My thanks to Peter O’Connell for pointing out this article today about VOICE 2007 at Backstage.com. Very nice.
Blog
Connie’s time in and out of the spotlight at VOICE 2007
Connie Terwilliger is a very talented voiceover professional, with a heart as great as her talent. Stephanie, over at Vox Daily, has done her usual superb job of reviewing the information Connie presented during her time on the mike at VOICE 2007. Part one is here. Part two is here.
I very much appreciated what Connie had to say during her presentation, but what I most admired about Connie was her generous and gracious spirit out of the spotlight.
The specifics are not all that important, but I’m confident that if you’ve had the benefit of Connie’s advice, you’re better today that you were before.
By the way, search this site on Connie’s name and you’ll find an interview I did with her some time ago. There’s plenty of good material for you there, too.
Rodney Saulsberry and overcoming obstacles
Rodney Saulsberry had the unenviable task of being the first presenter at VOICE 2007. But, he pulled everything off brilliantly. Stephanie, over at Vox Daily, has recovered from the week in Las Vegas enough to post a fabulous and detailed report on Rodney’s presentation.
I especially appreciated Stephanie’s detailed report because I ended up missing the second half of his presentation. Why? Because I was actually putting into practice one of his techniques: overcoming obstacles! When my plane landed in Las Vegas I had enough work waiting for me in my email inbox to pay for the conference, my hotel room and most of my meals. But some of that had to be done and delivered right away. The obstacles to accomplishing this task were many, though none had to do with actually recording the pieces. Providentially, I was assigned a room way off in a quiet corner of the hotel and except for a plane flying overhead 2 or 3 times a night, I had no problems getting studio quality audio from my room.
No, the troubles began when I started to upload the audio. As soon as my FTP program would connect to the server and start transferring the audio, the Internet connection would drop. If I canceled the transfer, the Internet connect would re-establish. After several unsuccessful attempts, I called tech support for the hotel Internet service. The walked me through several steps, and we thought everything was back to normal; but as soon as I hung up the phone, the Internet connection dropped again. I called tech support back. They sent a technician to my room, this time. He too, was unable to fix things. But, he suggested that I try the business center in the hotel, as they were on a different Internet connection.
So, I packed up my laptop and mouse, and trooped up to the third floor of the other part of the hotel to try from the business center. No soap. It fact, it wasn’t even possible to connect my laptop to the Internet in the business center at all. I called tech support for the business center, but they didn’t have anything helpful to add.
So, I check with the front desk at the hotel (it’s now well past Midnight, Pacific time) and they suggest I try the FedEx Kinkos that about 2 miles from the hotel. I take a cab over there. The cabbie gives me his cell phone number as I’m getting out so I can call for a ride back and pulls away as I’m walking through the doors. I ask the clerk for directions to the laptop station and he says, “You’re welcome to try, but our Internet connection has been down since 4:00 PM this afternoon. Not just here, but everywhere in the company.” He’s right. No soap again. I try for several minutes. No soap. No connection. No uploads. It’s now about 1:45 AM Pacific, so I try calling the cabbie. I get a “this line is not in service” on the first attempt and a woman’s voice (voice mail, thankfully!) on the second.
Collecting my laptop and mouse, I begin the 2 mile walk back to the hotel. At 2:30 AM Pacific, I arrive, having walked through what turned out to be a really terrible neighborhood, but seeing only one other living soul, an older man trudging home carrying his lunch box. Needless to say, I’m praying the entire way and I’m ever so grateful to have made it back to the Palace Station safely.
At this point, I think maybe the Internet connection will work because the amount of traffic has to be somewhat lower this late at night. Nope. Same experience as noted above.
How does this tie in with Rodney’s presentation? Because in the middle, Frank Frederick was gracious enough to drive me back to the Kinkos where I finally was able to get online and deliver the audio. Late, but at least on the day it was needed. And truly, what a great guy Frank is. He’s one of the 3 folks putting this whole event on, and he takes the time to help me finish overcoming obstacles. I’m forever in his debt.
By the way, with thanks to Stephanie at Vox Daily for linking this in the first place, here is Rodney’s video that was part of his presentation during VOICE.
(edited to fix typos and to add video)
If you’d like to know more about what VOICE 2007 was like
Be sure to spend some time reading this thread at the VO-BB. It is, without a doubt, the longest and most viewed thread in the history of the board, filled with stories, photos and comments. Well worth your time.
You’ll also find photos and thoughts from Bobbin Beam, here and more from her here. Thanks for helping to document and preserve the experience for all of us, Bobbin. And what a lovely and delightful person you are.
