JusVox Interview Series: Regina DeMoville, CSR, CRC, CCG,  freelance court reporter and CART/Broadcast Captioner

Tell us about yourself in 30 seconds. Who are you outside of your job? 

My family means everything to me. So if I'm not working, I'm spending time with my kids and my husband! Without them, I wouldn't be here!

What's the most unexpected place you've ever had to work?

I've worked in a few cool places. I've worked in prisons. I captioned a funeral one time.

If your job had a warning label, what would it say?

WARNING: Lots of hard work ahead! - It's hard work, but extremely rewarding!

What's one thing people always get wrong about what you actually do?

People think we are AI. When I tell them, "Like the closed captioning on your TV," they say: "isn't that AI?"

What's the weirdest question a client has ever asked you?

Not me, but someone asked a colleague (voice writer) if she was wearing an oxygen mask. LOL

If you could give your first-year-on-the-job self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Do your dues. It gets better, I promise!

Tell us about the craziest deadline you've ever hit. How'd you pull it off?

I think appeals always make me nervous to miss the deadline. There are legal ramifications if you do, so I will NEVER miss an appeal deadline!

What's something in your car or your bag right now that most people wouldn't expect?

I carry a choking device in all my cars. Since my son was a baby, I'm sooo afraid of him (or anyone) choking on food!

What's a "small" detail in your work that actually makes or breaks a case, that nobody outside the industry realizes matters?

PUNCTUATION! One comma (or in this case, one capital letter) can change the WHOLE meaning of a sentence! I'll never forget an example my teachers taughtmein college..."Help Uncle Jack off the horse," or "help uncle jack off the horse." TWO DIFFERENT MEANINGS!!! LOL

Describe your job in exactly five words.

Preserving the record for life!

What's one piece of advice you wish you had ignored?

Hmm, this is a hard one. I can tell you things I DID ignore! Lol Maybe "don't take your work so personally." I know we aren't supposed to, but when wecaptionsomething that hits close to home, it's hard not to. Or when an attorney or client is rude, it's very very hard not to take it personally!

What's the best marketing idea you've ever tried?

Well, my business name has heart in it, so I made heart-shaped business cards and I ALWAYS get so many compliments on them! They're unique and peopleremember them! 

What's a totally random skill your job has accidentally made you great at?

Listening while thinking about other things! 

What's the longest you've ever had to wait for someone to show up — and what did you do to pass the time?

In professional life? I think maybe an hour or two. Probably just on my phone.

Have you ever been mistaken for something you're not (a lawyer, a cop, security) because of what you were carrying or wearing?

Oh, yeah. People will always ask if I'm a lawyer on the case. 

What's one piece of jargon from your world that would confuse literally anyone outside it?

Anything spelled in steno. No one can read it unless you've learned it! 

If your job were a reality TV show, what would the tagline be?

"I don't make the drama. I just sit in the middle of it."

What's a moment on the job that reminded you why the work actually matters?

A lot of my years doing captioning, so many deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals came up to me and explained how they couldn't do this without me, andwhatana amazing captioner I am. It hits the spot EVERY SINGLE time. They're just so humble, and appreciate what we do for them! 

Who was the most memorable person you've ever worked with or for — and why?

The mother of a bride that I captioned for at her daughter's wedding. She wasn't going to attend her daughter's wedding, because she couldn't "hear" itanyway.The whole experience was priceless. My most favorite and memorable job ever! 

What's the proudest "nobody will ever know I did this, but I did" moment of your career?

Maybe helping so many students along the way or helping people accomplish things in their professional lives. 

If you weren't doing this job, what's the one career you'd have chased instead?

I wanted to be a veterinarian or an x-ray tech. 

What do you wish more people understood about the person who shows up to do this job?

That I'm one of the good ones left. I go above and beyond for the work that I do. I am a perfectionist and want to make sure that every client is happywiththe outcome. I think the newer generation has a completely different take on work ethics these days, and it's disturbing. 

Favorite local restaurant?

I love Mexican food and there's this place called Ocampos that has red chili that tastes likemychildhood.