Dave Courvoisier
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Posts
- May 25, 12
There's no one to blame but me.
I've over-conferenced myself. If I go to FaffCon in Charlotte this fall (I know, I know...it's an UN-conference)...that'll be 5 VO conferences in less than a year's time, and that's not counting my MasterMind meetings and other conference calls.
This will NOT happen again.
Don't get me wrong. Each and every one of these events is worthwhile. I learn stuff. I meet people. I "network". But one can get conferenced out.
In the next few weeks, I'll be at APAC/BEA, then VOICE2012.
The real key is what you do with all you learn, and who you meet AFTER you get home.
I've got my own thoughts about this, and they're closely aligned with a very cogently-written article by Deborah Shane. It's called:
8 Steps To Converting Connections After A Conference.I highly recommend you bookmark this link and give it a look before and after you attend ANY conference. Well worth it!
CourVO
- May 24, 12
Can you be "kind of" a voice actor?
If you work in some other profession, but your heart, and your passion and your energy are in VO...are you a half-breed?...a hybrid?
Could someone raise the question of legitimacy or dedication to the profession if you were not able to give-over your productivity to voice-overs full time?
Forgetting for a moment, the practical reality of why any crazy person would choose to lead a schizophrenic life like that (budget needs, spousal pressure, etc), couldn't such a person still aspire to being characterized as a voice-actor?
WE'RE NOT ALONE
Of course I ask these questions because this is me. And of course I ask these questions 'cause after these many years toiling away in VO-land, I know of hundreds (thousands?) of others who live and work in this quandary.
It raises the question of whether there are two or more discernible voice over worlds:
1) The person who spends all their working hours fully engaged in the many endeavours that result in running a successful voice over business as their main source of income.
2) The person who spends as many working hours as possible fully engaged in the many endeavours that result in running a successful voice over business...but it's not their main source of income.GETTING TO THE ROOT
The schism raises even more questions about things like career risk, personal fortitude, self-esteem and motivation.
Why would I NOT work full-time in voice-over so I COULD make it my main source of income? No guts? 'Can't handle the uncertainty? Not ready for "the leap"?
Are there those who admit they will never be full-time VO's?...who use it as a supplement and can't see it being their only work?...or are the majority convinced that eventually, it'll be their main profession?
What about guys like Rob Sciglimpaglia and Derek Chappell -- successful attorneys who are working pell-mell to achieve a full-time acting career? I met an MD at the last NYC mixer who had similar goals.
RÂ U AÂ PRIDEFUL FULL-TIMER?
If that happens...when that happens for any of us "hybrids"... will we then feel ownership to the point of snobbery?...is that what full-time voice-actors feel? No, I mean I wouldn't hold it against a full-timer if they felt a certain pride in that. YOU are the people who took the leap, who managed the risk, who balance your freelance checkbook masterfully, who wear eight creative and marketing hats successfully.
Actually, I'm thinking of writing a book about this. Would there be interest? A guide, of sorts, how NOT to go crazy pleasing two masters. How to hold on to your dream, but still pay your bills. A primer in living your passion but also accepting the mediocrity of falling short of your goals. 'Some lessons learned in managing two worlds and still hold on to your sanity.
Whadya think?
CourVO
- May 24, 12
Can you be "kind of" a voice actor?
If you work in some other profession, but your heart, and your passion and your energy are in VO...are you a half-breed?...a hybrid?
Could someone raise the question of legitimacy or dedication to the profession if you were not able to give-over your productivity to voice-overs full time?
Forgetting for a moment, the practical reality of why any crazy person would choose to lead a schizophrenic life like that (budget needs, spousal pressure, etc), couldn't such a person still aspire to being characterized as a voice-actor?
WE'RE NOT ALONE
Of course I ask these questions because this is me. And of course I ask these questions 'cause after these many years toiling away in VO-land, I know of hundreds (thousands?) of others who live and work in this quandary.
It raises the question of whether there are two or more discernible voice over worlds:
1) The person who spends all their working hours fully engaged in the many endeavours that result in running a successful voice over business as their main source of income.
2) The person who spends as many working hours as possible fully engaged in the many endeavours that result in running a successful voice over business...but it's not their main source of income.GETTING TO THE ROOT
The schism raises even more questions about things like career risk, personal fortitude, self-esteem and motivation.
Why would I NOT work full-time in voice-over so I COULD make it my main source of income? No guts? 'Can't handle the uncertainty? Not ready for "the leap"?
Are there those who admit they will never be full-time VO's?...who use it as a supplement and can't see it being their only work?...or are the majority convinced that eventually, it'll be their main profession?
What about guys like Rob Sciglimpaglia and Derek Chappell -- successful attorneys who are working pell-mell to achieve a full-time acting career? I met an MD at the last NYC mixer who had similar goals.
RÂ U AÂ PRIDEFUL FULL-TIMER?
If that happens...when that happens for any of us "hybrids"... will we then feel ownership to the point of snobbery?...is that what full-time voice-actors feel? No, I mean I wouldn't hold it against a full-timer if they felt a certain pride in that. YOU are the people who took the leap, who managed the risk, who balance your freelance checkbook masterfully, who wear eight creative and marketing hats successfully.
Actually, I'm thinking of writing a book about this. Would there be interest? A guide, of sorts, how NOT to go crazy pleasing two masters. How to hold on to your dream, but still pay your bills. A primer in living your passion but also accepting the mediocrity of falling short of your goals. 'Some lessons learned in managing two worlds and still hold on to your sanity.
Whadya think?
CourVO
- May 24, 12
Can you be "kind of" a voice actor?
If you work in some other profession, but your heart, and your passion and your energy are in VO...are you a half-breed?...a hybrid?
Could someone raise the question of legitimacy or dedication to the profession if you were not able to give-over your productivity to voice-overs full time?
Forgetting for a moment, the practical reality of why any crazy person would choose to lead a schizophrenic life like that (economic realities, spousal pressure, etc), couldn't such a person still aspire to being characterized as a voice-actor?
WE'RE NOT ALONE
Of course I ask these questions because this is me. And of course I ask these questions 'cause after these many years toiling away in VO-land, I know of hundreds (thousands?) of others who live and work in this quandary.
It raises the question of whether there are two or more discernible voice over worlds:
1) The person who spends all their working hours fully engaged in the many endeavours that result in running a successful voice over business as their main source of income.
2) The person who spends as many working hours as possible fully engaged in the many endeavours that result in running a successful voice over business...but it's not their main source of income.GETTING TO THE ROOT
The schism raises even more questions about things like career risk, personal fortitude, self-esteem and motivation.
Why would I NOT work full-time in voice-over so I COULD make it my main source of income? No guts? 'Can't handle the uncertainty? Not ready for "the leap"?
Are there those who admit they will never be full-time VO's?...who use it as a supplement and can't see it being their only work?...or are the majority convinced that eventually, it'll be their main profession?
What about guys like Rob Sciglimpaglia and Derek Chappell -- successful attorneys who are working pell-mell to achieve a full-time acting career? I met an MD at the last NYC mixer who had similar goals.
RÂ U AÂ PRIDEFUL FULL-TIMER?
If that happens...when that happens for any of us "hybrids"... will we then feel ownership to the point of snobbery?...is that what full-time voice-actors feel? No, I mean I wouldn't hold it against a full-timer if they felt a certain pride in that. YOU are the people who took the leap, who managed the risk, who balance your freelance checkbook masterfully, who wear eight creative and marketing hats successfully.
Actually, I'm thinking of writing a book about this. Would there be interest? A guide, of sorts, how NOT to go crazy pleasing two masters. How to hold on to your dream, but still pay your bills. A primer in living your passion but also accepting the mediocrity of falling short of your goals. 'Some lessons learned in managing two worlds and still hold on to your sanity.
Whadya think?
CourVO
- May 24, 12
Can you be "kind of" a voice actor?
If you work in something other profession, but your heart, and your passion and your energy are in VO...are you a half-breed?...a hybrid?
Could someone raise the question of legitimacy or dedication to the profession if you were not able to give-over your productivity to voice-overs full time?
Forgetting for a moment, the practical reality of why any crazy person would choose to lead a schizophrenic life like that (economic realities, spousal pressure, etc), couldn't such a person still aspire to being characterized as a voice-actor?
WE'RE NOT ALONE
Of course I ask these questions because this is me. And of course I ask these questions 'cause after these many years toiling away in VO-land, I know of hundreds (thousands?) of others who live and work in this quandary.
It raises the question of whether there are two or more discernible voice over worlds:
1) The person who spends all their working hours fully engaged in the many endeavours that result in running a successful voice over business as their main source of income.
2) The person who spends as many working hours as possible fully engaged in the many endeavours that result in running a successful voice over business...but it's not their main source of income.GETTING TO THE ROOT
The schism raises even more questions about things like career risk, personal fortitude, self-esteem and motivation.
Why would I NOT work full-time in voice-over so I COULD make it my main source of income? No guts? 'Can't handle the uncertainty? Not ready for "the leap"?
Are there those who admit they will never be full-time VO's?...who use it as a supplement and can't see it being their only work?...or are the majority convinced that eventually, it'll be their main profession?
What about guys like Rob Sciglimpaglia and Derek Chappell -- successful attorneys who are working pell-mell to achieve a full-time acting career? I met an MD at the last NYC mixer who had similar goals.
RÂ U AÂ PRIDEFUL FULL-TIMER?
If that happens...when that happens for any of us "hybrids"... will we then feel ownership to the point of snobbery?...is that what full-time voice-actors feel? No, I mean I wouldn't hold it against a full-timer if they felt a certain pride in that. YOU are the people who took the leap, who managed the risk, who balance your freelance checkbook masterfully, who wear eight creative and marketing hats successfully.
Actually, I'm thinking of writing a book about this. Would there be interest? A guide, of sorts, how NOT to go crazy pleasing two masters. How to hold on to your dream, but still pay your bills. A primer in living your passion but also accepting the mediocrity of falling short of your goals. 'Some lessons learned in managing two worlds and still hold on to your sanity.
Whadya think?
CourVO
- May 23, 12
...when you get to the end of your spoken sentence....without enough steam
Obvious? Apparently not, 'cause we've all done an injustice to it. C'mon...admit it.
Nancy Wolfson's 11th video tip in a straight series of 13 weeekly video ckips seen here on the old blogeroo makes it clear:Â Support the end of your Sentence.
Although each of these tips stand alone and stand strong, these tips are just "teasers" for the real series of 127 total gems of advice from Wolfson called HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE.
