How to Create an Easy, Affordable Self Tape Setup

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Frustrated with your self tape setup?  

After posting a video HERE on IG of my self tape setup that included a little clip of the audition that landed me a guest star on a hit network TV show, I got a lot of DMs asking for more details.

I used to half dread getting an audition because the setup was so frustrating, and I was never that happy with how my auditions looked and sounded.  

The last thing you want when you are about to film your audition is to be futzing around with your equipment and setup.  

Now, I can get excited when I get a self tape audition. With an easy self tape setup, my focus will be more on the performance and less on the equipment and tech.

Not only that, shortly after putting this easy, inexpensive self tape setup together, both my husband and I booked guest starring roles on hit network TV shows! The proof is in the pudding!

Take a tour of my setup:

And, because you asked, I’ve created a shopping list just for you! 

This is my ever-growing list of products and resources I recommend for creating a basic, easy self tape setup. I mostly recommend products that I actually use myself, but I have included a few others that I think you might find helpful based on reviews from others.

Easy Self Tape Shopping List

ITY Knit Stretch Jersey at Fabric Wholesale Direct
$4.99/yard This is the exact fabric I purchased, but it took a few weeks to arrive. This might have been because it was at the very beginning of the pandemic though. Also, it looks like they are sold out of this color, so I listed an option below at Amazon. They do have Royal Blue, a color I also recommend. Three yards will take you from ceiling to floor in most cases.

Charcoal Grey Jersey Knit, Fabric by The Yard
$9.75/yard at Amazon. You might get it faster from here, as I had to wait a couple of weeks to get it on Fabric Wholesale Direct.

Ravelli APLT6 72" Light Weight Aluminum Tripod with Bag Includes Universal Smartphone Mount
$36.96 + $10.10 shipping We wanted the 72” tall one because my husband is 6’2”, so the shorter one would shoot up at him or we’d have to fuss with finding something to put it on, and that just makes it a pain.

Inkeltech Ring Light - 18 inch 60 W Dimmable LED Ring Light Kit with Stand - Adjustable 3000-6000 K Color Temperature Lighting for Vlog, Makeup, YouTube, Camera, Photo, Video - Control with Remote
$79.95 After working with this light for the last 6 months, I am happy with it overall. The remote control is a little finicky sometimes, but it works and the light looks great. I also find the camera mount has to be tightened up often when I’m using it, but I actually use a tripod, so it doesn’t really matter to me.

Saramonic SmartMic Mini Condenser Flexible Microphone for Smartphones,Vlogging Microphone for iPhone and YouTube Video, Mic for iOS Apple iPhone 7 7s 8 X 11 6 6s iPad and Android Phone
$25.00 I had an iPhone 6 when I bought this, so that’s why it has a headphone jack. I bought the adapter below when I upgraded my phone, and it works great.

[Apple MFi Certified] 2 Pack Headphone Jack Adapter for iPhone, 2 in 1 Lightning to Charger Port + 3.5mm Headphone Aux Audio Dongle Splitter, Compatible with iPhone 12/11/X/Xr/Xs/8/8Plus/7/7 Plus
$11.99 I love the ability to charge my phone while I’m shooting just in case it’s running low. Nothing worse than running out of juice while you’re in the middle of shooting an audition.

USB-C Mic, Saramonic SmartMic UC Mini Condenser Flexible Microphone Plug&Play Mic Compatible with iPad Pro, Samsung Galaxy, LG, HTC Google, and Other USB-C Type Devices for Vlogging YouTube Video
$40.00 I don’t own this because when I purchased my mic I had an iPhone 6 with a headphone jack, so when I got a new phone with the lightning connector, I purchased the above headphone jack to lightening adapter. This is made by the same company, but I can’t make a recommendation from my own experience.

Shure MV88 Portable iOS Microphone for iPhone/ipad/iPod via Lightning Connector, Professional-Quality $149.00 Digital Stereo Condenser Mic for Vloggers, Filmmakers, Music Makers & Journalists, Silver
I’m throwing this in here for you if money is not an issue. While I haven’t personally used this, if I wanted to upgrade to something more pro than the $25 Saramonic Mic, I’d get this Shure. The reviews on Amazon are fantastic.

** Please note that I am an affiliate for many of the resources listed above. As an affiliate, I may earn a referral fee if you purchase these products based on my recommendations.

Pro tips:

Background colors

I love the charcoal grey for myself. It’s less harsh than black, and my lighter skin and hair pop off of it. If you have dark skin and hair, you might consider going with a lighter color like a medium grey or blue, so you pop off of it too.

I would not go with pure white. White tends to throw off the white balance on the iPhone camera making your skin look underexposed and muddy. It would probably work if you were lighting the background as well as you (the subject), but it’s doubtful you’ll be lighting your background.

