VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Philip Banks]

Philip Banks is one of the top Voice Overists in the world, a really nice guy and the "go to guy" for any voice over project. As a professional he knows how to give without ever expecting anything in return. Really? I don't think so. How many productions were there last week requiring a voice? Probably thousands and I was not asked to do most of them, not 55% most but 99.999% most.

"Mmmmm that may be true Philip but you wouldn't tell anyone that would you?" I beg to differ because if you look closely I think you'll find I just did.

"Yes but you ARE one of the top Voice Overists in the UK aren't you?"

AM I B*LL*CKS!

"Ok, I get it now. This is not you it's the Brand you've created."

What other people choose to believe about me is not my brand or anything else it's this weird perception of reality that pervades our business and we need to get over it and get over quickly as the line between Brand and Bull has been crossed so often that it has been worn out. We appear to believe that we are all open and honest with one another whereas the truth is that in the majority of cases we all tend to be very selective in how open and honest we are with others. Whilst I am not suggesting you open the door to your darkest secrets I am advocating being engaging and informative based on what is happening and has happened without the edits or the enhancements. Such behaviour makes for a healthy mind, body and soul, indeed a healthy business.

Try this exercise. If you are capable of jealousy, name the Voice Overist of whom you are jealous. Before I wrote my suggestion I took the time to have a long hard think. Couldn't come up with a single name, not in the UK, the USA or anywhere else.

Now try this. Hate is too strong a word so let's now come up with the name of a Voice Overist you dislike, not their voice, I mean the person. Go on, name names. There are people who I believe are grabbers, demon self-promoters, bullsh*tters, untrustworthy, selfish and so on, indeed I have evidence to support such claims but I do not dislike them nor do I bear them any ill-will.

Final step. Name the 3 Voice Overist you admire the most based on what you really know about them. Not what you think you know about them or some image they have tried to project or their Brand. If you've done this properly this final step will have proved the hardest because you were suddenly confronted with the need for facts. Facts, not take their word for it or the word of someone else.

Philip Banks the brand does not exist and long may that fact continue. How impressive is Philip Banks? No idea. Ask Bob Souer he has spent about 24 hours with me on two occasions. Ask Deirdre as she's been in my presence for a lot longer than 24hours to the point where she witnessed a sudden attack of bad mood syndrome, nothing nasty I assure you just a case of the grumps brought on by uncontrolled blood sugar levels. Ask my clients, my agent, my friends and see if you can get any sense out of Jazz.

Now you - Brand or Bull? Which is it please?

Having embraced the concept of "the spine" perhaps the next step is to come out from your hiding place, the big rock engraved BrandBull and let the world see you. What if producers, directors, ad creatives, big city agents and the Voice Overists you are so keen to impress find out about YOU? They're people and the people who matter will like you and in some cases come to love you. Better by far, in a non-narcissistic way, you'll like yourself, love yourself far more. Will that make you a better Voice Overist, no, it'll simply make you BETTER.... PERIOD

Would you rather hide the real you? That's ok but find another job as you won't climb very far in the world of the Voice Overist.

[Lizden]

It's interesting Philip about the people you are jealous of, "dislike" and admire.

I STILL remember when I was at a certain recording facility and I spoke to you over the ISDN line for the first time ("auditioning" you!). I remember getting off the line, walking to my office and telling one of my co-workers "Man, that Philip Banks guy is REALLY good!"

Then, of course, because you got SO much work from us...I never spoke to you again...until I joined this esteemed board!

I remember seeing your name here and saying, wow, this really IS a small VO world...and I was thrilled to get to know you, and yes, admire you - BECAUSE I have gotten to KNOW you.

In the past 4+ years of being here I have come to admire many VO's...but it's mostly for WHO they are outside of being a VO...it's the type of people they are. The fact that they also "get" what we do for a living and ROCK at it, is a bonus.

As to being "jealous" of another VO, no can't say that I am of anyone. Do I have people in my sights as to wanting to achieve their level of success, yes, but that's not jealousy, that looking at the path they took and seeing if I can find a parallel path that can move me along towards by higher goals.

As to the "dislike" part...well Philip, you are a better person than I. There ARE people I dislike. People that I feel have taken advantage of others (be they VO's or not), people that have treated others badly and who I would rather not associate with. Do I lose sleep over them. Nope. Do I wish them ill...well...not ill, but I do not with them well.....I'm working on getting better, really I am!

This comes back to another thread about getting a life. Frankly, my life is pretty stressful, and my work is what grounds me. It's what gives me joy and what allows me to function relatively sanely in my non-VO life...that may be backwards, but that's just the way it is...and it's the honest truth. If I didn't have my work I would be in a REAL padded room! I am thankful to have my work and all the VO friends & colleagues that I work with every day.

Am I "branded?" Nope, I'm just me right now. (with an added ISDN at the end of my info! )
Am I loving what I do? YOU BET!
Am I getting better at it...I HOPE so!
As I have said before - I am making a living and able to pay my bills by doing what I love everyday...there is A LOT to be said for that.

I am who I am because of my non-VO life and all that I have experienced and continue to experience there. Some know the details of that life, others just know that I show up, do my job, deliver their files on time, and make their job easier. That's fine with me. They make MY life easier by hiring me and allowing me to do what I love to do everyday.

I know who I am: someone who is thrilled and blessed to be doing what she does as "work" everyday; is lucky enough to have friends who support her in that journey, and in her challenges outside the VO realm; and I am someone who is there as much as she can be for her friends in their challenges.

Wow....I need another cup of coffee....did I mention I'm addicted to coffee!
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Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com