The worst thing I could do is bury the lead, so I won’t.
I’m going back into TV News as an anchorman.
The wrinkle (and the new challenge) is that I will be doing the morning news. This will require getting up around 2am, and being on-air from 4:30-7am every morning. There are some other duties, but that’s the gist of it.
Am I giving up on voiceover? Oh, no no no! Too much time, effort, practice, and blogging has gone into VO to let it go now.
I’ll have to watch my P’s and Q’s. No political spots, no commercial stuff in the Las Vegas market. No network promo’s…that kind of stuff, but the non-broadcast material is (and for me, always has been) fair game.
I’m happy about it. The ABC affiliate in Las Vegas (KTNV) pursued me for the better part of a year — through COVID and everything — to be their morning anchor. That’s mighty flattering. Then, there’s the matter of age. How many 67-yr-old white males are being recruited to come back to work? Most of us are being booted out the door about now.
As one of my colleagues put it: “I guess Dave had a little gas left in the tank.”
Yes, I do.
Voiceover never brought me the sort of break-away success I had sought for years. See my recent blog that explains.
Being a newsguy was more of a curse than a blessing. People could hear that “news delivery” in my speech patterns.
When you’re good at something, should you walk away from it?…or accept it and milk it for all it’s worth?
I worry about returning in the midst of a pandemic and an election year. I’ll have to hit the ground running. TV News is a shell of its former self, but I don’t suffer the pressure of having to prove myself, either.
In the final analysis, it was my lack of marketing savvy that failed me in VO. I’m good at being “Dave”, but not good at telling people why they should hire me.
Maybe now, turning away from the pressure to have to do that, it’ll start falling from the sky for me.
I’m not holding out much hope for that, though. 😉
So again: Dave goes back to local news anchoring, but maintains what meager foothold he has in the voiceover world. Such good people I’ve met here along the way!…I just can’t let go of that above all else!
You can watch me live streaming on GOOD MORNING LAS VEGAS, at KTNV.com every morning starting at 4:30a PST. My first day on-air is still UP in the air…but it’ll likely be the 27th of August or thereabouts.
CourVO
Great news – no pun intended! All the best for you on all fronts.
Thanks, Gary… this one looks like a safe bet.
best,
Dave Courvoisier
Welcome back to Las Vegas & congratulations, from one 65+ To another!
Ellen,
Thanks so much for the support.
I’ll see you on the news!
best,
Dave Courvoisier
Hi DC,
We’ve known each other for 13 years. I remember meeting you at VOICE 2007. So much excitement and enthusiasm for voiceover back then. The future looked bright for us all.
You jumped in with your usual good nature, hard work, and support for the event and for the community. You’ve been faithful to voiceover ever since. You’ve been a leader, a teacher and an author; contributing countless hours and travel, in an effort to share the “good news” about vo.
You’ve had an incredibly positive impact on the industry. You may not see it, but, your contributions have helped many people in their own vo journey.
You mentioned that your marketing savvy “failed” you in helping you realize the success you hoped to achieve. Honestly, I’ve never seen anyone better at marketing ideas and follow through than you.
You’re certainly talented! No question about that. You’ve worked diligently to develop your vo skills. You built your vo business upon your experience in TV, and seamlessly shifted into the industry as a forerunner.
You said, “I’m good at being “Dave”, but not good at telling people why they should hire me.”
Maybe that’s the reason vo hasn’t been as good to you as you’ve been to it. In voice acting, you have to be “someone else” to be successful. When you’re in front of the camera, even though you’re reporting the news, your goodness, intelligence, personality, and gratitude are there for all to see and appreciate.
So perhaps, therein lies the answer. Being good at being “Dave” is the best thing you do…Dave. It’s the only thing that no one else can do, and since you’ve had years to perfect you, you’ve mastered the art of “Dave”.
Being a success at who you are, and sharing your gifts with the world, is an incredible blessing. For those of us who know you, we feel especially blessed.
I want to be one of the voices of encouragement and support as you get “back in the saddle” of the newsroom. It’s a new, and familiar, adventure! Your fans will be very happy to see you again.
I hope you’ll keep us posted on your journey. I’m not on social media much these days, but I enjoy reading your blog, always.
Your friend,
The Other DC
Denise,
Wow…you floored me with that response. I’m humbled by your assessment. I think you know me better than *I* do.
I’m aware of my impact on the industry…mostly through WoVO and my blog…but none of that goodwill ever translated to actual work. In the end, it really doesn’t matter cuz the doing of it is its own reward. I’m richer for having participated and contributed…and I’ve made a lot of really solid, lasting, giving friendships (like other DC’s…Derek Chappell included!)
But this is why I’ve never coached…although many have urged me too. I’ve always thought it would be hypocritical of me to do so, as the ultimate mark of success in this industry is billings/revenue. By that measure, I’m not qualified to coach…but I AM qualified to comment on the industry, so that’s what I’ve done. if that helps, then…great!
Since I do “Dave” so well…and this is what “Dave” does…why stop? I enjoy being in the voiceover industry…I’m just not particularly good at getting the dollars to roll in. In the meantime, I KNOW I can contribute AND bring in some dollars as a news broadcaster, so this is my solution…keeping a foot in both mediums.
Blogging has had the side-effect of building my writing skills…so I’ll not quit the blog…it grows my writing discipline. Who knows?…maybe I have a book in me!
The TV job — as you said — is both familiar AND new…and that’s why it excites me to have this opportunity as a morning news anchor…different approach to the news entirely…almost….can I say….conversational?
Thanks ever-so-much for taking the time to be open with me. It means so much!
Blessings,
Dave C
Good for you Dave! Do what works for you, not what meets up with anyone else’s expectations! I kinda feel your pain about getting traction in VO. There’s only one “you” so do “you” as much as you can! All the best in your new role! Enjoy!
Thanks, David… Carpe’ Diem!
Dave C