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Mike Cannon
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 03 May 2007
Posts: 90
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 Posted: Sun May 20, 2007, 02:19 (GMT) Post subject: Marketing ideas |
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Voice 123 for lots-o-practice and a job now and then. Agents to peddle your wares. All well and good.
Anyone willing to share other marketing ideas that you use or have considered?
_________________
Mike "The Loose" Cannon
Physically in Houston "virtually anywhere"
"Speak so that I can see you.” Socrates |
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Robert Jadah
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 2627
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| Posted: Sun May 20, 2007, 03:33 (GMT) Post subject: |
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Not just yet, Mike.
Talents here have spent years honing their craft and finding their own niches.
They may not just hand that hard-won intelligence over.
Read the posts.
Then read them again.
Between the lines, you'll find everything you need to know about getting yourself out there.
But to expect a full primer?
Nah; I don't think so.
(edited due to extreme surliness in original post. Aplogies. Thank you.)
Voice On!
Last edited by Robert Jadah on Sun May 20, 2007, 16:17 (GMT); edited 1 time in total |
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Bob Bergen
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 18 Jan 2005
Posts: 224
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| Posted: Sun May 20, 2007, 15:49 (GMT) Post subject: Re: Marketing ideas |
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| Mike Cannon wrote: | Voice 123 for lots-o-practice and a job now and then. Agents to peddle your wares. All well and good.
Anyone willing to share other marketing ideas that you use or have considered? |
Hey there, Mike!
Be happy to offer my 2 cents!!!!!
The most important thing about marketing yourself as a VO actor is to really think about what sets you apart from everyone else. There are 3 courses of study ALL voice actors should take:
1) Business
and
2) Marketing
and
3) Acting & improv.
The 3rd sometimes throws people interested in VO. They take the VO classes and think that will prepare them. It's voice acting. In the days 25 years ago when it was more announcing, the voice-over workshop would suffice. But in today's market when it's all about the acting you really need solid acting technique to make the words come to life. The script is a skeleton. Your job is to give it a body. Without solid acting foundation your are making a guess. With a solid acting foundation you are making a choice. And improv gets you out of your head and teaches you to commit to your choices.
But enough about that. You are interested in the marketing side of the business.
I myself went one step further and took a 12 week course at UCLA on how to be an agent and (or ) manager. I wanted to know exactly what the day to day business of an agent was. I figured it would make me better understand/appreciate my own agents and their world, how they negotiate, etc. It was a very valuable course!! And I learned I could NEVER be an agent or manager! BUT-I learned how to better manage my career!
Most voice actors are really bad business people. They have no idea how to manage their income, how to invest and reinvest in their business. They also have no idea of how to market. Most think all they need to do is send out their demo to as many as they can and hope they get a call. OR they bug people by sending/mailing out demos without any real strategy.
For starters, you need a demo and a website. NEVER do a demo until you are ready! It's close to impossible to get a second listen if the first demo isn't brilliant. And I don't use the word brilliant lightly. Everyone thinks they can do VO. Most are NOT brilliant. They are just another voice being sent out there amongst other voices without any purpose or intent. I could go into more detail about demos, but will hold off for now as it sounds like you have all of this and want to know what to do with it.
I've not heard you or seen your packaging, so I can't give you specifics. But you need to really understand your demographics when it comes to what you have to offer in the way of your talent/style. Listen to your demo/style/personality and think about who your buyers are. If you are selling soap, is it Camay or Zest??? If you are selling cars is it Jaguar or Hyundai? If you are selling clothes is it Saks 5th Avenue or Gap???
Most voice actors don't think about this. They'll have a demo that will have a little of everything. The cosmetic read, the hard sell, partner read, etc. It's a formula demo that has no idea or intent of what the formula really is.
If you are going to sell anything you have to have specifics in your marketing. Look at any ad campaign, be it on TV, radio, or print. You'll see who the intended buyer is just by the style of the ad. You'll understand if that's you or not. There's a lot of thought behind the sell. You need the same approach with your voice-over career. You are selling a product called you. Who are you selling to? And why should they buy you over anyone else out there?
The answer is you are the only YOU you are selling, and the only YOU who is out there.