Update: And a brief comment from a non-attendee, Doc Phillips, here. And don’t miss the poignant commentary from Kara Edwards on her blog. Kara is truly a beautiful soul, inside and out. And she added much to the VOICE 2007 experience.
One of the things I like best…
Is meeting young, talented people and, when possible, offering a bit of help. A very fine example of a talented young voiceover guy is Donovan Corneetz. Donovan lives near Raleigh, North Carolina so he’s not a long way from where I live in Charlotte. But, the only two times we’ve actually spent any time together has been out West. Two years ago we met for the first time at the 2005 edition of the Dan O’Day International Radio Creative and Production Summit, which is held in Los Angeles.
And Donovan was at VOICE 2007 as well, which was in Las Vegas. (Technically, we did actually say a brief “hi” while we were both in North Carolina, because he had to change planes in Charlotte on his way to Las Vegas and we ended up on the same flight there last Tuesday. But, you get the point.)
We enjoyed some wonderful conversations between the many sessions; but the most fun for me was getting to see Donovan in action. Here’s what happened. He knew from our conversations that I had brought my portable studio with me to VOICE 2007. So, when he received a call from one of his voiceover clients asking him to get a commercial recorded and delivered in less than 24 hours, he asked if he could record on my system. I was happy to help. We got his script through the web interface to his email, got levels set and began recording. In only a couple of minutes we had all the material recorded that we would need for the voice track for this spot. I then edited the pieces together and we had a nice clean take of everything straight through. That’s when the fun really started.
You see, Donovan not only had to record the voice track, he had to mix the spot with a donut jingle! Since all I had with me was my Sony Sound Forge set-up, which has only the most rudimentary of mixing functions built in, we had one big challenge. But, that wasn’t all. We also had to get the music bed! Donovan thought he’d saved a copy in his email, but he hadn’t. So, he called his wife and talked her through finding the file on his workstation at home and emailing it to him. We then made a few trial and error attempts to mix the voice track with the jingle, only to discover that the script had the length of the donut wrong. So Donovan had to re-record the voice track. (Eventually, to get things “just so” we combined portions of the 2 reads to get exactly the right length and delivery.) And then more trial and error attempts at mixing. Since I only had headphones with which to mix, it was a real “shot in the dark” as to the quality of the mixing, but eventually we arrived at something that sounded right to both of us.
Donovan then emailed the mixed file to the client and we hoped for the best.
The following day, he said he’d heard from a different client, who needed another voice track (this time without music, thankfully) and again it was a “right away” job. So we trooped back up to my room and did the email, record, edit and return email thing again. One side benefit to this project was Donovan’s discovery in his inbox of a note from the first client. They were very happy with the spot! Huzzah! And as it turned out, the day after, the second client was also very happy.
Mark my words, this young man is going places. Donovan Corneetz. You’ll want to remember his name.
The voiceover business’ high profile guy
As you probably know, Don LaFontaine is the most famous voiceover guy in the world and has been for some time. But, now, thanks to a Geico television commercial, his name is known to everyone, not just those of us in the voiceover business.
Here is an interesting article and interview with Mr. LaFontaine. (My thanks to Tom Ackerman for linking to this article on the VO-BB.)
For more about Voice 2007
Be sure to check out Stephanie’s posts at Vox Daily. She’s written a very nice summary of the first 2 days, as well as a story about the winner of one of the 3 iPod Shuffle players they’re giving away here in Las Vegas this week.
Insights gleaned from VOICE 2007, part 1
It’s been an amazing 2 days so far. We began on Tuesday evening with an opportunity to meet and greet one another. While I’m naturally a rather shy and introverted person, I actually really enjoyed these 3 hours. It was truly a joy to meeting, in person, so many of the friends I’ve made through the Internet, in particular through the VO-BB.com. And to make a number of new friends as well.
If you haven’t been involved in voiceover work for very long, you may not have realized this yet, but unlike most other kinds of performance work; voiceover is filled with tremendously nice, helpful people. So, it’s a sheer joy to meet and talk with so many nice human beings in one place. There are about 200 voiceover talents, ranging from “not even hardly started” to “working professionals,” gathered here in Las Vegas. And it has been one amazing time, with so much to learn it feels like I’m trying to drink from a fire hose. I think a lot of us feel this way. But, it’s still a wonderful feeling.
I’ll add further updates to this and one or two more posts about this conference in the next couple of days. But, please believe me, you are not going to want to miss this event next year. Discussions are under way about where to hold it, so there’s a good chance it won’t be in Las Vegas next time. But, where ever it is, you need to be there. I know I will.
