Relationships | Dave Courvoisier's Blog

VO-MOtivation

February 22, 2011 By CourVO Leave a Comment

Sometimes you can OVER think things.

Other times, you really SHOULD take a moment to think things through.

Today’s American rarely thinks through their motivations…so driven are we to produce, achieve, accumulate…or just NOT get left behind. The urgent supersedes the important.

Since late last Summer, I’ve watched voice talent pro Amy Snively get motivated. I really should find out what spark ignited her. Because I want some of it.

Snively (rhymes with lively) is the driving force behind FaffCon. To her credit, she’s surrounded herself with really smart, capable helpers, and she knows how to delegate, ask, cajole, and otherwise convince people to pitch in.

Her single-minded dedication to making FaffCon a success (two times over, now) prompts me to think about motivation.

I’m not gonna get too philosphical on you, here…but walk with me…willya?

This exercise may help you in choosing VO directions.

THE THREE HUMAN NEEDS DETERMINING MOTIVATION

Competition-Driven: The need to achieve, produce, compare status, and out-do the next guy. (NASCAR driver?)

Power/Money Driven: To heck with the competition…this motivator is the need to control and enjoy influence over others. (politicians?)

Community Driven: The need to belong, contribute, associate, and build relationships. (mentors?)

We all have some combination of these three, but it seems to me the voice talent I’ve met exhibit a wealth of the third determiner….and Amy seems to have an overflowing cup of it. How cool is that?…’cause it benefits us all.

Amy is creating a community of community-oriented voice-talent. That’s what FaffCon is at its core. VO givers..giving.

Competition drives me to be better…
The need to have money to live comfortably is strong…
But nothing makes me feel more humanly fulfilled than helping someone else.

No wonder Snively rhymes with lively…

CourVO

P.S. Abraham Maslow is the father of Modern Management, even though his main work came out during WWII. A lynchpin of his theory of work motivation is: “Human needs arrange themselves in hierarchies of pre-potency. That is to say, the appearance of one need usually rests on the prior satisfaction of another, more pre-potent need. Man is a perpetually wanting animal. Also no need or drive can be treated as if it were isolated or discrete; every drive is related to the state of satisfaction or dissatisfaction of other drives.”

Filed Under: Relationships, Ruminations Tagged With: Abraham Maslow, Faffcon, Faffcon2. Amy Snively, motivation, motivators, needs, VO, voice, voice acting, voice actor, voice artist, voice over, voice talent, voiceover, voooice-over

Conversation = Jobs

December 7, 2010 By CourVO Leave a Comment

Actually, it’s more like: Social Media —-> Conversation——> Relationships——> Jobs.

I know it’s not for everybody, and it doesn’t work the same for everybody, and it should not be your sole source of marketing, but I’ve found it fruitful for MY voice over business. Are you on b0ard?

Case in point: I started the “Voice Over Friends” FaceBook group a couple of months ago when FB changed the way “groups” are configured. Now the VO Friends group has almost 165 voice actors sharing freely, and this offer today on the group from Michael Minetree of MineWurx Studios:

Hello again.
We’re sending out another wide net for MEDICAL DEMOS from American Male – British Male and British Female.
We are compiling a reference list for one of our clients. Please submit your medical demos [email protected]
You are also welcome to pass this announcement onto your fellow colleagues, VO peeps and casting sites. Anyone is welcome to submit.
Please tag submissons:
FirstName_LastName_http://www.facebook.com/l/aa8a28PZEVkIYCzDasczquWx7_A;Medical.mp3
Thanks,
Michael

Yesterday, this link came to me from voiceover artist John Grove: http://televisionnetworking.ning.com/group/provovoicetalent.

It’s another (yes another) online community for voice talent based on the same ning configuration as Zurek’s VU. Who knows? It’s free to join, and gets your name out there in still another way.

Start a conversation with someone, you never know if it might lead to a job…if not…it’s all about relationship anyway.

CourVO

Filed Under: Relationships Tagged With: John Grove, Michael Minetree, voice, voice acting, voice actor, voice artist, voice over, voice talent, voiceover

Butterfly Effect

June 8, 2010 By CourVO 1 Comment

Judging by the flurry of social media invitations I’ve received in the last 36 hours, I’d have to say there’s at least some truth to the Butterfly Effect. You know…the loosely-held theory that even the beat of a Butterfly’s wings somehow sets off a chain of events of unanticipated and incalculable results across the world, forever set in motion, never to be rescinded.

