VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Philip Banks]

I was having a Q&A session with an aspiring voiceoverist about 30 minutes ago.

"I think I know what an NDA is but could you explain it to me?" she asked

"An NDA is what a lot of VOs use to hide their bullsh*t" I replied. The explosion of laughter was such that her husband who was outside the house doing something to the car came inside to see if his wife was ok.

Although I joke about invented NDAs there is a deeper significance in people using them as an excuse to hide details. By not revealing the facts then the tease information can be spun to make the job sound more important than the VO believes it to be. Note that it's not ME or YOU who believes the job to be insignificant it the "Guess what I did" person. I suspect that's where the real NDA exists, the VO has agreed with themself that they don't want the client to know they are embarrassed to admit they have worked for them. ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT ...Anyone who is good enough to give you money to do a VO job is worthy of having their name and project shouted from the roof tops.

[bobsouer]

Philip,

As per usual, excellent insight. I've posted else where here details of my work so no need to repeat them here, but in the last 3 years I've only had to sign one formal NDA for a client. On the other hand, I'm sure there are some here who do more pharma work than I do who'd signed a much larger number.
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

[todd ellis]

i posted - then deleted - because i became fuzzy in my tiny brain. are you talking about a voiceoverist asking for an NDA from the client? (which i've never heard of) or the other way around? there are many clients: government agencies, corporate product/training, medical/pharma who have no interest at all in rooftops. i've signed quite a few such agreements because, as you mention, they have been kind enough to write me a check.
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[Philip Banks]

The jobs VOs would like to talk about are seldom subject to a client initiated NDA. My point was that a number of VOs claim that they are subject to NDAs when they are not in order to put a little PR spin on a job. Were they to reveal the full details (without an NDA they are at liberty so to do) then the potential to make the dull appear interesting vanishes.

Government agencies, corporate product/training, medical/pharma jobs are great because they pay the bills but they're simply not interesting to anyone other than the VO and the client.

[todd ellis]

you mean like the time i left my wife a spicy voicemail while near the lincoln memorial and posted on facebook that i was in the middle of some voiceover work in washington d.c. that i can't really talk about?
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[Lance Blair]

Whoah! Philip, who are the people that are faking NDAs to appear to be one of the cool kids? I think you need to disclose some of the names...or are you at liberty to do so?
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Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

[Claire Dodin]

It's true, things worth telling everyone about aren't covered by NDAs. And even if they were, none of the NDAs I've signed forbid me to tell I voiced for their company, it forbid me to disclose the content of the voice-over.
This is the same when I do dubbing/animation or documentaries; I can say I'm the voice of... I can't say what the story line is.
Bottom line: nothing can really stop us from bragging if we want to!!

(of course I'm only talking from my experience, someone else may have had a very different experience)
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www.clairedodin.com

[KaraEdwards]

I totally get the point of the post- but will add that I've had to sign 3 NDA's just this year alone. All for character work- and I can't say the company, show, game, plot, or character name. Only one is something I will 'announce' at some point...the rest aren't anything anyone will care about but me Actually, that may be true in all three cases!!

We are the masters of our own PR, our own cheerleaders, etc. It doesn't bother me when someone 'teases' me with their awesome upcoming work. I get it.
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Threadjackers local 420

Kara Edwards
http://www.karaedwards.com
kara@karaedwards.com

[Lee Gordon]

I had to sign an NDA just to be allowed to do an audition. I signed it, was e-mailed the script, went to NY to do the audition, didn't get the job, but most importantly, other than from that script, I've still never heard of the business in question.
_________________
Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

[Drew]

Three NDA's last year for pharma and competitive software applications. I can say for whom I did 'em. But pfft. As long as the bank wires cleared, it's my bidness.
_________________
www.voiceoverdrew.com
Skype: andrew.hadwal1
Although I have a full head of hair, I'm quite ribald.

[audio'connell]

How do you spell NDA?
_________________
- Peter
audioconnell Voice Over Talent
Your friendly, neighborhood voice over talent

[Philip Banks]

Ignoring the funny side of this there is a serious side especially for the serial social networkers who are not being social or networking. If you talk to me online and say something worth saying I may pass on the snippet. But if you merely imply how important you think you are and there is something you can't talk about but insist on not talking about it a some length, I won't pass the lack of snippet on to anyone and dismiss everything (not) said as spin.

On Thursday I did a promo session for CNBC. Tom Brocaw has made two specials about the baby boomers called Boomers. Cold, hard, facts and the results will be ...........well...............none.......really.

I'm like Kara, I get the teases and don't mind them at all but the sad truth is that the self promoters honestly believe the latest career high revealed on Facetube or Youbook or Twiddle will lead to being discovered. Being interested and then interesting will lead to people wanting to know more ...BEING ME ME ME ME will only lead to people giving you enough room to spend time with your favourite person YOU YOU YOU.

[audio'connell]

The short answer is: you're right.

The longer answer is: people who only right about "me, me me" and try and sound secretive are fairly transparent to most everyone and aren't making any head way anyway. So pointing all this out probably won't change their behavior only because it's how these "me, me, me'ers" are hard wired.
_________________
- Peter
audioconnell Voice Over Talent
Your friendly, neighborhood voice over talent

[Philip Banks]

So true. On a few sites I posted "I am going to cynically exploit this to promote my career. For all you voiceoverist needs visit ......." I did not put my web site address I put the site of a serial networker who is a "friend" on 3 sites and a follower on one. ME ME ME didn't notice but how could she with 2345 friends n followers?

[Lance Blair]

Agree completely with Philip, O'C, and Kara. Social Networking is like any communication, less is more...or certainly less yappiness is more effective. Who was it that said "be pithy, not pitchy?" The SSNs aren't going to change. Mommy and Daddy clearly didn't love them...oooh, I keed because I love! I'm getting a few leads and gigs (names available upon request, no NDAs) by social networking with people that I actually am social with - instead of using it as a megaphone: a tool, instead of a toy. Now, I've been yappy about a few projects I've worked on lately - but that was with the blessing of the client, I asked them if they wanted me to put out the word about their stuff, and they were happy to have me do it. Honestly did it because I liked the project.

But c'mon Philip, I want names! They'd love the attention and SEO by mentioning them, no? Be honest...It's so much of the VU crowd (and I don't mean Velvet Underground).
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Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!