It’s true.  Mostly gone are the communal auditions in well-traveled studios (still a reality in some major markets).  The new breed of voice-actors works in a private/home studio, and can go weeks without seeing a peer.

That’s why the MasterMind groups advocated by VO Doug Turkel at FaffCon are so RIGHT.  We are social beings, and we DO need community.  It’s nice to know someone else is struggling with or overcoming similar problems…even nicer to help them along.

That’s why I’m so encouraged by the latest examples of what I’d call “Collaboration Salvation”.

Amy Snively sparked on a great idea, but FaffCon would never have taken shape so quickly and professionally without her helpmates.  She delegated.  She asked.  She said what she needed, and people….just…responded.  In spades.  With glee.  In a minute.  With the help of modern-age technology, instantaneous communication, collaborative documents, and a can-do attitude, FaffCon materialized in record time.

While all THAT was going on, yours truly sparked on yet another flash: “I’ll announce September as National Voice Over Month!”  Yeah, that’s it!  Trouble is, I didn’t think about it until August 25th.  With the prodding and guidance of the inimitable Peter O’Connell, we had ourselves a NVOM within 6 days…complete with a website, a logo (thanks Amy!) a News Release, a cadre of supporters, and a Social Media movement.  Days later a collaborative compilation PSA delivered more than 25 voices in harmony.  I’m still getting volunteer voices, and plan another round of PSA’s yet this month.

Sure, both were popular ideas with cache’, but no way either could’ve been pulled-off without collaboration.

The list goes on and on.  Terry Daniel and I, along with his producer, Laura Berscheit collaborated online for months to produce our Social Media seminar at VOICE2010.

Peter O’Connell proves over and over through his blog posts, that people want to interact and collaborate on projects that help them feel connected.  Peter and Jeffrey Kafer pulled together a host of voice actors for separate videos recently, and then there’s the ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” project that has now become legendary on the VO-BB.

So tout your “aloneness” as a voice over talent if you want to…you’re allowed… just don’t tell me that’s your only option, because the preponderance of evidence goes against you.  Voice Actors are some of the most eagerly supportive, cooperative and collaborative people I know.

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Surprisingly, comments from three people I really admire, immediately popped up.

My original musing was:  “Does it help you or hurt you to see other voice actors posting prodigiously about the work they’re doing…or just completed…or must knock out before the end of the week?  I’d really like to know what you think about that.  Personally, I’m undecided.  I’ve been hurt AND encouraged by it.”

Peter O’Connell wrote to say: “…if you’re a VO marketing to other VO’s (and you may be if you’re a coach or something) then that plan works. But if you’re just spouting off to anyone of your followers your daily tasks, I think one risks a bored board of followers.”

Karen Commins was effusive in her response, but mostly ’cause she reprinted an article she’d written before on related themes:

“Comparing yourself to other people is a guaranteed formula for feeling BAD! Without too much effort, you can always find someone who apparently:

* has more credits and/or more impressive credits
* has booked more jobs recently
* makes more money
* has better equipment
* has more agents and/or more aggressive agents and/or agents in more markets
* has higher search engine rankings
* has a better demo
* has more training
* has better marketing promotions
* has more audition opportunities

You get the idea. By comparing yourself and your achievements to anyone or anything, you more than likely will find fault with your own situation.”

Finally, Derek Chappell followed up with: “…This post and the responses are so timely it’s scary. I was just thinking these same thoughts about all of those who REALLY crank out the daily spew of how many jobs they’re working and how “important” they are…”

I’d really encourage you do return to the comment section of that blog article, and read the responses in their entirely.  Click HERE.

Does this in any way settle my mind on the question?  No.  And believe me, I’m not knocking anybody’s motives or action here.  But nothing we do is in a vacuum.  We DO affect others.  Proving that is a WIRED Magazine article about relationships, and how the interaction affects behaviors. Click HERE. It’s an eye-opener.

But we also need to take responsibility for our own feelings and reactions, and not blame them on someone else.  No one controls how you feel about yourself but YOU.

OK, the armchair psychologist is off-duty now.

CourVO

Click “read the rest of this entry” below to see the full report, and click HERE to go to the original invite.

If this wasn’t on a weekday night, I would SO be there.  Maybe you CAN be!

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Dan O’Day is described generally as a marketing genius/coupled with an incredibly savvy sense of broadcasting, voice-overs, and how the world works.  He holds his “Summit” every August in LA.