A few of these vignettes have been involved...lasting several minutes. Not today's. It's short and sweet. Just watch:
[quicktime]http://braintracksaudio.com/soundreal/11_support_sentence.mov[/quicktime]
You can also see the video here:Â http://www.braintracksaudio.com/soundreal/11.html
Ad copy is such a genre all its own. That's why Wolfson's over-arching thesis is "Acting for Advertising". In her many roles in this business, Wolfson has gleaned a savvy and shrewd spot-on perspective of the psychology of writing, listening, watching, and delivering ad copy. Your VO career is not complete without offering your tithes at the altar of the tribe of Wolfson. Ask any of her former students (raises hand). When you're done with a Acting for Advertising session, you're sweating, but exhilerated to have reached new heights.
HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE is as close as you're going to come to the authentic Wolfson sessions, at a fraction of the price.
Be sure to check out her offer. I think you'll find it well worth the asking price.
Next week: Improve Acting with Onomatopoeia (woohoo...should be good!)
CourVO
- May 23, 12
...when you get to the end of your spoken sentence....without enough steam
Obvious? Apparently not, 'cause we've all done an injustice to it. C'mon...admit it.
Nancy Wolfson's 11th video tip in a straight series of 13 weeekly video ckips seen here on the old blogeroo makes it clear:Â Support the end of your Sentence.
Although each of these tips stand alone and stand strong, these tips are just "teasers" for the real series of 127 total gems of advice from Wolfson called HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE.
A few of these vignettes have been involved...lasting several minutes. Not today's. It's short and sweet. Just watch:
[quicktime]http://braintracksaudio.com/soundreal/11_support_sentence.mov[/quicktime]
You can also see the video here:Â http://www.braintracksaudio.com/soundreal/11.html
Ad copy is such a genre all its own. That's why Wolfson's over-arching thesis is "Acting for Advertising". In her many roles in this business, Wolfson has gleaned a savvy and shrewd spot-on perspective of the psychology of writing, listening, watching, and delivering ad copy. Your VO career is not complete without offering your tithes at the altar of the tribe of Wolfson. Ask any of her former students (raises hand). When you're done with a Acting for Advertising session, you're sweating, but exhilerated to have reached new heights.
HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE is as close as you're going to come to the authentic Wolfson sessions, at a fraction of the price.
Be sure to check out her offer. I think you'll find it well worth the asking price.
Next week: Improve Acting with Onomatopoeia (woohoo...should be good!)
CourVO
- May 23, 12
...when you get to the end of your spoken sentence....without enough steam
Obvious? Apparently not, 'cause we've all done an injustice to it. C'mon...admit it.
Nancy Wolfson's 11th video tip in a straight series of 13 weeekly video ckips seen here on the old blogeroo makes it clear:Â Support the end of your Sentence.
Although each of these tips stand alone and stand strong, these tips are just "teasers" for the real series of 127 total gems of advice from Wolfson called HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE.
A few of these vignettes have been involved...lasting several minutes. Not today's. It's short and sweet. Just watch:
[quicktime]http://braintracksaudio.com/soundreal/11_support_sentence.mov[/quicktime]
You can also see the video here:Â http://www.braintracksaudio.com/soundreal/11.html
Ad copy is such a genre all its own. That's why Wolfson's over-arching thesis is "Acting for Advertising". In her many roles in this business, Wolfson has gleaned a savvy and shrewd spot-on perspective of the psychology of writing, listening, watching, and delivering ad copy. Your VO career is not complete without offering your tithes at the altar of the tribe of Wolfson. Ask any of her former students (raises hand). When you're done with a Acting for Advertising session, you're sweating, but exhilerated to have reached new heights.
HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE is as close as you're going to come to the authentic Wolfson sessions, at a fraction of the price.
Be sure to check out her offer. I think you'll find it well worth the asking price.
Next week: Improve Acting with Onomatopoeia (woohoo...should be good!)
CourVO
- May 23, 12
...when you get to the end of your spoken sentence....without enough steam
Obvious? Apparently not, 'cause we've all done an injustice to it. C'mon...admit it.
Nancy Wolfson's 11th video tip in a straight series of 13 weeekly video ckips seen here on the old blogeroo makes it clear:Â Support the end of your Sentence.
Although each of these tips stand alone and stand strong, these tips are just "teasers" for the real series of 127 total gems of advice from Wolfson called HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE.
A few of these vignettes have been involved...lasting several minutes. Not today's. It's short and sweet. Just watch:
[quicktime]http://braintracksaudio.com/soundreal/11_support_sentence.mov[/quicktime]
You can also see the video here:Â http://www.braintracksaudio.com/soundreal/11.html
Ad copy is such a genre all its own. That's why Wolfson's over-arching thesis is "Acting for Advertising". In her many roles in this business, Wolfson has gleaned a savvy and shrewd spot-on perspective of the psychology of writing, listening, watching, and delivering ad copy. Your VO career is not complete without offering your tithes at the altar of the tribe of Wolfson. Ask any of her former students (raises hand). When you're done with a Acting for Advertising session, you're sweating, but exhilerated to have reached new heights.
HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE is as close as you're going to come to the authentic Wolfson sessions, at a fraction of the price.
Be sure to check out her offer. I think you'll find it well worth the asking price.
Next week: Improve Acting with Onomatopoeia (woohoo...should be good!)
CourVO
- May 22, 12
World-Voices organization has been working diligently in the background to put down for the record, for all to see, what we believe are some bottom-line standards for codes of conduct.; not only for voice-actors, but for producers and voice coaches.
For the last 3 weeks or more, we've been actively soliciting feedback, comments, suggestions and help. The response was extremely encouraging. Many offered to help. Others sent in their thoughts. There was a lot of back 'n' forth...writing and re-writing...emails and phone calls.
Just over the weekend, we arrived at a point where we think the wording is VERY close to final. We're still seeking final suggestions, and would welcome yours, as we want WOVO to be transparent, and a community-participation guild.
Would you consider reading these docs and telling us what you think?
You can find them on the temporary WOVO site.
The docs are also embedded here:
WOVO By-Laws:Â BYLAWSWORLDVOICES051812.doc
Suggested Codes of Conduct for Voice Talent:Â CodeofConductVoiceTalentCPM051312.doc
Suggested Codes of Conduct for Producers:Â Â BestPracticesProducers051812.doc
Suggested Codes of Conduct for Coaches:Â Â Â BestPracticesCoaches051812.docYou can reach the members of the WOVO executie board at:Â info@world-voices.org.
CourVO
- May 22, 12
World-Voices organization has been working diligently in the background to put down for the record, for all to see, what we believe are some bottom-line standards for codes of conduct.; not only for voice-actors, but for producers and voice coaches.
For the last 3 weeks or more, we've been actively soliciting feedback, comments, suggestions and help. The response was extremely encouraging. Many offered to help. Others sent in their thoughts. There was a lot of back 'n' forth...writing and re-writing...emails and phone calls.
Just over the weekend, we arrived at a point where we think the wording is VERY close to final. We're still seeking final suggestions, and would welcome yours, as we want WOVO to be transparent, and a community-participation guild.
Would you consider reading these docs and telling us what you think?
You can find them on the temporary WOVO site.
The docs are also embedded here:
WOVO By-Laws:Â BYLAWSWORLDVOICES051812.doc
Suggested Codes of Conduct for Voice Talent:Â CodeofConductVoiceTalentCPM051312.doc
Suggested Codes of Conduct for Producers:Â Â BestPracticesProducers051812.doc
Suggested Codes of Conduct for Coaches:Â Â Â BestPracticesCoaches051812.docYou can reach the members of the WOVO executie board at:Â info@world-voices.org.
CourVO
- May 22, 12
Sooner or later, most everyone makes it to Las Vegas.
Take Carolyn (CC) Petersen for example. Oddly enough, here's a voice-over professional who travels around the world (just got back from Germany), but had never been to Vegas.
What drew her and her husband Mark to the desert Southwest? A solar eclipse. They viewed it Sunday evening from an optimal place in Southern Utah: Zion National Park.
CC is deeply involved in science presentations, especially astronomical ones. Sheesh, her and Mark have a mini-planetarium in their basement! She contracts out with the Smithsonian and does celestial presentations for tourists on cruise ships as they ply the waters of...well...everywhere there are oceans.
Not a bad gig, huh? And you thought voice-overs were limited to commercials, e-learning and radio imaging!
I thoroughly enjoyed their visit over vittles at the Peppermill in Las Vegas after my late news. Thanks CC!
CourVO
- May 22, 12
Sooner or later, most everyone makes it to Las Vegas.
Take Carolyn (CC) Petersen for example. Oddly enough, here's a voice-over professional who travels around the world (just got back from Germany), but had never been to Vegas.
What drew her and her husband Mark to the desert Southwest? A solar eclipse. They viewed it Sunday evening from an optimal place in Southern Utah: Zion National Park.
CC is deeply involved in science presentations, especially astronomical ones. Sheesh, her and Mark have a mini-planetarium in their basement! She contracts out with the Smithsonian and does celestial presentations for tourists on cruise ships as they ply the waters of...well...everywhere there are oceans.
Not a bad gig, huh? And you thought voice-overs were limited to commercials, e-learning and radio imaging!
I thoroughly enjoyed their visit over vittles at the Peppermill in Las Vegas after my late news. Thanks CC!
CourVO
- May 21, 12
Like the weather, there is a never-ending supply of clouds in the online universe.
These are things that I catch on my radar, 'cause they help me access the files, docs, pics, and demos I need from wherever I am, regardless the location of the computer where the native file resides.
You're on the road visiting your wife's Aunt Gladys for the weekend, and you get a request from a client to re-send that file you just finished before you hit the road. With cloud file access, this is a cinch.
I've blogged about this several times. Her's one: BE PART OF THE CLOUD CROWD. This topic continues to generate interest from people who've found other useful solutions, too.
DropBox has got to be one of the most prolific players in this realm. It's brainless. Easy to install and set-up, inexpensive, and seamless in sharing.
Now, though, Cubby arrives on the scene with a beta product much like DropBox but with one important distinction: Like many other online cloud syncing services, you still get the 5GB storage with the free account, but you can sync an unlimited amount of data between your computers.
Here's a great article about Cubby's functionality. As you can see by the logo I've included, though, Cubby is in Beta, and you have to ask for an invite by providing your email address and then confirming when you get the notice.
Cubby is from the same developers who make the remote desktop service LogMeIn...also a great solution for not only accessing your remote files, but virtually manipulating your remote computer's desktop.
Have you recently found another cloud-file-access or remote-control desktop solution? Please add it in the comments below.
CourVO
- May 21, 12
When life is: "How much can I pack in 24 hours each day"...it's not good.
Blessedly, I'm in a bit of a lull...a breather...and a welcome one, 'cause when June hits, it hits hard.
APAC/BEA/Audies is in a couple of weeks in NYC, then VOICE2012 in Disneyland right after that.
I just finished a webinar for Edge Studio over the weekend on the topic of Social Media...I'm preparing to redo my commercial demo with the inimitable Dave DeAndrea. John Florian just published an article I wrote (you first saw here) on hitting your wall. I'm also working closely with Trish Basanyi and Terry Daniel, these days, to finish-up our Social Media seminar in June at VOICE.
