Go your own way....

Colin Campbell · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007, 08:25 (GMT) Post subject: Go your own way....

Max Ehrmann wrote:

Frank Frederick · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 29 Dec 2006 Posts: 142

Relax Collin,

In the Desiderata it plainly states:

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata

Taking things out of context allows for disregard of the truth. Find your peace my friend, it will allow to grow to your potential and put your soul at peace.

Frank Frederick
"The Voice" tm

Colin Campbell · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007, 08:54 (GMT) Post subject:

Frank, did my taking those lines out of context somehow change the meaning of them? It was not my intention, I just thought for brevity to illustrate my point that the rest was not releveant to this particular topic.

Colin Campbell · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007, 08:56 (GMT) Post subject:

OK... you dramatic readers... someone needs to record it! Let me post it over at that old "IMITATE THIS!" thread.

J.S. Gilbert

Albert Einstein is attributed with the saying that "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results".

Your instincts actually told you to try doing something different. Your instincts should tell you that the market has changed and continues to do so and by being versatile, being able to emote and for criminy sakes ACT is what is getting people work.

(Of course sleeping with an ad agency exec doesn't hurt either)

I can play you my original voice demo and if I were using it today or performing that way I wouldn't book much. Strive to be relevant. Look to see the trends and the voice types in vogue. Give yourself permission to play and explore, to make mistakes and maybe even look foolish.

Allow yourself to grow.

(I'm feeling a little ferklempt right now. You go talk amongst yourselves)

Frank Frederick · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 29 Dec 2006 Posts: 142

Collin, et al.

Keeping to the humility of it all; the line before you started your quote, says a lot without saying a thing...

"Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit. "

Just prior to those outstanding words are:

"As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story."

I emphasize the last line here for a reason, your comment was:

"...the well-meaning advice of the fine human beings on this forum has twisted and contorted my vocal efforts to a point where I don't know what I am doing. "

You also question as follows:

"...did my taking those lines out of context somehow change the meaning of them?"

The answer to your question is yes. It does change the meaning of the text.

Max wrote in his own words that "one should not take one part of the poem to mean any more or less than it would in its entirity". Without understanding the intent of the Desiderata, you lose focus on the BIG picture.

Reading the Desiderata is similar to reading specific lines from religious text; one does not have any understanding of the message. Without a background to determine what the intent of the author is, or is not . Without knowing the background, there is no way to determine the focus of the poem.

Voice123 and our constituents are all working toward the same goal; focus in our lives and in our work. The Desiderata reveals - in-context there is synergy; without synergy one brings the stresses of imaginings upon themselves.

O.K., I am a HUGE fan of this work called the Desiderata, and have created a unique version similar to the recording by Les Crane, a newsman and disc jockey in 1968. Mine is a bit more updated and is designed for the 21st Century; however, it is similar.

I will put it at a location where others may share, soon.

Frank Frederick
"The Voice" tm

Scott Pollak · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007, 12:52 (GMT) Post subject:

Colin, my friend, my compadre', my peer.................

I have no doubt that I'm one of those 'well-intentioned' people of which you speak on these forums. I apologize if I've contributed to your convolutedness. If you want, I'll refrain from offering any more critiques or feedback. Yet, you've been posting many demos, so I can only assume you've been SEEKING feedback.

I fear too often that I come across as a less-abrasive J.S. Gilbert in my analysis of the many reads out there, but people seem to keep coming back saying, "no, no, no! You're offering good advice". Also, I try to keep emphasizing that I don't even pretend to act like I'm the know-all or be-all.

But here's a thought for you. There are some gorgeous radio voices on this site, yours, Sids, and a handful of others. Are they getting the jobs? In my experience, I HAD to totally rebuild myself to be marketable now. A few years ago I proudly sent my demo to one of the top voices on this site, a friend who teaches v/o classes, and she reponded... "well, it's okay, for an ANNOUNCER." Problem was (is), that there are a MILLION good radio announcers out there and I wasn't good enough to compete against at least half of them. On top of that, it wasn't what the majority of clients are looking for now. Most of the leads we seem to get here say something to the effect of "strong, authoritative, but real... no announcers!". I had to work really, REALLY hard to break old habits, listen to the advice of those who are doing this fulltime, and relearn everything.

