For those of us old enough to remember, voiceover work used to be a rather social experience. We would run into friends and make new connections when we met at auditions and sessions. At one time both auditions and work were done in a recording studio in the city (whatever city we were living near at the time) and then some years later, while the work was still always at a recording studio the auditions were done at our agent’s office.
But all of that has changed. In the last 5 years I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I’ve had to go somewhere other than my own studio to do an audition. Add the fingers of my other hand and I can count the number of sessions I’ve recorded in someone else’s studio during that same 5 years. The social interactions and connections that were once commonplace have all but vanished.
So, we’ve had to find other ways to connect. The Internet provides a wealth of opportunities. Facebook. Google+. Twitter. And my favorite, The VO-BB. And even better is when these virtual connections break out in the real world. A significant part of why Faffcon is so important to me is because every 6 months for the last 2 years, it has provided a time and place to connect face-to-face with some of my favorite people.
Don’t underestimate the importance of friends to your success. Especially friends who truly “get” what your life is like. These are the friends who will help to sustain you when things are murky or gloomy or confusing. They will celebrate with you when things take a turn for the better.
I’ve recently been thinking about a couple of my dearest and closest friends and how much I cherish my friendship with them. I hope you will take a moment today to reflect on the blessings in your life, and especially those friends who mean the most to you. Maybe it’s time to send a quick note or make a phone call to remind him or her of just how much that relationship means to you?
Right as usual, my friend.
See you next week.
Best always,
– Peter
Bob, thank you for the reminder. Came at a much needed time for me. While I am sorry that I won’t be joining you at Faffcon 4 next week, I am thrilled that we met at Faffcon 3 and have been able to keep that connection.
Safe travels next week.
Kelly
Great post Bob! Friends are instrumental to making great things happen… personally and professionally.
I’m honored to be able to call you, Peter and Kelly… “my friends”.
Dan
I’ll miss seeing you at Faffcon this time around, Bob. But I know that I’ve always enjoyed seeing you when it was possible. Faffcon3 was great and I really hope to be able to make it to Faffcon5 and see you there!
And you’re so right that friends are HUGELY important – especially in a business like ours where we’re mostly solitary and speaking to ourselves, day in and day out. It’s just nice to know we’re not alone. For that reason and many more, I so very highly value our online community.
In Toronto, we’re very lucky. We have a local gathering called VO in TO where a bunch of VO folks get together for a beer and a talk at a central pub once every two months or so.
And while I still do quite a lot of work remotely, Toronto is one of those odd cities (rather like New York, from what I understand) where some auditions – and MOST jobs through my Toronto agent, still take place in an actual studio. I think we’re rather lucky that way. 🙂
Anyway, have a wonderful time at Faffcon! All the very best, — Jodi
Peter, Kelly, Dan and Jodi …
Thank you for your generous contributions to my life and for being my friends.
Be well,
Bob
Very well put Bob, definitely something we should all be aware of, it’s so easy to get bogged down in the tunnels of our home studios, and it’s not only the fellowship and like-mindedness that are important, as you so rightly said, but also the recognition of how our respective voice-over communities, both local and global, are an integral part of our well-being as artists and as people. Thanks again for your inspiring blog!
Adam,
I always appreciate your thoughtful comments. Thank you!
Be well,
Bob