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Bob Bergen · 06-13-2008, 09:21 AM

Hey Jodi!

Well, it's a slow process...for many reasons. First off, I've been really busy! Travel with my weekend workshops, lots of VO work (Thank God!), my one man show (coming to NYC next April!!), etc.

Plus......I still have no publisher. My lit agent is working on it! But it's a VERY niche book. And most publishers just don't get the whole agent/VO thing.

But it'll happen eventually! ;-)

I CAN help with your ,"How do you know you are ready?" question.

When you stop asking, "Am I ready?" you will be ready. It's that simple. It's the purest confidence that you absolutely KNOW you can be handed any piece of copy and give it a competitive read, while adding that little "something" that only you can bring to your work..which is YOU.

Agents have no need for another voice. They have all the voices they will ever need. What they DO need is you. No one represents you. The reason most people get turned down by agents (OOOO-and here is free agent advice from the book, confirmed by over 25 interviewed agents!!) is they submit a demo that doesn't reflect the actor's individual personality and style. It's just another voice reading copy. It's a formulaic demo. It's another been there/done that/same ol cookie cutter demo that gets tossed into the reject pile.

Ya get one shot per listener! Better make it count!!!!!! And you have to grab em in the first 4 seconds!

Even good actors who have studied VO for years make these "passed on" demos. Many demo producers don't take the time to showcase the actor's individuality. And many will do a demo for anyone with a checkbook. HUGE mistake! For all involved! If an actor can't live up to their demo, it reflects on the producer as well. Think an agent will recommend a producer who will do a demo for just anyone??

Now-going back to how one knows they are ready. If your doubts are, "Will I get work??" Well, unless you are psychic, no one can really know if they will get work. I have NO idea what work I have beyond what I have scheduled right now.

Hey-that's show biz!

But I know I'm competitive enough to get work. And I know that I'll have no problem making the copy my own.

Celebs walk into a VO session knowing they are there because of who they are. They present themselves with a confidence where they have no concerns with , "Am I what the buyers want??" Most VO actors attempt to be what they think the buyers want..rather than be themselves thereby talking the buyer into wanting them.

If the non celeb approached their VO career with the same confidence as the celebs do, they'd get more work.

Ya have to make the copy yours. If you can do that without having to spend a ton of time prepping, you are ready!

If not?? What's the rush??? VO ain't going anywhere! Get to that confident/I can do anything point.

Then knock em dead!

BB

06-13-2008, 09:21 AM	#41 (permalink)
Bob Bergen User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 145	Hey Jodi! Well, it's a slow process...for many reasons. First off, I've been really busy! Travel with my weekend workshops, lots of VO work (Thank God!), my one man show (coming to NYC next April!!), etc. Plus......I still have no publisher. My lit agent is working on it! But it's a VERY niche book. And most publishers just don't get the whole agent/VO thing. But it'll happen eventually! ;-) I CAN help with your ,"How do you know you are ready?" question. When you stop asking, "Am I ready?" you will be ready. It's that simple. It's the purest confidence that you absolutely KNOW you can be handed any piece of copy and give it a competitive read, while adding that little "something" that only you can bring to your work..which is YOU. Agents have no need for another voice. They have all the voices they will ever need. What they DO need is you. No one represents you. The reason most people get turned down by agents (OOOO-and here is free agent advice from the book, confirmed by over 25 interviewed agents!!) is they submit a demo that doesn't reflect the actor's individual personality and style. It's just another voice reading copy. It's a formulaic demo. It's another been there/done that/same ol cookie cutter demo that gets tossed into the reject pile. Ya get one shot per listener! Better make it count!!!!!! And you have to grab em in the first 4 seconds! Even good actors who have studied VO for years make these "passed on" demos. Many demo producers don't take the time to showcase the actor's individuality. And many will do a demo for anyone with a checkbook. HUGE mistake! For all involved! If an actor can't live up to their demo, it reflects on the producer as well. Think an agent will recommend a producer who will do a demo for just anyone?? Now-going back to how one knows they are ready. If your doubts are, "Will I get work??" Well, unless you are psychic, no one can really know if they will get work. I have NO idea what work I have beyond what I have scheduled right now. Hey-that's show biz! But I know I'm competitive enough to get work. And I know that I'll have no problem making the copy my own. Celebs walk into a VO session knowing they are there because of who they are. They present themselves with a confidence where they have no concerns with , "Am I what the buyers want??" Most VO actors attempt to be what they think the buyers want..rather than be themselves thereby talking the buyer into wanting them. If the non celeb approached their VO career with the same confidence as the celebs do, they'd get more work. Ya have to make the copy yours. If you can do that without having to spend a ton of time prepping, you are ready! If not?? What's the rush??? VO ain't going anywhere! Get to that confident/I can do anything point. Then knock em dead! BB Last edited by Bob Bergen; 06-13-2008 at 10:13 AM.