Looking for Hope

Laura Darkstar · **Voice Talent** Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Posts: 9

I haven't posted my demo in the "critique me" forum because I simply don't have the wherewithall to take criticism right now.

I've been submitting for jobs here on Voice123 for a couple of weeks now, have submitted for nearly 70 and nary a nibble... and I'm trying very hard to not be discouraged. But, I lost my "day job" earlier this month and am running out of money and running out of hope and I listen to the demos other people put here and wonder if I will ever be half as good.

The flip side is I DJ on the internet 4 nights a week. During a 2 hour set, I'll routinely get a dozen compliments on my voice and regularly get asked if I am a voice work professional....

Anyhow, I am very happy to have the opportunity to submit for jobs here. How do the rest of you keep your morale up?

Happy Holidays to those who celebrate!

Randall Bigham · **Voice Talent** Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Posts: 90

i myself have a goal of having V.O be my primary source of income. the "day job" i am having right now i am starting to dislike more & more, but i think of how much i am not liking my job & use that as motivation to get the train moving faster on the tracks to the final destination, "doing what you truly love & make a living doing it". I think the faster you get something up here to critique, the faster you can get any helpful information that will help you improve in a way that can give you a better edge on getting more jobs. i am a newbie at this so i will leave the critique to other, more experienced people, but i hear that knowledge and persistance are the keys here, and i, myself am prepared for the long haul, setting realistic goals and trying my best to achieve them.

i probably haven't helped much but i thought i would throw in my (.02)

"It is to the one who endures that the final victory comes"

Laura Darkstar · **Voice Talent** Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Posts: 9

I do plan on posting something for comment at some point. But right now I have no job, no income, no prospects and a pile of rejection letters. I've spent much of the last week in tears... so hearing that I don't have "the right stuff" is simply something I cannot handle at the moment.

I do appreciate your response though... and knowing how I could improve will be an important tool, when I have the mental/emotional capacity to hear it as a professional.

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

Laura:
Believe me here; we ALL OF US have to deal with long dry spells and the fearful thought that we will never get another gig again.
My approach is to embrace that. I approach each audition as another exam in a long, fascinating education. I don't EXPECT work to grow out of it. In good old hippy-speak, it's just all in the trip, man.
That way, each nibble is a delight, and every little green icon lead a pick-me-up that doesn't wear off for weeks.
Your voice is fine. Your demos and skill will improve.
Now get up on that horse and ride it, girl.
Holiday Peace and Best of the Season,
Robert Jadah

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

Nikki Saco · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Aug 2006 Posts: 465

Laura, I've yet to see any demo critique that said someone didn't have the right stuff. What the comments here have tended to offer is a little guidance on developing skill sets, getting a better mic or simply improving a demo that could be better -- pointing out the stronger or weaker clips.

Honestly, any comment that's meant to hurt you isn't worth listening to anyway. That goes for everything! paladin

If I may be blunt, it sounds like money is your more immediate need, not in broader terms a VO job. That sucks, I know. I don't know if this is an option for you but, people tend to forget their 401K's if their jobs offered that. You pay a penalty but, as a last resort, it may be something that can take the edge off current financial stress.

At age 45, I do cringe at the thought of cashing out a retirement plan early; and frankly I'd exhaust all other options first, including bartering or borrowing. One friend of mine had trouble meeting his rent payment last year and offered his management services to the building owner who was moving out of state but keeping the rental property. He now lives there rent free and manages the property (including repairs and stuff).

I'm just throwing it out there because frankly dry spells really are frequent. So, I'd hate to see you focusing solely on getting voice over work to pay the bills. I think that tends to generate a desperation that can spill into the quality of performance work. You'll notice that a lot of the professionals here are also pedaling their books or seminars. When they're not working, they're teaching. Scott does web design; I do graphics and web development and just started my own web hosting business too. Robert acts (such a cutie). Louis amuses the rest of us and wins a year's subscription to V123.

You have options too! Your profile page says you have experience as both a project manager and setting up small businesses. Project managers are super hot right now, at least in Florida, maybe in your area too; you're also in luck with your knowledge of small businesses, because you're on a forum with a bunch of people who are setting up small businesses, their VO jobs. Maybe you can develop a consulting package and post it on the "Buy and Sell" part of this forum. Some people could use help figuring out how to register fictitious names, acquire a tax ID, set up a business plan, figure their taxes. Project managers are, by definition, an excellent resource for information and contacts who can help with all kinds of things, whatever you specialize in as a project manager.

If you specialize in helping launch small businesses, you're also potentially increasing your VO client base because a lot of small businesses find themselves setting up new voicemail systems, web sites that may benefit from web-based audio, product promotions and so forth.

By the way, you have an excellent stage name. Love it. Hang in there, Laura.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006, 21:36 (GMT) Post subject:

All very, very astute and well-thought-out comments, Nikki.

Laura, I agree with pretty much everything Nikki said and it sparked a few other ideas. From having chatted with you via e-mail, I know she's right when addressing the most pressing needs as being monetary. So I'm going to offer some other thoughts here. There are a number of ways to make enough money from home to at least pay the rent. Ebay is always looking for seller's assistants. Also, I know Julie Williams, here on voice123.com, is so successful and busy answering V123 leads that she has a p/t assistant work a couple hours/day just responding to leads for her. Perhaps you could offer your services remotely to do that for some of us here. Accumulate some of our generic demos and whenever leads come our way that you could answer for us, shoot out a short note and attach the demo to respond. Not sure if that would work remotely, but those of us who 'hired' you could give you our log-in to check leads daily and respond. We could offer you a 'per response' fee or something.

I'm also going to go waaaaaaaaay out on a limb and propose a one-time offer of assistance if you don't mind accepting it. If it's okay with you, I'd like to challenge those of us on this forum who have been blessed with work or finances to shoot a little donation to you via paypal. I'd first need YOUR (Laura's) Okay to do that, and if so, I'll send off the first donation. It won't be much, maybe only $10 (I have my wife's HUGE hospital bills to pay off over the next two years), but if all of us did that, it would help pay the rent this month.

So what does everyone think? Smile

Amy Snively · **Voice Talent** Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 1028

Sometimes it's not the talent, it's the recording quality of one's auditions and demos...

Lynne Alston · **Voice Talent** Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Posts: 743

Scott, I think that is noble of you to get something going, while I cant send money due to currently helping a friend who lost her husband, then her job, and has 2 teenage sons at home, I can share a great visualization tool.

Laura, go to www.thesecret.tv/. skip intro, scroll to bottom of page, click on secret treasures, about half way down click on "secret to you", its a great pick me up.

Ready for money then same page click on "secret to riches", this has worked for me, my income from my other job doubled this month, and I just picked up two more large companies for on-site massage.

Lynne