Reality Vs Voice Over Reality It’s getting to the point where the popular conversational style of voiceover that we all love and know so well, is being perceived as too “announcer-y.” Maybe it’s that the voice seekers in general are getting too comfortable with this style of delivery or are running out of ideas on how to give both creative and effective direction.  Perhaps us talents are just taking it for granted, thinking no effort is required because the direction is straight-forward enough, thus easily missing the connection and the important questions behind each script. I feared this for while but it was only a matter of time before it would catch on.  It's no one’s fault really. Call it boredom on the part of casting professionals and producers to really listen intently during auditions instead of rushing. Or blame it on industry trends. Bad copywriting.  Indecisive clients. Over-abundance of the same type of voice. It could be a number of things.  And at the end of the day, it’s part of the job. At the rare in-person audition recently there have been moments where it took me multiple takes to actually become more conversational.  Well, the conversational that they wanted. I'm not bad at taking direction and I certainly don’t have a problem with hearing someone else’s perspective, as it is one of my strengths as a voice talent.  Also I understand the tendency to go to that not so pretty announcer place as I have many times in the past.  But I’m pretty adept at understanding a client’s needs and vision. I watch Netflix, Hulu and YouTube aka TV.  I listen to the radio still.  I do my homework and pay attention to the market trends. I even enjoy hearing other talents on the radio.  It keeps me sharp. Anyways, this said audition was for a household cleaning product and the script called for a tone that was light, genuine and, yes, conversational. “Like you’re talking to a friend” which is the default direction if a voice talent actually asks “What do you mean by ‘conversational’?” While Mr. Stanislavsky or Mr. Strasberg probably wouldn’t approve of my somewhat sugar-coated way of preparing for the role of ‘Narrator’, I do it anyway. It doesn’t take long before I’m working from within, emptying my soul onto the page and using my own dark past to fuel the material. Actually it’s more like identifying the Who, What, When, Where and Why.  Not rocket science.  But also not something anyone can do. Let’s take this example. Christian: Take 1. (Talking to mom in the kitchen on a Summer day one afternoon. She’s being pretty vigorous with cleaning.  She complains that Seventh Generation brand is, while better for the environment, not pleasant smelling enough.  So I assure her using Brand B might be better. It might just save her sanity.) Casting Director: "Ok even more conversational" Christian: Take 2. (Again talking to my mom in the kitchen on a Summer day.  She prefers using Seventh Generation brand but I really want her to try this new kind of bathroom cleaner because it smells nicer and is still good for the environment.  She’s hard to please. I know this. Mom, kindly get with the program.) Casting Director: "Ok even more conversational than that. Just throw it away" Christian: Take 3 (Once again talking to my mom in the kitchen on a Summer day.  She prefers using Seventh Generation brand but I really want her to try this new kind of bathroom cleaner because it smells nicer. She’s hard to please. I know this.  So I try to be a little more emphatic with her. Hey, Mom, I’m being nice to you now.) Casting Director: "Good. Better. But really, like, no effort at all. It’s not that you’re sounding too forced it’s just that we want to make sure we’re covered in case they think so.” The late Mr. Fontaine would have replied, “I’ll decide that.” But I’m not the Don. Christian: Take 4 (Once again, the same internal thought process aka point of view from above.  This is actually how I talk to my mom when we’re having a conversation- hence the term) Casting Director: "Beautiful. That's where we'll start. Now one with a little more smile." You get my point. Who Talks This Way? For the record, I don’t talk to anyone, let alone my mom, with a bright smile on my face, teeth glaring like the Joker in Arkham Asylum.  And I’m assuming you don’t either, fellow talent or fellow human being, unless of course you have some serious personality disorder! Nor do I talk to most people the way some finished spots end up sounding. They’re not all like this but in present day, tangible real life situations, it would come off as extremely creepy. And Stepford Husband-like. Nevertheless I began to wonder. Is conversational being taken for granted? Is the sound losing its luster like its “announcer” predecessor was a few years back? Maybe it’s causing many to fall into a comfort zone or, it's that we know, as talent, this is just the set-up to them settling on the hard sell in the recording session. Ah, good old voice over deception!  