VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Philip Banks · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:30 am Post subject: To be a successful Voice Over

You need to be in LA or New York.

Have an agent in both of the above.

Audition regularly.

Have a studio with ISDN and an MKH416.

Be a Union voice (SAG/AFTRA)

The panel at VOICE2008 hath so spake, long live the panel!

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

Unless you have a financial interest in the career of anyone who tells you what you must do, smile and nod politely then walk back to YOUR field where you will plant YOUR crops and eventually reap YOUR harvest.

Remember the two things that will kill the career of any Voice, FEAR and/or EGO.

False
Events
Appearing
Real

and

Errant
Grand
Orator

Don't get fooled by FEAR and never let your EGO get so big the only thing that people will notice is your ability to put both feet in your mouth.

Am I saying the panel at Voice2008 were wrong? No, they're just not you and you are all you need to make it - Just as well because you is all you got!

My very good friend, Alison hates the song "My Way". Her reason is that it is leaves God out of the picture, she's not telling the truth when she says that. "My way" accepts responsibility, "God's Way" or "Other people's way" allows room for blame shifting. Don't be too literal when reading my example, my point is not the opener for a grand theological debate it's about the difference between blindly following or eyes wide open and brain switched on.

Lizden · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:38 am Post subject:

Philip:

As usuual: Thanks, you! cool

L.
_________________
Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com

Yoda117 · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:55 am Post subject:

Considering that several panels at VOICE 2008 specifically said that you didn't need to do this, I'm curious as to where you came up with this.

The promo panel in particular was very big on saying "find what works for you", and offering tons of alternatives.

Check your intel. One *might* have stated this, but most did not.

It's good advice, to be sure, but the source for disagreement is off IMO.
_________________
Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

Diane Havens · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 10:03 am Post subject:

I have never followed anyone's road map in any other facet of my life -- I felt I needed to explore, to investigate, to go down the unpaved roads. Might I have had an easier time in doing it differently, taking others' advice? Perhaps. Maybe even more "successful" in both my personal and professional life. Maybe. I like to listen to all points of view, and internalize them, take what resonates with me, and disregard the rest. Voice served me well.

But, though I do have some regrets, I believe I learned more and better from my mistakes, and enjoyed all the winding paths my "off-road" adventures provided.

We follow our own instincts, are guided by our own muses -- are distracted by our own sirens -- but such is life, and is so often echoed here: Life is grand.
_________________
Diane

Veni, Vidi, Voci
http://www.dianehavens.com

Philip Banks · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 10:03 am Post subject:

As far as I'm aware, none of us have fields, plough them, sow seeds, have any intention of following the advice of anyone at Voice2008, few of us attended either from VO-BB or the Voice Over profession and were I to further deconstruct what was written we could find more inaccuracies.

My writing is unsuitable for anyone with OCD.

Lizden · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 10:07 am Post subject:

Yoda117 · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 10:13 am Post subject:

Philip Banks · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 10:13 am Post subject:

Diane's got it in one. Some people are experts at ignoring their "inner voice". I think it's a bigger problem for men as we feel the need for posturing. Is there any medical evidence that shows that women have more backbone (spine) then men?

Philip Banks · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 10:16 am Post subject:

Yoda117 · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 10:18 am Post subject:

Since you brought it up, there's a nifty little book called "Observational Behavior" which indicates this as well. Shows that women are more likely to utilize these traits opposed to men.

Interesting reading actually.

Still, anyone who invests thousands of dollars on the say-so of someone else without trying and comparing things deserves what they get.
_________________
Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

Yoda117 · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 10:19 am Post subject:

bobsouer · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 10:30 am Post subject:

richvoice · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 10:39 am Post subject:

One of the best uses of my time at VOICE 2008 was reading "True and False" by David Mamet, recommended to me by my acting coach. His take on acting isn't for everyone; I think it's particularly problematic for voice acting, but I'm working on my stagecraft as well, and I loved the book.

This thread reminded me of something that he repeats a couple of times:

"Act first to desire your own good opinion of yourself."

Thanks for the FEAR acronym, Philip, I like it!

Cheers,
Rich

Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 10:56 am Post subject:

Gp · Guest

False
Evidence
Appearing
Real

What does it mean...it means. we fear what we THINK will happen...not what WILL happen. Of course if you have some means of looking into the future feel free to fear. But I have this feeling that if you could actually see into the future you wouldn't really fear it.