JayBeacham.com-A Voice as an Instrument

It’s Saturday the 24th of September 2016.
I’m at my computer and the News on this network is as follows.
Presisdent Obama may veto the 9/11 bill, a law allowing US citizens to sue Suadi Arabia for deaths of relative in the Twin Towers.
He would do the world a service if he stopped a stupid law. The Saudia Government wasn’t to blame. There were people of other
countries, most of the world, who died there that day too. What about them? What would make the Saudi government pay anyone if sued
and won the suit?.
Next up, a lady zoo keeper was killed by a tiger. A peril of the job.
Next up: Mysterious Chiness skeletons found in ancient London cemetery. Researchers puzzed as to the why and how thses people showed up there.
As if ancient peoples didn’t travel and there was no such thing as slavery in the Roman Empire.
A fun side article was about a moose that stomped on a robotic lawn mower that tried to trim his hoofs. Good for you moose. Bullwinkel wins yet again.
Next something that could be really serious:
from Reuters news service – A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the Philippine’s Mindanao island on Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Then more on the 9/11 bill.
Then to the election of the next president. A professor hasn’t mispredicted the outcome of an election since his 1984 start of prediction based
on a formula of 13 questions he has conceived of.
But the prophet says Trump may break the mold. Of course Trump is maligned in the process.
Then the Democrats input on the presidencial race.
Other things good and bad happened world wide.
Flooding in North Korea, a gunman killing 5 people, riolts, murders, Hoover reservoir stink, some lady’s bakini, guns, war in the middle east, etc.
Interesting what the top stories are on this page.
What does it matter what a celebrity wears?
Gate keeping is necessary due to time and space but the news the media includes or leaves out is a mystery to any sane person.
Next we find “What’s Hot”: What are the best cell phones you can buy and does your dog need a new bed?
Totally lame things to waste space and time.
Can anyone learn what is really happening in the world from news services?
How does knowing or not knowing about it affect one’s life?
What can one do about it? Should one try?
Tomorrow there will be more of the same.
Whether I read it or not the world will still rotate.
If I don’t read it, imagine the time I’d save over a year’s time.
Over a lifetime.
Oh, it’s getting late, I’d better start doing something of value and get off of this computer.

2 Comments »

Today a man asked me:

9/18/2016

Hi Jay,

Found you on you tube and impressed with the vocal ability.
I am working on enhancing my voice and become a more effective speaker.
I am honing in on using my diaphragm when speaking but I find it quite challenging
due to old habits. Any recommendations where to start or maybe coaching you can provide?

My reply:

I have done voice coaching.

I did a video about that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pVXp3WMKW0 Breath right to speak and sing right.

Once I broke my back and had to wear a back brace for a while.

My posture was really good with that thing on and I could sing higher than I normally can.

So my first suggestions would be to have good posture, sit or stand up tall thus making room for your diaphragm to expand.

You can practice it.

William Danforth in his book I Dare You tells of the simple exercises he used:

http://jaybeacham.com/2013/09/24/i-dare-you/

More about it. http://jaybeacham.com/2013/04/26/more-about-breathing-for-speaking-and-singing/

It has a link to another video “5 steps for better speaking. Here’s a post at another site of mine that may help a little.

http://singingasong.net/?p=51

And this next post has links to some diaphragm usage instructions:

http://singingasong.net/?p=389

Hope this helps you some.

Have fun with it.

Jay

And you have fun too and keep speaking.

1 Comment »

I started jaybeacham.com in January of 2008.
Since that time I’ve received many thousands of spam comments.
Most are generated by computer software programs.

Real people wouldn’t write such tripe nor

place those comments on such odd ball pages like the contact or policy page.
Today I deleted 142 fakes.
This one made me laugh because it was so “priceless”

Submitted on 2016/09/13 at 8:28 pm
This post is priceless. How can I find out more?

It was placed on the:

Rate Schedule page.

(note: one meaning of tripe is:

2. Slang. something, especially speech or writing, that is false or worthless; rubbish)

1 Comment »

    I record songs on the Sing Snap karaoke site and they let us share those recordings with other Sing Snappers

By jaybeacham today at 2:17am (21 hours ago)

By brenda-a today at 5:07pm (6 hours ago) for jaybeachamGOLD on She Believes In Me

God bless you.Have a geat day.

Hi Jay..I do believe in you since day one..never will forget hearing your voice for the very first time  still amazes me.Gorgeous gifted golden voice..love this song and sing from you.God bless you.Hugs, Brenda

 

 

By brenda-a today at 5:09pm (6 hours ago) for jaybeachamGOLD on She Believes In Me

God bless you.Have a great day.

I don’t know either one of the Steve Gibbs..but I do wonder if Barry Gibbs son sings..I sure hate when we lose the last of the Bee Gees..I hope he sings for many yrs to come..and that his son can sing like him 

BTW do you have a son that can sing like you? or at least talk like you?

