VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Jason Huggins · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 8:41 am Post subject: VO Mentors

Hello all. I'm currently in a VO Intensive marketing class, and one of the assignment is to contact a bunch of people within VO, and look for mentorship. Really it's only 3, 10 minute phone calls during the six weeks.

Anyway, I was looking for some ideas from those of you who know people in this business. I'm looking to contact a group of 'iconic' names who might take a few minutes to talk, as well as a group of more attainable names.

Any thoughts? I'd also love to chat with some of you, if you are willing to chat three times for 10 minutes over the next six weeks. Thanks! You guys rock!

Philip Banks · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:18 am Post subject:

"VO Intensive marketing class" with whom and what exactly is that?

Bish · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:22 am Post subject:

Sorry Jason... this really tickled me. I just love marketing crap.

OK... let's have the icons over on the left now... c'mon Banksey, we'll start with you, aaaand, Bruce... don't give me that "who me" look Mister Number One Bruce!". Bob? Where's Bob? Stop hiding and get yourself over there. Some people are far too modest. No, no, hold on now... don't all rush... you're all wonderful people, but "iconic" is a tall order... Doug... that's "iConic", not "iRonic"... OK.

Joking aside, if I read your message correctly, your "intensive VO marketing instructor" has tasked his students to reach out to their own VO community to try and get someone to refer you to an "icon" for some consultation (who may or may not be in the community).

I'm sorry, but who is this joker? Does he not have his own list of "icons" that he can refer his student to, or has he worn out his welcome?

I hope I've got hold of the wrong end of the stick here (it's not unheard of), but this this guy seems to be selling you marketing training, and part of that training is telling you to get it for free (one-on-one) from industry "icons".

I've changed my mind. He's brilliant!
_________________
Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

Philip Banks · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:30 am Post subject:

I'll help anyone if possible, my only condition would be that everything I say is strictly between me and the person concerned.

Coach Klass "So what did you do this week, Dave?"

Dave "Followed the instructions of my mentor and made good progress"

Coach Klass "...and what was that?"

Dave "Sorry man...NDA"

heyguido · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:22 am Post subject:

Guess that leaves me out.... I'm iComic. Laugh

Seriously, tho.... I'm with Bish on this one. While VO and marketing DO cross paths, marketing for VOs is pretty much limited to cold calling, email blasts, and strong customer service.... and NOT in that order. Oh.... and maybe the occasional doodad with your logo on it. (Thanx for the mug, Monk. Wink

)

I'd be curious to know more about just who's teaching this and where. You may be better served elsewhere, or under the kind tutelage of a real VO or VO coach.

Just sayin'..... Inoccent

_________________
Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

Monk · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 12:21 pm Post subject:

Yer welcome!

It's good to remember my "mug" just in case you need someone to lift heavy things to the top floor. (I'm good with refrigerators too!)
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Company, villainous company, hath been the spoil of me...

www.monksvoice.com

Philip Banks · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 12:30 pm Post subject:

Just in case Jason is concerned that he is being pounced upon, that isn't the case, certainly not by me.

Also there are those who are the names in the VO business and there are those people think are the names AND they are TWO entirely different lists of people.

I suspect that I know more about flying aeroplanes than anyone on here but that doesn't make me an instructor, mentor or great aviator.

Jason Huggins · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 12:50 pm Post subject:

I'm sure glad I have thick skin lol Smile

I'm working with Tori Hartman ("real working VO in LA"), and this is just a TINY part of the whole class. If she was asking me to reach out to people in my own circle that wouldn't do much. I'm looking to talk to people I don't know with the emphasis on relationships with those who I haven't met in the business. Everyone has advice, and knowledge of what works and doesn't work. It isn't about getting training, but about developing relationships.

I personally believe that marketing has everything to do with any business. If no one knows that I exist, they sure won't use me.

I totally get that there are a lot of swindlers and "quick money" programs...but this one is about hard work, developing relationships, and directing your efforts more efficiently. No promises of getting rich or finding the secret list of clients that will pay you for nothing...that doesn't exist.

By 'iconic' I just meant well known and established in the VO community as a whole...not necessarily this group. Like I said, it is a very small part of developing relationships by meeting with those who have walked a path that I would like to follow. I do understand the animosity towards the plethora of so called "marketing plans". Truth is though, if you don't have a plan, you're just firings aimlessly. I'd like my efforts to be unified with my business goals.

Bish · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:10 pm Post subject:

Hey Jason,

There was nothing pointed at you here... just the machine itself... and that coloured by my own opinions towards "self-styled marketing gurus" and other stuff you find on the bottom of your shoe occasionally. I find they are just spouting the same old BS that I fought during 25 years of senior corporate life. They do nothing except take money for their pontificating and give the real experts (that can help you in an industry) a bad name.

What I really question here is that you have been tasked with finding a way through your "community" to someone like (say) Joe Cipriano and ask him to give up time and expertise to a stranger. That's asking a lot of the intermediary. Now, Joe may be up for this once or twice, but your "guru" is putting this out to multiple classes and is putting a lot of people in awkward positions (not least Joe), straining relationships, abrogating his own responsibility to "teach" and laughing all the way to the bank.

I can see no up side and certainly nothing ethical about this. I'm all for a tarring and feathering.
_________________
Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

heyguido · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:24 pm Post subject:

I'll second or third the statements of Phillip and Bish. No pouncing here.

Just concern that you're getting advice and training that will further your efforts. Don't know Ms. Hartmann or what skills or expertise she has.

As for marketing.... Most of what comes from the mouths of so-called experts is drivel.... and more useful for selling themselves than anything else.

And as for thick skin..... Glad to hear it. You'll need it.... Both here from time to time and in the outside world.

Keep plugging. You're among friends here.

Inoccent

_________________
Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

heyguido · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:42 pm Post subject:

And then there's this....

www.torihartman.com

The Google is a wonderful thing..... she's got vidz up on the Utube for both VO and learning to magnetize your Chakra....

Not judging. Just sayin'.... You can draw your own conclusions.
_________________
Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

Jason Huggins · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:47 pm Post subject:

Bish, I totally get your point. I don't feel personally attacked at all. If I can't get an honest and helpful answer here, what's the point?

As for Tori's extracurricular activities, everyone has a life outside of VO. That is of no consequence to me, what matters to me, is advancement of my career and development of relationships...of which her class has delivered some of this far.

heyguido · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:57 pm Post subject:

And, to be fair..... there's this....

www.torihartmanvoiceover.com

and this....

www.gardenofsound.com

She HAS apparently been on Oprah.... and is speaking at the LA Women's Conference.... and has some cute Chakra earrings for sale, too....
_________________
Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 2:27 pm Post subject:

Jason, people are always willing to talk - seriously - we like to talk - if you do your research and contact them individually to assess their interest in mentoring.

Read through the posts here and find people who you find interesting. Do your own Google searches for voiceover people who may not be members of any social media and find their contact information.

I get the concept of finding successful people and picking their brains, but the suggested method seems impractical - or perhaps going to a forum such as this with a shotgun approach was your idea. Either way, as you can see, it raised a few eyebrows.

Getting to those "iconic" people whose contact information is not as readily available as we working class VO will take a bit of time and/or trust. Most of us know an icon or two, but would only pass along the secret decoder ring to someone who we have developed some sort of relationship.

So don't be afraid to contact people individually. It might not be the speediest solution to your assignment, but it certainly is the most professional.
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Bish · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 3:10 pm Post subject: