Happy Birthday, VO-BB Peeps!

[Philip Banks]

A recent email sent to me prompted the following thought. Are you able to separate yourself from your work or is everything about YOU?

A few years ago I took a young media studies student with me to a voice over session as she wanted to see things at the sharp end. TV campaign, budget £2,750,000 plus a radio campaign. The people at the session were, two from the agency, two from the production company and the sound/pic editor.

After a couple of hours, it was in the bag and Noreen, the student was able to get a lot of information from all involved. As we left the studio to return to the car she looked at me in a somewhat "hurt by proxy" and puzzled manner.

"I can't believe the way they spoke to you, I would've been so hurt!" I didn't remember anything said that was hurtful or unpleasant so replied.

"Nothing said to me was personal. They needed a job doing and there is a great deal of money at stake. The company needs to generate about £8,000,000 in sales just to break-even. They weren't attacking Philip Banks the person, they were ensuring that a voice delivered the goods".

It was the above experience that prompted me to start each day with what I believe should be the voice overs' mantra "it's not about me".

I wonder how a lawyer in court would cope if he had to wrestle with the following thought.

"I need to ask this guy if he killed his wife but I don't want to upset him".
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Voice Over Philip Banks UK based with ISDN www.philipbanks.co.uk Uber Sprecher (TM)

[Frank F]

Phil,

You're right on target! After a bout with egotism, and then taking everything too personal (this was many, many moons ago), I learned the lesson of not taking busienss into the personal side of life.

Keep it YOUR business, and make sure that the "business" side of you is what your client deals with.

I have many friends in the business... but during a session, they are simply a client to whom I am delivering a product - and as the saying goes: "the cusomer is always right - most of the time". After the session we sit down and chat about other things in our lives and we even spend some off-time together.

Of course if YOU or any of my friends on the Board don't like what they hear of me... I think I might be hurt, and become ANGRY, and then - well, maybe go hide and soak my head in cold water... (not really).

Love you all!

Frank F

[kgenus]

Banksey,

Have you considered coordinating those thoughts with others and creating a motivational podcast? Out of curiosity, was that the first or last time you took a student to a session?

Kevin
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Genus

"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."-- Ken Olson, President, Digital Equipment Corp.,1977

[Philip Banks]

Never really thought about creating a podcast, probably because I don't know how, not really a techie.

If asked, I do try to arrange for a student to sit in on a session, the last time was a couple of years ago when I was the link voice for a TV programme. It was a weekly 30 min "what's on" giving the low down on TV shows, theatre, the cinema and events.

Interesting to note the other comment made by Noreen who I mentioned in my original posting.

"I learned more this morning in 3 hours than I've learned so far in 3 years of media studies."

No credit to me, probably more of an indictment of her college course.
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Voice Over Philip Banks UK based with ISDN www.philipbanks.co.uk Uber Sprecher (TM)

[Bailey]

I'm not worried about being bruised... I'm more interested in delivering the "look" or "sound" that the client is looking for. What irritates me is when a client or director appears to be withholding "criticism" or "direction", because of my feelings. I'm just the driver behind the "look" or "sound". If it's not right, tell me what's wrong... if I can fix it, I will. If I can't deliver what you want... either my talent is lacking (nobody's perfect) or maybe you're not sure what effect you're looking for.
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"Bailey"

"Wine and children speak the truth."
VO-BB Member #00047
AOVA Graduate 02/2004
CA Bureau of Security & Investigative Services

[Deirdre]

We all need to be pretty tough in this biz, to be sure.

That's why I want this board to be a haven of civility.
Above vulgar, keenly observant without being damaging.

Wit is welcome.
We all need to observe, however, that negative comments can be tiresome, and sarcasm is not helpful.

This is the oasis.
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DBCooperVO.com

[Philip Banks]

Always worth checking out what we say to avoid possible misunderstandings although it is very difficult to write for tainted eyes or speak for prejudiced ears. Should someone choose to take exception there is nothing we can do about it.