 

My answer:

Thanks for believing and listening to me,
Do wish you were a casting agent somewhere.
Here’s some info on Steve Gibb, Barry’s son:
Stephen Thadius “Steve” Crompton Gibb is an English musician and the first-born son of Barry Gibb and Linda Gibb. Wikipedia
Born: December 1, 1973 (age 42), London, United Kingdom
Spouse: Gloria Levas (m. 2002)
Parents: Linda Gray, Barry Gibb
Uncles: Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Andy Gibb
Grandparents: Hugh Gibb, Barbara Gibb
Siblings: Ashley Gibb, Travis Gibb, Alexandra Gibb, Michael Gibb

My oldest son Steve was born in 1974, used to pretend to people on the phone that he was me and fooled them.
My brother Stan has a similar sounding voice as me and sings.
My second son Alan born 1975 and youngest son James born 1981 both have similar sounding voices too.
James makes films and sometimes narrates them himself but he has had me sing in one of them.
Once over the phone someone mistook me for Stan and it was hard to convince him that it was me.
and shortly after that I happened to hear one of my ads on radio and it did sound very much like him.
I was a radio announcer from age sixteen to about 22 then did some radio plays and voice work. Stan was a radio announcer on a college station just a couple of years ago and he graduated with one of his youngest daughters. I started early, he finished late.
He is more of a story teller, guitar-mandolin player and actor.
About 30 years ago he portrayed Jesus Christ in the American Messiah play and film.
Some things run in families I suppose.

I found several recordings of the Steve singing with his dad Barry.
Here’s the link to one I listened to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbZERsinjEg
“I’ve got to get a message to you.”
And I don’t play the guitar. In fact gave it to Alan’s son Bryson for a boy in his band.
Bryson sings and does guitar and his brother Bailey writes songs, plays guitar and piano(their mother is a piano teacher).
Is that a good enough answer?
Jay

Brenda replied:

Thank you Jay. I guess it does run in your family then 

 

By brenda-a today at 12:31am (11 hours ago)

I don’t think Barry’s son sounds like him when he sings 

 

By jaybeacham today at 1:17am (10 hours ago)

No they don’t sound alike but then they still sing together.
Jay

Does music, singing, whatever stay in your family more than one generation?

comment here

 

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Labor Day and other mislabeled things.

The other morning, I woke up at 6 am.  the sun hadn’t yet come over the east horizon.

Then I remembered that this is Utah, not Arizona ten miles due south and it’s summer and Utah has

decided that “Congressional Time”, commonly known as “daylight savings time” is the thing to do in the spring, summer.

and fall.   So it’s really 7 am DT,  

How any electricity is saved by the morning folks arising an hour earlier and calling it an hour later

is a mystery to me.   Anyone going to work by 6, 7,  or 8 must turn on lights in their houses to see to get ready to go.

And on this beautiful Monday morn named Labor day when most take a holiday.

A holiday to honor labor by not working.

What sense does that make?

I did learn of a man I know, who dug some weeds out that day, thus it was a labor day for him.

I know there are many more things that we say and do that make little or no sense.

I can’t think of any right now so I’m asking my readers to tell of the ones they know in the comment section.

The comments are moderated before going public.    If they are real comments about this subject, then you’ll see them

show up in a day or two.  They must be clean.

So, tell me some of your mislabeled or wrongly named things.

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Foreign language knowledge can be lots of fun.

I’ve recorded 1,174 songs on an online Karaoke site.  Some in one or more of 11 languages so far.

Go there and listen to some:

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/profile/recordings/b8fd804

No comments »

A voice over job became available today:
CASTING CALL / VOICE OVER / 11 ROLES18.08.2016
Today we start castings for 11 voice over positions…
Type: TV / WEB / RADIO commercial

Category: International car company

Required: We are looking for a male and female voice over actors for one of Europe’s largest car companies new TV/ WEB/ Radio commercial. Language: English (US). Voice age : 18-24(2 positions) and 30-45(3 positions)
Spanish(1 position), Italian ( 2 positions) , Russian (3 position)

Payment: Paid job

Expiring: 28th of September, 2016

This was what was requested:
“English (US). Voice age : 18-24(2 positions) and 30-45(3 positions)“

About the age of voices.
When I was about 14 yrs old my voice changed from a fine boy soprano to a very deep bass.
At age 16, I began work as an announcer-DJ at the local radio station.
This June, just past, I turned 66 years old.
From 14 to now, my voice has sounded virtually the same unless I try to sound younger or older.

Physical age doesn’t change voice quality or sound necessarily.
Some very old women that I know have very child like voices.
One is a voice talent who does children voices exclusively.

Walter Brennan never sounded young after an accident changed his voice timber.
“Throughout his career, Brennan was frequently called upon to play characters considerably older than he was in real life.
The loss of many teeth in a 1932 accident, rapidly thinning hair, thin build, and unusual vocal intonations all made him seem older than he really was.   He used these features to great effect. In many of his film roles, Brennan wore dentures…”

Age of a voice?
That’s why they call them voice talents. At least those who can do different sounding voices.
But trying to make a voice sound what is perceived as a certain age of an adult, say over 16, is stupid.
I sound the same now as I did at age 16.
My point is, “Physical age doesn’t determine the sound of a voice.”