During all of this, I've put a number of my own personal but critical VO business moves on suspension. It's been a particularly busy Spring season in my OTHER job as a TV news anchor at the CBS affiliate in Las Vegas. I continue to audition, but I'm almost relieved at not having any major voicing projects on deadline right now. This is one of the few upsides of having a second sustaining job...I can take a VO pause, and it's been a good one for me.
Plowing ahead and being active as a freelancer keeps us in business...but this quiet and short suspension of full-bore immersion in voicing is giving me a wonderful pause to see some things more clearly.
I touched on this technique in that "Wall" article. Have you paused lately? I know, I know...it's tough... so many things are weighing heavily on you...responsibilities, urgencies pulling you this way and that.
But really...if you DIDN'T do all that TODAY...what would happen?...seriously. Would the pause be better?...or make it worse. Have you tried it lately?
First, most people honor, respect, and are even envious when you tell them you are taking "some time" for a critical re-evaluation.
Second, your spouse (and kids, if that applies) will LOVE you for it.
Third, (what is that saying?)Â "...an unexamined life is not worth living..."Like it or not, we Americans are Driven (notice the capital "D")...but driving without a clear destination is just spinning your wheels...and here comes that storm up ahead.
CourVO
- May 19, 12
Having grown up in white-bread middle-America in the 50's, I never imagined a future for this country that accepted anything else but English. I won't mince my words: I think it weakens our country to be bi-lingual. That sounds odd coming from me. I'm the son of a Swiss Immigrant, whose native tongue was French, and my mother spoke German in her Iowa farmland school and church through sixth grade.
But back then it wasn't cool to speak anything else but English. The elegant French pronunciation of my last name -- Americanized -- was: Kor-vuh-seer'. My father almost NEVER spoke French around the house. He wanted to be an "American"...and that meant speaking English.
That sentiment is apparently gone, now.
Having said that...and getting back to reality...there seems to be no turning back. And besides, the arrogant attitude in America of the 60's. 70's and 80's where the education system only gave lip service to learning foreign languages has hurt us all on the world stage.
So now, it seems cool to be able to hang out your voice-over shingle with the words: "BILINGUAL" or "Spanish AND English VO". I'd be jealous, but I'm having enough trouble enough accomplishing English. So is it likely in my late-50's that I'd be able to master a 2nd or 3rd language? I've always been great with pronunciations (you might be surprised how many broadcasters are NOT), but believably delivering copy in two languages seems daunting. There are so many Spanish dialects...French lilts...British acccents...American twangs. Where would I start?
IF you're a bi-lingual voice actor, I'm interested to know how you market yourself...whether it doubles your exposure, your opportunity, your income. Is it twice the headache? Do you have two rate-cards?
Please participate in my brief survey posted in the Voice-Over Friends FaceBook Group.
Or...feel free to react to THIS blog article in the comment section below. I'd like to know your thoughts.
CourVO
- May 18, 12
Time and time again I disavow being an expert on ANYTHING. I'm just uncomfortable with it. Maybe...maybe I'm an expert on me...and that's about it.
I prefer to say I'm a student. I'm certainly a student of life and people and relationships. I have been for 59 years now.
But when people call me a Social Media "expert" or "guru"... I just cringe. There are thousands of people whose knowledge of Social Networks FAR surpasses my meager skills, and I'm not even sure THEY'RE comfortable being called experts. People like Brian Solis and Robert Scoble and Chris Brogan.
I don't think my experience with New Media makes me even uniquely positioned to coach voice actors on FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn and so forth. The things you do to get clients as a freelance photographer, writer, plumber, or car salesman on social networks will work for you as a voice-actor too.
That is the lousiest build-up to a promotional announcement for an upcoming webinar I've ever seen. But at least you can say I'm honest.
Here's what I will tell you if you sign-up for my Edge Studio Social Media Webinar this Saturday:
- The over-arching mind-set you must have to create relationships, trust, and clients on Social Media.
- What and how and when to Tweet.
- Understanding FaceBook's ever-changing interface.
- Using LinkedIn's powerful search functions.
- Why you need to join groups on social media platforms.
- Video. Video. Video.
- Google Plus, and why you should care.
- What is Pinterest?
- Blogging successfully.
Just because I'm not an expert doesn't mean I won't talk A LOT about what I DO know. The above list of topics are but a framework for working through the broad, deep, and tall topic of Social Media. I'll fill in lots of blanks, and work from a PowerPoint presentation that will outline all my thoughts.
We'll leave plenty of time for questions and (hopefully) answers at the end. The whole thing is scheduled for Saturday, 5-19-12 9am PST / 10am Mountain / 11am Central / Noon Eastern. Again, you can see all the details and sign-up here: http://www.edgestudio.com/social-media-marketing-for-voice-over.
C Ya There!
CourVO
- May 16, 12
Fellow VO Social Media geeks Terry Daniel and Trish Basanyi several weeks ago resurrected their highly-successful VO podcast series, and renamed it "Voice Over Cafe".
I was lucky enough to be 3rd on their list of guests, and recorded with them the other day.
We talked a lot about World-Voices.org and the many issues surrounding it -- namely the need for, and the help we're getting in spades to establish a true VO Guild of voice actors and the standards we hope to be able to develop in technical criteria and codes of best practice for the voiceover community.
Here's the link to our podcasat:Â http://epodcastnetwork.com/voice-over-cafe-episode-3/
Trish and Terry are both my partners in a presentation on the topic of Social Media at VOICE2012 at Disneyland next month. We'll be covering an all-encompassing view of the top social networking platforms; what it takes to get noticed, and get jobs IN those networks.
Additionally, I'm hosting my own webinar on the topic of Social Media, Saturday 5/19/12 Noon PST for Edge Studio. Here's the link to sign-up: http://www.edgestudio.com/social-media-marketing-for-voice-over.
CourVO
- May 16, 12
Fellow VO Social Media geeks Terry Daniel and Trish Basanyi several weeks ago resurrected their highly-successful VO podcast series, and renamed it "Voice Over Cafe".
I was lucky enough to be 3rd on their list of guests, and recorded with them the other day.
We talked a lot about World-Voices.org and the many issues surrounding it -- namely the need for, and the help we're getting in spades to establish a true VO Guild of voice actors and the standards we hope to be able to develop in technical criteria and codes of best practice for the voiceover community.
Here's the link to our podcasat:Â http://epodcastnetwork.com/voice-over-cafe-episode-3/
Trish and Terry are both my partners in a presentation on the topic of Social Media at VOICE2012 at Disneyland next month. We'll be covering an all-encompassing view of the top social networking platforms; what it takes to get noticed, and get jobs IN those networks.
Additionally, I'm hosting my own webinar on the topic of Social Media, Saturday 5/19/12 Noon PST for Edge Studio. Here's the link to sign-up: http://www.edgestudio.com/social-media-marketing-for-voice-over.
- May 15, 12
You're there...standing right in front of it, and it appears immovable. There's no way around it, and no way over it.
Chances are you yourself have created the wall, so it's insidiously well-designed to foil any attempts to find a weakness. You know yourself to well.
It's the agent (or agents) who won't return a call. It's the E-Learning project director you can NEVER seem to get a hold of. It's the nagging crackle in your audio chain that intermittently screws up your recording. It's the newsletter that WON'T get written. It's the cold call you JUST. CAN'T. MAKE. It's the demo that never sounds right. It's the branding slogan you can't nail down....and on and on and on.
"The Wall" takes one of two or three forms:
1) A mental roadblock you've nurtured into a full-fledged fortress.
2) A procrastination that seems larger-than-life after weeks 'n' weeks.
3) A circumstance that befuddles you or is beyond your skill set.Tell me if I've forgotten something. Either way, the result is the same: arrested development, zero progress, stagnant growth.
It's time to punt. Everything you've tried (or haven't tried) isn't working. Be honest enough with yourself to admit it and take action (finally) to break the logjam.
Here are 5 suggested formulas to conquering your "wall".
1) Talk to a friend or even better...a mentor (or two). Talking through the issue helps. The conversation opens up ideas, offers encouragement, gets the juices flowing. It could be your friend or mentor has been there, and has a possible solution, or knows someone who does. You'd be surprised -- if nothing else -- how talking about it takes the power out of the quandary.
2) Break it down to smaller steps. Try for a couple of smaller "wins" first, then build on it. Make your list of the most elementary incremental advances, then revel in crossing each one off with a big thick felt-tip marker.
3) Turn the issue upside down or work backwards. Imagine what you're doing or able to do now that your roadblock is GONE. See all the potentials and developments that came from it. Or what is the very last step you would take BEFORE climbing the wall..then what's the step before THAT...and so forth, until you arrive at the place where you are today. Now...do you see the way?
4) Go out and play. See a hilarious movie. Take an old friend out, and crack open some old stories. Read a short book. Break the cycle. Hit the period on your keyboard. Strike out in a new direction entirely for a day. Take a drive. Divert your thoughts from the issue for an hour, a day, a week...refuse to think about it. Then come back around and try again.
5) Service. Nothing breaks your pity-pot more than doing something for someone else. No other action resets your gauges better than offering a humble, free, pro-bono service to somebody, anybody who can use a hand or a boost. When you take your mind off your own troubles, and focus on helping someone else, it's cathartic.
Honorable mention: Walls are bridges. As trite as it sounds, conquering the wall puts another feather in your cap, adds another tool to your toolkit, and makes you a stronger person. When you "cross over" that wall, it becomes the path to a new you, and a better you for having seen it through. Bravo!
A couple of caveats: There may not be an answer. It may have nothing to do with you and what you did or didn't do. Sometimes you have to realize you've been banging your head against the wall for too long, and then you have to accept that your own stubbornness is getting in the way of your progress, not the wall. The wall can be there to tell you you've reached a limit...and realizing your limits is not a bad thing...like pulling your head out of the sand.
What have I missed? What's worked for you? Got a quick anecdote you can share?
