VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Mike Harrison

A non-VO friend (he's in financial risk management) and I were chatting last night, and the conversation moved into the subject of marketing. He said something I found very interesting: that individuals in a sole-proprietorship business too often make the mistake of presenting themselves (in their resumes, etc.) as a person rather than as a business. He feels this is not the best way to attract prospects or create relationships.

I'm not sure I agree; or at least maybe it depends on the type of business. What do you folks think about this?

Thank you muchly.
_________________
Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

Philip Banks · Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 7:13 am Post subject:

We are not brands.
We are not brands.
We are not brands

If you are not selling YOU then YOU are missing out
BIG TIME

Legal note
Contributors to this thread who disagree with the above must know more about marketing than me, and you don't, and must be earning more than me in the voice over business and you don't. If you have a pet Anaconda named Douglas Bader (named after the World War II flying ace) you may apply for a special waiver which will be declined but at least you'll feel as if you tried to do something.

todd ellis · Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 7:31 am Post subject:

i've always marketed as a business. i think it makes it easier, in the client's mind, to see me as more than a voice. for example: producer, editor, voice wrangler, project manager and so on.
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todd ellis · Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 7:57 am Post subject:

i think philip and i are talking about (at least partly) two different things. i'm not talking about spending time & resources BRANDING, i.e. "Philip Banks: Great fookin voice". which, while true, most potential clients could give a "fook" about. they care that philip POSITIONS himself as a business that will deliver a quality product in a timely manner ... more than just a pretty voice, which of course, he does. as an ENTITY that potential clients can look at and say: "if i put my trust in this professional, i am going to receive at LEAST what i paid for and receive a return on my investment."
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

Deirdre · Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 10:19 am Post subject:

I present myself as a person and give my client the business.

In all seriousness, the people who hire me, hire ME. The Awesome is part of the package.
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Dan-O · The Gates of Troy Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 1638

Darren Altman · Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 11:48 am Post subject:

I never market or sell myself as Darren Altman, CEO of Darren Altman and Altman inc. People hire me for my voice and my personality and that's it. The same goes for my drumming, I'm a musician and not a company. I all seriosuness though, there is one voiceoverist who actually calls themselves *** ***, CEO and head of *** *** enterprises, I find that hillarious!
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Monk · Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 12:23 pm Post subject:

interesting, I market myself but treat the work as my business.

So when talking to people in general, VO work is my business, but I am marketing ME. There's only one me, it's my favorite me.

The awesome is included... I like that. My awesome can't be helped, it just happens.
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Company, villainous company, hath been the spoil of me...

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Philip Banks · Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 12:52 pm Post subject:

With apologies to Dan for highlighting him, but it serves as a good illustration.

During the course the year I'll get an email or take a phone call from someone looking for a voice and the description fits Dan Nachtrab.

"Hi Pete,

Have a look at www.dannachrab.com, he's your man.

Best regards

Philip"

Subject closed.

I don't care about branding, corporate identity, positioning, marketing strategy yawn, yawn, yawn. My man is looking for someone able to deliver what he needs and probably a link to a website which he can forward to his client. I need someone I can trust.

Ignore all the marketing, branding, SEO and social media smoke and mirrors. When you're certain you "can do", your potential clients will be convinced you "can do", everyone else would be dumb not to fall inot line. I'm not certain what else any VO needs other than yet another distraction.

Dan-O · The Gates of Troy Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 1638

Frank F · Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 2:09 pm Post subject:

As a VO ar-t-e-e-s-t you are both the person and the business.

To the potential client needing services - including but not limited to VO -- you are a business which provides a person to create the services desired. To the client who has hired you to do VO - you are a person whom works with the business which provided the services desired.

In both instances you must be PROFESSIONAL and present yourself as such.

Everything you do before and after the recording session is the professional
business side of yourself.

During the recording session it is a single professional person doing the gig and providing the services and representing the professional VO business.

You are your brand and your brand IS you.

Frank F
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Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 3:00 pm Post subject:

It's combination along the lines of what Frank said.

Anyone can be a person and call themselves a voice-overist. But most people hiring you want to make sure you're a reputable business as well.
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

Michael Schoen · Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 10:28 pm Post subject:

I am in the "person" camp
I market myself as the guy who can do the job for the client.
My clients, especially the returning ones think of me as that voice guy they like to use.
I don't see how trying to make me a company would help make me look like "that guy" to potential new clients.
While I want to create an image with my website and postings -- it's still the person they hire.
Imagine a stage or screen actor marketing him or herself as a business.
We are doing the same as they -- with our voice talent.
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http://MichaelSchoen.com

Philip Banks · Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 11:45 pm Post subject:

One doesn't have to search too far on an internet to find the wisdom of "the bloke down the pub".

When we chat with Trev whilst we lean against the bar in The Bull, Ambridge we know he's a mechanic at the local Volvo dealership. He's a nice bloke, he makes us laugh and he has a story for any situation. He is worldly wise on any subject.

"You see Fill, I know you're quite good but Mark at our place what works in accounts is brilliant at voices. If you met him he could learn you any accent. Do that mate and you could work more hours than what you does now."

We don't challenge Trev, we nod politely and move on to whether Borchester Rover will win on Saturday.

Here and elsewhere on the internet I know the "bloke (VO/Coach/audio/marketing/social media) down the pub" and when they pontificate ...........

DEFAULT MODE

"Awesome! Now, Borchester Rovers, this Saturday,what do we think, 2-1?"

Deirdre · Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 1:21 am Post subject:

Matt will be betting on Pennyhassett.
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