An Inspired Chat with Genevieve Baer of Boulder

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Genevieve Baer. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Genevieve, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
Thank you so much for having me! And great question.
A common misperception about voice acting is that all you need is a “pretty” voice. Not only does it take a whole lot more than a nice voice to build a career in voice over…but the sound of your voice really doesn’t matter at all! The voice over industry calls for a huge variety of voices and vocal qualities. A so-called “pretty voice” is only one of a gazillion types of voices that book jobs. Rather, a successful voice actor needs to be able to act, to connect with an audience authentically, to read out-loud flawlessly (and quickly!), take direction well, be proficient with audio equipment and recording software, have computer skills, and be self-motivated and driven. It’s an extremely challenging and competitive industry…but oh so rewarding!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Of course! My name is Genevieve Baer and I have been a professional Voice Actor for over 20 years. I record voice overs full-time from my home studio in Boulder, CO. I have 2 dogs and 3 cats (and 2 kids) so often I will have one or two furry creatures keeping me company in my vocal booth!

I was a Musical Theatre major in college (Syracuse University) and began private voice-acting lessons when I moved to NYC after graduation. I simply fell in love with it.

I began my career focusing mostly on commercial and non-broadcast narration work (eLearning, explainer videos, etc.) and then, over the years, expanded into other genres like promo, radio imaging, political advertising, and animation. One of my favorite things about this industry is that there is no limit to what you do and there is always something greater to reach toward. I find that really exciting.

I have always been a very self-motivated and driven person. I continue to take classes and coach from experts in the industry in order to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and make sure my reads are competitive. The pandemic changed this industry in a massive way. Before covid, very few of us had home studios and some VO genres were only accessible to those living in NY or LA. During covid, every working voice actor was forced to create a home studio. On the plus side, the industry was forced to open itself to remote work which created far more opportunities to those of us not living on the coasts. On the negative side, the competition increased exponentially!

My goal is to help make my client’s lives easier by being easy to work with, reliable, prepared, and communicative. I love what I do so much and I believe my joy and sense of fun shines through in the work that I do. I still pinch myself that I get to make a living being my own boss and being creative every day!

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Ooh, that’s a good one. There are so many to choose from! When I was younger, I was often given the message that I was “too much”. Whether it was my emotions, my physical size, my volume, etc., I was given the impression that it was wrong to be “big” in any of those areas–especially as a female. For a long time, I believed that the more stoic, less-emotional people were somehow stronger or more valuable in society. These beliefs made me feel shame for who I naturally was and kept me from blossoming into my full potential.

Fortunately, I’ve met a lot of inspirational people over the years that have helped me undo those harmful and misguided beliefs. I now understand that this world needs all types of people and we are all equally valuable. Not only do I embrace my empathetic and emotional side but I believe it’s one of my super powers! After all, the work that I do every day involves accessing and expressing emotions. My ability to do so helps me connect with audiences in my work and allows me to create meaningful connections in my personal life.

One of my children is very much like me and struggles with feeling more emotional than many of his friends. I would like to believe that I have helped him view this side of himself with a lot more acceptance and positivity than I was able to do at his age.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
My experiences with loss and suffering have reminded me just how important it is to take advantage of the one life I have. It’s not like I haven’t always been aware that suffering is inevitable and our time here on Earth is limited…but in the hardest times, that knowledge has come sharply into focus.

As a result, I think I have chosen to really go for what I want despite my fears. I have chosen to aim high and ask for what I want–even if it’s scary.

I think it’s also made me go a little easier on myself. I used to be quite hard on myself if I wasn’t perfect (and who is?). But experiencing loss has reminded me that putting myself down is just a waste of the precious time that I have here. I want to feel as much joy and contentment as I possibly can in this lifetime.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
I’m all for deep questions! I was taught to value open and honest communication from a very young age and I have tried to pass this same value to my own children. So many misunderstandings and problems in this world could be avoided or solved simply by being open and communicating with each other. We cannot fix what we don’t know. We cannot understand what has not been expressed. I wish people would just talk to each other!

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days. 
I have! And I know how lucky I am to experience that kind of excitement and joy from my work on a regular basis.
I love to be in a directed session with a wonderful director who challenges me to play with different approaches and try new things. Those sessions feel so creative and collaborative.

This past year, I have been expanding into more animation work and–oh my goodness–nothing makes me happier! There have been times when my husband has walked by my booth and just heard me giggling to myself during a particularly fun audition. I think animation really allows me to be bigger, more playful, and imagine myself in the most ridiculous situations. It’s hard work but it makes me feel positively giddy!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://gbvoice.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genevievebaer_vo/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genevievebaervo/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GenevieveBaerVO/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@genevievebaervo
• Other: For rate inquiries or request a custom audition email me at GB@GBvoice.com

Image Credits
Genevieve Baer