CourVO
The following sites helped me focus on the solutions I've written above:
http://www.workshifting.com/2009/08/when-you-hit-the-wall.html
http://www.empowernetwork.com/osmanamg/blog/what-do-you-do-when-you-hit-the-wall/
http://blog.chron.com/careerrescue/2011/09/when-you-hit-the-wall-its-time-for-a-change/
http://joelrunyon.com/two3/what-to-do-when-you-hit-a-wall
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Tweets
- Great VO Blog content...now on your Android Smartphone by CourVO. get the app now: http://t.co/ziBOJs2V #VO #voiceover
- Latest curated Voice Over info gleaned from the web by Dave Courvoisier on Scoop.it http://t.co/wOYGFd2i #VO #voiceover
- Get the best VO Blog on your smartphone. CourVO's Voice-Acting in Vegas app for iPhone: http://t.co/ausbRjhO #VO #voiceover
- Southern Nevada winds are the talking point today...that's part of what News Anchor Dave Courvoisier mentions in this… https://t.co/PJ3tP7Q0
- I uploaded a @YouTube video http://t.co/k8CfOLee High Winds, Teen Town Hall Meeting, North Las Vegas jail, Me
- The latest VO articles gleaned from the web and curated by Dave Courvoisier on Scoop.it. http://t.co/dYApUn6R #VO #voiceover
- On-Cam tips from a 30-yr veteran: http://t.co/HH3MnhQG
- Daily original blog content on Voice Acting by Dave Courvoisier on http://t.co/yxLlqbYA #VO #voiceover
- Supporting the end of ur sentence from Nancy Wolfson #vo #voiceoverhttp://www.courvo.biz/2012/05/like-driving-off-a-cliff.html
- See the latest stuff on Voiceovers curated off the web by CourVO on Scoop.it http://t.co/wOYGFd2i
- Take the best VO blog with you on your Android Smartphone, CourVO's Voice-Acting in Vegas: http://t.co/ziBOJs2V #VO #voiceover
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Info
- VoiceOver Talent / Media, On-Camera, & Information SpecialistPerforming Arts | Las Vegas, Nevada Area, USSummaryEmmy-Award-Winning TV Broadcaster
30 years radio and TV on-air
Committed to plight of Foster Children, and adoptable children
Supporter of Father Flanagan's original Boys Town and Big Brothers Big Sisters
Committed Christian
Father of 3 daughters
Hope to realize my dream of becoming a full time voice-over professionalSpecialties: On-Camera expertise, writing, editing, composing, voice-overs, character voices, dialects, web-authoring, video production, genuine creative excellenceExperience- Nov 2005 - PresentVoice Talent/Freelancer / CourVO.comSingle-owner and talent of Voice-Acting/Voice-over Talent services
- Jun 2003 - PresentWeekly Evening News Anchor / KLAS-TV (CBS) Las Vegas, NVAnchor half-hour newscasts Monday thru Friday at 4:30, 5:00, and 11:00pm on CBS-affiliated TV station in Las Vegas, NV
- May 1998 - May 2003News Anchor / KFVS-TV, Cape Girardeau, MONews Anchor/Reporter
- 1985 - 1998News Anchor / KVBC-TV (NBC) Las Vegas, NVweekly evening news anchor
Education-
1970 - 1977University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's of Science in Education
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1966 - 1970Greenville High SchoolHS Diploma
Additional Information-
Websites:
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Honors:2006 Emmy SW Pacific Region from Academy of Radio and Television Arts Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame Boys Town Spirit of Youth Award Big Brothers Big Sisters "Wed's Child" Reporter of the Year Woman in Communications: Southern Nevada Anchor of the Year 1991 through 1997 "Best TV Anchor" Las Vegas Review Journal National Adoption Exchange, Best "Wed's Child" Reporter City of Hope, National Honoree 1996 (more, on request)
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Interests:computers, racquetball, being a father, Men's Christian Ministries, Christian Media Ministries
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Uploads
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Posts
- Conference Heavy
There’s no one to blame but me.
I’ve over-conferenced myself. If I go to FaffCon in Charlotte this fall (I know, I know…it’s an UN-conference)…that’ll be 5 VO conferences in less than a year’s time, and that’s not counting my MasterMind meetings and other conference calls.
This will NOT happen again.
Don’t get me wrong. Each and every one of these events is worthwhile. I learn stuff. I meet people. I “network”. But one can get conferenced out.
In the next few weeks, I’ll be at APAC/BEA, then VOICE2012.
The real key is what you do with all you learn, and who you meet AFTER you get home.
I’ve got my own thoughts about this, and they’re closely aligned with a very cogently-written article by Deborah Shane. It’s called:
8 Steps To Converting Connections After A Conference.I highly recommend you bookmark this link and give it a look before and after you attend ANY conference. Well worth it!
CourVO
- Splitting the Difference
Can you be “kind of” a voice actor?
If you work in some other profession, but your heart, and your passion and your energy are in VO…are you a half-breed?…a hybrid?
Could someone raise the question of legitimacy or dedication to the profession if you were not able to give-over your productivity to voice-overs full time?
Forgetting for a moment, the practical reality of why any crazy person would choose to lead a schizophrenic life like that (budget needs, spousal pressure, etc), couldn’t such a person still aspire to being characterized as a voice-actor?
WE’RE NOT ALONE
Of course I ask these questions because this is me. And of course I ask these questions ‘cause after these many years toiling away in VO-land, I know of hundreds (thousands?) of others who live and work in this quandary.
It raises the question of whether there are two or more discernible voice over worlds:
1) The person who spends all their working hours fully engaged in the many endeavours that result in running a successful voice over business as their main source of income.
2) The person who spends as many working hours as possible fully engaged in the many endeavours that result in running a successful voice over business…but it’s not their main source of income.GETTING TO THE ROOT
The schism raises even more questions about things like career risk, personal fortitude, self-esteem and motivation.
Why would I NOT work full-time in voice-over so I COULD make it my main source of income? No guts? ‘Can’t handle the uncertainty? Not ready for “the leap”?
Are there those who admit they will never be full-time VO’s?…who use it as a supplement and can’t see it being their only work?…or are the majority convinced that eventually, it’ll be their main profession?
What about guys like Rob Sciglimpaglia and Derek Chappell — successful attorneys who are working pell-mell to achieve a full-time acting career? I met an MD at the last NYC mixer who had similar goals.
R U A PRIDEFUL FULL-TIMER?
If that happens…when that happens for any of us “hybrids”… will we then feel ownership to the point of snobbery?…is that what full-time voice-actors feel? No, I mean I wouldn’t hold it against a full-timer if they felt a certain pride in that. YOU are the people who took the leap, who managed the risk, who balance your freelance checkbook masterfully, who wear eight creative and marketing hats successfully.
Actually, I’m thinking of writing a book about this. Would there be interest? A guide, of sorts, how NOT to go crazy pleasing two masters. How to hold on to your dream, but still pay your bills. A primer in living your passion but also accepting the mediocrity of falling short of your goals. ‘Some lessons learned in managing two worlds and still hold on to your sanity.
Whadya think?
CourVO
- Like Driving Off a Cliff...
…when you get to the end of your spoken sentence….without enough steam
Obvious? Apparently not, ‘cause we’ve all done an injustice to it. C’mon…admit it.
Nancy Wolfson’s 11th video tip in a straight series of 13 weeekly video ckips seen here on the old blogeroo makes it clear: Support the end of your Sentence.
Although each of these tips stand alone and stand strong, these tips are just “teasers” for the real series of 127 total gems of advice from Wolfson called HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE.
A few of these vignettes have been involved…lasting several minutes. Not today’s. It’s short and sweet. Just watch:
[quicktime]http://braintracksaudio.com/soundreal/11_support_sentence.mov[/quicktime]
You can also see the video here: http://www.braintracksaudio.com/soundreal/11.html
Ad copy is such a genre all its own. That’s why Wolfson’s over-arching thesis is “Acting for Advertising”. In her many roles in this business, Wolfson has gleaned a savvy and shrewd spot-on perspective of the psychology of writing, listening, watching, and delivering ad copy. Your VO career is not complete without offering your tithes at the altar of the tribe of Wolfson. Ask any of her former students (raises hand). When you’re done with a Acting for Advertising session, you’re sweating, but exhilerated to have reached new heights.
HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE is as close as you’re going to come to the authentic Wolfson sessions, at a fraction of the price.
Be sure to check out her offer. I think you’ll find it well worth the asking price.
Next week: Improve Acting with Onomatopoeia (woohoo…should be good!)
CourVO
- WOVO Docs Revised
World-Voices organization has been working diligently in the background to put down for the record, for all to see, what we believe are some bottom-line standards for codes of conduct.; not only for voice-actors, but for producers and voice coaches.
For the last 3 weeks or more, we’ve been actively soliciting feedback, comments, suggestions and help. The response was extremely encouraging. Many offered to help. Others sent in their thoughts. There was a lot of back ‘n’ forth…writing and re-writing…emails and phone calls.
Just over the weekend, we arrived at a point where we think the wording is VERY close to final. We’re still seeking final suggestions, and would welcome yours, as we want WOVO to be transparent, and a community-participation guild.
Would you consider reading these docs and telling us what you think?
You can find them on the temporary WOVO site.
The docs are also embedded here:
WOVO By-Laws: BYLAWSWORLDVOICES051812.doc
Suggested Codes of Conduct for Voice Talent: CodeofConductVoiceTalentCPM051312.doc
Suggested Codes of Conduct for Producers: BestPracticesProducers051812.doc
Suggested Codes of Conduct for Coaches: BestPracticesCoaches051812.docYou can reach the members of the WOVO executie board at: info@world-voices.org.
CourVO
- CC Was Here!
Sooner or later, most everyone makes it to Las Vegas.
Take Carolyn (CC) Petersen for example. Oddly enough, here’s a voice-over professional who travels around the world (just got back from Germany), but had never been to Vegas.
What drew her and her husband Mark to the desert Southwest? A solar eclipse. They viewed it Sunday evening from an optimal place in Southern Utah: Zion National Park.
CC is deeply involved in science presentations, especially astronomical ones. Sheesh, her and Mark have a mini-planetarium in their basement! She contracts out with the Smithsonian and does celestial presentations for tourists on cruise ships as they ply the waters of…well…everywhere there are oceans.
Not a bad gig, huh? And you thought voice-overs were limited to commercials, e-learning and radio imaging!
I thoroughly enjoyed their visit over vittles at the Peppermill in Las Vegas after my late news. Thanks CC!
CourVO
- Using the Calm Before the Storm
When life is: “How much can I pack in 24 hours each day”…it’s not good.
Blessedly, I’m in a bit of a lull…a breather…and a welcome one, ‘cause when June hits, it hits hard.
APAC/BEA/Audies is in a couple of weeks in NYC, then VOICE2012 in Disneyland right after that.
I just finished a webinar for Edge Studio over the weekend on the topic of Social Media…I’m preparing to redo my commercial demo with the inimitable Dave DeAndrea. John Florian just published an article I wrote (you first saw here) on hitting your wall. I’m also working closely with Trish Basanyi and Terry Daniel, these days, to finish-up our Social Media seminar in June at VOICE.
During all of this, I’ve put a number of my own personal but critical VO business moves on suspension. It’s been a particularly busy Spring season in my OTHER job as a TV news anchor at the CBS affiliate in Las Vegas. I continue to audition, but I’m almost relieved at not having any major voicing projects on deadline right now. This is one of the few upsides of having a second sustaining job…I can take a VO pause, and it’s been a good one for me.
Plowing ahead and being active as a freelancer keeps us in business…but this quiet and short suspension of full-bore immersion in voicing is giving me a wonderful pause to see some things more clearly.