VOICE 2008
VOICE2007 is nothing short of amazing. Hopefully I’ll have some photos and plenty of stories to tell in the next few days, but for right now I must get some sleep! You should be here. And I sure hope you’ll plan to make the trip next year. And this has only been the first day!
The theme here
If you’ve visited this voiceover blog more than a few times, you know that we’ve gone though a few changes to the theme or appearance of this blog recently. I’ve been searching for a different theme that would retain most of what I like about this one while adding a bit of flexibility about the way this main content in the middle is displayed.
I especially regret the times when many of you found nothing but a bit white empty space in the middle. Unless you happened to scroll down, you wouldn’t know that one of the modifications I made to a test theme ended up pushing the main stuff in the middle down toward the bottom of the page. I’ll leave well enough alone for a while. Thank you for reading.
A marketing example from the Real World
When I started publishing interviews on this voiceover blog, I knew the first person I wanted to feature was Mary McKitrick. Who? Oh, if you don’t know by now, you need to strap yourself in for a bit of a ride. Mary’s is a remarkable story. In the last few years she’s made the transition from college professor to voiceover talent. And quite successfully, I might add.
Indeed, a bit part of the reason I admire Mary so much is that in just a couple of years of voiceover experience, she has far surpassed me in her understanding of how to build and grow her voiceover career. And I’ve been making professional money at this game since 1983.
But, this post is about something specific that you’ll find at Mary’s voiceover blog. She has carefully documented her efforts to market her voiceover business through her local Chamber of Commerce, specifically…
I signed up for a table at the Tabletop Expo sponsored by my local Chamber of Commerce. The tables were quite inexpensive, putting the expo within reach of small business owners such as me.
Next came the question of what to give away. Mary, for some time, had…
been longing for MCM Voices pens…
The local business she chose to help her with her pen supply turned out to be a great choice, because not only did they do a terrific job with the pens, he asked a lot of questions…
…what I expected to get out of my participation in the Expo – what kind of people would I be marketing to and what would I be trying to sell? This was very important, because if not for his questions I might not have realized that the one thing I was most likely to be able to sell was something I don’t usually market, namely on-hold messaging and telephony. I subsequently designed a brochure that featured that part of the business much more than I would otherwise have done.
I highly encourage you to read the whole thing from Mary. It’s well worth your time and might yield some valuable lessons for your own marketing efforts.
Famous Voices
This video has been around for a while, but I just ran across it myself today. You’ll hear some good thoughts and a few funny comments along the way. Enjoy.
A simple handshake
Linda and Robin, over the The Nice Blog, have posted a really cool story they found in the New York Times that illustrates the power of nice, beautifully. Here’s just a brief bit…
After each show on his thirty–city tour, comedian Jim Gaffigan looks out into the packed theater and offers to meet every single person who would like to. He then stands in the lobby, sometimes very late into the night (he pays ushers overtime out of his own pocket), and shakes hands, signs CDs, and poses for pictures.
This story underscores how simple it can be to distinguish oneself from the ordinary. There are lots of nice voices in the world, lots of talented people. The goal is not just to book a voiceover job, it’s to make a lasting impression. After all, clients who are delighted with the experience of working with us, are much more likely to work with us again.
A nice voice isn’t enough
Gary Terzza is a voiceover talent and coach based in the UK. On his voiceover blog he writes about what’s really required to deliver the goods as a voiceover artist.
I suggest you read the whole thing, it’s not long; but here are a couple of key lines…
Voice-overs are all about bringing a script to life…voice-overs come from the mind not the larynx.
One of the guys we’ll see at VOICE 2007
With thanks to my friend David Houston for pointing out this video on his voiceover blog, check out the excellent video interview with Rodney Saulsberry.
I think we’re going to learn a lot from Rodney at VOICE 2007.
A hearty congratulations to my friend Jeffrey (updated)
Jeffrey Kafer is a fellow voiceover talent to whom I can now refer as a fellow professional voiceover talent. He just posted on the VO-BB that he’s landed his first paying voiceover job. Good for you, Jeffrey. May there be many more!
Update: Obviously, Jeffrey has seen this post. To which I can only say, if you’ve been paid Jeffrey, you’re a pro in my books. May you find a bright future ahead as you pursue your dream.
Five styles
Stephanie, over at Vox Daily, as written an interesting post about the 5 different styles of voiceover for commercials and industrials.
Actor’s Tool-Kit #7
WHAT AGENTS THINK
by Bob Fraser
Agents are salespeople working in an employment agency.
