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VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!
Established November 10, 2004
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Lance Blair
M&M
Joined: 03 Jun 2007
Posts: 2281
Location: Atlanta
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 Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 10:15 am Post subject: |
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Agreed, LI is a minefield.
A friend who's an IT guy at Emory University commented on a group discussion about issues that a former employer had, and didn't name the employer.
Next day at work, his current boss tells him he saw the post and wants to know what else they're doing wrong.
Ugh.
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Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too! |
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Scott Pollak
The Gates of Troy
Joined: 01 Jun 2010
Posts: 1903
Location: Looking out at the San Juan mountains
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| Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 10:21 am Post subject: |
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Well, now that this thread has not only derailed, but sidetracked and basically imploded.................
I narrated an awfully good book recently by one of America's supposedly top-notch hiring recruiters, Lou Adler:
http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Guide-Hiring-Getting-Hired/dp/0988957418/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390583927&sr=1-1&keywords=the+essential+guide+for+hiring+%26+getting+hired
... and he goes into how to effectively use LinkedIn extensively, from both the viewpoint of a recruiter AND a job-seeker. I, personally, never set foot in the place. Maybe it's because I'm older and looking more and more towards retirement, but also because I'm simply not actively job-seeking. I wonder how much casual v/o work is really generated via LinkedIn?
And now, in an effort to steer us back on track.........
ANOTHER of my most rewarding - and lowest paying - jobs in recent years is audiobook narration. Yeah, there's a few stinkers I've had to read, but being a voracious reader, it's fun to get paid for something you enjoy doing for free anyway!
_________________
Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.
www.voicebyscott.com |
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Chuck Davis
M&M
Joined: 02 Feb 2005
Posts: 2389
Location: Where I love to be...Between the Vineyards and the Cows.
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| Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 10:32 am Post subject: |
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I don't have any startling big single jobs to relate, I'm afraid.
What I do have is a great group of repeat clients and quite a few new faces in the group for 2013. I finished the year with every client I started with and added some. That's pretty satisfying.
The most fun? The fact that I have a fairly high profile regional client who's TV and radio spots air in my market. That's always a nice surprise. For once, when someone say's "what have I heard you on", I can tell them…and they know exactly what I'm talking about.
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Wicked huge.....in India.
www.chuckdaviscreative.com |
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Philip Banks
Je Ne Sais Quoi
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 11081
Location: Portgordon, Scotland
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| Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 10:50 am Post subject: |
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| Chuck Davis wrote: | | I don't have any startling big single jobs to relate, I'm afraid. |
If you ever post anything like that again I'm going to summon a Constable.
What you managed to do in 2013 is the stuff of dreams for most people. Good on ya boyoh. Fabluss (very Welsh valleys) |
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Lee Gordon
A Zillion
Joined: 25 Jul 2008
Posts: 6866
Location: West Hartford, CT
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| Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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| bobsouer wrote: | Philip,
You often start the most interesting discussions here on the VO-BB. I missed your posted on LinkedIn, but that's because I spend almost no time there every day. |
I'm the moderator of that forum and I spend most of my time there dealing with admisitrivia and often miss entire discussions -- unless they get out of hand. I did see Philip's post. My attention was directed to that discussion when some guy, for no apparent reason, flagged another guy's innocuous comment for no apparent reason.
And back to the topic at hand, there were a couple of gigs from 2013 that stand out for me, and not necessarily for the money. The best paying single job was an audiobook that I am very happy is now in the can. It was an interesting story, and I enjoyed the work and the money, but it was certainly not my favorite job of the year.
I think my favorite had to be this one:
Sunshine Boys because I got to "co-star" with a couple of big shots in a pretty fun project. And because the spot was played in several different media and the client was fastidious about staying on a good footing with the union, it ended up being considerably more lucrative than I originally anticipated. But it was the coolness more than the money that made it my favorite.