But let me take it one step further: we are what we are. Some of can NEVER be the 'big voice announcer guy' (I can't). Some of us can't be the wild 'n' crazy youthful video game voice (I can't). We must all realize what parameters our talents and capabilities fall within and work to maximize those gifts. You recently landed a job where the client thought your voice was the perfect fit. Perhaps you DO need to just keep honing what you already do so well, but with the realization that it may not lead to as many jobs here as you'd like. Then again, maybe it WILL! Who knows?

Anyway, those are my rambling, way-too-early-for-a-Saturday thoughts (I had to get up at 6:00 this morning to drop my daughter off at a track meet). Blessings my friend. I think I speak for all of us here when I say we admire your talent and your heart tremendously.

Robert Jadah · **Voice Talent** Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 2627

I hear you, Colin.
And that's always been a pleasure, incidentally.
I can only suggest that while Merryl Streep and Lindsay Lohan might exchange general acting tips, they would not be well served by imitating each other.
We here must take care not to cross a line and erase somebody's individuality, or signature tone.
Matt, Tom, and I, for example, take some flak for a sing-song cadence to our reads. I hear it, acknowledge it, and dismiss the observation.
Only yesterday, I received a long thank you for a V123 client's web narration which the customer feels has tripled their organization's site hits and doubled their charitable contributions.
It's sing-song-ish; and they love it.
The production house had another assignment for me.
The upshoot is that while Scott and Colin and George and Amy and I and many others are here to tweak and fuss, we should not try to make everyone sound the same.
Of course you should read it as you feel you should, Colin.
It's your vehicle, man. You're the driver.
We're just mechanics fiddling under the hood.
Voice On!

Colin Campbell · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007, 17:08 (GMT) Post subject:

Frank... I apreciate your love of the Desiderata and I'll be careful not to quote it in pieces in the future. It was not my intention to misinterpret.

Scott and Robert... I really do apreciate all the critiques and I don't want them to stop. What I need to change is how I interpret them. I find that when I listen to one critique and adjust accordingly, another person will then tell me that the very thing I've changed is for the worse. That's what I mean about twisting and contorting. It's not the advice, it's the CONFLICTING advice. I guess I am gulity of taking it all so seriously that I end up a confused mess. Also, Scott, I know about not being an announcer and that is exactly what I am trying to do, to expand, to "voice act" (at least on pieces that call for it) and that is also part of my frustration because "it aint easy."

Joe J Thomas · **Voice Talent** Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 1521

Colin et. all,

I hear ya... Gotta know yourself, but the way to find new abilities is to explore them.

It's hard not to get lost on the way. Been about 25 years since I've used my own voice! Wink

For myself, balance is key. Listen to advice with a grain of salt. Take what rings true and incorporate it. Discard what doesn't. And sometimes, try the things that don't make sense, just to stretch and see if you're capable...

Adapt, adopt, and improve,
Joe J Thomas
www.JoeActor.com

Frank Frederick · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 29 Dec 2006 Posts: 142

Collon,

Keep true to yourself.

One of the things which working "as yourself" brings to the foreground is the self confidence factor. You have the chops, now do what you do best, and make no apologies. If you are getting work, then, that is what counts.

In my many years in our business, I find myself slipping into the "beat me while I am down stage" every once in a while. This little emotional question mark is one of the hazards of doing busienss.

Keep marketing yourself, keep working, and keep YOURSELF happy. Do what you do best, and "damn the torpedoes".

From another friend on the board.

Frank Frederick

Colin Campbell · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007, 18:40 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks Frank and everyone. This was very helpful.

J.S. Gilbert

A few wors from the abrasive J.S. Gilbert

I have no idea what the "less abrasive J.S. Gilbert" comment was meant to be. I came on here as a nice guy - nothing. Came back with a little challenge and a few rose up, a few ran away and more than a few made it seem like I should get lost.