The idea was played out in a 2004 movie by the same name starring Ashton Kutcher.

In other words, our actions are only part of a dynamic system that constantly fluctuates and responds to the actions of those around us resulting in a never-ending, changing sum of consequences. Heavy, huh?

VO people are investing more time in FaceBook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, ostensibly on the urging of Terry Daniel and myself in what was hoped to be a persuasive presentation of the benefits of social networking for your voice-over business.

I’d like to think our talk had that kind of power…but really, most of those in attendance had some inkling there was a treasure-trove to be had online, they just needed a nudge.

I’m a big proponent of the potential of social media, but VOICE2010 was the butterfly effect that VOICE2008 set in motion. That event two years ago, set up a wave that crashed ashore last weekend. Email, Twitter, and FaceBook make for wonderful relationships, but they don’t replace a face-to-face encounters. They’re practice. Prologue. Face-time is the result. Humans are just built that way.

Terry and I met on the phone every week for two months. We exchanged scads of emails. yet it was the synergy of our persons sharing the same space in the physical world that had impact. The result you saw onstage — in person — made a bigger, longer-lasting impression than ANY webinar, or teleseminar could EVER make.

So here’s a toast to the virtual world, and the entré it gives us to deeper meaning in the real world!

So keep the tweets, invitations, and notices coming…I’m ready for VOICE2011!

CourVO

Filed Under: Relationships Tagged With: voice, voice actor, voice artist, voice over, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover talent

All GOOD Stories are Personal

January 11, 2010 By CourVO Leave a Comment

There are stories and then there are stories. Here’s why the personal story is the only good story:

Story 1: The Las Vegas unemployment rate topped 13% last month. This is a true story, one that appeared as an item on many news products in Las Vegas. It is accurate, timely, and indicative of the times. It’s says very little, though, in and of itself.

Story 2: Jeremy hasn’t been able to find a job in his field as an ironworker for 6 months in Las Vegas. He’s foreclosing on his mortgage, changing plans to send his daughter to college, and his wife has had to go to work for the first time in their lives. This is also a true story, accurate, timely and indicative. Yet, Jeremy’s story and many other individual stories of loss in this recession touches a nerve with anyone who has a heart. It’s personal. Many feel Jeremy’s pain.

ONE PERSON, ONE STORY
There are over 2,000 foster children in Clark County, NV…the county where Las Vegas is located. You can report that tragic fact, but it’s almost impossible to get your head around it. That’s why every week, I choose one child or one sibling set, and profile their unique personality, face, and needs on the Wednesday’s Child program. THAT connects with people who hear the story. Not 2,000.

You put focus on a story that deserves attention by profiling ONE who is affected, and forcing each single viewer to FEEL that one person’s pain.

All GOOD stories are personal.

GOODBYE TRADITIONAL MEDIA, HELLO NEW MEDIA
You could say that the whole approach of Newspapers, Radio and TV in the first place (one-to-many distribution) is like Story #1. The only thing that saves it are the personalities involved, who are trained to perform as if they are speaking one-on-one to their friend. That, and the fact that each radio player, TV set, and newspaper is yours and yours alone to own, hold, hear, and see. That makes it also seem personal.

But the days of one-to-many stories are waning and will continue to diminish.

This is why Social Media: Twitter, FaceBook, YouTube, and yes, even email are booming. It’s a one-to-one paradigm. It’s personal. It’s a good story BECAUSE it’s personal.

Sure, you can send a message to your 17,000 Twitter followers in a shotgun approach, but when this follower or that follower responds individually, there’s a tug on your conscience to respond. It’s personal.

PEOPLE ARE SMART (and fed up)
Billboards, TV ads, classified ads, $1-million SuperBowl ads, and magazines are suffering. People tune out mass ads, they unfollow obvious Twitter spam, and dodge marketing scams. People are smarter. They see through it.

This is why the new gestalt surrounding successful Twitter connections is based on a good story that’s personal. You don’t even get to first base until you’re sincere, genuine, personal.