Now, what makes YOU stand out amongst the rest?? This I can't answer. You need to know/figure this out. But once you do, you'll have a better understanding of how and where to sell.
I know I haven't given you "the" answer here. What I hope I've done is make you think. Think about the strategy possibilities. It's a lot more than a good voice and a hot demo.
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Robert Jadah
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 2627
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| Posted: Sun May 20, 2007, 16:23 (GMT) Post subject: |
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THAT, Bob Bergen, should be required reading for any aspiring voice actor.
Cautionary and informative.
Concise and painfully true.
Great advice.
Post On! |
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Dina Monaco-Boland
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 28 Nov 2006
Posts: 671
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| Posted: Sun May 20, 2007, 17:38 (GMT) Post subject: |
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Thank you so much Bob.
You are absolutely correct in saying that most actors/artists are not very good business people. I hate business probably because I don't understand it. It's important in business to have good instincts-- not to spot a trend but to figure out what the NEW trend will be in accordance with what sells and how to do it effectively, ie marketing. I, personally, am beyond deficient in that department.
I applaud your wisdom for taking that business class. I think I'd rather have my eyelids shredded rather than take a business class but perhaps that's just what I should do (the business class, not the eyelid shredding thing).
You've given me quite a bit to think about. I hate you for pointing it out because that means I have a tremendous amount of work to do-- most of which will be difficult and (to me) dull but none the less important.
Hope you know I'm kidding about the "hate you" thing. This has been quite the informational post.
Thanks again,
Dina |
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Mike Cannon
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 03 May 2007
Posts: 90
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| Posted: Sun May 20, 2007, 17:51 (GMT) Post subject: |
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Bob,
That is great stuff. Thank you very much. I'll have to read it a few times, let it age a bit and take another drink or two. A lot to take in, but that was really good stuff...I'm a sponge today. I appreciate your thoughful, well written insight.
Robert,
(Edited after reading your edited post, which I should have done in the first place)
Best,
Mike
_________________
Mike "The Loose" Cannon
Physically in Houston "virtually anywhere"
"Speak so that I can see you.” Socrates
Last edited by Mike Cannon on Sun May 20, 2007, 18:47 (GMT); edited 1 time in total |
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Dina Monaco-Boland
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 28 Nov 2006
Posts: 671
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| Posted: Sun May 20, 2007, 18:09 (GMT) Post subject: |
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Mike:
I think you took what Robert wrote the wrong way. He is one of the most helpful folks on this forum. I'm not sure where he "called you a name"-- I just don't see it.
I know it's easy to misinterpret meaning behind the written word. No intonational (is that even a word?) clues to help so oftentimes we project our own. Look at Robert's posts; you'll see he's a swell guy who has helped countless people- myself included. I'm sure you're a swell guy too.
By the way, thanks for bringing the subject up-- Bob gave some great advice don't ya think? |
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Robert Jadah
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 2627
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| Posted: Sun May 20, 2007, 18:10 (GMT) Post subject: |
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You're absolutely right.
I apologize for my uncharacteristic bombast there.
If anything, it grew out of fraying patience with new posters who dart in, pose a query like, "I'm new. Who should I send my great movie trailer to? How much will I make?"
You know, stuff that gets talked about all over the boards here, and then someone wants it all distilled and repeated.
Than they disappear, and are never heard from again.
But that, of course, is not what you were doing. So I was plainly, dumbly wrong.
I must have just run out of beer at the time.
I PM'ed you.
Market On! |
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Mike Cannon
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 03 May 2007
Posts: 90
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| Posted: Sun May 20, 2007, 18:44 (GMT) Post subject: |
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Dina,
You are right...Robert is a swell guy. He PM'd me, offered mooseheads (or called me mooosehed--I don't remember which) and we are the best of friends now.
He was one of the first to welcome me to the boards and has given me great advice in another forum this week. So, you are right about his swellness...me, I am not swell--just swollen.
And you are right, Bob gave great advise...just what I need "more" to do and think about
Mike
_________________
Mike "The Loose" Cannon
Physically in Houston "virtually anywhere"
"Speak so that I can see you.” Socrates |
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