That’s what they do. They call people who have jobs to fill and they try to sell the business people they represent (actors). They are just like salespeople at a temp agency. Just because they sell actors doesn’t change the job.
The most important thing to understand about them is that they do it for money. Like many people in many professions – no, like all people in all professions – agents like to make money for their efforts. Unlike lawyers, however, agents rarely do pro-bono work.
I’ve only had two agents during my acting career, but I know a lot of agents – including some of the biggest in the business. I’ve gone to parties with them, played poker with them, and softball – seen ’em at picnics, awards ceremonies, golf tournaments … you name it.
Bottom line: I know these folks.
THINGS AGENTS NEVER SAY
Read the following very carefully:
I’ve never heard an agent say, “Yeah, I just took on a client who’s thinking about being an actor. She hasn’t done much on her own but I think I can teach her to work. I’ve got plenty of time to show her how to be a pro. And even though she’s got the wrong attitude, it probably won’t take too long to explain why her attitude is problematic. I know she hasn’t managed to get going on her own but I’ll just send her out for every part in her age range until she gets work. I know it’s risky, but she’s got a feeling she’s going to be a star, so I’m going to give it a shot.”
I’ve never heard anything like that.
WHAT AGENTS REALLY WANT
This is the kind of thing I hear agents say when I’m playing cards or lining up a putt, “Yeah, I just took on a real comer. This guy can do it all. He’s a good actor – wait’ll you see this little student film he did. He’s smart. He’s been making pretty good money – all non-union, but he’s ready. Hustle? The guy’s been in like a hundred plays, he teaches a class to kids. He’s doing a one-man show over at this Equity waiver theatre in West Hollywood – go go go. I tell you, Bob, I’m going to make a fortune off this kid.”
Do you see the difference? Of course you do.
In your heart of hearts you know that this is reality.
You know it.
So, how does this help you to get an agent?
In this crucial way: Now, you KNOW what agents are really looking for.
INTEREST = MIND-SET + RESULTS
1. Actors who are acting for money. Because 10% of that amount is what the agent lives on. It is his income. If the actor cannot book work – nada.
2. Actors who are getting cast. They’ve been in plays, student films, non-union work, it really doesn’t matter what level of work is, as long as the actor has a history of getting cast. It’s a good indication for most agents.
3. Actors who work hard at getting good enough to compete for jobs – actors with the right attitude. (They know they have to commit and work hard.)
4. Actors who hustle.
NO INTEREST = LACK OF COMMITMENT & HARD WORK
You now also know what they are NOT looking for.
1. Actors who haven’t made the commitment to act for money. (This kind of self-induced commitment is probably harder than you think it is.)
2. Actors who haven’t bothered to do much without anyone else’s help.
3. Actors who believe that an agent can “make it happen.” (Rule of Hollywood: Agents don’t make actors – actors make agents.)
4. Actors who take an attitude because of that belief. (“They just don’t care about talent,” is a hollow complaint – and changes nothing.)
5. Actors who think agents don’t know what they are doing. (Maybe the agent knows what she’s doing and the actor doesn’t know what he’s doing. It’s a possibility.)
Now, these ‘observable realities’ can lead us to only one conclusion with regards to your “getting an agent” problem.
IT CAN BE DONE
IF … you are the type of actor they are looking for.
NEXT INSTALLMENT: THE STAR’S CREED
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“Reprinted from ACTOR’S TOOL KIT, the email course just for subscribers of Show Biz How-To — The Free Actor’s Monthly. Get your own free subscription by going to: showbizhowto.com
Copyright © 2006 Bob Fraser Productions All Rights Reserved”
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A silver lining to a cancellation (updated, again)
I noted the other day that Joe Cipriano had posted on his blog about an upcoming appearance that was supposed to be in the Today Show this morning (March 22, 2007). It was bumped off the show. But the silver lining is that the cancellation prompted Joe to write another post for his blog.
Thanks for the laughs in that wonderful post, Joe. And I sure hope Today reschedules your piece sometime soon. (Long before you’re out to pasture DJing in Pacoima!)
Update: Joe emails this evening to say “So, have the heard the one about me appearing on the Today Show?” 🙂
“Today Show – 9:00am to 9:30am tomorrow, Friday. Just set tivo and place your bets.” 🙂
I believe that would be Eastern and Pacific, adjust as needed for other time zones.
Further Update: Joe gives us a link to a fabulous, extended version of the segment. Great fun.
Even if you don’t like lists…
…here is one you should read and think about. My friend Steve Rae has written the 10 Most Important Service Phrases. All of us involved in voiceover work need to know these phrases and how to use them. For that matter, all of us involved in any kind of service business.