VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Philip Banks · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 7:03 am Post subject: Marketing Basics

I asked 4 people I know with marketing expertise and no connections to the VO business a basic marketing question relevant to what I do. Without exception all of them launched into an answer. Very helpful.

Over the last few weeks I have done the same thing with the VO marketing experts ...Not one of them had a clue but they all ducked, dived and twisted like twisty things.

I will not share the content of the question here but anyone who claims ANY knowledge of marketing will be able to guess this marketing fundamental in a second.

The result was unsurprising.

jsgilbert · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 7:46 pm Post subject:

Was the question,"How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop?"

The voiceoverist answer should have been "Let me play my newest demos for you?"
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Philip Banks · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 8:18 pm Post subject:

From licks to sucks in one east step!

Bailey · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 9:05 pm Post subject:

I'm not really guessing, but presenting one I found that seems quite basic.

Jason Huggins · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 9:45 pm Post subject:

I would be willing to bet that the 4 P's of marketing were somewhere in their knowledge. Product, price, promotion, and place. Everything else is just details about how.

Lee Gordon · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 1:07 am Post subject:

The four Ps of voiceover marketing could be "Presumption, Prevarication, Pomposity, and Palaver. " Gasp

_________________
Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

Philip Banks · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 1:24 am Post subject:

'fraid that is the truth!

Jason Huggins · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 6:28 am Post subject:

Sound like VO marketing has a lot in common with politics.

Bish · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 7:24 am Post subject:

There has been a lot of vitriol spilt regarding marketing. I am probably one of the major culprits. I'll reiterate that I think if you're trying to impact any marketplace, it's a required skill, and to take instruction or advice from someone who understands it can be very helpful. The problem is that in a lot of ways it's a skill that's difficult to define (tech term: fuzzy) and therefor open to abuse by the snake-oil salesmen and self-proclaimed gurus. Unfortunately, this has led to a situation where it's seen as an end in itself.

My simplistic view of the world:
1) Decide what product/skill you want to sell.
2) Develop your product/skill until it is a competitive & saleable commodity.
3) Address the marketplace with a plan.

Unfortunately, what seems to be true nowadays:
1) Get an idea.
2) Market extensively.
3) Fail because customer expectations are not met or the product is duff.

Please note that none of the above included "VO". I think these are universal rules that have been corrupted by the self-proclaimed gurus who should be immediately presented with their boarding passes for the B Ark*.

*Sorry, but I must use a Douglas Adams reference every three months or I have to hand in my towel.
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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.

Lee Gordon · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 9:49 am Post subject:

There's an old adage that states, "Them that can, do. Them that can't, teach." I do not necessarily agree with this canard, but it does have a corollary that may very well be true as it applies to voiceover:
"Them that can, do. Them that can't, try to make their money by selling a bill of goods to them that don't know any better."
_________________
Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

Or "Those that can, do.. Those that can't .. work somewhere in a decision making capacity in the production/creative process and try to act like they can"

melissa eX · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 1:40 pm Post subject:

That's not entirely fair - or true. Not everyone wants to do what we do. Who are we to make the assumption they do? Some prefer teaching, or production or directing or any number of ancillary professions. Thinking that everyone wants to do what we do and only do other things because they can't do what we do is the height of hubrisness. or hubrosity. or any number of other words I can make up.

captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

My comment was said more with a WINK than as a cold hard fact.. I agree with what you say about not everyone necessarily wanting to do what we do...

But in the real world you and I both know, and come across a great percentage who think they know what it takes to make a VO performance happen...

I know for myself, whenever I've done any sort of caoching or whatever, that (at least for me) its a lot easier to tell someone how to do something that to actually do it..

melissa eX · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 2:00 pm Post subject:

DougVox · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 5:13 pm Post subject: Re: Marketing Basics