And forget Twitter for a second. FaceBook is even more wildly popular than Twitter if you believe growth estimates. Why? FaceBook is a picture, and a profile, and favorite movies, and your birthday, and photos, and music and books…and on and on and on about who YOU are. It’s personal, and it’s a good story BECAUSE it’s personal.

THE VALUE FOR VOICE ACTORS
Is all this good? Yeah. I think so. It’s a direct result of cultural change following technological advancement (just like TV was a radical change for its time). That brought masses of people into a common experience. But it wasn’t really personal.

Now, like never before, you have a chance to get personal. All the avenues are there. Social Media is creating opportunities like never before to make a personal connection with someone who is in a position to make something happen for your career.

Not getting enough work as a voice actor? Seeking an agent? Needing more connections to juicy jobs, leads, and studios? Get personal. MAKE it personal.

When you think about the jobs you ARE getting, or HAVE gotten, there was a personal connection somewhere along the line.

All good stories are personal.

Yours is.

Use it.

CourVO

Filed Under: Op/Ed, People, Relationships Tagged With: voice, voice acting, voice actor, voice actors, voice artists, voice over, voice over talent, voice talent, voiceover artists, Voiceovers

NYC Countdown

December 2, 2009 By CourVO 1 Comment

Look, I don’t wanna get ahead of myself, but in about 48 hours, I’m gonna climb onto a big bird and fly to the Big Apple. The next two days at work will seem extra loooong.

The 2nd Annual NY VoiceOver Mixer is this Saturday night, and that means so many of my virtual friends will become real people…I mean, I’ll finally get a chance for some face time with those who are heretofore lines in an e-mail, or voices on a phone.

That kind of relationship tells you a lot about someone, but sooner or later, ya gotta “seal the deal”. In other words, there’s nothing like a real meet-up in physical space.

So who reading this is planning to attend? How will I find you?

The official RSVP list says some 220 will be there. Can you imagine THAT many people who TALK for a living, all talking at the same time in the same room? Too cool!

My guess is, if you aren’t already signed-up, it’s not too late. So join in if there’s a chance at all!

To me, the networking, and the relationships are what this is all about.. I’m having too much fun even thinking about it. My cup runneth over.

CourVO

Filed Under: Meet-Ups, Relationships Tagged With: @nd Annual NY VoiceOver Mixer, NYC meet-up, voice, voice actor, voice over, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover artist

10 Things all VO’s Should Do in December

December 1, 2009 By CourVO 2 Comments

Ah, the month all procrastinators hate! This is it, after all…no more putting off IFF you want to get it done this year (serious procrastinators cheerily look to 2010 with no shame or guilt).

So here’s a short checklist of things you may want to consider for your voice-acting business before New Year’s rolls around:

1-Get out all those invoices to delinquent accounts with maybe a few strong words about how you’ve been patient enough, thankyou.

2-While you’re at it, be sure to pay-off OTHER freelancers (SEO gurus, writers, graphic artists, etc.) the money you owe THEM.

3-Download all of 2009’s financial records from your bank into your accounting software.

4-Revisit whatever 2009 New Year’s resolution list you had, and try to squeeze-in at least one more undone item.

4-Back-up your hard drive’s documents, sound-files, and pictures…in short, any personally-generated files that you can’t just reinstall from the original disks. (You should be doing this every week, actually)

6-Now that you’ve got almost a year’s worth of data behind you, run a Google Analytics check on the traffic to your website or blog. It’s a treasure-trove.

7-Fire off an email-or-two to your favorite client, thanking them for their steadfastness and help in 2009, and reminding them you stand ready to help them with their projects for 2010.

8-Plan now for whatever coaching, conferences, or business seminars you need to attend in other cities or states. (Seriously consider VOICE2010…it’ll be the best!)

9-Pay any State dues, fees, or what-have-you to keep your business license up-to-date.

10-Start thinking about a serious 2010 News Year’s Resolution list for your business. Be honest. Aim high. Write down anything that comes to mind.

BONUS ITEM: Pick at least one person – a mentor or supporter – who made a difference in being there for you when you were in a valley of VO, and tell them how much you cherish their friendship and ask them what you can do for them.