I touched on this technique in that “Wall” article. Have you paused lately? I know, I know…it’s tough… so many things are weighing heavily on you…responsibilities, urgencies pulling you this way and that.
But really…if you DIDN’T do all that TODAY…what would happen?…seriously. Would the pause be better?…or make it worse. Have you tried it lately?
First, most people honor, respect, and are even envious when you tell them you are taking “some time” for a critical re-evaluation.
Second, your spouse (and kids, if that applies) will LOVE you for it.
Third, (what is that saying?) “…an unexamined life is not worth living…”Like it or not, we Americans are Driven (notice the capital “D”)…but driving without a clear destination is just spinning your wheels…and here comes that storm up ahead.
CourVO
- Bi-Linguage
Having grown up in white-bread middle-America in the 50’s, I never imagined a future for this country that accepted anything else but English. I won’t mince my words: I think it weakens our country to be bi-lingual. That sounds odd coming from me. I’m the son of a Swiss Immigrant, whose native tongue was French, and my mother spoke German in her Iowa farmland school and church through sixth grade.
But back then it wasn’t cool to speak anything else but English. The elegant French pronunciation of my last name — Americanized — was: Kor-vuh-seer’. My father almost NEVER spoke French around the house. He wanted to be an “American”…and that meant speaking English.
That sentiment is apparently gone, now.
Having said that…and getting back to reality…there seems to be no turning back. And besides, the arrogant attitude in America of the 60’s. 70’s and 80’s where the education system only gave lip service to learning foreign languages has hurt us all on the world stage.
So now, it seems cool to be able to hang out your voice-over shingle with the words: “BILINGUAL” or “Spanish AND English VO”. I’d be jealous, but I’m having enough trouble enough accomplishing English. So is it likely in my late-50’s that I’d be able to master a 2nd or 3rd language? I’ve always been great with pronunciations (you might be surprised how many broadcasters are NOT), but believably delivering copy in two languages seems daunting. There are so many Spanish dialects…French lilts…British acccents…American twangs. Where would I start?
IF you’re a bi-lingual voice actor, I’m interested to know how you market yourself…whether it doubles your exposure, your opportunity, your income. Is it twice the headache? Do you have two rate-cards?
Please participate in my brief survey posted in the Voice-Over Friends FaceBook Group.
Or…feel free to react to THIS blog article in the comment section below. I’d like to know your thoughts.
CourVO
- On The Edge
Time and time again I disavow being an expert on ANYTHING. I’m just uncomfortable with it. Maybe…maybe I’m an expert on me…and that’s about it.
I prefer to say I’m a student. I’m certainly a student of life and people and relationships. I have been for 59 years now.
But when people call me a Social Media “expert” or “guru”… I just cringe. There are thousands of people whose knowledge of Social Networks FAR surpasses my meager skills, and I’m not even sure THEY’RE comfortable being called experts. People like Brian Solis and Robert Scoble and Chris Brogan.
I don’t think my experience with New Media makes me even uniquely positioned to coach voice actors on FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn and so forth. The things you do to get clients as a freelance photographer, writer, plumber, or car salesman on social networks will work for you as a voice-actor too.
That is the lousiest build-up to a promotional announcement for an upcoming webinar I’ve ever seen. But at least you can say I’m honest.
Here’s what I will tell you if you sign-up for my Edge Studio Social Media Webinar this Saturday:
- The over-arching mind-set you must have to create relationships, trust, and clients on Social Media.
- What and how and when to Tweet.
- Understanding FaceBook’s ever-changing interface.
- Using LinkedIn’s powerful search functions.
- Why you need to join groups on social media platforms.
- Video. Video. Video.
- Google Plus, and why you should care.
- What is Pinterest?
- Blogging successfully.
Just because I’m not an expert doesn’t mean I won’t talk A LOT about what I DO know. The above list of topics are but a framework for working through the broad, deep, and tall topic of Social Media. I’ll fill in lots of blanks, and work from a PowerPoint presentation that will outline all my thoughts.
We’ll leave plenty of time for questions and (hopefully) answers at the end. The whole thing is scheduled for Saturday, 5-19-12 9am PST / 10am Mountain / 11am Central / Noon Eastern. Again, you can see all the details and sign-up here: http://www.edgestudio.com/social-media-marketing-for-voice-over.
C Ya There!
CourVO
- Coffee with CourVO
Fellow VO Social Media geeks Terry Daniel and Trish Basanyi several weeks ago resurrected their highly-successful VO podcast series, and renamed it “Voice Over Cafe”.
I was lucky enough to be 3rd on their list of guests, and recorded with them the other day.
We talked a lot about World-Voices.org and the many issues surrounding it — namely the need for, and the help we’re getting in spades to establish a true VO Guild of voice actors and the standards we hope to be able to develop in technical criteria and codes of best practice for the voiceover community.
Here’s the link to our podcasat: http://epodcastnetwork.com/voice-over-cafe-episode-3/
Trish and Terry are both my partners in a presentation on the topic of Social Media at VOICE2012 at Disneyland next month. We’ll be covering an all-encompassing view of the top social networking platforms; what it takes to get noticed, and get jobs IN those networks.
Additionally, I’m hosting my own webinar on the topic of Social Media, Saturday 5/19/12 Noon PST for Edge Studio. Here’s the link to sign-up: http://www.edgestudio.com/social-media-marketing-for-voice-over.
CourVO
- "Let Your Words Glide"
That’s a quote straight from VO Coach and producer Nancy Wolfson in this, her 10th mini-video lesson of our weekly series.
The comment deserves some context, for sure, and Wolfson’s remarks are designed for the female voice actors having an issue with relaxing the voice…letting go of the tension, and luxuriating into the emotive words present in the copy. Remember last week, we addressed the same issue with the guys in HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE.
When you watch these videos, it’s so easy as the observer to think: “I totally get what she’s saying…I could do that…lemmee up there!” —or— “Why can’t Xxxxx get that?…it’s so easy!”
Just remember, the subjects in these videos are ON THE STAGE with the awesome Nancy Wolfson, and standing in front of a roomful of peers all ostensibly better than you. Most voice-actors would HATE that setting. In this case, the subject is VO Talent Mo Holland, and she totally nails the copy in the final take. Just watch:
[quicktime]http://braintracksaudio.com/soundreal/10_lie_down_women.mov[/quicktime]
You can also watch this video from the site: http://www.braintracksaudio.com/soundreal/10.html
OK, now back to the context from whence the Wolfson remark came: “let your words glide”. I’m no Vince Lombardi of voice coaches like Wolfson, but I AM a graduate of her World-Cup Series Olympic-Scale VO Obstacle Course, and I’m sure she’d say the answer to your questions about delivering ANY copy come from the words themselves.
TV or Radio copy? That’s the first consideration. Then: are the words evocative?…telling?…descriptive? In this case yes YES YES. So use them to your advantage. (Holland made it happen in the final).
We’re in the last few weeks of this 13-part series, but the fun doesn’t have to end. Â Wolfson is making available the entire 127-tip motherlode video for a price that is far below its worth in my estimation. Â Check out the site: Â HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALEÂ for the details.
Next week: Support the End of Your Sentence.
CourVO
- 5 Ways to Conquer "The Wall"
You’re there…standing right in front of it, and it appears immovable. There’s no way around it, and no way over it.
Chances are you yourself have created the wall, so it’s insidiously well-designed to foil any attempts to find a weakness. You know yourself to well.
It’s the agent (or agents) who won’t return a call. It’s the E-Learning project director you can NEVER seem to get a hold of. It’s the nagging crackle in your audio chain that intermittently screws up your recording. It’s the newsletter that WON’T get written. It’s the cold call you JUST. CAN’T. MAKE. It’s the demo that never sounds right. It’s the branding slogan you can’t nail down….and on and on and on.
“The Wall” takes one of two or three forms:
1) A mental roadblock you’ve nurtured into a full-fledged fortress.
2) A procrastination that seems larger-than-life after weeks ‘n’ weeks.
3) A circumstance that befuddles you or is beyond your skill set.Tell me if I’ve forgotten something. Either way, the result is the same: arrested development, zero progress, stagnant growth.
It’s time to punt. Everything you’ve tried (or haven’t tried) isn’t working. Be honest enough with yourself to admit it and take action (finally) to break the logjam.
Here are 5 suggested formulas to conquering your “wall”.
1) Talk to a friend or even better…a mentor (or two). Talking through the issue helps. The conversation opens up ideas, offers encouragement, gets the juices flowing. It could be your friend or mentor has been there, and has a possible solution, or knows someone who does. You’d be surprised — if nothing else — how talking about it takes the power out of the quandary.
2) Break it down to smaller steps. Try for a couple of smaller “wins” first, then build on it. Make your list of the most elementary incremental advances, then revel in crossing each one off with a big thick felt-tip marker.
3) Turn the issue upside down or work backwards. Imagine what you’re doing or able to do now that your roadblock is GONE. See all the potentials and developments that came from it. Or what is the very last step you would take BEFORE climbing the wall..then what’s the step before THAT…and so forth, until you arrive at the place where you are today. Now…do you see the way?
4) Go out and play. See a hilarious movie. Take an old friend out, and crack open some old stories. Read a short book. Break the cycle. Hit the period on your keyboard. Strike out in a new direction entirely for a day. Take a drive. Divert your thoughts from the issue for an hour, a day, a week…refuse to think about it. Then come back around and try again.
5) Service. Nothing breaks your pity-pot more than doing something for someone else. No other action resets your gauges better than offering a humble, free, pro-bono service to somebody, anybody who can use a hand or a boost. When you take your mind off your own troubles, and focus on helping someone else, it’s cathartic.
Honorable mention: Walls are bridges. As trite as it sounds, conquering the wall puts another feather in your cap, adds another tool to your toolkit, and makes you a stronger person. When you “cross over” that wall, it becomes the path to a new you, and a better you for having seen it through. Bravo!
A couple of caveats: There may not be an answer. It may have nothing to do with you and what you did or didn’t do. Sometimes you have to realize you’ve been banging your head against the wall for too long, and then you have to accept that your own stubbornness is getting in the way of your progress, not the wall. The wall can be there to tell you you’ve reached a limit…and realizing your limits is not a bad thing…like pulling your head out of the sand.
What have I missed? What’s worked for you? Got a quick anecdote you can share?
CourVO
The following sites helped me focus on the solutions I’ve written above:
http://www.workshifting.com/2009/08/when-you-hit-the-wall.html
http://www.empowernetwork.com/osmanamg/blog/what-do-you-do-when-you-hit-the-wall/
http://blog.chron.com/careerrescue/2011/09/when-you-hit-the-wall-its-time-for-a-change/
http://joelrunyon.com/two3/what-to-do-when-you-hit-a-wall - Be A Cubby Fan (no baseball required)
Like the weather, there is a never-ending supply of clouds in the online universe.