We forget: everything is subjective. We know we can’t not have a conversation with someone without placing emphasis on certain words over others. In reality, let’s say at a bar or coffee shop, we’re emphasizing the correct words so the other person can actually hear us over the commotion.  That may not include such a strong projection of the product name in the way the client wants to hear it or wants their audience to perceive it. But in voiceover reality, the producer is hearing a sound in their mind.  At auditions and bookings, it can be challenging to start off genuine and approachable, but then add in the seemingly disingenuous “cheese factor” on a product name and the read goes belly-up. Just so viewership and consumer buying power can increase revenue?   What if we said the product name with less of a smile?  From a talent’s perspective, we can’t just “throw it away” and you still want the Joker or Stepford Wife somewhere in there.  Be clearer. Pick a direction. Or go with someone else. A Balancing Act For us talents, it is most certainly a balancing act.  Come off as friendly and approachable enough and still show the same unparalleled exuberance for a product. To further illustrate my point, here’s an example of one of several national radio spots I recently booked for GEICO.  The way I recorded it at the session was almost exactly the same as my audition read.  Which is not always the case.  Obviously I’m emphasizing the product name more, yet this was one of those fun reads where the product objectives are clear, the copywriting is solid, the directors/client knew what they wanted the whole time.  (Oh and, thank you, John Lano!) However, other times it’s not so clear.  And this can be an on-going frustration that many voice actors, myself included, presently feel when either hired or auditioning.  Indeed it’s worth improving on.  And it certainly helps that a director knows how to actually direct or, rather, adjust you.  It is also assumed that 9 times out of 10 we're going to fall into some announcer trap at some point or another.   And when they don’t direct us more than once- does that mean we don’t have enough range or versatility?  That they’re already not interested? That’s beyond our control and we have a job to do. We’re the ones doing the talking.  And we know who we’re talking to.  But then again, we're not doing the listening. When we audition now we take risks within the framework of what is being asked.  We don’t stray too far but far enough to show range and put us in a favorable light. We “go for it” instead of abiding by the now lengthier than normal specs which show indecision rather than certainty. Some of us avoid the specs altogether for this very reason.  “I’m not a mind reader” as a fellow voice talent once said to me. So whenever I see conversational I think “Conversational-ish” because we all know that the final recording, if booked, will be different. And the reality is in this business, no one knows what they really want. Thank you for reading!  Comments?  Questions? #auditioning #voiceover #marketing #freelancer #conversational #directing #copywriter

7am- Wake up 715am- Drink water with lemon to flush the toxins and lube the pipes 730am- Prepare script notes for session, check emails 8am- Source-Connect Session with new client in Germany 830am- Edit and FTP Session 845am- Coffee Break...FINALLY! 9am-11am Auditions, Marketing, Cold Calls, Blogging, Read the News etc 12pm-130pm- Travel to Manhattan to record National TV Campaign 2pm- Lunch 3pm- Auditions at Talent Agency 4pm- Gym 6pm- Home for Dinner, Auditions, Emails, Record Pick-Ups 8pm- Take a stroll around the neighborhood 930pm- Zone out to a movie or funny YouTube videos 11pm- Bed. #voiceoverartist #schedule #motivation #voiceacting #entrepreneur #dreamjob

As voiceover people, when we're constantly in the land of almost, almost booking a voiceover job, almost getting signed with a major agent or manager, almost getting on an internet radio service's roster, almost getting invited to a BBQ. It can seem like a real headache. Believe it or not, there's room for optimism in these moments. In voiceover, almost booking or getting short-listed is sometimes better than actually booking.  Why?  Because it can mean any number of things. They really loved us but are going in a different direction. They're almost positive they'll have work for us down the line as we're now their 'preferred voice'. They want a more 'Promotional' Voice... We handled direction well in the booth, loved our take on the material, but the client is being difficult.... Wait, but none of the above is good right?  How does that HELP us? The bad news is obvious...we didn't get it.  