And as I’m sure you know, “helpful friends, willing supporters, and a good reputation” are a lot harder to find than even the best VO gig. They’re what most of us call Blessings.

With a capital B.

Seriously though, thanks for your words of support to all struggling actors out here in internetland. We are you and you are us. As we’ve all discovered at various times in our lives, the race is not to the swift, but to he who keeps running. I may be 85 when I get there… but I’ll get there. I suspect you’ll be waiting for me with a towel and plenty of electrolytes.

So I’m with you my friend. Keep at it and don’t give up. Our time will come!

Although you didn’t ask and probably don’t need my advice, I want to share a few thoughts that you might find helpful.

First, it’s possible to want something so badly that your desperation to have it can actually push it away from you. I wrote about this phenomenon in the article “Voiceover and the Law of Paradoxical Intent”:

http://blog.karencommins.com/2009/04/voiceover-and-the-law-of-parad-1.html

I can tell you honestly that it was only after I truly ACCEPTED my life as it was –day job and all — that things really started to move forward for me.

Second, the number of jobs booked in a time period is only small one way of measuring success. I wrote about 3 techniques for maintaining a feel-good mentality about your career in the post “The feel-good voiceover blog post of the summer!”. I write my articles for myself as much as for my audience, and this is one post that I often re-read to maintain balance and objectivity during slow times.

http://blog.karencommins.com/2010/07/the-feel-good-voiceover-blog-o.html

I cannot overemphasize the need to stop the comparisons to other people! It is the single greatest act of self-negation that keeps us from our good.

In fact, I recently was listening to Rob Lowe’s most excellent narration of his autobiographical audiobook “Stories I Only Tell My Friends” and heard a compelling reason to keep going forward with your dream. When Lowe talked about meeting an unknown LeVar Burton about a week before ROOTS was aired on TV, he said:

“It showed me how quickly the rocket fuel of stardom can ignite, how unimaginably GIANT the g-forces can be as you are propelled into fame’s orbit.

Looking back, I also wonder at the mystery of destiny and fate. I marvel at the mercurial forces of fortune and am reminded that one must be ever vigilant to stay on one’s own path, without envy of others.”

When I don’t know what the next step is, I just take one. It doesn’t matter what it is. It doesn’t matter if it’s the best thing I could do at the time. It doesn’t matter if other people agree with me, cheer me on, throw spitballs my way, or totally ignore me.

It’s not about them. It’s about me. It’s about “staying vigilant on my path, without envy of others.”

All that matters is that I take that step…..because that step gets me one step closer to the life I’m meant to lead.

You’ve taken a tremendous number of steps, and you’re absolutely right in thinking that the success you seek is coming to you. Just because things don’t happen on our timetable or in the way that we would expect them to show up doesn’t mean they aren’t going to happen. They probably will happen and be even greater than we could imagine!

Just keep taking those steps!

Warmly,
Karen Commins
http://www.KarenCommins.com

I echo the comments of our fellow colleagues. Dry spells are the worst, but anyone contemplating a career in VO needs to know they are a reality. If we are truly kind, we give those who are seeking, the TRUTH about the industry. We also encourage them and share with them what fun this can actually be.

You’re THE MAN, Dave – thanks so much for your candor and honesty.

Penny