Royal blue is a very common color for backdrops in casting offices, so you can’t go wrong with that. It might even subconsciously suggest to casting that it’s a more professional audition because of that familiar royal blue color.

Where to stand

In general, I stand about 4 feet from my camera. I usually have to zoom in on my iPhone to about 1.4. I also try to be at least a foot or so away from my backdrop. That way I don’t create as much of a shadow behind me, which can be distracting.

Mic + Sound

You could skip the microphone if you need to save on money. The iPhone has a decent mic if you are standing close enough. What I notice with it is that there is less echo in the sound.

Try to use a room that has other furniture and drapes so that there isn’t too much reverb in the room. If you don’t, then it can make the sound even more echo-y.

Go break a leg!

I’d love to hear your comments! Let me know if you’d like an audition cheat sheet, acting tips, what-to-wear tips etc. I’ll keep adding!

And, PS. I know this isn’t a high end set up. It’s not meant to be. It’s meant to be simple, affordable, and easy to put together.

Actress, Musician, Voice Coach Annie Little on The Actor's Vow Podcast

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"It was my own vocal challenges that really got me interested in the voice and singing. Because I was just so determined to want to figure it out for myself. Because I didn't want to feel limited anymore. As an actor, as a singer or a songwriter it's such a horrible feeling when you feel like you have something inside you that is stuck or limited by your instrument. My body was getting in the way." -Annie Little

I was recently a guest on an episode of @theactorsvow podcast.

In the episode Denise Borraz Trepat and I talk about how I got my supporting role in Argo, the teaching methodology I use, how anybody can learn to speak/sing, how to find your ideal speaking pitch and some cool exercises you can do at home to warm up your voice.🎙 Available now on iTunes.

For an even more in-depth look at my experience auditioning and shooting my role in Argo (including how I made it bigger), visit my blog post HERE.

Goal setting with Clarity

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When I’ve lost clarity about my goals, or I’m feeling overwhelmed and can’t figure out what I’m supposed to be doing, the first thing I like to do is bake something to clear my head.

I bake with a recipe that gives me clear directions to follow. 

How comforting to know that if I follow them well, I’ll (most likely) end up with something good and delicious in the end.  

So where do we find a recipe with clear directions for life?  

“Just tell me what to do!!!”  I have silently screamed (to the heavens, universe, myself, or anyone who is listening).

Well, after I enjoy a warm, soft-on-the-inside, crunchy-on-the-outside chocolate chip zucchini muffin (here’s that recipe), I go through a process that helps me create my own personalized recipe with directions to achieve my goals.  

A recipe that directs me, with purpose and meaning.

So, Grab your favorite journal and pen, and let’s hand write our way to clarity.

Creating A Recipe For Life With Goal Setting

Take your time with this process by honestly answering the questions below.  

I allow myself to break it up and do it over a few days or so.

These questions will take you through a process of doing an inventory of the recent past, so you can see where you’ve been, figure out where you want to go, and orient yourself towards that vision.

You can decide whether you’d like to look at the last year, the last 6 months or even the last 3 months to do your inventory.  Do what feels right for you.  

I’ve listed a couple of references at the end of this blog if you’re interested in an even deeper dive into goal setting.

Grab your pen and let’s start writing.

SIX questions to goal clarity for your recipe:

1. What were your accomplishments? None are too small to acknowledge. What’s working? Consider what actions you want to keep or do more of in your life.

2. What were your disappointments? Get them all out on paper. Consider what’s not working?What are some actions you can let go of?

3. What roles do you play in my life and how would you rate my satisfaction with them? Up to 10. (For me these might be something like:  Mom, Wife, Homemaker, Family Member, Community Member, CEO, Self-coach, Student, Voice Teacher, Artist)  

4. Which of those roles would you like to see the most progress this year? Choose just one that you’ll prioritize.

5. What are all the goals you’d like to achieve in each of  those roles? Once you’ve made a list of everything you’d like to achieve in each role of your life, and then, narrow that to three per role, starring the ones that make you feel the most excited. 

6. Which 10 goals are your priority? Making sure you keep at least one goal for each role, and keeping in mind which role where you’d like to see the most progress, pick your top 10 goals. 

Tips on Choosing your Goals

If you are feeling stuck around what kind of goals to set or how hard they should be, follow these S.M.A.R.T. goal guidelines.

Set S.M.A.R.T Goals

• Specific

  • Narrow it to be specific so you can do effective planning and really envision yourself achieving your goal.

• Measurable

  • How will you measure your progress?

  • Consider whether it’s best to set a process goal vs an outcome goal.  