So once you get off the phone with your agent, casting director or the producer who asked you to audition, move on.....or do what you must to find some release, whether it's jam out on the guitar, cry, meditate, throw a chair (although I don't recommend it), write, or get some exercise. Although harder to put into perspective, the good news here is also obvious-- none of these factors are within our control.  Nine times out of ten, it's probably nothing we did. Know that we did the job and, well, it didn't work out this time but it WILL next time! (let's hope) Here's another analogy.  Remember that brutal term paper or test you studied so hard for in high school? If you we were perfectionist, over-achievers, receiving that dreaded B+ or A- was unbearable.   That slight imperfection causes us to doubt ourselves at first, but slowly things come into perspective and, in a moment of rare adolescent clarity, we think  'Hey, I'm still gonna make Dean's List and it could be worse.' However, if you've heard any of the above reasons at one point in your career, then consider yourself lucky.  As voice talents, we aren't often afforded the luxury of knowing that we almost booked it, of getting feedback from an agent, producer or casting director.  If so, what a privilege to use to our advantage! On 90% of the auditions I either go out on or submit from home, I treat them all the same.  I don't ever pester my agents or a producer with "Hey, have you considered my audition I sent in last week? Just following up to see if there was any movement"  (Unless I have reason to).  If we can't wrap your head around the discipline of 'letting go', then we're in the wrong business.  Rejection is the name of the game and it happens all the time. It's how we use that to our advantage. A while ago I had come very close to booking five different commercials all at once, three of which came in at First Refusals.  The other two campaigns had brought in interest from a few producers but fizzled out.    It was a very exciting time and I was extremely fortunate and, perhaps, lucky.  I treated each audition the same and walked away dusting off any shred of doubt, looking forward with an open mind.   When I got the unfortunate news, I was bummed to say the least, especially since I had put my schedule on hold for a few days.  But then two weeks later, I got a surprise call from my agent.  One of the clients re-considered my previous audition and booked me for the national!  Quite a surprise and proof that...we never know!  However, whenever we find ourselves in a position of almost getting that gig, it's not the end of the world.  It simply means we're making progress.  As far as I see it, for those of the commercials I didn't land, my material is on their shelves and they know I exist.  Perhaps they'll come back to me again.  Maybe they won't ever. When One Door Shuts, Another One Opens I am of the thinking that if a person comes close to landing a desirable voice over gig, there's another opportunity somewhere around the corner....and somewhere nearby.  Of course one doesn't know for certain and a substantial amount of indecisiveness on the client side must be factored in, but I've found the odds are usually in our favor.  Trust me, it's Cloud 9 material. We can all agree that rejection takes a certain amount of fortitude and bravery.  Over the years it's caused me grow an impenetrable wall around my mind that prevents any toxic thoughts or negative energy from entering.  Well, most of the time.   When a potentially bigger than normal job comes my way, I look at it as an opportunity.  I see it as a privilege to be considered and that even if I don't book or the client changes directions, it's an honor to even be on their radar.   I smile, I sit back and glance at what I've already accomplished in such a short period of time.   Ego? Certainly not! Hubris? Ok maybe a I little. Yet the VO life certainly isn't always as glamorous as most imagine it to be.   It can be.  But the majority of the time it is anything but glamorous.  There amazing days and then not so amazing ones.  As voice talents, we take the good with the bad.  WE are ultimately responsible for finding the work, creating and building the relationships necessary to procure those opportunities with the hope that one or more of them will materialize into actual jobs.  Unfortunately, our agent or manager isn't going to do ALL the work for us anymore-- those days are numbered--and any talent falsely indoctrinated in this belief of sitting on their butt, waiting for the phone to ring, is doing themselves a huge disservice. Think and be proactive. #auditioning #marketing #voiceover #motivation

