VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Philip Banks

I regularly recommend one particular VO to producers (usually in conversation not because I'm asked) and that person has a high percentage return in terms of not only getting work but repeat work.

Then there came a day .......

"You DO NOT have to do this for me!" I was told, not in an unkind or ungracious manner.

REALITY CHECK

"Well, I don't do it for you I do it for THEM. You see THEY need to know about you because of what you are able to do for them!"

I've probably told this story before but it's worth repeating. I know lots of people who sell their services as VOs. A couple of years ago a producer, a tearing her hair out producer, called me. She needed 7 voices. Well connected producer, quality production company, MAJOR retail client. I said I'd make a few calls.

I honestly struggled to find the 7 people I needed. Sitting in the buyers chair I saw their world ... Blimey it's tough. If a producer found you it was at the end of a horrible journey ...AWFUL ...No really ....AWFUL!

Why will some people give you a "referral"? Coz they sure as heyul take their recommendations seerus!

Jen Gosnell · Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 11:29 pm Post subject:

Having someone recommend me to producers, let alone repeatedly, would be one of the most gracious gifts I could think of receiving. And I can certainly empathize with those who are looking for a certain standard to be met, yet struggling to find it - this happens in so many areas of life unrelated to VO.

Good on you, Philip. (As usual. Smile

)
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ccpetersen · Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 10:13 am Post subject:

So many of us DO work on recommendations and/or pass on recommendations to others. It pays to be gracious about it.
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 10:55 am Post subject:

I'll go you one further, Philip.

When I recommend a talent, I don't do it for the talent. AND I don't do it for the client. I do it for ME, because when the talent I recommend does a good job for the client, that builds their trust in me as a pro and they are more likely to remember and come back to me again.
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Philip Banks · Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 10:56 am Post subject:

The key for most people in our business is to not expect a recommendation from someone jus' coz they izz a mate on Factube.

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 11:00 am Post subject:

Absolutely. I don't recommend friends, I recommend colleagues who will fit the needs of the clients.

And in my major space, audiobooks, I have a lot more friends on face tube who I will NOT recommend compared to those I do. Of course, I won't tell them that...
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Lee Gordon · Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 11:18 am Post subject:

This is not an either/or scenario, it's a Win-Win. You've made a producer happy by recommending somebody who will make his or her project better, and you've made a colleague happy by finding him or her some new business (and, better yet, a new business contact).
Make that a Win-Win-Win. Adding Jeff's notion to the mix, you've also made yourself a bit of a hero to two different parties. And even if you hadn't, it's just damn satisfying to be able to help out your fellow professionals (who may happen to also be your friends).
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Darren Altman · Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 5:19 pm Post subject:

Nice story Philip. Whenever I recommend a colleague, it's because I know they will be absolutely perfect for the job and be able to deliver a 100% professional, top quality VO as well as being great to work with. Whenever I'm recommended by a colleague, I'm grateful and flattered. I see it as the highest compliment to be put up by a peer.
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