Having spent a while getting a TV commercial right I received an email (mentioned in my opening to this thread) from a producer asking if everything was ok as my usual quality and attention to detail was hard to get. I adopted the positive approach and read the email as one expressing concern and not an attempt to bruise my fragile ego. I explained that June into July was frantic and so it was simply a case of me trying to do too much. Problem solved by (a) a good nights sleep (b) introducing the word "no" into my vocabulary. Both designed to serve me and my clients to the max.

As it's always nice to go the extra mile. My response to this producer was to explain without trying to excuse, to say thanks for taking the trouble to write expressing her concern and send her a more practical vote of thanks too - A case of wine.
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Voice Over Philip Banks UK based with ISDN www.philipbanks.co.uk Uber Sprecher (TM)

[Bruce]

The only time I feel "bad" in studio is when the producer/director is not getting what he wants from me. I'm fairly certain it's most often that he can't explain it to me very well. He wants X and keeps telling me he wants Y, or he has Yul Brynner in his head and I sound like John Ritter. Up to a point it can be a fun detective game guessing what they want and trying all the tricks to get there. It's always a learning experience.

A bit tangentially, as far as auditons and handling rejection, I still like the advice that Jeff Bridges, and others, give and that's that he feels his job is auditioning. He studies the script, gives it his best, and then leaves it all behind. Every once in a while he gets a phone caller that says "Hey, let's do a movie", and that's the gravy. You just can't fret about auditions.

And I guess we shouldn't fret about a difficult session either. Unless the producer's name is Warner or Zanuck and he says "You'll never work in this town again!!", things always work out for the best.

Bruce

[Andy]

For as long as I've been in the media industry, I know auditioning is part of the landscape. But still, I wanna throttle the sonofabitch when I don't land the gig. Yep, I'm a sore loser. Feel like I'm at twelve step meeting or sumptin'.

[Philip Banks]

The solution to a largely bruise free life is to become a Weeble. Do you remember the jingle from the TV ad's for this child's toy?

"Weebles wobble but they don't fall down".

Developing the character trait above helps in your daily life as well as in work. I really like DB's idea of creating an oasis here and we all need to create one in our heads too, if you haven't already.

Designed to trip you up are, ego, insecurity, jealousy, hidden agendas and circumstances of the day. Using the list, first check yourself out and then watch out for the signs in others. Don't whatever you do try to get others on the right path, just try to understand - DO TRY EVERY DAY TO GET YOURSELF ON THE RIGHT PATH.

In May I was at a gathering of the clans, a voice over gathering of the clans. At breakfast in the hotel I saw some voices and producers I knew sat at a table and asked if I could join them. A voice artist sat opposite me responded to something I said with.

"Philip, we're going to have to do something about your massive ego". I smiled and agreed with him. Until he left the table more or less everything he said was a "pop" at me. Whilst I took everything in the best of humour I did notice that the rest of the people at the table were very uncomfortable. The problem? He is convinced I'm doing better than him, he's is convinced that he is better than me and his ego/insecurity in unable to reconcile the two. He had a problem and was doing his best to make it mine. It is very comforting to blame shift, to find a problem you have and blame it something about which you can do nothing.

"I'm not earning enough money because Philip Banks is taking all my work". While I live and breath and voice YOU have the perfect excuse for not earning enough. When you focus on your career and not mine you'll move from the perfect excuse to the perect solution.

Do you bruise easily? In the context of this thread it's probably a case of "self-harming".

The above, just some random thoughts, get from them what you can. You have the luxury of being able to dismiss and escape. I have no such luxury or escape, I'm married to a consultant psychologist. Looking on the bright side, my pick up line in bars is unbeatable.

"My wife understands me, perfectly!"
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Voice Over Philip Banks UK based with ISDN www.philipbanks.co.uk Uber Sprecher (TM)