It's better than you think Believe it or not, I’m an optimist. Almost booking a voiceover job or getting short-listed is sometimes better than booking because, for me,  it means there’s another opportunity around the corner.  Of course one doesn’t know for sure and there’s a good amount of indecisiveness on the client side, but I’ve found the odds are usually in my favor.  Trust me- it’s a good feeling. We can all agree that rejection takes a certain amount of fortitude and bravery.  So much so that it’s caused me grow an impenetrable wall around mind that prevents any toxic thoughts or negative energy from entering.  Well, lately that is. Not to brag but I’ve been doing pretty well.  Lots of auditions, scattered bookings here and there, and the benefit of repeat work from solid clients.  I can safely say that for the past two months I have been working every week.   When a potentially big job comes my way, I look at it as an opportunity.  I see it as a privilege to be considered and that if I don’t book or the client changes directions, it’s an honor to even be on their radar.   I smile, I sit back and glance at my body of work.  Hubris?  No way.  Ego? Certainly not! I lied, a little.  I’m really awash with confidence though it had taken me a while to get to this place of being satisfied regardless of the outcome. Back in February, I came very close to booking my first radio imaging gig with a major station.  After the audition, I treated it like anything else.  Put it behind yet staying positive.  If I didn’t hear back from anyone, I assume the obvious.   To my surprise, I made it to the finalist round of auditions.  We did a demo session (which, btw, was more like a traditional callback) and I sent it off to the client.  Never heard from them again.   While I was bummed initially, the defeated feeling quickly subsided and I felt relief.  The folks were somewhat unprofessional in the session and not very communicative about what they wanted.  If that was a snapshot of what our professional relationship was going to be down the line, I didn’t want any part of it.  It still felt good to be ‘known’ by a legit corporation.  As far as I see it, my material is on their shelves and they know I exist.  Perhaps they’ll come back to it.  Maybe they won’t. C'est la vie! Then about two weeks ago at a weekend seminar, I was approached by a top manager whose roster boasts some of the best talent in the business. We had a great conversation and set up a phone call for the week.  I slept on the offer for a few days but ultimately turned it down, as there was a caveat and one too many bells and whistles than I initially expected.   Still, I felt total joy and privilege that this person wanted to 'take me on.'    There’s that 'butterflies in your stomach feeling- a little uneasiness but quickly that feeling is replaced by some hidden joy. It’s like getting an A- on a term paper or better yet a B+……you’re very close to achieving a better grade.  And I keep getting closer and closer to my goal. #auditioning #marketing #voiceover #success #newyork #entrepreneur

Taking a moment has more benefits than we might think. Earlier this week at my usual Bikram Yoga class, I had a revelation of sorts.  At the end of class, while we were all lying down in (the unanimously loved) Savasana pose, I started to notice several people leaving early.  A true Yogi realizes that this is not advised, as our bodies need to come to full rest (at least 2 minutes) and sometimes more to make the necessary transition from the hard work we’ve endured over the last 90 minutes.  As a rather harried young woman jumped up and gathered her things before resting, our instructor took notice and said: “Don’t tell me you don’t have 2 minutes. Get back down! I get it, you’re a New Yorker and you have to be onto the next thing.  Everyone has 2 minutes. Just relax.” I wouldn’t be wrong in assuming others might feel her approach/tone was less favorable.  But regardless, I was relieved when she said this because it brings up another issue.   Not everyone thinks they have the time. Not everyone thinks that 2 minutes is what their body really needs to finish the meditation to clear our minds of the clutter, the activity and release unnecessary toxins from the body. Once the class nearing a close, you can see it in everyone- that urge, that impulse- the worry settles in and the energy is palpable.  ‘I just need to get out of this heat and move on with my life.' What propels us to leave? The heat, yes, is obvious.  An important deadline back at the office, a first date with the person of our dreams, drinks with an old friend, writing a term paper?  Whatever it is, it’s valid.  Our lives are each very different and often so complex.   There are tight deadlines, tasks, activities, and little 'drama-sodes’ we carry with us each day.  New Yorkers, especially do claim to be 'busier’ than most.  It’s like their birthright to proclaim supreme stress levels over anyone else in the world.  Many of us live out our days putting out one fire after the next, both professionally and personally.  And not everyone can embrace the power of pausing. It’s rather simple.  You stop whatever it is you’re doing, stop over-thinking, and let go. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? #life #motivation #yoga #nyc #health