One day Lindsay Sheppard posted on Facebook that she was watching a scene from a video game she did and could swear the male character in the scene was yours truly. At first, I didn't remember, but after she sent me the link and I watched the clip, it came rushing back. And while it paid far less than either of the above, discovering that I had "co-starred" with a friend was in many ways even cooler than appearing with celebrities.
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Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice
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Jen Gosnell
A Hundred Dozen
Joined: 14 Jan 2010
Posts: 1290
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 12:02 am Post subject: |
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| Philip Banks wrote: | In our world 95% of people did not make a cent last year from VO work. If someone said that they did the answer machine message for their local hardware store and was paid $10 I would be the first to say "Well done you!" and I'd mean it.
Most people are genuinely frightened to step up and say who they are then ask for help, to share their hopes and dreams because they believe everyone else is great and they're nothing. They're far from nothing and I for one am far from great but we can help each other get through the day with a smile. |
I love this. Both for the reminder that many VO hopefuls will never make a dime from their pipe dreams (so that by extension, if I do earn money at it, I am a success), as well as for the pointing out how easily many of us can become imprisoned by our fears. Particularly in a geographically-dispersed profession such as our own it is far too easy to become disconnected from others, and also, can be difficult to forge meaningful connections. I can't agree more with what Peter said about liking it here, for that purpose.
So this discussion makes me think about the past year as regards actual VO work and what I have or have not said to anyone about it. Mostly because I see a great gap between where I am now and where I originally thought I could be by now, and also because family obligations will continue for at least the next 9 months to put the brakes on many of my potential VO business efforts, I've said little to nothing here about achievements I actually made in 2013. So in the manner Philip alludes to, I tend to judge myself rather harshly and assume that others might do the same, so I keep quiet.
Now. Does it serve me to downplay my accomplishments and/or pretend they didn't happen because they're somehow not good enough? I don't think so. OTOH if I write in some degree of detail about what I did, what I earned or what I learned with the time investment that I actually was able to make, does it help me or anyone else? Maybe. I know that in the past, as a relative newcomer I learned to put things in perspective by reading similar posts.
So putting this in a bit of a longer perspective, as much for myself as anyone else: I've been studying the industry for about five years now. Only in 2012 did I even consider the idea that I would actively try to earn anything from VO and actually make any effort in that direction. In that year, I fell in with the 95%. In 2013, due to my continued full-time-plus other obligations, on average I still had single-digit hours per week to apply to VO pursuits. When I look at it this way, I'm actually quite happy to reflect that I earned more than a thousand dollars from VO in 2013. I also learned so many things, acted on some of them, and have several more that I want to implement, which I am thankful for. The challenge that sometimes gets me down is that most of them, I simply have no choice but to add to the list of things to get around to when I have more focused energy and time available. On the one hand, what a bummer to feel as though I am stuck or moving at a turtle's pace. On the other, at least I have tangible goals to look forward to achieving (or even to setting aside in favor of smarter choices). And I take steps daily and weekly to keep my head in the game at the very least, until such time as I can do more.
This lesson in patience has not been fun for me to experience, but I do think it has been useful. If nothing else, in my daily life I am reminded frequently that the best place for me to focus is right here, right now. When I observe my circumstances changing such that I can allocate my time differently, I'll be all over that. No point in making oneself miserable in the meantime. 
(...Now, would someone please remind me of this Zen moment the next time I appear to be bursting a blood vessel over on FB? Thanks.  )
Thanks, Philip, for provoking these reflections of mine, rambling as they may have been. 
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jen@jengosnell.com
https://www.jengosnell.com
Skype: jen.gosnell
971.258.2448 |
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Philip Banks
Je Ne Sais Quoi
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 11081
Location: Portgordon, Scotland
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| Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 12:42 am Post subject: |
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Jen, you lived your life 2013 and picked up $1,000 on the way. That made me smile!
