 60-sec sample?”

Ready to turn your studio into a creative playground? Start with a coaching consultation and we’ll build your personal slow-season playbook.