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As I’ve gone out to acquire voice work, I hear:  “We do everything in house.”, “We have the radio station do it all for us.”  “You’re not this voice or that.” , and other reasons why they won’t even listen to me.  

I might be the best thing that ever happened to their company, but if they won’t even listen, how will they know?

“I understand that Mel Blanc went into Warner Brothers every week for three years trying to get heard. The main guy wouldn’t listen to him and then died. The new guy who took over, listened to Mel and Mel went on to make Warner Brothers.
The first guy had lots of voice people but not Mel and he was something special.
I could be too. You won’t know if you don’t listen to me.
Need a voice talent?”  posted at  Jay Beacham Services on May 23. 2016.

So I may be a Mel Blanc. 

I do voice work in English and German and a few other languages.

 Listen to me now.

https://soundcloud.com/jay-beacham

No comments »

I was going through my documents files today and found this piece I’d forgotten about.

Pioneer Day was last Sunday with activities for it the week and day before and on Monday the 25th.

It’s still a good time to remember and ponder.

This past few days the temperature has been 112 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit  and the pioneer  song lyrics came to mind, “the hot winds swirl around me and take my breath away.”  we have cooling devises, fans, shade, so much that the pioneer didn’t have here in Southern Utah.

So Here’s the article I found:

“Sunday June 29,2014

Today, my daughter Karen called me on the telephone.

She said that her sons Mathieu and Joshua had just been on a youth pioneer trek to Wyoming.

That’s great as they had Swiss pioneer ancestors who traveled through Wyoming by handcart.

So often folks only think of the ill-fated cart companies and forget all about the many who traveled very

well by handcart to the Great Basin.

The only thing that could have been construed as bad was that the old grandfather of the Kellers

died on the way and was buried on an island in the Sweetwater River.

But they weren’t sad because he was an old man who was happy to be on his way to Zion.

“And should we die before our journey’s through, all is well, we then are free from toil and sorrow too.”

Karen and Alan went on a handcart trek west of Gunlock, Utah when teenagers.

Later James as a teen was the cinematographer for another Ivins Stake handcart trek.

Back doing what the ancestors did to gain a small idea of what they went through to get here.

The one thing I don’t think would be much fun would be to be a passenger in the hold of the

Mayflower’s first North American voyage.

I’m glad they did it and I don’t have to.

I suppose a little air sickness or car sickness which doesn’t last for weeks isn’t so bad after all.

And walking from Central, Utah to St. George, Utah (26 miles) carrying a car starter is not as bad as walking 1000 miles across Iowa,

Nebraska, Wyoming and Utah to get to St. George.

Pioneer Day is soon approaching.

What did your ancestors do for you so you don’t have to?”

Josh Ford as Mormon Battalion Member June 4, 2011

 Natalie Gotcher as Handcart pioneer June 4, 2011

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Sometimes we all are just idiots.
A few weeks ago I was on my way to repair and service 4 swamp coolers at a warehouse.
Just as I got into the center turning lane to drive into their lot, my pickup died.
It sounded to me like the in tank fuel pump had died. It has happened twice before.
The men at the warehouse helped me push the pickup into their parking lot.
I worked on the coolers and called a friend to tow me home.
For the next two days I got rides there to finish the work.
I installed three new water pumps, cleaned, treated for rust, new pads, and fresh water into
all four coolers. All coolers were working fine.
Well I waited the rest of that week until the Monday following to get my mechanic friend to
look at the pickup. He thought maybe the coil was bad as it wasn’t soild and the truck
wasn’t getting any spark. But no spark even with a new one.
So then he thought it might be a problem his GMC truck had that he had hired done as it was
so difficult to do.
I got the pickup towed to a mechanic shop. They agreed that it might be that problem my
mechanic had suggested but in testing with their diagnostic machines, found it to be the
distributor module that was’ the culprit.
I’d thought of the distributor cap but not of the module.
$100 plus with parts and labor, my pickup was back on the road.
The next Monday in the evening, I got a call from the property manager of the warehouse.
“Really hot” (105 that day), coolers not working. The renters replaced one of the new water
pumps with a larger sized one and it now works. They claimed all the pumps weren’t big
enough.
Tuesday I get there. The renters have thrown the one new pump a way and the others “just
aren’t working.”
I inspected them all and learned that the new aspen pads had lost some wood shreds which
had plugged all the pumps and some of the water lines at the spider junction.
I cleaned them all out and of course they all work.
The idiots. Thinking they knew something about the coolers.
They wasted time and money because they thought themselves experts when they had no clue.
And what of me and the pickup?
I’d thought fuel pump and later cap, based on my past experience and my mechanic friend thought of his
experience and not having the diagnostic tools that the shop had were idiots too.
You know, sometimes it’s best to get the experts and not be idiots thinking we know it all.

1 Comment »