CourVO

Filed Under: Follow-up, Friends, People, Relationships Tagged With: Goals, planning, VO, voice actor, voice artist, voice overs, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover actor, voiceover artist

The Amazing John-P

October 4, 2009 By CourVO Leave a Comment

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

John-P-and-me 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

Filed Under: Networking, Op/Ed, People, Relationships, Social Media/Networking, Social/Professional Networking Tagged With: John Pozadzides, JohnP, Network Marketing, Networking, OneMansBlog, PhotoShop, Social Media/Networking, Vegas, voice, voice acting, voice actors, voice over, Voiceovers, Woopra

MushMind…

October 2, 2009 By CourVO 11 Comments

…as in, my mind is mush.

I took a day off Monday, ‘cause I was getting a cold and not sure it wasn’t the flu. It wasn’t, but on THAT day, Katie Couric decided to drop by our station for a visit.

‘Been fighting that same head cold through the week, while I also battle a “to-do” list that grows longer no matter how many items I mark through.

Priorities. What’s important? For my personal life…for my work life.

Being a renaissance man isn’t easy…to much fun stuff to dabble in…broad interest, wide understanding, but not terribly deep.

(See? I told you my mind was mush)

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.

Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of instructing and mentoring for people trying to learn social media. It’s an explosion of people reaching out virtually, and yet…I feel not so social…almost isolated.

That’s probably what I hate most about being an introvert in an extroverted job: the isolation.

But then there’s the VO-BB and VO Universe…so I can log onto the social networking sites and see how much work all the other VO’s are doing, or just completed, or must knock out before the end of the week. Ya know? Is it sharing?…or bragging?…pride?…or bravado?
…inspirational?…or jealousy?

————————————

So you don’t feel totally gyped for having visited here today, please take the time to visit Peter O’Connell’s blog with the latest meme: “we’re all starving…so be quiet…” Heck, just make it a habit to visit there every day, OK?

Oh, and while you’re at it, stop by BLAST, and read a quick article on “Funnyman Chris Edgerly”, a stand-up comedian working here in Vegas, who also does voice-over. They talk about it HERE.

CourVO

Filed Under: Op/Ed, Relationships Tagged With: voice, voice acting, voice actors, voice artist, voiceover, Voiceovers

EveryDemo and MyNextDemo Throw In Together

September 21, 2009 By CourVO Leave a Comment

See below the fold to read the announcement that EveryDemo and MyNextDemo are merging into one service.

I’m neither endorsing nor criticizing either…this is just info. Theirs might be a service that could interest you.

CourVO

Knight at the Peppermill

September 19, 2009 By Site Admin, brettbum Leave a Comment

Among the Las Vegas Strip’s tall resorts, you could easily miss The Peppermill. In any other town, the Peppermill would stick out with it’s bright pink and purple neon highlights. But stuck between the Riviera and the Encore, Peppermill is sort of an anomoly.

Yet, on the day after its 37th anniversary, I met Ron Knight there for lunch. ‘Fitting, I think, that I’d meet such a venerable voice-actor in such a lasting establishment.

Ron and I actually had almost simultaneous roots in broadcasting. I preceded him by only one year in attending the KIIS Broadcasting Workshop in Los Angeles in the 70′s. We both had inauspicious beginnings in small-market radio, but after that, our paths diverged for decades in different vectors of the industry.

I singularly pursued the TV news broadcasting end of things and Ron…well, Ron made waves in many-a-pond/lake/sea. The voice of Nickleodean, and Disney to name a few… musician, entertainer, voice-actor, audio-engineer, casting agent, Voice Coach, entrepreneur, producer…I’m sure I’ve left out something.

And then our paths converge at the Peppermill. I for one, wanted to absorb all I could of the ronknight2 conversation. Ron seemed obliging. …and did I mention opinionated? Ron has strong feelings about unions, and agents, and well…most things…not the least of which is how the business has changed over the years.

Our time was fleeting, mostly because I concurred with Ron on almost everything, especially the efficacy of a certain online pay-to-play site that has numbers after the word ‘Voice’.

Ron seems drawn to the Vegas market for reasons many find familiar. It’s a town of acceptance, opportunity, and rugged individualistic entrepreneurship. I hope I see a lot more of him here, and that our relationship will bear fruit in many ways.

Thanks, Ron, for taking the time to break some bread and sharing so much with me!

CourVO