VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Philip Banks]

1 - Do the numbers. Know how much you need to pay your bills and run your business OVER ESTIMATE. Have a good idea how much you are likely to gross in fee income UNDER ESTIMATE.


....next candidate post Number 2 please.

[Bruce]

2 - If your projected income does not cover your projected life expenses choose one of the two following options:

A - Quit. Do something secure, even if it's dull. Your loved ones deserve it.

B - Work your frikkin' ass off marketing the right way to the right people. Work your ass off listening to quality voiceoverists and see what you can glean from their work and apply it to your own voice stylings, yet remain original. Update your demos regularly as you improve. Ignore your loved ones as much as you dare until you break through the profit barrier. They deserve your utter attention to your career until you make a go of it.

If your projected income exceeds your expenses, still adhere to plan B, but depending on the size of your profit margin you can spend commensurately more time with the lovely things in your life.

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

[Jason Huggins]

3 - Develop thick skin, because rejection is part of the game. Never expect a yes, though it's always the goal. If you do 100 auditions in a row without success (not that it usually goes that was) don't just get mad at yourself or start blaming others, just learn from what you aren't booking, and figure out what needs to change (and sometimes that is nothing...dry spells do happen).

[todd ellis]

if you can't laugh at yourself ... make fun of others.
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[jsgilbert]

and realize that when you see all those quotes from famous people that say "never quit", or "don't give up", that there are many ways to interpret that.

Colonel Saunders of KFC fame, "quit" many, many times. He tried his hand at numerous business ventures and failed, claiming bankruptcy many times before hitting upon KFC. Had he not "quit" doing the things that didn't work and didn't suit him, he never would have moved on to found one of the most successful food franchises of all time.

One quote you rarely see that I believe is most applicable is:

"He that fights and runs away, may turn and fight another day; but he that is in battle slain, will never rise to fight again." --Tacitus

Feeding your family is far more noble than "suffering" for your art.
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j.s. gilbert

js@jsgilbert.com
www.jsgilbert.com

"today is the first day of the rest of the week"

[Deirdre]

When you are going thru hell, keep going.

Also #6 or wherever we are:
Make a point to consistently LIVE BENEATH YOUR MEANS.
One good year does not a lifetime make.
This might just be 2-d.
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