Lee's post sums things up nicely. He did something and someone else noticed. He did something and HE noticed. When we get both those cylinders firing, life is lovely. |
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Chuck Davis
M&M
Joined: 02 Feb 2005
Posts: 2389
Location: Where I love to be...Between the Vineyards and the Cows.
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| Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 6:40 am Post subject: |
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Phillip. As I an unable to resist a pun. Yes, I'm Afan a lovely time here.
(a Welsh valley where were have some family…and where Richard Burton came from)
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Wicked huge.....in India.
www.chuckdaviscreative.com |
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DougVox
The Gates of Troy
Joined: 10 Jan 2007
Posts: 1706
Location: Miami
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| Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 9:54 am Post subject: |
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My most gratifying job of 2013 was a gig I didn't even voice. It was a project for which I was able to recommend a fellow VO-BB'er, who booked the gig, voiced it, and thrilled the client. (And appropriately enough, for this thread, it may well have been one of their best-paying gigs of the year.)
The gratification comes from being of service to both my client and another voice talent, both of whom expressed great gratitude to me for having made the connection. Win-win-win.
My favorite gig of the year had to be the campaign announcing the world launch of the new Earth, Wind & Fire album, including spots that aired during a live broadcast of the launch concert. The chance to work with (sort of) one of my favorite bands of all time was a special treat.
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Doug Turkel (tur-KELL)
Voiceover UNnouncer®
UNnouncer.com |
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melissa eX
MMD
Joined: 20 Oct 2007
Posts: 2794
Location: Lower Manhattan, New Amsterdam, the original NYC
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| Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 11:35 am Post subject: |
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Like Doug, most gratifying was introducing a fellow VO-BBer to one of my agents, for whom she immediately booked 3 jobs.
One of my favorite gigs is the first - featured - one HERE
As a New Yorker, I thought it was perfect I got to do this.
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www.melissaeXelberth.com
from crime...to the divine(R)
bilingual vo |
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Bish
3.5 kHz
Joined: 22 Nov 2009
Posts: 3738
Location: Lost in the cultural wasteland of Long Island
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| Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 11:37 am Post subject: |
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Nice job... it's easy to see why it's one of your favourites.
Classy!
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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. |
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Lee Gordon
A Zillion
Joined: 25 Jul 2008
Posts: 6866
Location: West Hartford, CT
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| Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 12:38 pm Post subject: |
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| melissa eX wrote: | HERE
As a New Yorker, I thought it was perfect I got to do this. |
"Perfect" is the exact right word. That's a visually beautiful piece, and your VO is the perfect compliment to it.
And Doug, "thrilled" is a word I hadn't heard used in this context. I hope you weren't exaggerating.
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Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice
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DougVox
The Gates of Troy
Joined: 10 Jan 2007
Posts: 1706
Location: Miami
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| Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Lee Gordon wrote: |
"Perfect" is the exact right word. That's a visually beautiful piece, and your VO is the perfect compliment to it. |
And the perfect complement to it! Beautifully well done, Melissa!
(Sorry, Lee, I couldn't help myself!) 
| Lee Gordon wrote: | | And Doug, "thrilled" is a word I hadn't heard used in this context. I hope you weren't exaggerating. |
All I know is that my client was extremely complimentary when telling me how glad he was that I'd helped him find the perfect voice for his project.
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Doug Turkel (tur-KELL)
Voiceover UNnouncer®
UNnouncer.com |
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Lee Gordon
A Zillion
Joined: 25 Jul 2008
Posts: 6866
Location: West Hartford, CT
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| Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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Hey, I was trying to give her a compliment on how well her voice complemented the video. I can't help it if the sound of that voice gets me all flusterated. 
_________________
Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice
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bobsouer
Frequent Flyer
Joined: 15 Jul 2006
Posts: 9883
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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| Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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I feel your pain, Lee. Listening to Melissa gets me all flustrated, too.
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Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express |
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