“…nobody likes the person who comes to a potluck only bringing a fork…”
In other words, you came to FaffCon4 to learn. Let us learn from you, too!
The wisdom in that statement is understanding that you uniquely have the answer to someone else who has a unique question about voice overs. Today many of those questions were answered.
As the freely-formed agenda began to take shape first thing Saturday morning, no topic area was left untouched. Questions covered the spectrum: agents, demos, auditions, software, hardware, audiobooks, time-saving and management techniques, union representation, on-camera work, and on and on and on. Issues that weren’t covered in sessions were dealt with at lunch, or in the hallway.
Participants were encouraged to move about like a bee or a butterfly to flit from session to session as need be, to take advantage of all the shared knowledge, but clearly once in a room, it became hard to pull yourself away.
In one hour alone, I took in an AudioBook session being led by Tom Dheere,
…a mobile recording session led by Sean Caldwell,
….a “mining the internet” group led by Steve Cunningham, a USC professor,
…and a live-direction session held by booking agent Martha Mayakis of Talk Shop
Bob Souer’s “living room” talks occupied a comfy corner of the central area complete with customized “Bob Souer Storyteller” pillows (a surprise gift from Amy). Volunteers and staff flitted about to make all the arrangements come true. Door prizes capped off the closing general session…gifts from BSW, Audio-Technica, Harlan Hogan, VoiceBank, Dan Friedman, Doug Turkel, and other sponsors.
The most overheard comment: “This day has gone so fast”!!!
Among the nuggets I gleaned:
1) To follow-up with clients who’ve given you work, purchase $5 Starbucks gift-cards customized with your logo to show your appreciation. Hand write onto the card: “Thanks a latte!”
2) Just because you’re tall, doesn’t mean you’re a basketball player (how to answer people with a good voice who want to get into VO).
3) Cold-calling clients means doing research and homework.
4) Constantly update your demos to the new trends, and the more niche demos you can legitimately claim, the better.
5) Your voice is not what’s getting you work, your real personality is getting you the work; be comfortable, assured and confident in yourself.
6) Do I want to be with a huge “name” agency and never get work, or a smaller boutique agency that’s booking you regularly?
7) Like the wood, oxygen, and a spark makes a fire; you, your listener, and your product must combine to get you the job.
8) Follow-up, follow-up, follow-up…keep a file to schedule it, take advantage of online and software tools to achieve it.
9) You have two ears and one mouth, use them proportionately.
10) Rejection is not personal. Move on.
Turns out, I am not a stranger to people who are total strangers to me. Why? This very blog. Thank you for your patronage. …And no, I can’t tell you how I do it all in a day…but I do, and it’s fun, and I learn something in the process.
My day ended with about 20 fellow SaVoa members at a funky little Italian restaurant on the beach. The service was slow, the food was good, and nobody noticed…we were all talking. This is a fun bunch, and I count myself lucky to be among them.
Sunday, Mercedes Rose, Trish Basanyi and I will conduct a session on Social Media, and how to use it to get jobs.
CourVO
