Aussie Ben Blog!

Hey hey monkeys!  So the blog is usually a $5+ tier reward, but I've decided in honor of the holiday spirit I'd open this particular entry up to everyone!  This blog is an opportunity to catch you up on my life a bit, to give you little peeks behind the curtain of content creating, and whatever else comes to my mind :D

Health Update:
Soo first off, a great health update!!  For you guys who may be new around here, this year has been a really hard year for me health-wise. I've had chronic voice problems associated with GERD (acid reflux), and I've pretty much been in the 7th circle of hell. BUT....!!!

I have made HUGE headway with this issue, finding that cutting out refined sugar and gluten has made my symptoms practically VANISH.  My voice is literally healthier right now than it's been in years, which is why you guys are seeing a flood of new audios!! I'm actually healthy enough to record, and ENJOY recording!!  It's a huge, huge, huge victory. So thrilled.

The Creative Process:  Answering Your Questions
Some of you have asked what I like to listen to while I write scripts, whether I listen to music, or whatever.  Truth is music tends to distract me and I end up jamming and getting into that rather than my work. I typically have youtube videos playing on my phone while I work. Some of my fav channels are Cinemasins, Food Theory, Film Theory, and here's a super weird one....  The Hoof GP.  Yes.... it's a cow hoof trimming channel. It relaxes me okay?? XD.

Where do I get my Sound Effects?  I use predominantly Freesound.org  Storyblocks.com and Pond5.com for my sound effects. I'm veeeeerrrry picky about the quality of my SFX, and how well they're recorded. I won't use any SFX with background noise in them, or poor mic quality. So those three websites tend do the trick most of the time! In a pinch, I've been known to record my own SFX if I just can't find the right one in an online library.

Have I ever been caught recording or has anyone I know ever found my channel online?
Nope!! I've been super sneaky, and I'm a very accomplished secret agent! haha. I managed to have two different family members live with me at different times when they were down on their luck, and that was over the course of nearly two solid years... and no one ever knew. Granted, I had to install a camera doorbell to know when people were getting home from work, XD.  Wearing headphones and recording can definitely make you vulnerable to getting caught, as you can't hear if people are coming in and out of the house.  

The closest I've ever gotten to being "caught" in any form would be neighbours wondering what the hell I'm doing next door.  I've had to explain that I'm a voice actor and that whatever they hear, no one is being murdered or harmed in the making of my recordings. They have always laughed and thought it was super cool. But then they always ask "Ooooh you're a voice actor?? Where can we hear your work??" And I'm like "uuhhhh, NOWHERE!!!" Then I take off running awkwardly.

Holiday Stuff
I'm hosting my family for Christmas this year at my new home, and I'm super excited! They arrive tomorrow and I've got the place all decked out.  I'm taking them to see a few shows at a local venue, gonna play the role of tour guide a bit.  Reckon we'll watch movies at night, let mum shop during the day, me and my brother will probably go out and find some manner of trouble to get into, and dad will nap through most of it all. hehehe!

Weeell that's about all I can think to write at the moment, I hope you guys have an AMAZING holiday!! Thank you so much for being part of this community, you are loved and so appreciated.  Cheers and many blessing to you and yours,
-B