The Voiceover Boblog

Quote of the day

Posted May 14, 2012 by Bob

“You win not by chance, but by preparation.” – Roger Maris

Category: General | Comments (0)
This isn’t about voiceover

Posted May 13, 2012 by Bob

It’s Mother’s Day so this is about my Mom Betty Souer, and my wife Cinda Souer. The two most amazing mom’s I know. And yes, this is a commercial, but one so well crafted that I don’t care. I’m sharing it here anyway.

Category: General | Comments (3)
Playing the game

Posted May 12, 2012 by Bob

My studies with Marice Tobias started in October of 2007. Her insights and counsel are legendary for a reason. Her ability to help you focus on the things you’re doing to trip yourself up is simply amazing. How, having said that as an introduction, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read Marice’s blog posts about celebrities and voiceover. It’s well worth a few minutes of your time.

Category: Career Advice, General, People | Comments (0)
One way to relax your voice

Posted May 11, 2012 by Bob

The wonderful Nancy Wolfson provides this free voiceover lesson on relaxing your voice.

Category: Career Advice, General, People | Comments (0)
Spotlight on Rowell

Posted May 10, 2012 by Bob

My friend Rowell Gormon is the old geezer in this Taco Johns commercial.

Wonderful work, Rowell! By the way, if you’d like more of the background, check out Rowell’s blog post about this commercial.

Category: General, People | Comments (3)
Spotlight on Chuck

Posted May 9, 2012 by Bob

My friend Chuck Davis is the narrator of this lovely short film called Diana – A Short Film.

Mighty nice work, Chuck!

Category: General, People | Comments (0)
She

Posted May 8, 2012 by Bob

My friend and manage Stacey Stahl has been busy of late creating a fabulous site called She Is The Voice.

Category: General | Comments (0)
I missed it again

Posted May 7, 2012 by Bob

Well, it’s been a few weeks since my last update here. I’ll get back to regular posting again shortly; but first I need to take just a moment to note that I’ve missed my blogiversary yet again. May 2, 2005 was the date of the first post on this blog so we’re officially 7 years old now. Thank you for reading. I’m truly honored and humbled with your attention and kindness.

Category: General | Comments (2)
Your support network

Posted April 15, 2012 by Bob

Who do you have around you to help you stay on track when the journey turns out to be longer and more challenging that you expected? (And it will.) Or if you’ve been at this for a while, who do you have to help carry the load when the avalance falls on you and you’re buried so deep in work you don’t know when you’re going to see the light of day again? (This too will happen.)

In life, I have a small group of friends with whom I can and do share both joys and sorrows and I have my family, including two of my children who work for me; my daughter Karen and my son Eric.

Then there’s the VO-BB, a wonderful spot where I’ve connected with a signficant number of friends quite laterally all over the globe, many of whom I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting in person. And as a sort of bridge between the online and real worlds, there’s Faffcon. Many of the people who attend are friends from online and some of them are among my closest personal and professional friends.

Each of these represents a component of my support network. I in turn am part of the support network for many of them. So, what does your support network look like?

Category: General | Comments (7)
Being nice is for winners

Posted April 14, 2012 by Bob

As Seth Godin points out in a recent blog post called The end of the diva paradox there’s a big upside to being nice to people. As my friend Phliip Banks would say “Think on!”

Category: Career Advice, General | Comments (3)
Spotlight on DB

Posted April 13, 2012 by Bob

My friend DB Cooper is the narrator at the end of this fabulous video.

Wonderful work, Deirdre!

Category: General, People | Comments (2)
There is no competition in voiceover

Posted April 12, 2012 by Bob

Really. None. It does depend on how you look at things, though. You see, if you look at voiceover from your point of view, you’ll see all kinds of competition. On the other hand, as Tom Asacker points out in his recent blog post Do you want to succeed? Then don’t compete, if you look at it from your client’s point of view the world looks completely different.

Category: General | Comments (0)
One important word

Posted April 11, 2012 by Bob

My friend Jeff Tobin is a superb business coach who blogs about business and marketing. Now and then what he writes will really hit me between the eyes. His blog post yesterday is one example. It’s called One Word That Changes Everything. It’s well worth a few minutes of your time.

Category: Career Advice, General | Comments (0)
Ooh, Ooh!

Posted April 10, 2012 by Bob

I know that voice! A documentary coming soon.

My thanks to my friend Dan Nachtrab for emailing me the link to this trailer.

Category: General, People | Comments (1)
Quote for the day

Posted April 9, 2012 by Bob

From Trent Hamm’s Simple Dollar Blog:

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

– Thomas Edison

Category: General | Comments (1)
Time and focus

Posted April 8, 2012 by Bob

If you’re making a living or even a decent part-time income from voiceover, you all ready know that a great deal of the time you are doing something other than working in front of the microphone. Seth Godin offers some very cogent thoughts about how we spend our time and what might be a better way to spend our time. (Yes, he’s talking about photographers, but the point applies to all of us who make our living in a similar fashion.)

Category: General | Comments (0)
Why the “second nicest”?

