VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

JBarrett · Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 8:33 am Post subject: Identity crisis revisited

A couple years back, I wrote a post about another voiceover guy named Justin Barrett who I found online. Since then, I've been using my middle initial in all correspondence, credits, etc. While I haven't yet updated my IMDB profile, that's also been on my mind.

Anyway, a month or two ago, I received a phone call from a studio (in Seattle, I believe). The woman on the other end confirmed that she was speaking with "Justin Barrett," and proceeded to ask about some job that I'd allegedly done for a major cable network. After a moment of confusion, the "other me" came to mind, and I mentioned the problem to her. After a bit of awkward apologizing (including the line, "Well...I like your voice better"), she ended the call.

Last night, it happened again, this time with a guy calling about an article that I'd allegedly written, and saying something about the Hollywood Reporter. I think that's what it was...the call quality wasn't that great, so at first I was just going along for the ride. Somewhere in his opening banter he had mentioned a name that sounded vaguely familiar, and I thought that he might have been referred to me for a job. However, when he incredulously asked, "So you're a member of SAG in New York, but you live in Dallas??", I knew it was another mix-up. Once again I mentioned my name-twin, and there was more of the awkwardness as we tried to graciously end the call. "Yes, I also do voiceover.....no, I'm not a SAG member.....no problem, sir." At one point it sounded like he might have been a little miffed, like I was trying to intentionally mislead him earlier in the call, but I swear that wasn't the case.

Maybe I'm just over-thinking this, but I'm beginning to wonder if using my middle initial is going to be enough to separate me from this guy, especially with this other guy so heavily involved in SAG. On the plus side, if you search for my name and "voice", everything but one link on the first page of results is about me, which tells me that this other guy has almost no online presence when it comes to his voiceover business. On the down side, those who've gone looking for the guy in New York and have found me have clearly not wanted anything to do with me. I fear that one day I'll get hired for a job based on my name alone, only to get booted when the client finds out they hired the Dallas guy and not the New York guy. I guess when it comes down to it, I'm worried about somehow getting a bad reputation from all the confusion, like I'm trying to ride the coattails of this guy's success (which I'm clearly NOT doing).

Am I fretting for no reason?
_________________
Justin S. Barrett
http://www.justinsbarrett.com/

Lee Gordon · Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 8:58 am Post subject:

I wouldn't worry about accidentally being booked for a gig intended for the other guy, especially since, as your Seattle caller said, "We like your voice better." You may be slightly more concerned that the other guy is booking gigs intended for you, but how many SAG jobs are you up for? If you do eventually join SAG (or AFTRA if they actually go through with the merger), you will have to add that middle initial or make some other adjustment to your name because he has dibs on "Justin Barrett."

Here's how I have dealt with it: Other Lee Gordons
_________________
Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

JBarrett · Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 9:02 am Post subject:

If something good were to actually come out of the confusion, I suppose I wouldn't mind, but I neglected to mention that the "I like your voice better" comment from the first caller didn't exactly sound genuine. It sounded like she was just trying to ease the awkwardness of the mix-up.
_________________
Justin S. Barrett
http://www.justinsbarrett.com/

JBarrett · Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 9:09 am Post subject:

By the way, Lee, that's quite a collection of alter-egos you've amassed there! Very impressive. Smile

_________________
Justin S. Barrett
http://www.justinsbarrett.com/

Deirdre · Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 11:02 am Post subject:

Just think of Michael J. Fox— probably the most famous example of needing an initial. Or David Bowie, who chanced his name completely since there was already a famous David Jones.

I think you should choose how you'd like to set yourself apart and make that a real "statement" or (Philip will kill me) BRAND. Choose it and run with it. Eventually, you may join the union, and then you'd HAVE to change your name.
Why not act now, get used to it, answer your phone that way, make sure your web site reflects your choice, etc.

And our Philip doesn't need to worry about HIS brand because there's no chance he's going to be mistaken for that OTHER famous Philip Banks.

_________________
DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

Chuck Davis · Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 12:58 pm Post subject:

Google "Chuck Davis". You get a page worth of a very famous African American choreographer...and then 'lil ol' me about 3/4 of the way down the page.
_________________
Wicked huge.....in India.
www.chuckdaviscreative.com

DougVox · Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 1:53 pm Post subject:

My guess is that most of the people who find us online don't start by searching for us (by name) they
start by searching for someone who does what we do (by keywords).

But of course, if you do your marketing correctly, the folks who know you and are looking specifically
for you, will know where to find you.
_________________
Doug Turkel (tur-KELL)
Voiceover UNnouncer®
UNnouncer.com

D Voice · Been Here Awhile Joined: 26 Jun 2010 Posts: 232

BTW what does the "S" stand for?

KaraEdwards · Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 7:16 pm Post subject:

There is another 'me' in LA that happens to also be an actress. My online presence is much higher than hers, so it's never been a problem.

Only one time I was filming a TV commercial (on camera) and the director mentioned how excited he was to be working with someone that had been in a 'real' movie. Well, I have...but I was quite confident no one on earth had ever seen it. But he kept going on and on...and then it hit me- he was referring to the other 'me'. I decided what he didn't know would never hurt him Smile

As for whether to change your name or not...what does your gut tell you?
_________________
Threadjackers local 420

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

JBarrett · Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 8:28 pm Post subject:

My gut isn't sure yet, Kara. That's why I posted my conundrum here.

Doug: While most folks don't initially search for voice talent by name, I'm pretty sure that's how the two callers found me when looking for this other guy. My contact page has my cell number, and that's where both calls came.

I can't really help it if the New York "me" hasn't done much (if anything) online, and I'll likely get more calls for him. I suppose I should just let it go, keep workin' the plan as best I can, and deal with the union issue if/when the time comes.

D Voice: The S is for Spencer. What does the "D" stand for? Wink

_________________
Justin S. Barrett
http://www.justinsbarrett.com/

D Voice · Been Here Awhile Joined: 26 Jun 2010 Posts: 232

Well, as stage names go, Justin Spencer Barrett sounds pretty good to me
Unless you are worried that sounds too much like a law firm.

Or maybe Spencer Barrett? J Barrett?
[Turns out there is already a Justin Spencer out there already in the IMDb]
Justin Dallas?

The D is for Douglas, among other things.

Lee Gordon · Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 12:44 am Post subject:

If you Google "philip banks" our Philip comes up first. The Fresh Prince dude comes up second. (Similar hairstyles, though.) Oddly enough, if you Google the actor's name, "james avery," the Fresh Prince dude still doesn't come up first. You get a guy who makes jewelry.
_________________
Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

voicy1stef · Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 6:11 am Post subject:

I think Justin Spencer sounds pretty sexy! that's just my two cents. Oops, just read there's already a JS on IMDb. Darn!
_________________
Intuit and do it!

British-American voice artist based in England for the past umpteen years. I say, has it really been that long!

http://www.stefsvoice4u.co.uk
Podcast: Positive Affirmations and Audio Stories, on iTunes, Spotify etc.

Bruce · Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 9:01 am Post subject:

How about Justin "Dallas" Barrett, King of the Wild V.O.?

B
_________________
VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

Tom Greenlee · Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 1:43 pm Post subject:

Personally I NEVER have a problem with anyone confusing me with someone else....come to think of it, no one even confuses me with myself! sigh LOL
_________________
TG2

"Communication without intelligence is noise; Intelligence without communication is irrelevant."

Gen. Alfred. M. Gray, USMC
Former Commandant of the Marine Corps