VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Philip Banks]

You’re sitting in the middle row, a group of Voiceoverists are looking captivated by top expert Zebedee Florence from Magic Roundabout Studios. Let’s be clear about this, Zebedee is one of the greats, it says so on his website.

“By marking in bold the focus points on the copy you will easily see where the client needs lifts and calls to action.” There are nods of approval, a ripple of applause and lots of note taking. Be honest, you have no idea. To be honest nobody else attending has a clue either.

STOP – ENOUGH

What you do next takes courage. You raise your hand. Zeb looks at you.

“Zeb, I believe I’ve just missed a valuable point. If it’s ok with everyone else would you please explain in detail what you mean and give a few examples?” You look around the room, waiting for groans and accusing stares but rather than an attack of the negs you see smiles and people with pens poised waiting to expand their, so far, meaningless notes. At this point there is more danger of the speaker looking dumb than you.

How do you determine whether your question or the answer is dumb? Simple! Listen. Apologies, that’s unfair because for the majority of Voiceoverists listening to anything other than something they want to hear is extremely difficult; you need to move beyond that trait and move on quickly. Listen. In the example I’ve used you’re listening for a clear explanation of what the concept means and how to apply it. Think of your most recent job or audition and when your host has stopped talking ask yourself how you could have applied the technique. If you can then Zeb is on to something, if you can’t then there is a chance he is talking garbage. Good or bad, you need to know as it’s your money, your time and your career.

One word of caution; check with friends who will be honest enough to tell you if you really are dumb.

[Bish]

Words of wisdom above.

During my corporate life in a multi-national, I spent a few years as a training officer (tech stuff and communications protocols). The one thing I always tried to impress upon my students was that if something wasn't clear to them, then the chances were very high that is wasn't clear to others as well. By asking the question they would probably get peer group kudos rather than any eye-rolling. I always took the responsibility back on myself for not explaining properly and pulled out one of the alternative ways of getting the same point across.

I'll say it before anyone else... "There's no such thing as a dumb question"*

* OK, there are, but why spoil a good adage by being totally accurate.
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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.

[Lance Blair]

Some clients want you to hit the verbs...others the nouns/product. Still others the juicy adjectives. Some want you to be big on the ends of sentences. Others would like you to keep an even keel.

Learn how to take direction, not how to attend seminars. I never hashmark a script before I speak with the client - there are so many ways to say even the most innocuous phrase even if you understand the particular meaning and its place in the total context.

I used to hashmark before direction...when I was a noob. It always killed me. If you're not being directed for some reason, that just bring your a-game, be yourself, and don't sweat it.
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Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

[Lee Gordon]

Afraid to look dumb? Not me. I am fearless!
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Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

[SilverSurfer3001]

I'm pretty sure there really is such a thing as a dumb question (although certainly not the the type that Mr Banks has posited).

I am absolutely convinced that there are a boatload of dumb answers and even more dumb answerers..


BTW- Hello everyone. Long time lurker; first time poster.
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Jody Silvers
VOSilvers.com

[bobsouer]

Jody,

Welcome to the VO-BB!
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

[Gregory Best]

Example: Dumb question -- in CPR class a nurse filling out a check for payment asks "how do you spell CPR?"
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Gregory Best

greg@gregorybest.com

[Lee Gordon]

[Mandy Nelson]

My question: do you have those people around you that will tell you if you are being dumb? Or do you surround yourself with people who pat you on the back?
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006 member of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Mic. Bonded by sound.

Manfillappsoc: The Mandy and Philip mutual appreciation Society. Who's in your network?

Have you seen my mic closet? ~ me to my future husband

[craigcrumpton]

Philip, did you forget that you have a blog where you can post gems like this?
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Publisher: Voice Actors in the News
Host: Viva VO Atlanta! (on VU and Facebook for VO peeps in the Southeast US)

[Philip Banks]

Not wishing to mess with the fabric of the universe I have posted the post on my blog as a post in a bloggie postie kinda way.

[CarynClark]

Philip, what's the link to your blog, please?
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Caryn Clark... The Hip Chick Voice!

"A positive mental attitude and having faith in your ability is quite different from being irresponsible and downright stupid." - Dave

[bobsouer]

Caryn,

I'm not Philip, but I can answer this question:

http://secure.philipbanks.com/wordpress/
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

[CarynClark]

Thank you Bob!
_________________
Caryn Clark... The Hip Chick Voice!

"A positive mental attitude and having faith in your ability is quite different from being irresponsible and downright stupid." - Dave