Why do so many think it's so EASY?

Scott Pollak

I've noticed something over the years, but especially more so since being a member of V123.com. No one ever thinks they can just jump in and become a 3D animator with little or no training because they can sketch nicely. No one who can heat up some franks and beans thinks they can become a world-class chef without opening a bunch of cookbooks and getting some serious culinary schooling.

Why is it so many people are told "Hey you have a nice voice!" and get asked to narrate the Christmas bloopers awards video for their insurance company, and all of a sudden think that making a living doing v/o should be a piece of cake?

I'm wondering what it is about the so-called 'entertainment world' that people with singing, acting, and yes - voiceover - aspirations think it's so easy to break into. Those of us who have been in it for years know better.

Anyway, this is nothing more than some rambling thoughts crossing my addled brain this Christmas Eve as I sit here babysitting a board of flashing lights at the radio station. Your thoughts, comments, jokes-in-poor-taste, etc. are all welcomed. Christmas blessings to all my new friends here!

Lynne Alston · Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006, 19:52 (GMT) Post subject:

I would like to reply, not as an expert but as one of those newbies. Up until last June I didn't ever know there was such a career as voice over, it was only that I happened to catch an add for an evening course at the local college. My interest sparked, not because of the income potential, but for the fact I love to talk. This class led to an invite to Albany NY, where I took the master class and made a demo. I wish that some of the veterans in the field would give us new artists a break, after all, it is your peers that are bringing us in by the droves.
Lynne

Happy holidays

Robert Jadah · Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006, 20:11 (GMT) Post subject: Easy Does It

Happy Season to All!
Scott - as usual - you're right: knowing the best spot for the throw rug does not make one an interior decorator, not does the best throw for a spot make one a pro wrestler.
But as I've said before, we most of us have voices, and have used them for decades. Then we hear there's money in them thar shrills..and off we go: sign up and bale the money.
We think it's easy because nobody tells us otherwise. The market does, though. We learn soon enough.
And Lynne, it troubles me to read your plea to veterans to give newbies a break.
Is that not what wise ol' Unka Scott is doing? And do not many of us spend time here making suggestions and critiquing and offering tricks of the trade?
The only thing we may not be doing is sharing our gigs. And that's because there's not that many to go around.
You'll get your jobs, and I will applaud you for it. I really will. But Scott's been doing this for what, 30 years? I went through three years and 87 auditions before getting my first movie role. And six months at V123 for my first job.
The only thing we can't give you is time...that you have to put in yourself. For everything else, we're here for you.
Voice On!
Robert Jadah

Todd Ellis · Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006, 21:44 (GMT) Post subject:

Scott & Robert ... 10-4. Lynne, I have no problem sharing. I'll help out where I can. But what Robert says is true. It takes time. Time and hundreds of reject letters. I've been doing this for 20+ years and get my lunch handed to me all the time. No rhyme or reason (sometimes) the client just liked somebody else's audition better than mine. This forum is a great resource for a helping hand. The point that (I think) Scott was making is there is a group of folks out there that think because the Assistant Manager at the Moto-Mart asks them to make the announcement that "Pump 3 is on", they should be able to buy a copy of WinMedia and make a fortune. That, as I'm sure you know ... is not the case.

Merry Christmas to all ... and to all a good night!

Lynne Alston · Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006, 22:55 (GMT) Post subject:

You guys are great, really, I thank you all sincerely for the generous time and effort you give to all my question. I guess I am at that point where I"m painfully aware of my incompetence. I'll get over it, soon I hope!!

Scott Nilsen · Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006, 23:35 (GMT) Post subject:

I am not the crafty wily verterans that some here are, but I wouldn't consider myself a newbie, either. I know that, as Todd said, I'll be getting my lunch handed to me a lot more often than not - and boy, has that ever been true thus far. I go through times of being discouraged about this and everything else in life. But what else is there to do, really, except keep going? I really want to succeed at this, so I am trying my darnedest to market myself, network with anyone and everyone I know to tell them what I do, etc. - as well as keep reading, keep practicing, trying to keep my finger on the pulse of this whole voiceover world.
I haven't really contributed all that much to the discussions thus far, but I read all the posts and all the boards. I certainly am not expecting people to be sharing their gigs, and I am not all that eager to give up ones that come my way, either. I haven't really expected this to be a place where I would find the secret keys that would unlock a prosperous career. But still, there are things I have found here that have been invaluable - and that has been hearing from people who can identify with the struggle. All the way from guys like Scott, Robert and Todd to the many newbies incredulous that after 30 auditions they haven't landed one yet. (By the way, I have auditioned several hundred times, and landed only one gig from this site - haven't yet made back my membership fee from this site, but have had a little success from other marketing efforts.)
To make a short story long, I appreciate people willing to encourage, offer helpful and constructive criticism, and providing a virtual water cooler for those of us who otherwise don't really speak to other adults all day long. This hasn't been easy, but it's good to know that people understand.
Peace out, yo.