O.K., so I left for a few days.

My inbox got filled up from people asking me to stay and post. Nobody said I should be "nicer".

I've got about 70 private messaages in the past week from people who seem to want my advice. I don't sugar coat it, because this isn't a soft business. I know what the casting directors and producers say when a talent can't deliver the goods. And despite the grand scope of this business, a large amount of very good work is controlled by a small community.

I don't sell books. I don't cell DVD's. I don't charge actors for any service at all. If anything I do free work to help actors. I consider myself to be a professional who truly dedicates myself to as many of the disciplines of being a relevant and marketable voice actor as I can. I don't want to be part of a community of individuals who either through poor advice, laziness, lack of motivation, fear or any one of a hundred other excuses doesn't expend any energy into any aspect of this business. Trying and failing is part of life. I question if many people today in any field of endeavor really know what "trying" is. Regardless of any personal feelings, I do reach out to those I think I can be of help to and there are people here who have talents I respect and admire.
I would like to think that regardless of my methodology, I do act as an agent for positive change.
If I personally didn't get work as a result of responding to auditions in here, I would think that this system is totally broken. I don't need to comment about the level of success, how much money or other aspects except to say that if it wasn't worth my time, I wouldn't still be a premium member. Can V123 improve? Heck yes and unlike some of the other sites that take my comments as personal afronts, my criticisms of V123 are met with courteous and professional answers.
Yes, I like you are waiting for the "big shoe to drop with Smartcast.
I can tell you that I did better 2 and 3 years ago responding to auditions via V123 and I understand that "all things change and end".
My personal feeling is that for the most part, the changes to V123 will mean that those who already book business from here will book more and that those who don't (if they don't change something about the way they go about things) will still continue to find difficulties.

I have heard that it takes as little as 3 months to develop an ingrained habit and yet can take decdes to give up a habit. I quit smoking 4 years ago and as I write this I'm wanting a cigarette. For those of us who lied our trade doing something that is no longer as marketable, the task of getting back into vogue is difficult.

Advice is what you make of it. If you want to ask 35 people a question and 34 answer 1 way and the 35th answers another way, you can take the "mob" advice or the loan descender. I'd say it has a lot to do with who you are, who's giving the advice and your personal ability to put that advice into action. I always hated how everyone in voice class would applaud every time someone finished reading their copy. My contention was that listening to 9 people perform badly wasn't going to enforce any positive actions. Listen to commercials on the radio and t.v. and call some 800 numbers and listen to voicemail and go online and listen to large corporatiuon streaming video and go to Discovery Channel and listen to good narration. Those are the pople booking the jobs. Why not let them be your teachers.

As for the "spiritual" side of this. I truly feel sorry for any atheist that gets into acting, because I know that prayer is your best tool for making it.

Colin Campbell · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007, 20:05 (GMT) Post subject:

Great post JS. Listening to those "booking the jobs" so to speak is all I HAVE done since I was five years old with my transistor radio under the covers at night. Now it's Discovery Channel and History Channel. I can't tell you how many times I hear a voice-over on TV and say... "dammit, I can do that better." I think now after experiencing all of this on the forum and 123 that maybe confidence is just as important as talent. Then there's marketing, the toughest of all ingredients. I find that most voice artists tend to be introverted and that makes it tough to market. Anyway, I'll keep plugging away at it. One thing I don't lack is determination and perseverence. I totally understand that it's EXTREMELY hard to stop "doing radio" and ACT. To a radio guy like me... "acting" is like intentionally sounding "bad." I think you have to know HOW to act in order for it to appear that you are NOT acting. I get it... now I just have to figure out how to DO IT. Lately when I try to "act" the comments I get are that I am "monotone." That is me trying not to sound like an announcer. It's a tough and fine line and distinction but I'll get it sooner or later.

Tom Greenlee · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 945

Amen and Amen......lol...I'm with ya Colin.