Can’t think of any sane reason to get back to doing voice overs…
Quick story:
In all the years I’ve been in the VO business, I have served thousands of clients. During those 40+ years, hundreds of them have asked me for the names of colleagues I would recommend. You know, people of a different gender, people who speak a different language or with a different accent, or people of a different age.
In other words, casting directors have asked me to do part of their job for them. I ALWAYS said YES to their request, hoping it would help some of my voice over friends get hired, assuming it would reflect positively on myself. After all, no one wants to work with a jerk.
Now, get this:
In all these years I can count the number of “thank you’s” on one hand. I’m speaking of thank you’s from colleagues whose names I passed on to a client, as well as thank you’s from those asking me for new talent. NEVER has a casting director told me they remembered me, because I had helped them out with a project. I bet they took full credit and then some.
I don’t give in order to receive, but I think it’s not too far-fetched to expect some common slither of courtesy. I grew up saying “please” and “thank you,” but in my perception, those words have become quite rare these days (especially in the USA where I reside).
So, PLEASE, show some gratitude when someone helps you out (no matter in what area of your life). It takes no more than a few seconds and it means a lot. Ideally, it should come from your heart and be sincere, but you could also look at it as “reinforcing positive behavior.”
THANK YOU.
Follow Up: After I had retired from VO, a client from the distant past practically demanded a rush voice over at an insultingly low rate. I told them that unserious job offers like theirs were one of the reasons I had quit the business. Then they dared to ask if could give them the names of a few colleagues who’d be willing to work for pennies on the dollar.
I answered with a very emphatic two-letter word, and felt GREAT for the rest of the day!
I highly recommend you follow my example. You’re not getting paid enough to have to deal with people wasting your time holding out a rotten carrot, capeesh?
I just got around to reading this. Thanks… that’s super helpful to remember.
Thanks for taking the time to read my musings, Ginger!
Hi Paul,
It’s sad that you’ve not been thanked sufficiently by people who have benefited.
I’m relatively new in the industry, and I have only a few contacts in my region. However, I have had good responses from people I’ve forwarded potential clients to, 2 of 2, so a 100% strike rate. Time will tell whether the strike rate will hold. I will still forward people when relevant… Like you, because it’s the right thing to do, not because of potential goodwill, or to be thanked. Yet, it can get disheartening when an action with benevolent intent is not acknowledged.
Thank you for your blog posts, over the years. I’ve learnt from them, including from this post, and I hope that you are having a peaceful retirement.
Cheers!
Susheel C
Just to be clear to anyone reading over our shoulders… I’m not retired. I’ve just refocused my energy to other things than recording voice overs. Plus, I’m still available to my legacy clients, and I’m open to doing interesting VO projects at a respectful budget and with a reasonable time frame.