These are things that I catch on my radar, ‘cause they help me access the files, docs, pics, and demos I need from wherever I am, regardless the location of the computer where the native file resides.
You’re on the road visiting your wife’s Aunt Gladys for the weekend, and you get a request from a client to re-send that file you just finished before you hit the road. With cloud file access, this is a cinch.
I’ve blogged about this several times. Her’s one: BE PART OF THE CLOUD CROWD. This topic continues to generate interest from people who’ve found other useful solutions, too.
DropBox has got to be one of the most prolific players in this realm. It’s brainless. Easy to install and set-up, inexpensive, and seamless in sharing.
Now, though, Cubby arrives on the scene with a beta product much like DropBox but with one important distinction: Like many other online cloud syncing services, you still get the 5GB storage with the free account, but you can sync an unlimited amount of data between your computers.
Here’s a great article about Cubby’s functionality. As you can see by the logo I’ve included, though, Cubby is in Beta, and you have to ask for an invite by providing your email address and then confirming when you get the notice.
Cubby is from the same developers who make the remote desktop service LogMeIn…also a great solution for not only accessing your remote files, but virtually manipulating your remote computer’s desktop.
Have you recently found another cloud-file-access or remote-control desktop solution? Please add it in the comments below.
CourVO
- Free Software!!
There’s a ton of it out on the internet, and some of it is very good, stable, feature-rich, and virus-free (think Audacity).
But OhEmGeee there are SO many scams out there associated with software downloads.
Still, two top sites consistently shine in offering indexed, categorized, and updated software downloads guaranteed to be virus-free (well, as much as they CAN guarantee…I’d say 99%).
ZDNet and Cnet are the two.
OK, pipe down you IT pros! Maybe you DO know everything there is to know about software downloads, but don’t spoil it for the rest of us. You’ll have a chance to make your suggestions below in a second.
Here’s the link to the ZDNet download page: http://downloads.zdnet.com/?tag=header;header-pri
And here’s the link to the CNet download page: http://download.cnet.com/windows/?tag=hdr;brandnav
Both offer “most popular”, “newest”, and “most downloaded” “Editor’s Choice”, etc. lists…plus their software vault is searchable by terms. Seriously, these lists and software banks have some great stuff, and are worth a look for simple solutions to some of your voice-over tech issues.
Now, what’d I miss? Do you have a favorite software download site that outshines or equals these two?
Please! Let’s hear! I look forward to your suggestions!
CourVO
- Certificreditation
Forget Keynesian Economics, I’ve discovered TimeSuckian Certificreditational Standards.
Ever since the newly-formed World-Voices Organization proferred it’s suggested Rules for Best Practice for Voice-Actors, Coaches, and producers…the emails and phone calls have been pouring in.
The response has been 98% positive, constructive, and contributory. Incisive, probing questions are being asked. A healthy debate is ongoing. Early documents are being re-written. Fundamental philosophical tenets are being challenged and weighed.
WHITHER CERTIFICATION?
But wait a minute… isn’t it true that certification really only passes those who are good at mastering the certification test? You get what you measure for. The real issue of A subjective appraisal system is not system’s subjectivity but the lack of trust between talent and client.
Why, then, is the interest level in World-Voices.org so off-the-charts? Could it be that voice actors are suffering an identify crisis, and still yearn for the legitimacy that comes with certified teachers, accountants, welders, nurses, social workers, and truck drivers?
An example: I’ve always been painfully aware that any list of accredited professions does NOT include Journalism, and now those who call themselves professional journalists find themselves having to constantly defend, define, and deflect questions about their standards. Are Bloggers journalists? Is Julian Assange (WikiLeaks) a journalist? Do I qualify for claiming the title journalist after 30 years in broadcast TV news? I’ve never taken a journalism course in my life, and graduated with a degree in something totally different. Yes, I think journalism could use Certificreditation.
Here’s a link to an organization offering to certify you in Social Media! Who set THEM up as experts?
ADVANTAGES OF CERTIFICATION
I’ve found the following list useful. I gleaned it from Credentialing Talk.
THE VALUE OF CERTIFICATION:
For the sponsoring organization:
Standardized practice and/or standards within an industry
Advances the specialty/field and increases cooperation between organizations in the same discipline
Provides means to establish and enforce an ethical code
Provides a means for an industry to self-regulateFor the certificants:
Recognition by a third party
Credibility
Enhances professional reputation
Personal accomplishment
Supports continued professional development
Demonstrates a high level of commitment to the field of practice
Demonstrates a certain level of knowledge and skill
Increases opportunities for career advancement and/or increased earnings
Increases and/or validates skills and knowledge
Meets employer or governmental requirementsFor employers:
Improved customer satisfaction
Increased safety (in applicable industries)
Increased competence level of employees
Used in making employment decisions
Provides professional development opportunities for employees
Ongoing enhancement of knowledge and skills
Increased confidence in employees abilities
Demonstrates employers commitment to competence
Provides compliance with industry regulation or government requirementsFor the public:
Helps in identifying qualified service providers
Increases confidence in service providers
Disciplinary process to follow in case of complaints
Makes you think, eh?If nothing else, all this talk of certifying the voice-over industry indicates a certain sophistication and maturation of our business. The talent unions (now just one union) failed to ever set much of a standard for voice actors, and yes, the marketplace certainly applies the rules of natural selection to those who enter, but can all this really be a bad thing?
CourVO
- You Can Do This Lying Down
For Nancy Wolfson’s 9th instructional mini-video in our weekly series, you get a real lesson in (men) learning to relax the voice.
This is one of the longest of the 13 video tips in the series: HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE. What I like about this and all of the Wolfson mini-video lessons is her ability to improvise on-the-spot to get the read she wants out of the unsuspecting VO volunteer.
Watch her as she brings out the best read…even if it means getting “down” to basics.
Here’s the video:
[quicktime]http://braintracksaudio.com/soundreal/9_lie_down_men.mov[/quicktime]
You can also see the video here: http://www.braintracksaudio.com/soundreal/9.htmlHonestly, you may not even have the space in your whisper room to do as Wolfson suggests for your audition, but to find that voice you need, it could be a useful technique. You’ve probably heard the phrase: “…if you keep doing the same thing, and getting the same result…then try something different…” Using that admonition within reason, you’ll find that Wolfson constantly challenges you to be smart in your approach to acting for advertising, but to also think outside the box when other techniques are not bringing desired results.
You could watch all 13 of these video vignettes and come out a much wiser voice-actor…or you could purchase the whole kit ‘n’ kaboodle, and be the Flash Gordon of voice actors. Your choice, but given the ridiculously inexpensive price-point for the 127 tips you get in Wolfson’s video, there are few things that meet the value you’re being offered here (well maybe a giant box of Junior Mints…but that’s another blog).
Give a look at the site:Â SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE for the complete offer.
Next week with Wolfson: Women: How to Relax Your Voice for Auditions.
CourVO
- Forget Cs5.5, Cs6.0 is in!
Scant months ago, Adobe touted the release of it’s newest iteration of Audition since 3.0 (which stood for years). I’ve barely cracked open my Cs5.5 packaging and now 6.0 is available.
Adobe recently adapted the software to OSX devices. Mac users tired of the over-kill of ProTools migrated to AA in number.
Despite a lingering perception on the part of some seasoned professionals that Adobe Audition is a clear tip-off that you’re an ex-radio jock…the Adobe DAW software has gained a significant niche in the marketplace, and user-groups (even FaceBook groups) and forums abound to help with tech support.
According to Adobe, “…Adobe® Audition® CS6 software offers high-performance, intuitive tools for audio editing, mixing, restoration, and effects. Powerful new features such as real-time clip stretching, automatic speech alignment, and control surface support help you deliver projects faster than ever…”
Adobe Auditon Cs6.0 is available for a free evaluation download.
Upgrade pricing from 3.0 on up is available. See Adobe’s site for more specs, offers, and links.
CourVO
- TwoFer Monday
Yeah, I know…it doesn’t exactly sound right, but on this first day of the work week, these two reminders:
ONE:
The Voices.com iPhone app is now available for free download and install. I first noticed it being in the App Store at 2am PST. There is no iPad app per se…but like all other iPhone apps, you can install and run it on your iPad too
I blogged about the Voices.com app Friday. Right from the installation and on through the log-in and use of the app, you’ll feel right at home with the branding look and feel of this app (that is, if you’re a subscriber). Voice seekers, too, will recognize the familiar navigation and feature elements of the web-based Voices.com. The interface is very intuitive, visually appealing, and a cinch to navigate. The Ciccarelli’s — as usual — have done their homework with the seamless marriage of content and technology here.
TWO:
We Sooooo take our physical speaking apparatus for granted, don’t we? We just expect the ole voice to BE there whenever we need it. That is, unless you’ve had allergies, or some laryngeal illness, or you yelled too hard for too long at your daughter’s soccer game. THEN you start to think maybe the vocal cords are NOT an endless resource.
The voice-box is an organ that deserves to be protected, nurtured, and methodically cared-for. Among her many other talents and abilities, VO coach Bettye Zoller is passionate about vocal health. There’s a helpful webinar on that tonite with Bettye, but first try taking this quick quiz on the topic: http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/article.htm?id=nmslirag.
Yeah, I didn’t get ‘em all either.
If you noticed at the bottom of that article, you’ll see this link to the VoiceOverXtra webinar on vocal health: Your Vocal Health
Learn Truths - Shatter Myths.This would be a worthwhile and affordable webinar to brush-up on the basics of vocal cord health, as she’ll be joined by a leading voice physician from the Dallas area for the session.
CourVO
- Voices.com App
One of THE most visible online voice over subscription services is about to launch its own smartphone app.
Voices.com’s David Ciccarelli is known for his business and technology acumen, and VO industry watchers had long suspected the P2P service would launch an app soon.
The mobile phone — or smartphone — is quickly becoming the go-to device for modern connected citizens who turn to it for news, social media, texting, video, pictures, recording voice, and, yes, finding clients. So this is a move that makes great business sense.
You can see a Preview of the Voices.com iPhone app here.
The app is due out for release Monday, May 7th.
You can also download the Voices.com iPhone app user guide, now available before Monday’s release.
The Voices.com app is certainly not the first app of this kind to hit the market that promises to match talent with voice-seekers.
On my short list of similar apps:
TalentPlease (my blog about Talent Please)
Rehearsal2 (my blog about Rehearsal)
Artist Grrowth (my blog about Artist Growth)
Doddle (my blog about Doddle)And I’d be nuts not to mention that I developed my own CourVO iPhone and Android app last October. You can find it here: IPHONE and ANDROID.
The CourVO app offers all my great blog info on-the-go for your smartphone.