Some wonderful VO blogging friends of mine are there, and have been twittering and blogging (with pics) about the event.

Here are some links and twitter profiles to follow:

Bob Souer:
Blog:  http://www.bobsouer.com/blog
Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/bobsouer

Bobbin Beam:
Blog:  http://blog.bobbinbeam.com

Blain Parker:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/blainparker

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So the question really becomes an observation:  “Dave, you seem to be working at all hours.  You must not need much sleep.”

I guess I don’t.  I’ve always had a joy of life, and since VO is my passion, I find I never run out of energy for its demands.

Here are some of the highlights of my day, Thursday, August 6, 2009:

1) 8am –  CT scan, ‘cause recent kidneystones have my urologist doing follow-ups
2) 9:30am - an hour of checking e-mail, Twitter, and online forums
3)10:30 am – some important phone calls
4) 11am – back to bed for 1.5 hours
5) 12:30 – shower, shave, dress
6) 1pm – hour-long conference call with members of the SaVoa Advisory Board
7) 2:30 – arrive at TV station – begin YouTube update, write/proofread scripts, scan more
email, websites, Tweetdeck, and FaceBook, write e-mail, make phone calls
8] 4pm – begin anchoring 3 half-hour newscasts (4, 5, & 6) with half-hour breaks in-between)
9) 7pm – drive home for dinner with friends, cut and send two auditions
10) 9pm – drive back to TV station.  More editing, web-browsing, proofreading scripts, twittering
11) 11pm – anchor last half-hour newscast of the day
12) 12:30am (Fri) – arrive home to begin more VO work
13)  1am – spend an hour on Skype, recording and finishing segments for a new demo
14)  2am – new demo in hand, I package it with other demos, a bio pic, and some forms to
send to a new casting service I’m involved with.
15) 3am – sit down to write a fresh Blog!

What to write about?  In this case, a search of Google Alerts with the keyword “voiceover” leads me to a Bill Pryce Blog, which in turn refers me to a Dan O’Day.com site that further directs me to a Pat Fraley offer of:  a “Quick & Slick VoiceOver Tricks” download.

I’m familiar with this program of Fraley’s and highly recommend it…Pat’s the best!

This is where the bouncing ball comes in.  Normally, you’d just get the Pat Fraley referral, but because it’s 3:44am as I am as I’m writing this, and I’m a bit addle pated, you got the day-dissection along with it!

‘Goin’ to bed now…

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A FaceBook message the other day led to an even longer e-mail exchange, and the chance to connect with a voice actor from Turkey.  Yep…Istanbul, Turkey.

His name is Andy Boyns, and he’s a Brit who’s managed to develop a fairly decent clientele, and (in his words):  :…I’ve had to do it all myself – no workshops, courses, advice…”

I asked Andy if I could have permission to share his e-mail response with others in my blog, so we might all see how our colleagues around the world are being as enterprising as we should be, and how (Like Taji’s Voice Emporium site), we are all finding the support we need in our “booth isolation” to share and support each other in this grand online community.

Andy’s page on Voices.com is HERE…and if he realizes his dream to make it to VOICE2010, maybe we’ll all get a chance to meet him personally.

Read below to see Andy’s story in his letter to me.

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HERE’s the link to the exact article. 

When you read it, you’ll say:  “…yep..been there…and I understand..”

Maybe you can help?

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Their popular series of free teleseminars with people in the VO business continues this weekend, and I’ll be in the hot seat.

Apparently they think people will actually want to hear what I have to say. :)  From what I understand, they’ll mostly be asking the questions, but there will be opportunities for callers to interact as well.

The topic is how to “diversify” your portfolio of skills to enhance or supplement your VO work.

Click HERE to see the official announcement.

C ya on the phone!

CourVO

I first saw this invitation on Twitter (@audioconnell)

Just go to his website and see what others have posted.  Great ideas, shared alike!

See the full details HERE.  Looking foward to seeing yours.

CourVO

(BTW, mine — front ‘n’ back — are below)

Then…R U a member of Stephanie Ciccaarelli's VOICE ACTING HUB on FaceBook?

If not, you should be.  Stephanie's great, and always posts quality material.

Click HERE to go….there….and if that link doesn't work, just go to "Join Groups" and search for Voice Acting Hub.

CourVO