Dave Courvoisier's Blog

Archive for the ‘Networking’ Category

The Next New Thing

In the late 60’s if was FM radio.  Around the mid-70’s Datsun became “Nissan”.  By the early 90’s it was this strange new phenom called “the internet”.  After that, everything started approaching light-speed.

Today TNNT is born, lives, and can either survive or die within days, sometimes even hours.

Google WAVE is past a few months of life, now, and it’s likely to stay through the sheer force of it’s corporate support.

About two weeks ago, I got my Google Wave invitation, and was ecstatic, ‘cause for weeks and weeks, about 100,000 other geeks had it and I DIDN’T.  That’s like denying Harry Reid access to The Next New Taxpayer.

OK, so now I have WAVE, and yes, it IS pretty cool….but the learning curve seem fairly steep (I’ve been swamped lately), and I’ve found maybe…10-15 contacts I know (Kat Keesling among them)…and most of them don’t seem to be using it.

So, how ‘bout it?  Got Wave?  Contact me.  Just do a search for DAVE COURVOISIER. or use my e-mail: courvo<at>gmail.com.

Don’t have wave?  I have about 3 or 4 invitations I can send out (Google awarded me 8 when I got my account).  Let me know, and if I have any left, I’ll send you one.

Do I smell a VO group on WAVE?

CourVO

When do you become an “expert”?

That word makes me uncomfortable.

That’s why, when I started my teleseminar Saturday morning  (Leveraging Social Media for Your VoiceOver Business) on behalf of the VoiceOverDirectory, I began by saying I’m a fan of Social Media, I enjoy Social Networking, I’m familiar and comfortable with New Media…I’m drawn to its potential…but “expert”?  Nah!

Social Media is too new, and so ever-changing for anyone to be able truly be an “expert”…at least by my definition, which I’m conveniently not stating here.

My talk was more about trends, indicators…mapping out a few directives that seem to be working FOR NOW…and why voice actors really shouldn’t ignore the opportunities afforded by New Media for furthering their brand, their personality…the relationships that may lead to enriching their personal lives, and advancing their business.

Amazingly, I talked almost non-stop about that for almost a half-hour, and still felt there was much left unsaid.

I’m a geek at heart, which means I’m a genetically hard-wired metal detector, perking up when a wayward  fragment of social media metal shows up on my radar.  But I know (that’s right, keep telling yourself, Dave) that Social Media is only one of the tools in my job-searching toolbox.  It just happens to be the one that captures my fancy (hey!…I found a gold doubloon!).

Maybe I’m on to something.  Maybe not.  Maybe it’ll bring me more VO jobs…or not.  Or maybe — just maybe — all this flailing around may lead me into an unexpected career vector that has little to do with voice-acting.  All I know is along the way I’m learning a ton, and meeting some of the savviest people on the planet.

Below is about a 2:30 excerpt of my teleseminar.  I recorded the whole thing on a trusty Logitech webcam…and the audio you hear is from the onboard Logitech mic (not the greatest).  On this segment I blatantly break a number of my own rules, stated so smugly on my new website: OnCamTips.com. But, there may be some value in watching this anyway: a segment on the rationale for voice actors to consider authoring a blog of their own.

I have no idea how many listened in, but quite a few responded afterward to say they’d like the resource material I promised to make available if they’d just send their e-mail address to me.  I think they were just being polite…;-}

BTW, write me at CourVO@CourVO.com, and I’ll put you on the mailing list for that resource material, too.

My thanks to Mark Davidson and Austin Alexander of VoiceOverDirectory for asking me to speak, and arranging this teleseminar so professionally. 

Also my gratitude to a couple of voice-actors who are social media VO giants in my eyes:  Trish Basanyi (@Trishsvoice) and Terry Daniel (@TDaniel39).

CourVO

‘Coupla days ago, I shuffled out loud through a few rambling thoughts here on this blog — like I NEVER do that! (see “…MushMind…”)

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

You’ve heard me mention John Pozadzides in my blog before…most recently here.

John’s been in town for a PhotoShop conference, and writes about his experiences (one story is unbelievable – no, I take that back – BOTH are). His blog is ALWAYS worth the read.  See OneMansBlog.

We met for dinner Friday and the conversation was – as usual – quite edifying for me.  I’m preparing another presentation on New Media for an internal group at the TV station, and since John’s fingernail clippings contain more knowledge about Network marketing than the sum total of my over-rated knowledge about this subject, I listened intently (shoulda taken notes).

I’ll spare you the long version, but a summary of the core message is one all Voice-actors…indeed…all people can benefit from in their relationships…especially the online kind.

So how much do you really care about building a relationship (as in: client relationship)?  If the answer is that you care a great deal, then you will take the time to do the things that people who care about each other do.  You create a conversation.  You take an interest.  You inquire about things in their life that matter to them.  You keep track.  You remember important details.  You do a little homework.  You engage and keep engaging.  ‘Next thing you know…you have a friend, not a client.

I first met John when I made a troubleshooting call to Woopra.  John is the one of the FOUNDERS of Woopra, and yet, he dug in, solved my problem, and kept the conversation open through the ensuing months.  He’s engaged, involved, and wants to know what’s happening with me.  In a sense, he practiced what he preaches ON ME, and I am one of the beneficient outcomes of the application of his principles.  Even though in my case, his expectations were dashed (heh)… he hung in there.