CourVO
- How Social Media Leads to VO Jobs
In June, Terry Daniel, Trish Basanyi and I will be presenting on this very topic at VOICE2012 . That’s not all we’ll be talking about, of course, but that’s what everyone wants to know. “How do you work Twitter or FaceBook so that it leads to jobs?”
‘Get that question all the time.
I understand the quandary. It’s not a direct relationship. You can’t see the car up ahead. It’s through the tunnel or around the curve.
Basically, the thinking goes like this:
The Social Network connection leads to a conversation.
The conversation engenders familiarity.
The familiarity opens up a relationship.
The relationship breeds trust over time.
The trust prompts a job opportunity.It needs to be this way for it to be legitimate. And the job opportunity means you’ve done your homework, and you are ready to make the most of the opportunity when it arises. This is when you “close the sale” so to speak. But by then, you’re in the relationship, and both you and the other party are a known quantity, and there’s little stress or discomfort, so it’s not a hard close like a life insurance salesman on an awkward first-time call to your house. It’s more like the friend you’ve had over for dinner, and “Oh, by the way…you do voice work, right?…well, there’s something we need you for in our shop…”
The author of the blog DUCT TAPE MARKETING, John Jantsch, wrote an excellent article on this recently.
His flow goes like this:Â Know, Like, Trust, Try, Buy, Repeat and Refer.
Read more about it in his blog:Â The Incredibly Logical Way to Manage Customer Relationships.
He makes a lot of sense.
You coming to VOICE2012? ‘Hope so!
CourVO
- Rume for Volume
So many of us got into this crazy business of voice-acting from the crazy business of radio. Hey, we’ve been cutting spots for the clients every day in our radio jobs…surely there’s better money in this when you’re working for yourself, right?
There are so many things fundamentally wrong with that approach to VO that it’s beyond the scope of this blog, but in Nancy Wolfson’s 8th tip in our mini-video series: HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE, you’ll find that some of the powerful voice techniques you brought to those radio spots might actually have a place in your voice portfolio.
In “Make Room for Volume in Radio”, Wolfson’s admonitions are short ‘n’ sweet.
Just watch:
[quicktime]http://braintracksaudio.com/soundreal/8_make_room_volume.mov[/quicktime]
You can also watch from this link: http://www.braintracksaudio.com/soundreal/8.html
Now…I’m not going to draw this out to be more than it is, but Wolfson has the sublime talent of making a profound observation sound obvious without making YOU feel stoopid. In Wolfson’s approach to acting for advertising (totally different than acting for stage, screen, TV, or even HS musicals), you’d better get used to deciding in the first 3 seconds whether you’ve got a sheet of radio copy vs. TV copy in your hands. Once you’re decided on that…THEN you can move on to the 126 analytical tools she’ll be providing you in HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE.
You could make the argument that today’s tip is pretty obvious, and then assume you aren’t getting much from the entire Wolfson video offering, but you’d be wrong Bosco. Nancy Wolfson may not be the only VO coach in Rome, but in this arena, no one has trained the Gladiators better. I can’t imagine a better value for your dollar other than engaging Wolfson for her personal training. Get details on the whole video here: HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE.
Next week: Men: How to Relax Your Voice for an Audition
CourVO
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Posts
- May 25, 12
There’s no one to blame but me.
I’ve over-conferenced myself. If I go to FaffCon in Charlotte this fall (I know, I know…it’s an UN-conference)…that’ll be 5 VO conferences in less than a year’s time, and that’s not counting my MasterMind meetings and other conference calls.
This will NOT happen again.
Don’t get me wrong. Each and every one of these events is worthwhile. I learn stuff. I meet people. I “network”. But one can get conferenced out.
In the next few weeks, I’ll be at APAC/BEA, then VOICE2012.
The real key is what you do with all you learn, and who you meet AFTER you get home.
I’ve got my own thoughts about this, and they’re closely aligned with a very cogently-written article by Deborah Shane. It’s called:
8 Steps To Converting Connections After A Conference.I highly recommend you bookmark this link and give it a look before and after you attend ANY conference. Well worth it!
CourVO
- May 24, 12
Can you be “kind of” a voice actor?
If you work in some other profession, but your heart, and your passion and your energy are in VO…are you a half-breed?…a hybrid?
Could someone raise the question of legitimacy or dedication to the profession if you were not able to give-over your productivity to voice-overs full time?
Forgetting for a moment, the practical reality of why any crazy person would choose to lead a schizophrenic life like that (budget needs, spousal pressure, etc), couldn’t such a person still aspire to being characterized as a voice-actor?
WE’RE NOT ALONE
Of course I ask these questions because this is me. And of course I ask these questions ’cause after these many years toiling away in VO-land, I know of hundreds (thousands?) of others who live and work in this quandary.
It raises the question of whether there are two or more discernible voice over worlds:
1) The person who spends all their working hours fully engaged in the many endeavours that result in running a successful voice over business as their main source of income.
2) The person who spends as many working hours as possible fully engaged in the many endeavours that result in running a successful voice over business…but it’s not their main source of income.GETTING TO THE ROOT
The schism raises even more questions about things like career risk, personal fortitude, self-esteem and motivation.
Why would I NOT work full-time in voice-over so I COULD make it my main source of income? No guts? ‘Can’t handle the uncertainty? Not ready for “the leap”?
Are there those who admit they will never be full-time VO’s?…who use it as a supplement and can’t see it being their only work?…or are the majority convinced that eventually, it’ll be their main profession?
What about guys like Rob Sciglimpaglia and Derek Chappell — successful attorneys who are working pell-mell to achieve a full-time acting career? I met an MD at the last NYC mixer who had similar goals.
R U A PRIDEFUL FULL-TIMER?
If that happens…when that happens for any of us “hybrids”… will we then feel ownership to the point of snobbery?…is that what full-time voice-actors feel? No, I mean I wouldn’t hold it against a full-timer if they felt a certain pride in that. YOU are the people who took the leap, who managed the risk, who balance your freelance checkbook masterfully, who wear eight creative and marketing hats successfully.
Actually, I’m thinking of writing a book about this. Would there be interest? A guide, of sorts, how NOT to go crazy pleasing two masters. How to hold on to your dream, but still pay your bills. A primer in living your passion but also accepting the mediocrity of falling short of your goals. ‘Some lessons learned in managing two worlds and still hold on to your sanity.
Whadya think?
CourVO
- May 23, 12
…when you get to the end of your spoken sentence….without enough steam
Obvious? Apparently not, ’cause we’ve all done an injustice to it. C’mon…admit it.
Nancy Wolfson‘s 11th video tip in a straight series of 13 weeekly video ckips seen here on the old blogeroo makes it clear: Support the end of your Sentence.
Although each of these tips stand alone and stand strong, these tips are just “teasers” for the real series of 127 total gems of advice from Wolfson called HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE.
A few of these vignettes have been involved…lasting several minutes. Not today’s. It’s short and sweet. Just watch:
Click here to view the embedded video.
You can also see the video here: http://www.braintracksaudio.com/soundreal/11.html
Ad copy is such a genre all its own. That’s why Wolfson’s over-arching thesis is “Acting for Advertising”. In her many roles in this business, Wolfson has gleaned a savvy and shrewd spot-on perspective of the psychology of writing, listening, watching, and delivering ad copy. Your VO career is not complete without offering your tithes at the altar of the tribe of Wolfson. Ask any of her former students (raises hand). When you’re done with a Acting for Advertising session, you’re sweating, but exhilerated to have reached new heights.
HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE is as close as you’re going to come to the authentic Wolfson sessions, at a fraction of the price.
Be sure to check out her offer. I think you’ll find it well worth the asking price.
Next week: Improve Acting with Onomatopoeia (woohoo…should be good!)
CourVO
- May 22, 12
World-Voices organization has been working diligently in the background to put down for the record, for all to see, what we believe are some bottom-line standards for codes of conduct.; not only for voice-actors, but for producers and voice coaches.
For the last 3 weeks or more, we’ve been actively soliciting feedback, comments, suggestions and help. The response was extremely encouraging. Many offered to help. Others sent in their thoughts. There was a lot of back ‘n’ forth…writing and re-writing…emails and phone calls.
Just over the weekend, we arrived at a point where we think the wording is VERY close to final. We’re still seeking final suggestions, and would welcome yours, as we want WOVO to be transparent, and a community-participation guild.
Would you consider reading these docs and telling us what you think?
You can find them on the temporary WOVO site.
The docs are also embedded here:
WOVO By-Laws: BYLAWSWORLDVOICES051812.doc
Suggested Codes of Conduct for Voice Talent: CodeofConductVoiceTalentCPM051312.doc
Suggested Codes of Conduct for Producers: BestPracticesProducers051812.doc
Suggested Codes of Conduct for Coaches: BestPracticesCoaches051812.docYou can reach the members of the WOVO executie board at: info@world-voices.org.
CourVO
- May 22, 12
Sooner or later, most everyone makes it to Las Vegas.
Take Carolyn (CC) Petersen for example. Oddly enough, here’s a voice-over professional who travels around the world (just got back from Germany), but had never been to Vegas.
What drew her and her husband Mark to the desert Southwest? A solar eclipse. They viewed it Sunday evening from an optimal place in Southern Utah: Zion National Park.
CC is deeply involved in science presentations, especially astronomical ones. Sheesh, her and Mark have a mini-planetarium in their basement! She contracts out with the Smithsonian and does celestial presentations for tourists on cruise ships as they ply the waters of…well…everywhere there are oceans.
Not a bad gig, huh? And you thought voice-overs were limited to commercials, e-learning and radio imaging!
I thoroughly enjoyed their visit over vittles at the Peppermill in Las Vegas after my late news. Thanks CC!
CourVO
- May 21, 12
When life is: “How much can I pack in 24 hours each day”…it’s not good.
Blessedly, I’m in a bit of a lull…a breather…and a welcome one, ’cause when June hits, it hits hard.
APAC/BEA/Audies is in a couple of weeks in NYC, then VOICE2012 in Disneyland right after that.
I just finished a webinar for Edge Studio over the weekend on the topic of Social Media…I’m preparing to redo my commercial demo with the inimitable Dave DeAndrea. John Florian just published an article I wrote (you first saw here) on hitting your wall. I’m also working closely with Trish Basanyi and Terry Daniel, these days, to finish-up our Social Media seminar in June at VOICE.
During all of this, I’ve put a number of my own personal but critical VO business moves on suspension. It’s been a particularly busy Spring season in my OTHER job as a TV news anchor at the CBS affiliate in Las Vegas. I continue to audition, but I’m almost relieved at not having any major voicing projects on deadline right now. This is one of the few upsides of having a second sustaining job…I can take a VO pause, and it’s been a good one for me.
Plowing ahead and being active as a freelancer keeps us in business…but this quiet and short suspension of full-bore immersion in voicing is giving me a wonderful pause to see some things more clearly.
