VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Philip Banks]

There is something about the noise I make and the way I make it that makes people want to give me work. No training, nothing clever and I make a living. What I am able to achieve with little or no effort is an insult to hard working actors and Voiceoverists the world over.

Do not find the way of the "best coach", find your way.

[Kim Fuller]

Currently following that advice, Philip....

[Philip Banks]

If flying worked like the VO world we would have people who once stood fairly close to a balloon teaching students how to fly F18s!

Were you to check the list of Coaches on one site it would appear that the majority know more than the person they are teaching but it does not follow that what they know is worth knowing, let alone worth paying for.

When I stumble across someone who is floundering I send them to Nancy Wolfson - I have no financial interest in so doing. Here's why I do it.

In effect Nancy's approach works like this ...........

"Look, you're about to walk through a mine field. If you know where all the mines are buried or you're not afraid of being blown up you don't need me. Hi, I'm Nancy and I'm a mine detector"

[bobsouer]

[Philip Banks]

Do you know what consumes most of Bob's time ? Other people. Success in business, our VO business or any other business really means nothing if you remain a failure as a human being.

Should anyone wish to follow an example of how to live every day, follow Bob's example of simply BEING a success as a Human Being. Everything else will, with a little nudge here and there, fall into place.

[bobsouer]

Philip,

That is a very kind of you, sir! You are a fine example of that principle, too. I'm grateful to be your friend.
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

[heyguido]

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

[Bob Bergen]

I know paid teachers were requested to not chime in, but hey, it's me. When I get that itch to add to a thread, I just can't help myself. It's kinda like chocolate or donuts. I'm gonna partake.

There are oh so many successful actors who never trained as actors before they got work. Tom Cruise, Debbie Reynolds, Ben Kingsley, Jim Carrey, Jimmy Stewart, Meg Ryan, Johnny Depp. The list goes on and on.

There's an even longer list of actors who trained endlessly for years and years and never got a break.

There's an Oscar curse where after winning an actor statuette the career crumbles.

And everything in between.

My personal belief is, you are born with talent. Acting, dancing, singing, sculpting, etc. This is in your DNA. Some can cultivate the talent and bring it out at will by mimicking or observing other talented people. Some need hands on guidance.

I was a mimick who had no idea was also born with the ability to act. My first 2 years in vo classes I was spinning my wheels. I understood the logic of what my instructors were saying, but between hearing the direction and speaking, something was missing. And I quickly realized that for career longevity I just couldn't make every commercial sound like a stuttering pig. So, I went to an acting conservatory for 2 years. The first 9 months I was bored to tears. I even complained to my teacher how dreadfully dull I found the technique. He told me to hold on until the end of the first year. If at that point I still didn't "get it" he'd refund my first year's tuition. Done!! I committed through the rest of the year. About 3 weeks before the final class, I "got it!!" Something clicked. It was euphoric. It was life changing. It was personal. And, after the end of my second year in the conservatory, it was now my tool to take back to the world of vo and apply it.

What followed was another 2 years of vo training, but now applying technique. I found I was able to take any piece of copy and give a believable, consistent read, as well as the ability to adjust and take direction. I studied with every vo instructor in LA. Some were amazing. Some, not so much. But even those that were "so so" I just banked the good, and disregarded the "so so."

But something was still missing. I couldn't put my finger on it. I knew I was a good actor, I knew how to interpret copy. But there was just something missing from the equation, but I couldn't figure it out.

Enter improv. I spent 3 years studying improv and scene study. That little something that was missing was commitment, getting out of my head. Improv taught me spontaneity, how to make and commit to my choices, to listen, and to stay in the moment.

So, after four years of vo classes, two years of acting, and three years of improv, it was then and only then I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt I was ready to pursue a career in vo. Through all of these years of training, meeting, and networking, I knew a lot of important successful people. And, through these connections I was able to secure one of the top vo agents in the business. This agent took a chance on me for a variety of reasons. He was impressed with my level of commitment to my career, my journey of training and the connections that came with that. And, it was over 30 years ago. A time where online and non union casting hadn't yet taken such a huge chunk of the workload away from the vo agents, and they were much more available to the idea of developing newer talent.

I began my journey of auditioning. Some things booked, most things not booked. I had a day job to pay my bills. I had a couple of night jobs, and worked as a mall Santa during the holidays. I went to night school and studied marketing and PR. I took a class on how to be an agent. Not that I ever wanted to BE an agent. I just wanted to learn what it is they do so I could be a better client and better agent my agent. I needed so many part time jobs because this was a time before the Internet. Marketing was still done by snail mail. I had an assembly line on the dining room table, and sent out 4-6000 demo mailings a year. Pursuing vo back then was far more expensive than it is today. I network just the same, but the only cost is time and creativity.

Five years after first signing with my first agent, I was able to quit all day jobs and work as a full time actor.

Ok, now I'm not telling you all of this to say that my journey must be yours. But I gotta tell ya, I find far more longevity in this business from those who have a "what else/more can I do for my career?" than from the "who hasn't had any training?” approach. And I also completely appreciate not everyone has to strive for my level in the vo industry. But what keeps coming back to me, are those who actually would kill to be at this level, but don't have the passion, fire, drive, determination, and "what else/more can I do?" commitment.

I think there's room for everyone, and also everyone's journeys and goals. But be honest with yourself. Know specifically what you want. Then, have a strategic game plan. You might be content to just work from time to time. You might live in a market where the cost of living is so low, an additional 10 grand a year doing vo is great. Or, you might have higher goals, as I did, which required a very specific focus and strategy. And, it demanded sacrifice and risk. I had to turn down many offers starting out because I knew the level of work I wanted to compete in. And by taking lesser jobs, I associated myself with lesser. You are as good as the company you keep. So for me, getting the reputation that I would take any job just for the sake of working or work experience could hurt my career in the longrun.

And that's another thing. I wanted a career, not just to work. I worked as a tour guide at Universal, mall Santa. Hell, I'm still a lisenced massage therapist. I can work anywhere to pay the bills. But I wanted a career in vo. A very specific career. One that comes with a pension, health benefits, residuals. This took a lot of sacrifice, gambling, and strategy.

And, it took training.

[Donna]

I love ya, Bob. That was a master class. Right there.
_________________
Dangerous.

Donna Postel
donnapostel.com
donna@donnapostel.com

[Lee Gordon]

I've never had formal training -- but I have been to Faffcon.
_________________
Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

[Philip Banks]

I believe paid teachers should chime in and am delighted Bob took the time out of his schedule to do so. Bob Bergen is a part of the solution to the nonsense out there NOT part of the problem. The fact that he still owes me 39cents for a week long "Double Iranian Pause Master Class" PLUS my Bus Fare does not change my opinion of him in the least ...Abject poverty is character building, apparently.

Choosing the right teacher will represent good value for money so be smart.

[Bish]

There are some real gems in this thread. I'm going to paraphrase something my agent said... "Don't suck and be a nice guy."

... and again to paraphrase a famous golfer when someone bemoaned how lucky they were... "Funny that, the more I work at it, the luckier I get."

All of the elements involved in making a career are (to a greater or lesser extent) under our own control... our VO skills, our business acumen, how we relate and interact with other people. No one is going to give you your "lucky break" unless they know you exist, want to work with you and think you've got the chops. It's amazing how much control we have over all of these elements.

Also, I've been freeloading and using the patented Double Iranian pause method for a while now. I'll quite happily pick-up Bob's $0.39 outstanding debt (not the travel expenses though).
_________________
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.