The Voiceover Boblog

Quote for the day

Bob — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:56:00 PST

This was forwarded to me today by my friend and manager, Stacey Stahl.

I have often regretted my speech, never my silence.”
— Publilius Syrus

SAG Foundation Voice-over Summit 2012

Bob — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:56:00 PST

The SAG Foundation presents an event benefiting the Don LaFontaine Voice-over Lab. The series of discussions on the art and future of voicever is broken down into two sessions. Each session is presented over 4 different days, starting February 21st. All the details are available at this special page of the SAG Foundation site.

How mobile are you?

Bob — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:23:39 PST

This question could lead to a discussion about being able to record voiceovers while you are traveling, but this time that’s not where I’m going with this question. (I’ll come back to that one another day.) No, this time I want to point out that if you aren’t thinking about how your website looks on a mobile device, it’s time to start.. To get prime your pump, here’s an excellent article called Go Mobile or Go Home on the Fame Foundry blog.

Effective effects

Bob — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:53:36 PST

There are a number of Effects that can have a powerful effect on your business if you employ them effectively. Seth Godin offers details, mainly from the point of view of a writer, on the Domino Project blog.

To boldly go

Bob — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:43:00 PST

In the classic television series Star Trek, Captain Kirk famously used a split infinitive to speak about the mission of the starship Enterprise. In the real world, as Seth Godin points out in his blog post today In search of a timid trapeze artist, a willingness to take risks is a basic requirement for moving forward in the world today.

Spotlight on Rowell

Bob — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:39:11 PST

My friend Rowell Gormon is the voice of the old chicken farmer in this Taco Johns commercial.

Wonderful work, Rowell!

Quote for the day

Bob — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:41:00 PST

Silent expectations are the quickest way to destroy a relationship.
—Seleh Stivers

Spotlight on Rick

Bob — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:29:00 PST

My friend Rick Riley is the narrator of this video about the St. Louis Cardinals, winners of the 2011 World Series.

St. Louis Cardinals Program Open from Rick Riley on Vimeo.

Well done, Rick!

What you believe is vital

Bob — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:23:00 PST

Take a few minutes to read Dan Friedman’s latest blog post called What Do You Believe? These are sage words of advice that I hope you will both read and heed.

Spotlight on Matt

Bob — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:27:04 PST

My friend Matt Cowlrick is the voice of this charming video.

Invite the Avalanche – part 6

Bob — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:09:38 PST

Yesterday I wrote about the pitfall of being average. Now, let’s get very real for a moment. No one, no matter how talented and dedicated and industrious is going to be able to excel at everything. We’re all going to have areas of weakness and average-ness. Even in our professional lives, some things are going to be outside of not only our comfort zone, but our ability.

Having established that, here’s what I also know. You can be exceptional if you will take the time and exercise the humility needed to learn what you need to learn in order to become exceptional. Once you’ve begun this process, stick with it. The main thing that can derail you on your journey to being exceptional is to change directions or change focus. Doing so will derail your efforts every time. Needless to say, quitting will also derail you.

And once you’re on your way, here’s something you won’t hear from a lot of people. Don’t be afraid to say “no.” Know yourself, your strengths. You can’t please everyone. You really can’t be all things to all people. So don’t even try. Say “no” to the things that aren’t right for you. I do this all the time.

But, when you say “no,” keep in mind that this can still be a win for you. Refer a job that isn’t right for you to someone it is right for. In fact, when you do so, it’s a win for not just you, but your friend who gets the job and the client who gets when he or she needs. Do that often enough and you won’t know what to do with all the work you do have.

What? Turning down work leads to more work? Yes. Because at least some of those people to whom you refer work, will refer things back to you. And at least some of those clients you helped are going remember you, too and when they have something that is right for you, who do you think they’re going to call? Yep. You.

The more you concentrate on doing the work you are best at, the work you most enjoy, and turn down everything else by referring that work to someone else, the bigger your avalanche is going to grow.

Playing the averages

Bob — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:37:13 PST

Average is just that, average. As Seth Godin points out in a piece published at Business Insider, being average not only isn’t good enough any more, it’s much worse than that. This is true in the voiceover business as much as it is in any other business. I need to keep raising my skills. So do you. This isn’t so much to get ahead as it is to simply keep moving.

The real secret to avoiding “average” however, is to be you. If you’re trying to be the next whomever, stop. Find your voice. Build your business around the things you love voicing. Not only will you be happier, you’ll almost certainly be better paid, too. Just as I am the world’s exclusive source for voiceovers by Bob Souer, you are the world’s exclusive source for voiceovers by you.

Caring matters

Bob — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:37:00 PST

Seth Godin recently provided a superb analysis of why taking an attitude of truly caring for your clients is so important. Take a few minutes to read his blog post Who Cares? Then think about what he’s written. And after thinking, spend some time planning how to raise your level of caring. It will make a difference.

Thoughts about voiceover demos from Some Audio Guy

Bob — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:23:30 PST

The Actors Library

Bob — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:36:00 PST

While it’s not just for voice actors, there’s a ton of valuable information available for us voiceover types at Kristine Oller’s The Actor’s Library. Highly recommended. As is Kristine herself. Oh, The Actor’s Library is completely free!

Spotlight on Debbie

Bob — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:09:00 PST

Last night was the premiere of a new documentary called “Incessant Visions -Letters from an Architect”, narrated by my friend Debbie Irwin. Debbie tells the story of how she booked this job on the Voice123.com blog Voice the Dream. Congratulations, Debbie!

Mission, no actually MoHos: Impossible

Bob — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:13:00 PST

If you happen to be in Southern California on Tuesday, January 31st, check out MoHos: Impossible Joke Protocol. My thanks to Kevin Delaney (one of the performers) for letting me know about this event. Others featured during the evening are Bill Farmer, Richard Horvitz and the legendary Fred Williard.

Quote of the day

Bob — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:27:00 PST

“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.”

–Author Unknown

Being thankful isn’t just for late November

Bob — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:37:00 PST

Thanks to my friend Mercedes Rose and a post she put on Facebook, I’ve recently discovered the excellent acting blog by Nathan Will. His post from November 24, 2011 is worth reading any day of the year.

Voices under the influence

Bob — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:23:00 PST

No, this isn’t a blog post about inebriated voice actors. Instead, thanks to a post on the VO-BB by Tim Barr, I wanted to let you know about a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation podcast called Under the Influence and specifically the episode for yesterday which is focused on professional voices.