I touched on this technique in that “Wall” article. Have you paused lately? I know, I know…it’s tough… so many things are weighing heavily on you…responsibilities, urgencies pulling you this way and that.
But really…if you DIDN’T do all that TODAY…what would happen?…seriously. Would the pause be better?…or make it worse. Have you tried it lately?
First, most people honor, respect, and are even envious when you tell them you are taking “some time” for a critical re-evaluation.
Second, your spouse (and kids, if that applies) will LOVE you for it.
Third, (what is that saying?) “…an unexamined life is not worth living…”Like it or not, we Americans are Driven (notice the capital “D”)…but driving without a clear destination is just spinning your wheels…and here comes that storm up ahead.
CourVO
- May 18, 12
Having grown up in white-bread middle-America in the 50′s, I never imagined a future for this country that accepted anything else but English. I won’t mince my words: I think it weakens our country to be bi-lingual. That sounds odd coming from me. I’m the son of a Swiss Immigrant, whose native tongue was French, and my mother spoke German in her Iowa farmland school and church through sixth grade.
But back then it wasn’t cool to speak anything else but English. The elegant French pronunciation of my last name — Americanized — was: Kor-vuh-seer’. My father almost NEVER spoke French around the house. He wanted to be an “American”…and that meant speaking English.
That sentiment is apparently gone, now.
Having said that…and getting back to reality…there seems to be no turning back. And besides, the arrogant attitude in America of the 60′s. 70′s and 80′s where the education system only gave lip service to learning foreign languages has hurt us all on the world stage.
So now, it seems cool to be able to hang out your voice-over shingle with the words: “BILINGUAL” or “Spanish AND English VO”. I’d be jealous, but I’m having enough trouble enough accomplishing English. So is it likely in my late-50′s that I’d be able to master a 2nd or 3rd language? I’ve always been great with pronunciations (you might be surprised how many broadcasters are NOT), but believably delivering copy in two languages seems daunting. There are so many Spanish dialects…French lilts…British acccents…American twangs. Where would I start?
IF you’re a bi-lingual voice actor, I’m interested to know how you market yourself…whether it doubles your exposure, your opportunity, your income. Is it twice the headache? Do you have two rate-cards?
Please participate in my brief survey posted in the Voice-Over Friends FaceBook Group.
Or…feel free to react to THIS blog article in the comment section below. I’d like to know your thoughts.
CourVO
- May 17, 12
Time and time again I disavow being an expert on ANYTHING. I’m just uncomfortable with it. Maybe…maybe I’m an expert on me…and that’s about it.
I prefer to say I’m a student. I’m certainly a student of life and people and relationships. I have been for 59 years now.
But when people call me a Social Media “expert” or “guru”… I just cringe. There are thousands of people whose knowledge of Social Networks FAR surpasses my meager skills, and I’m not even sure THEY’RE comfortable being called experts. People like Brian Solis and Robert Scoble and Chris Brogan.
I don’t think my experience with New Media makes me even uniquely positioned to coach voice actors on FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn and so forth. The things you do to get clients as a freelance photographer, writer, plumber, or car salesman on social networks will work for you as a voice-actor too.
That is the lousiest build-up to a promotional announcement for an upcoming webinar I’ve ever seen. But at least you can say I’m honest.
Here’s what I will tell you if you sign-up for my Edge Studio Social Media Webinar this Saturday:
- The over-arching mind-set you must have to create relationships, trust, and clients on Social Media.
- What and how and when to Tweet.
- Understanding FaceBook’s ever-changing interface.
- Using LinkedIn’s powerful search functions.
- Why you need to join groups on social media platforms.
- Video. Video. Video.
- Google Plus, and why you should care.
- What is Pinterest?
- Blogging successfully.
Just because I’m not an expert doesn’t mean I won’t talk A LOT about what I DO know. The above list of topics are but a framework for working through the broad, deep, and tall topic of Social Media. I’ll fill in lots of blanks, and work from a PowerPoint presentation that will outline all my thoughts.
We’ll leave plenty of time for questions and (hopefully) answers at the end. The whole thing is scheduled for Saturday, 5-19-12 9am PST / 10am Mountain / 11am Central / Noon Eastern. Again, you can see all the details and sign-up here: http://www.edgestudio.com/social-media-marketing-for-voice-over.
C Ya There!
CourVO
- May 16, 12
Fellow VO Social Media geeks Terry Daniel and Trish Basanyi several weeks ago resurrected their highly-successful VO podcast series, and renamed it “Voice Over Cafe”.
I was lucky enough to be 3rd on their list of guests, and recorded with them the other day.
We talked a lot about World-Voices.org and the many issues surrounding it — namely the need for, and the help we’re getting in spades to establish a true VO Guild of voice actors and the standards we hope to be able to develop in technical criteria and codes of best practice for the voiceover community.
Here’s the link to our podcasat: http://epodcastnetwork.com/voice-over-cafe-episode-3/
Trish and Terry are both my partners in a presentation on the topic of Social Media at VOICE2012 at Disneyland next month. We’ll be covering an all-encompassing view of the top social networking platforms; what it takes to get noticed, and get jobs IN those networks.
Additionally, I’m hosting my own webinar on the topic of Social Media, Saturday 5/19/12 Noon PST for Edge Studio. Here’s the link to sign-up: http://www.edgestudio.com/social-media-marketing-for-voice-over.
CourVO
- May 16, 12
That’s a quote straight from VO Coach and producer Nancy Wolfson in this, her 10th mini-video lesson of our weekly series.
The comment deserves some context, for sure, and Wolfson’s remarks are designed for the female voice actors having an issue with relaxing the voice…letting go of the tension, and luxuriating into the emotive words present in the copy. Remember last week, we addressed the same issue with the guys in HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE.
When you watch these videos, it’s so easy as the observer to think: “I totally get what she’s saying…I could do that…lemmee up there!” –or– “Why can’t Xxxxx get that?…it’s so easy!”
Just remember, the subjects in these videos are ON THE STAGE with the awesome Nancy Wolfson, and standing in front of a roomful of peers all ostensibly better than you. Most voice-actors would HATE that setting. In this case, the subject is VO Talent Mo Holland, and she totally nails the copy in the final take. Just watch:
Click here to view the embedded video.
You can also watch this video from the site: http://www.braintracksaudio.com/soundreal/10.html
OK, now back to the context from whence the Wolfson remark came: “let your words glide”. I’m no Vince Lombardi of voice coaches like Wolfson, but I AM a graduate of her World-Cup Series Olympic-Scale VO Obstacle Course, and I’m sure she’d say the answer to your questions about delivering ANY copy come from the words themselves.
TV or Radio copy? That’s the first consideration. Then: are the words evocative?…telling?…descriptive? In this case yes YES YES. So use them to your advantage. (Holland made it happen in the final).
We’re in the last few weeks of this 13-part series, but the fun doesn’t have to end. Wolfson is making available the entire 127-tip motherlode video for a price that is far below its worth in my estimation. Check out the site: HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE for the details.
Next week: Support the End of Your Sentence.
CourVO
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Wall
- 'Planning a G+ Hang Out at 5pm PST from the Channel-8 studio, live, during the newscast on KLAS-TV (CBS) Las Vegas, NV. Wanna join in?
- News Anchor Dave Courvoisier summarizes planned stories for KLAS-TV, CBS for Las Vegas, NV, Channel-8, 8NewsNow for Friday, January 20, 2012
- SOPA STRIKE - Largest online protest in history - January 18 - blackout your site http://sopastrike.com/
- Good buy til the end of the month at Commercial Voices: http://ping.fm/rL7Hy #vo #voiceover
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Wall
- Nancy Wolfson talks about Ending the Sentence http://t.co/p95m69Qm #vo #voiceover
- The latest VO articles gleaned from the web and curated by Dave Courvoisier on Scoop.it. http://t.co/dYApUn6R #VO #voiceover
- On-Cam tips from a 30-yr veteran: http://t.co/HH3MnhQG
- LinkedIn Group for learning social media as a voice actor: http://t.co/L6seQqyz #VO #voiceover
- Daily original blog content on Voice Acting by Dave Courvoisier on http://t.co/yxLlqbYA #VO #voiceover
- Supporting the end of ur sentence from Nancy Wolfson #vo #voiceoverhttp://www.courvo.biz/2012/05/like-driving-off-a-cliff.html
- Find all about #VOICE2012 on the FB Group page: http://t.co/3qSvunVp #VO #voiceover
- See the latest stuff on Voiceovers curated off the web by CourVO on Scoop.it http://t.co/wOYGFd2i
- Take the best VO blog with you on your Android Smartphone, CourVO's Voice-Acting in Vegas: http://t.co/ziBOJs2V #VO #voiceover
- Best place for voice actors to network on FB: http://t.co/ADU7PjsK #VO #voiceover
- Learn Social Media as a Voice Actor with a new LinkedIn group: http://t.co/L6seQqyz #VO #Voiceover
- Voice Over's Blogger: Dave Courvoisier at Voice-Acting in Vegas: http://t.co/yxLlqbYA #VO #voiceover
- See what all the top VO's are doing. Best VO list on Twitter: http://t.co/vkgpHaHR #Vo #voiceover
- Blog article from Voice-Acting in Vegas Conference Heavy http://t.co/TRVxIsSP
- The latest info for voice actors gleaned from the web on Scoop.it. Curated by CourVO. http://t.co/wOYGFd2i #VO #voiceover
- How To Sound Real and Nail the Sale http://t.co/qXOuX6lz with Nancy Wolfson #vo #voiceover
- Make your on-cam vids instantly better. No strings. Free adice from a pro: http://t.co/HH3MnhQG
- Voted most influential VO blog in 2011: CourVO's Voice-Acting in Vegas. http://t.co/yxLlqbYA #VO #voiceover
- LinkedIn Group for learning social media as a voice actor: http://t.co/L6seQqyz #VO #voiceover
- Improve your personal videos immediately with these simple tips: http://t.co/HH3MnhQG
- Find all about #VOICE2012 on the FB Group page: http://t.co/3qSvunVp #VO #voiceover
- Learn the Secrets of How To Sound Real and Nail the Sale with Nancy Wolfson at http://t.co/qXOuX6lz #VO #voiceover
- Get CourVO's great VO blog content on your smartphone with the iPhone app for Voice-Acting in Vegas: http://t.co/ausbRjhO #VO #voiceover
- Voice Over mentions on Social Media curated by CourVO on Scoop.it http://t.co/wOYGFd2i #VO #voiceover
- See what all the top VO's are doing. Best VO list on Twitter: http://t.co/vkgpHaHR #Vo #voiceover
Voice Actor, TV News Anchorman (CBS, Las Vegas), father, tech-freak, blogger, Chevy SSR owner, addicted to Social Media. VoiceActing In Vegas Blog, My Commercial Demos, My AudioBook Demos TV Station Website: 8NewsNow.com