Like, I said, read his blog, and you’ll see the essence shine through of the guy everyone knows as John-P.

CourVO

The whole gist of this social networking gig is to raise the level of awareness of your BRAND on the internet.

It’s like swimming upstream most of the time, but every once in a while, you get a nod, and it feels good.

John Pozadzides is a self-made-millionaire in his 30’s who has the luxury of handing out those nods. 

He’s one of the founders of Woopra and many other Web2.0 achievements, but maybe is best known today as the author of ONE MAN’S BLOG.  (BTW, John is in Las Vegas as we speak for a PhotoShop convention).

For some unknown reason, I’ve managed to land on John’s good side, and he invited me to come onto his internet radio show: WealthNation.fm.  While I don’t think of myself as wealthy, I was honored to be part of a conversation with John and his cohorts on their show a couple of weeks ago. 

We talked about branding, and voice-acting, and entrepreneurship, and being on TV, and so forth.  You may actually enjoy listening to it….or not. 

Regardless, HERE is the link.  For all the interview is NOT…it IS another opportunity to further my brand in the matrix.

CourVO.

.

‘Heard that one before? 

Think about it.

We Google EVERYTHING indiscriminately, and come on…admit it…you’ve Googled yourself just to see what turns up.  In fact you should — regularly.

Why?  Because your brand, your reputation, your integrity, and your image on the internet could be the most telling statement about your life from this point on.

Remember the old saying:  “The only words you can take back are the ones never spoken?”  Well, the internet is that way now with images, words, impressions, videos, and references to you. 

My wife and I have tried to impress on our kids that every single image and video they post on FaceBook is gone to the ages, the moment they upload it.   And yes, even “unfriended” people can manage to see your profiile with the right hack. 

Why do you think employers feel they’ve found such a bonanza with the online social networking sites?  They don’t need your resume — you know…that document you’ve carefully crafted to make you look good from HS graduation ”to present”.  If they want to know what you are REALLY like, they Google you.

Hence, Google is your resume.  Guard it.  Protect it.  Guide it.  Heck, you can even manipulate it to your advantage.  Uh-huh, it works both ways.

Thursday morning, I spent an hour with a group of UNLV college students in a class called:  “Introduction to Interactive Media Design”.  The professor had invited me to speak to these mostly Junior and Senior Journalism students about real-world application of social networking sites.  How does a working journalist apply New Media to traditional media?  Do they mix?  Can they work together?  Should they?

Here’s a short clip.

I enjoyed being there for an hour, ’cause many of the same concepts I shared with the UNLV students, I’ll be expected to articulate to my co-workers in the KLAS-TV newsroom next week.  My boss has tapped me to help my news colleagues understand how all these social networking sites can have ANY possible relevance to news gathering.  I think it does, but I digress to my night job.

Voice Acting as a business is largely conducted online.  Hence, the “GOOGLE IS YOUR RESUME” concept applies. Your website, your profile on pay-to-play sites, your participation in forums, LinkedIn, YouTube, shared e-mails, Voice-Over Universe.  All that contributes to your online, hence your real-world personna, because until they visit your home town, that’s all people have to go by.

So…again:  Guard it.  Protect it.  Guide it.  Heck, you can even manipulate it to your advantage.  Uh-huh, it works both ways, and I’ll get into THAT in my next blog.

CourVO

Yay for Kat Keesling, Diane Havens and many of my other buds from VO Universe and the VO-BB who organized and contributed to the reading of the proposed health care reform bill.

See NY Times write-up HERE.

See VO-BB forum thread HERE.

Visit the official site HERE. (you can also volunteer to read)

One of the voice-talents, Chriss Mezzolesta gets interviewed on TV for the story HERE.

CourVO

All voiceover artists come to find their niche over time.  Not only the area where their best voice talents are put to use, but the method by which they apply their best marketing techniques.

Minneapolis-based Voice-actor Terry Daniel knows how to make the most of social networking to bring in the business.  More than that, he’s awful darn good at finding a way to let people know he’s good at making the most of social networking to bring in the business.

Don’t believe me?  Read THIS.

Terry and I have struck up a personal and professional relationship over the years, partly out of respect, and partly out of realizing that we share a common geekiness about Voice acting.

I’ve chosen NewMedia/Social Networking as my most favorite marketing direction.  Terry and I keep stumbling into each other this way, and realized we had that common bond – so much so that we’ll be partnering to do a presentation in June of next year at VOICE2010 on social networking.

I’ll admit to being the junior partner in this topic-team, but I hope to bring a few things to the table as well when we see you in L-A….and you ARE coming, right?  ;-}

CourvO

This looks like one helluva party on water…I wish like heck I coulda pulled it off to be along for the ride.  Maybe YOU still can.

I’m re-printing all of Deb Munro‘s latest e-mail with all the last-minute announcements of VoiceLympics, plus her ADHD schedule of upcoming coaching sessions, and more…below.

If I’m lucky, I may be able to catch up to the cruise wrap-up party in LA.

BTW, HERE is the official VoiceLympics website.

CourVO

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Nothing pleases me more about social media than connecting with other VO professionals from all over…and I mean ALL over.

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.

CourVO
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