VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Philip Banks]

THINK ON!

[Deirdre]

So if you're working harder than ever to make the same money you did 5 years ago, it's time to change businesses?
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DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

[vkuehn]

[Philip Banks]

Honest answer is yes. I stole that quote from a Native American lady who ran a business in a remote part of the US. The interviewer asked her how she made it work, the "title" was her response.

Most people spend far too much time over complicating a simple business. In some cases people really should quit but more often than not they just need to discomplicatify.

The questions that any business person needs to answer in order find the way ahead are fairly simple but are UNIQUE to the person.

Serious offer. If anyone would like me to "ask them questions" I'm at the end of a phone, on Skype or they can come over here and walk the dogs in between interrogations.

We do not QUIT we adapt.

[vkuehn]

I just added these to my "Bucket List":

Travel across the pond and walk Philip's dogs.

Engage Philip in mutual interrogation.

[Bish]

[todd ellis]

i use this line all the time - "i'm not bright enough to make it complicated." --- people think i'm being snarky (and i KINDA am) but that's really my whole business plan.

1) is it in my wheelhouse to do?

2) can i do it for what you are willing to pay?

3) profit
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[DougVox]

[todd ellis]

oh! there IS a (4) --- sorry --- i forgot ...


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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[Bailey]

(5) get a bigger lake.
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"Bailey"
a.k.a. Jim Sutton
Retired... Every day is Saturday, except Sunday.
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AOVA Graduate 02/2004 ;
"Be a Voice, not an Echo."

[Philip Banks]

You need to train with the future Mrs Banks in LA to get a real grip on OUR business.

"What did you learn today, dear?"

"F***!"

"Awesome!"

[Deirdre]

If the money only comes occasionally, what does that mean?
_________________
DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

[Philip Banks]

Too few people are choosing you or they are paying too little money.

4 network TV commercials in the UK per year achieving 3000 TVRs (Television ratings) would earn a VO around $75,000 per year. 2142 local radio ads (UK) will achieve the same result or 250 corporate jobs or ... You get the picture.

I spend ages approaching ad agencies for the TV stuff, local radio stations for the little ads and baby corporate production companies for the corporates. Needless to say I continued talking to people in all areas of the market who used voices.

I've attended. VOX, VO mixers, VOICE, Faffcon et al and the income generated, at best estimate, ZERO. I suspected that would be the number when I attended but that was not why I attended. I joined (years ago) the UK Union, Equity. Income generated, not a great deal and the benefits of membership were not about me so I am not complaining.

The tight focus on the right number of occasions or the right amount of money or indeed a combination of both is a real pain but it appears to work.

Film at 11.

[Bob Bergen]

I've attended a handful of vo cons, never with the intention or goal that they will generate income. Sometimes I'm there to speak, teach workshops, etc. My contributions there are not to generate income for attendees. They are to educate and offer skills and tools for the voice actor to use in auditions and their career.

But even these tools are not to generate income. They are to make actors better cartoons voice actors. The generating of income is a fortunate byproduct for the fortunate few.

VO cons are also for comradery for actors working in a world where we rarely see like people anymore. Now that has value that you cannot put a dollar sign on!

The only cons I've ever generated work from would be gatherings like Promax, which specializes in on air promo. But attending these takes strategy, not just your presence. The purpose is to make and nurture relationships.

The strategy starts way before one attends. Months before the convention you need to research a lot, such as:
- who the promo producers are for every network, program, or cable channel you are right for (which, I guess I should have started with know what types of networks, programs, or cable channels you are right for)
- what shows or network/cable channel promo contracts you might be right for are about to expire over the next few months


Once you have that research down, you have a 4 day convention to meet these buyers. Then your marketing and networking skill set comes into play. As I've said a million times, a good marketer markets in a way the person they are marketing to has no idea they've been marketed to.

Then the real work starts. You come home, you inform your agent whom you've met, and let them do their magic. In the meantime, you've collected everyone's business cards. (never give out your own unless you are asked for it! for actors that looks desperate and needy to shove a business card into the face of a buyer who hasn't asked for it! plus, they will toss yours! you will follow up with theirs!)
- email a "nice to meet you" note along with your demo
- follow them on Facebook/twitter/etc. And make sure your social network presence which you use for your career reflects your career, not your day to day!

STILL no guarantee for income! But it's this kind of convention/networking that furthers the chances for tangible work! And you never know when meeting a buyer will trigger work. It could take a day, it could take years. But it starts with making and nurturing relationships.

[Deirdre]