Posted April 7, 2012 by Bob

One of the very best things to happen to me at Faffcon took place 10 minutes before the first Faffcon got underway in Portland, OR in September of 2010. Doug Turkel gave me an insight and some advice that struck a chord of resonance in my soul that continues to reverberate to this very day.

That insight and advice led to my position as the “second nicest guy in voiceover.” Since I first started using that line, the day I got home from that first Faffcon, I’ve been asked many, many times a question that is almost inevitable. It goes something like this: “So, who’s the first nicest if you’re only second?” And my answer to that question varies depending on whether I’m being asked the question in person, on the phone or via email.

The essential answer is to ask a question in turn: “Would the nicest guy in voiceover claim to be the nicest?”

But, here’s the truth behind that question: I’m a human being, just like you are. While I do try to be nice to everyone, sometimes I fail. I mess up. I make a mistake. In fact, (I make lots of mistakes. Just ask my daughter Karen or my son Eric. They do the lion’s share of the editing for me and have to deal with my mistakes all the time.) And sometimes, I’m not nice. I can even be a complete jerk from time to time. Again, ask my kids or my wife Cinda. They can tell you.

So, at it’s most essential, I can’t claim to be more than the “second nicest” guy in voiceover because that’s all I am on my best days.

Category: General | Comments (4)
The perils of success

Posted April 6, 2012 by Bob

Seth Godin’s blog is always worth reading, but today’s post is especially on point for anyone who has developed close relationships with their clients.

Category: General | Comments (0)
And while we’re talking about Scott

Posted April 5, 2012 by Bob

Check out the interview Peter O’Connell has posted on his blog with Scott Pollak

Category: General, People | Comments (0)
Spotlight on Scott

Posted April 4, 2012 by Bob

My friend Scott Pollak does a very nice job voicing this spot.

Category: General, People | Comments (2)
Unicycles and success

Posted April 3, 2012 by Bob

My friend Jeff Tobin writes a weekly blog that’s always interesting. Today’s post called Setting Goals? Ride a Unicycle seemed especially worth recommending, so I am.

Category: General | Comments (0)
Take aim

Posted April 2, 2012 by Bob

The folks at the excellent Fame Foundry blog published Taking Aim: How to Identify Your Target Audience recently. It’s a post well worth a few minutes of your time.

Category: General | Comments (2)
Spotlight on Dan

Posted March 31, 2012 by Bob

My friend Dan Nachtrab does a great job with the voiceover of this spot.

Category: General, People | Comments (1)
The sound of the meaning

Posted March 30, 2012 by Bob

Here’s another superb free voiceover lesson from Nancy Wolfson.

Category: Career Advice, General, People | Comments (0)
How important is the end of the sentence?

Posted March 29, 2012 by Bob

Nancy Wolfson, one of my most favorite people and a world class voiceover coach, offers this quick video tip.

Category: Career Advice, General, People | Comments (0)
Added to the blogroll

Posted March 28, 2012 by Bob

My friend Johnny George blogs about voiceover. I’ve just added his blog to my blogroll.

Category: Blogging, General | Comments (0)
Spotlight on Philip

Posted March 27, 2012 by Bob

My friend Philip Banks is the narrator of this evocative short film.

Category: General, People | Comments (0)
The joy of Faffcon

Posted March 26, 2012 by Bob

While there are some frustrations about Faffcon, as I wrote last time, those annoyances are swept away by the great joy that is the Faffcon experience.

After my darling wife Cinda and I got home earlier today from Faffcon 4 in California, I was talking with my Dad (who’s been here visiting to help keep an eye on things at home for us) about what the experience was like. What follows is a little of what I was telling him.

The greatest thing about Faffcon is the time with people who really understand what our crazy life in voiceover is like. Sitting around a circle of comfortable chairs, talking with old friends and new about business and life and family and hopes and dreams and fears and everything else that can possibly come up in conversation is something so wonderful it defies description.

The bond that forms at Faffcon is suprising in its speed and depth. Such is the power of shared experiences.

It’s going to be some time before registration is open for Faffcon 5 October 2012 in Charlotte. Think long and hard about where you are in your voiceover journey. If you’re a working pro, think seriously about joining us. Please.

Category: General | Comments (2)
The frustration of Faffcon

Posted March 25, 2012 by Bob

There’s are really only 2 things that are frustrating to me about Faffcon, and both of them are also what help make Faffcon so freaking wonderful. First, it’s impossible to get to every session; which forces me to pick between several appealing options each hour. Second, it’s impossible to spend enough time with everyone with whom I want to spend time.

The sweet agony of having to make these decisions, and the sweet joy of those experiences and conversations I do have, are what keep me coming back time after time. I look forward to seeing you again, or for the first time, in Charlotte this October.

Category: General | Comments (2)
Faffcon 4 has begun

Posted March 24, 2012 by Bob

The amazing, even life-changing experience that is Faffcon has begun it’s fourth iteration, this time in Ventura, California. The energy is palpable and I’m confident that once again this is going to be a truly and profundly wonderful weekend. If you’re here you all ready know what I mean. If you’re not, I sure wish you were.

Category: General | Comments (4)

Bob Souer

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