When the decision is made to pursue voice over, there are many steps that must be taken to get from point A to point B. Demos, coaches, websites, branding, weekend seminars, etc, etc. Along the way, it is easy to forget our manners!
Bob Souer recently wrote a blog about the importance of editing ourselves in cyberspace. The things we write on message boards, the pictures we post, the reviews we write are all searchable by our current and potential clients. Bob reminds us that our image online needs to reflect the image we want to uphold in all aspects of our lives. It is in fact, our branding at stake.
I want to take it one step further. On several of the voice over message boards, there are sections where we can post demos for critique by our peers. More than once I have been astounded by the behavior of a very few individuals. When their colleagues take the time to offer advice, these few folks will actually argue and insult those they asked for help! It leaves me wondering, if they already know it all, why ask for advice?
The same can be said about the e-mails you send. I receive somewhere between 10-30 e-mails per month from folks asking how to break into the voice over business. 99% of the time these e-mails are very polite and to the point. On a rare occasion, however, these e-mails have been quite insulting. I've had my website made fun of, my demos trashed, my past work put down...all by folks wanting to do what I do for a living!
Typically, these e-mails simply become something my family and I joke about over a glass of wine...but occasionally they can be quite upsetting! I often think how fortunate it is for the e-mailer that those words were sent to me and not to someone who could potentially ruin their career before it even began!
When sending e-mails, making calls, writing critiques, asking for help, and a thousand more areas of your life...stop and remember humility is a gift. Our imperfections are what make us human...and I for one know I have a long way to go in this life...and much left to learn!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
4 comments:
Kara,
Thanks for writing this excellent and important post. I also receive a steady stream of requests for help. While no one has been as disrespectful to me as they have to you, I am continuously amazed by the lack of manners that many people exhibit in their communication!
This saying springs to mind:
Be careful who you step on during your way UP because you will pass them again on your way DOWN!
Keep up the great work, both at the mic and at your computer screen! :)
Karen Commins
www.AVOICEAboveTheCrowd.com
www.KarenBlogs.com
Karen,
A wonderful saying and one I think of often! Thank you for your thoughtful comment!
As always- you keep up the great work as well :)
Kara
Kara,
I love the perspective you've taken with this post. And I'm truly stunned to know there are people who are so rude to you. That's just not right.
Be well,
Bob
Bob-
Thank you for your comment! I believe in these very few instances, these folks were trying to be funny and it doesn't come across that way. I see it so often, a person will try to tease another (whom they barely know) to establish familiarity, and instead it comes across offensive. We could all take a lesson from you Bob, just be kind to everyone you meet. :)
Kara
Post a Comment