  • For example: Practice voice 30 minutes a day 4x per week VS Learn to sing through my break.

• Attainable

  • Don’t make them too easy just to protect yourself from failing, but don’t make them so hard that you give up next week. 

  • Make sure it’s something you can reasonably accomplish within a timeframe.

• Relevant

  • Do your goals align with your values?

  • Do you feel excited about achieving them?

• Time-Based

  • Be realistic AND ambitious about setting a time frame for your goals.

  • Break your outcome goals down into steps and set timeframes for when you’ll accomplish each step in the process.

  • Start from the end date and work your way backwards.

    • Where do you need to be at the halfway point?

    • What needs to happen by the first quarter?

    • What needs to happen right away?

Now that you have completed the questions, take a moment to appreciate the work you just did.

See yourself accomplishing your goals.

How will you feel?

How will you celebrate?

Bonus points:

Forward this to a friend who you know is working on clarifying their vision.

The only thing better than finishing it, is completing it with a friend who you can hold mutually accountable to accomplishing what you said you would. Accountability is key.

I hope this gives you some inspiration and tools to create a RECIPE for a life you love. 

Bookmark this blog can come back to it a few times a year. I like to reevaluate mine every 6 months.

This simple process works really well for me, but if you want to go even more in depth.  You might enjoy a book called My Best Year Yet by Jinny S. Ditzler which you can find here. 

I’m also a former member of Brianna Brown Keen’s philanthropic group The New Hollywood where Brianna created a workbook for her goal setting process called Manifesting Your Mission, which you can get here. 

Please note that I am an affiliate for some of the resources I recommend. As an affiliate, I may earn a referral fee if you purchase these products based on my recommendations. Rest assured, I ONLY recommend resources I actually use myself.

Waking Up Your Speaking Voice

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From the moment you open your mouth, your voice is one of the primary ways people gather information about you and begin to create judgments.

If you are someone who wakes up in the morning feeling like you croak instead of speak, you may not be putting your best foot forward when it comes to how people perceive you.

By taking a little time to prepare your voice, you give people the chance to take you in as your best, most confident self.

When people hear you speak with a voice that warmed up and expressive, they are more able to fully receive your communication and feel emotionally moved and influenced by you.

Getting Rid of Morning Voice

Check your vocal hygiene

• Get plenty of sleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommends seven to nine hours of sleep per night for adults to function at their best.

• Hydrate the day before. The vocal cords aren’t exactly your body’s first priority when it comes to hydration. How fast your vocal cords rehydrate is directly related to how dehydrated you are in the first place.  Water will travel to your cords faster if you are already hydrated, so I like to think of the water I drink today being for the voice I use tomorrow!

• Use a hygrometer. Check the humidity of your living and sleeping environment, and consider using a humidifier at night if it’s too dry. 

• Mist with a nebulizer. Nebulizers can be used with saline to directly hydrate the vocal cords.  Some people prefer steaming, which feels good, but the water particles from steam are too large to get all the way to the vocal cords. A nebulizer creates smaller particles which allow the moisture to directly reach the vocal cords.

• Warm up your entire body. A short stretch and brisk walk can help get the blood flowing in the body, which will also help it flow to your vocal cords.

Find Your Ideal Speaking Pitch

Many people speak too low in their range and fall into using vocal fry. This can be tiring to the voice. Watch the video below and I’ll lead you through the following process of finding your ideal speaking pitch.

• Say “uh huh” like you are agreeing with someone, and you’ve got to really mean it, or it doesn’t work as well.

• Use the second pitch you get on the “huh” part, which is usually higher than where you start the first one.

• Play around with speaking around that second pitch you found.

• Is it higher than where you normally speak? It might feel or sound strange to you at first, but it’s most likely that you just aren’t used to it. When I’m using my ideal pitch, I like to think of it as using my “happy voice”.

Warm Up Your Speaking voice

For the same reasons you warm up your body before you exercise, it’s wise to warm up our voices before vocalizing.  This is true whether you plan to speak or sing.

Warming up:

• increases blood flow to the vocal cords

• stretches and relaxes the muscles we use for singing

• gets the voice into vocal balance

• helps prevent injury

Let’s try it…

Mini Warm Up for your speaking voice

In this simple 3 minute warmup, you can take your voice from frog to princess (or prince), so that you have more confidence and build stronger trust with your audience, allowing them to fully receive you and your message.

Feel free to pause the video at any point and repeat each exercise as many times as you’d like until your voice feels warmed up.

Please note that I am an affiliate for many of the resources listed above. As an affiliate, I may earn a referral fee if you purchase these products based on my recommendations. Rest assured, I only recommend products and services that I actually use myself.