It takes one to know one -- Part 2

[Clintonnobles]

4. Practice.
---You have researched . . . you have read . . . you have purchased . . . and all long this journey to a better you there is one thing you have done daily. Practice. All of these steps are a journey. If you put one ahead of the other you are liable to fall flat. Or slow yourself down so much that you are basically walking backwards. Why? Because it is a process and without the first two steps you cannot achieve the best possible understanding and get the most out of your third step. If you just rushed out and bought equipment, more than likely you would get scammed by the price tag villains and pay way too much for low quality items, i.e. “Boy that Monster™ Cable sure has a great logo!” – by the way, I do not like Monster products . . . the name should be Monster Unreliable. I got more glitches through their lines than anything I’ve tried. From what I read (after the fact) others seem to feel the same. Anyway, basically what I am saying is it is time for fieldwork. You’ve put in your dues at the library, now it’s time to use that knowledge and understand it. Remember, you cannot understand until you do it. You only can know about it. Once you perform the knowledge it becomes part of you. It is your knowledge now and you gain a deeper understanding. Practice, practice, practice. The old saying is “Practice makes perfect.” However, I have tweaked this maxim a bit. “Perfect” practice makes perfect. Don’t just do something; make sure you are doing it right. You won’t be the first few times, but sooner or later you will get it. Then practice that! Do not practice a bad habit. It is never okay to say “Fer” or “Yur” (unless that is part of the script). If you catch yourself slipping then STOP! Do not proceed when you have done something incorrectly. Discipline yourself to practice perfect so that you may master the perfect elements. There is a reason they are called Professionals. It is because they do not except 2nd rate work. They continue to master their craft until they “profess” the quality of the industry.

5. Demo
---I am probably alone in this, but I feel a demo is a must, even early on. “Why?” you ask; because voice acting, like everything else in life, is encouraged by small achievements. When I first got my free Voice123 profile it was huge to me. When I recorded my first copy, it was huge to me. When I started reading for Austin Grammer’s News From The World Wide Web it was the biggest thing ever! My point is all of these made me feel like I was really doing something. I wasn’t just setting on my laurels and watching in awe as others achieved something. I was taking an active role in my chosen career. There are some, however, who feel “You cannot have a first demo.” Well honestly, that is ridicules. No one sound’s as good on the first demo as they do on the third. If you do, then get out of the business because you haven’t improved and you are wasting your time as well as the seekers. Harsh I know, but true. If you cannot see an improvement each time you make a demo, then you aren’t improving . . . period. Don LaFontane had a first demo. Everyone has a first demo. Those that speak that way mean that if you wish to compete in the market place you shouldn’t put yourself out there until you are to that standard. With that I agree. However, you will never know if you are to that caliber until you put your talent to the test. Most of the time you can get a demo done for a reasonable amount of money. Mine was done by the astounding Colin Campbell (colincampbellvoice.com) and it was very reasonable. I know that it is not the best out there and it – hopefully will not be the best I can do – but it was such a feeling of joy that I cannot describe. Until the day I die, I will remember when the file came through on my phone’s email and I listened to it. It was the most amazing feeling I’ve ever had. Not because it was the best voice over demo, but because it was my voice over demo! It gave me such a drive to learn more, be better, and participate in the profession I love. It is my firm belief that after you have practiced, practiced, and practice you need to reward yourself with something like a first demo. You don’t need to send it to all the local stores or stations, but show it to your family and friends. They will love it and will encourage you to better things. Then show it to the pros you met online and in person. Be ready for some harsh remarks. I was so proud of mine and then the people I admired seemingly cut it to pieces. That didn’t mean they hated it; it simply meant they were really my friends and showing me a better path. This is why a first demo is so crucial! I would have never known the things I know now had not Scott Pollak (voicebyscott.com) given me such an honest and thought out critique. Yes it was hard to take, but you know what it was what I needed. I am better because of it because Scott dealt me hard blows that he had personally taken the time to consider and word. He complemented what was good and showed me what was bad. He told the truth. He wasn’t out to win my friendship or make me quit. He was there to help and help he did.

***IMPORTANT***

This brings up a very good point. Do not start this business if you get your feelings hurt easily. It is a form of Acting and everyday you get rejected. Some do it politely and others with harsh hurting words. No one has ever been in the business and not been brought to – or nearly shed – tears. You have family to love you, friends to support you, and seekers to bring you down to earth.


6. Repeat.
---At this time you have reached the point of no return. You are in this business and you are making a go of it. You are ecstatic over your first demo and you cannot wait to audition for something. Step 6 is without a doubt the MOST IMPORTANT of all! Rush right back to step one and start all over. I know, you’ve read that book already, you’ve talked to that person before, you’ve been practicing. Good! Then you should be able to do it more effectively this time. See how this whole knowing vs. understanding thing is working. Before you researched everything to know something; now you understand that you need to research something to know everything about it. Simple, isn’t it? As you read again you learn more and more that you didn’t know before. You find a new microphone that works great with your voice because you understand what you need to listen for. Then you understand better the knowledge of voice training and you are able to practice more effectively – Perfect practice. And that brings us back to step 5 . . . the elusive marketable demo.


7. Marketing.
---This is my last step. Not because it is the last you will take, but once you achieve this goal you shouldn’t consider yourself a newbie. It may seem like a short list, but this is months of work, hours of practicing, and thousands of dollars spent on equipment, classes, workshops, and other learning mediums. It is now time to market that wonderful demo you have worked so hard for. All of your time and effort has paid off in ways you wouldn’t have imagined. Like getting your own web domain, professional business cards, and a host of great new friends; but most of all you have learned what it takes to become a Pro in the Voice Over Industry. It is time that you take all of this great knowledge you have gained, mesh it with that well of understanding, and take hold of your future as part of the best profession in the world!