Scott Nilsen

Ron Reid · Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006, 02:55 (GMT) Post subject: My Secrets

Hey everybody!
As you can see by the number of postings I have made, I am usually too paranoid to come over here and chat for fear of missing a demo! But since it's Christmas Eve, everything is dead as a doornail. Folks, I do get lots of demos and I answer every one of them! My ratio is probably 1 gig out of every 30 demos. I have made back my subscription many times over. I have a fantastic voice...Great range and flexability...yadda yadda yadda. But here is the down side.
I got that great voice from:

1. 30 years in radio smoking 3 packs of cigs a day.
2. Drinking enough whiskey to float a battleship.
3. Reading and talking to myself so much that people thought I was crazy.
4. Doing Lip and Voice warm-ups in the car on the way to the station so that the people in the car beside me thought I was having a spasm!
5. Avoiding telling people what I do for a living because they always say, " Hey, do a voice for us!"
6. Talking in a chat room at one O'clock in the morning on Christmas because I have no friends because of the nature of my job!
7. Never knowing if I am going to make the rent and groceries this month!

But GOD I Love this business!!!
Sorry...I need some Jack Daniel's and a cigarette.

Merry Christmas

Andrea Rooz · Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006, 16:30 (GMT) Post subject:

Ron, you sound like everyone I know from this business. I'll be your friend. Smile

Robert Jadah · Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006, 18:02 (GMT) Post subject: Ron Reid

Ron:
Tsk, tsk....3 packs and Jack Daniels!
Ron, your voice is a finely-tuned and valuable instrument. Then there's the health matter.
For the love of reverb, man, you gotta take better care of yourself.
I, for example, get by with 2 packs and tsunamis of beer....
That's the way to go.
Your observations rock.
I still don't grasp the low rates, though I can see your side of the equation. But mightn't you take into account what the customer's getting out of it? Like if you did a :15 for a national ad, they'd pay $100 to reach 3 million listeners one hundred times.
To me, it's not so much what you need and you're getting as what they need and what they're getting.
But do your thing, man. I salute you.
Happy Season, and Voice On!
Robert Jadah

Ron Reid · Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006, 23:30 (GMT) Post subject: Re: Ron Reid

Nikki Saco

Well, right from the start I found actual voice over work very easy and natural; but 20 years ago someone else did all the recording and the bookeeping. Now we have to be our own sound engineers, accountants, and PR department. What a rush!

But you know Scott, easy is relative. VO work isn't a walk in the park but I find it much easier and way more rewarding than my old day job. And now that I think of it, I don't know that a lot of people go into VO work necessarily thinking it's easy; maybe they just think they'll try it because it's a creative outlet or sounds like fun or is a unique way to work from home.

So, I'll put the question out there to each of us: Why did you become a voice over talent?

I started doing this by accident. I was asked to narrate children's books at a local cable TV station in the 80's. Someone saw me in a play. When I quit legal work last November to take care of my mom full time, I opted to do voice work from home rather than freelance trial work. I wanted a change and returned to something I knew. How about you guys?

You know, I hope this gets answers; I'm really curious about what brought us all here.

Scott Nilsen · Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006, 03:42 (GMT) Post subject:

This was something I had been interested in for a while, but only in a "boy, that would be pretty cool in another life" kind of way. Looking back, I don't know why I didn't explore it a little more then.
After my wife died in '05, I was reminded of it and thought, "if there was ever a time to really explore it, the time is now."
I kind of like the prospect of it for a similar reason as Nikki, I guess - I wanted something that could be done from home in order to be able to stay at home as much as possible for the kids.
I am starting to see things pick up a little bit, which is nice - but am far from being able to retire.

Todd Ellis · Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006, 03:47 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Nikki. I got into VO the way a lot of folks do - through radio. And like a lot of folks - after 15 years I got tired of radio and got a real job. (oh - lighten up - you know what I mean) I worked in marketing for a publishing company covering most of north America. BUT - the radio clients still wanted me to do their spots - and they said they'd PAY ... figure that. I built my studio in the basement - reel-to-reel decks, 4-track, the whole deal. And I guess I never looked back. I quit the publishing gig due to the travel and sold voice & data networks for a couple of years - while I was there I found a niche very few were trying to fill - developed a business plan based on that niche and jumped in with both feet - all VO, all the time. I've been full time for a couple of years now and I can't imagine working for someone else ever again.

Nikki Saco · Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006, 03:57 (GMT) Post subject:

My sincere condolences, Scott. I'm so glad you found an alternative that keeps you close to your children.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006, 05:06 (GMT) Post subject:

First of all to Scott Nilsen: My heartfelt condolences, too, but also my encouragement on being there for your kids. I was a stay-at-home dad in the early to mid '90's until my kids went into kindergarten, so that we wouldn't have to put them into daycare. Best thing I ever did.

When I was about 17 or so and still Catholic (I'm a non-denom Christian now), I used to be a lay reader at Mass. One day a woman said "You have a really nice voice... you ought to be in radio." So I did! That was actually what prompted me to pursue communications in college. But going back to the basic premise of this thread... I didn't just jump into it and start making money. I did 4 years in college, while starting at the NPR station on-campus in New Orleans. Then sent out about 70 demo cassettes (yes, in the 70's we sent cassettes!) and got ONE response where I picked up my first REAL radio gig, midnight to 6 a.m. at an easy listening station! ugh. Point is, it's taken YEARS of hard work to get to where I am, and I'm still trying hard to make this a full-time gig. And again, back to the main question I posed, if you read many of the posts of the newbies here, a lot of people SEEM to think if you get a mike and a mixer and set up something at home, then you should be able to start rolling. It's as if it's often not viewed as a legitimate business that requires training, talent, hard work, dues-paying, more training, practice, internship, and so on.

Mind you, I'm not saying this to put any newcomers down. Not at all! I think I've been one of the most supportive of them on these forums. I merely was making an observation that - to me at least - it appears that many people think making a living doing voicework is a cakewalk.