I have been a voice actor for about 12 years now. I've been full-time with my voice over business for a year and a half. Only in the last few months have I begun to slowly grasp this concept of branding.
As voice actors, we hear the word all the time. It haunts us...it keeps us awake at night! (OK, maybe it's not THAT bad, but it is something we think about, right?) We know it is vital to our business, but we don't always understand it, or know how to achieve it.
That's why I am SO thankful I am a student of Nancy Wolfson. Few understand branding as well as she does. The best part? She is able to put it into plain English so the rest of us can understand it!
A while back, I participated in a teleseminar hosted by Voice123. It was approximately an hour and a half lesson with Nancy Wolfson and Anna Vocino dedicated to the importance of great branding. This teleseminar is what convinced me I had to study with Nancy.
Now, through the power of YouTube, this priceless information is available to the public...for FREE! This is a must-watch if you want to take your business to the next level!
The Power of YOU, Inc: Work Your Brand to Get More Work
(You may notice a few technical problems in the beginning with the audio...hang in there- this information is priceless!)
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
More Cereal, Please!
I have a brand of cereal I eat every single morning. Yes, every morning. I've even been known to travel with a box or two. The brand is called Nature's Path and the type is Pumpkin Flax. It is a healthy, organic, but oh-so-tasty kind of cereal and I love it! In fact, I've been known to scare my fellow shoppers by screaming "NO!" when I discover the local grocer is sold out of my beloved cereal.
I've gone store to store throughout town to discover which locations carry my cereal for the lowest price (that would be Trader Joe's). I buy several boxes at a time to ensure I never run out.
You may be wondering to yourself why I am writing a love letter on a public site to a box of cereal. It has nothing to do with a box of cereal, and everything to do with your client's expectations of your product.
You see, one day (a few months back), I decided to try a different type of cereal from the same manufacturer. It was in a larger box than my pumpkin flax, so I expected to get more cereal for my money.
When I arrived home and opened the box, I was shocked to discover that this large box contained half the amount of product in relation to the packaging! I felt I had been ripped off!
I immediately contacted the company with my complaint. I didn't honestly expect them to respond or to care...but they did! A response came within hours. They explained that the package's large size was due to shipping concerns (I'm sure it's a valid reason, though I was unable to fully grasp the explanation). She explained to me that the cost of the larger box was actually less than my smaller pumpkin flax because of the ingredients used. The company followed up on this conversation by sending me a coupon for one free box of their product.
Needless to say, I was impressed! Because of their professionalism (and outstanding product) I continue to use them to this day.
How does this relate to your business in voice over? Part of being a voice actor is creating your own packaging. From your demos, to your website, to the way you treat your clients. It is all part of the overall impression you put out every day.
The question you need to ask yourself is if your product matches your packaging? Can you back up that slick website? Is your talent properly showcased in your demos? Most importantly, is your product something your clients will want to use again and again?
While you consider these questions...here are a couple of links I strongly recommend checking out:
First, a post on VoiceOverSavvy in which Bob Bergen discusses the need to develop your own individual brand. Second, a post from my friend Mary McKitrick about all the things one must consider when setting their voice over rates.
I've gone store to store throughout town to discover which locations carry my cereal for the lowest price (that would be Trader Joe's). I buy several boxes at a time to ensure I never run out.
You may be wondering to yourself why I am writing a love letter on a public site to a box of cereal. It has nothing to do with a box of cereal, and everything to do with your client's expectations of your product.
You see, one day (a few months back), I decided to try a different type of cereal from the same manufacturer. It was in a larger box than my pumpkin flax, so I expected to get more cereal for my money.
When I arrived home and opened the box, I was shocked to discover that this large box contained half the amount of product in relation to the packaging! I felt I had been ripped off!
I immediately contacted the company with my complaint. I didn't honestly expect them to respond or to care...but they did! A response came within hours. They explained that the package's large size was due to shipping concerns (I'm sure it's a valid reason, though I was unable to fully grasp the explanation). She explained to me that the cost of the larger box was actually less than my smaller pumpkin flax because of the ingredients used. The company followed up on this conversation by sending me a coupon for one free box of their product.
Needless to say, I was impressed! Because of their professionalism (and outstanding product) I continue to use them to this day.
How does this relate to your business in voice over? Part of being a voice actor is creating your own packaging. From your demos, to your website, to the way you treat your clients. It is all part of the overall impression you put out every day.
The question you need to ask yourself is if your product matches your packaging? Can you back up that slick website? Is your talent properly showcased in your demos? Most importantly, is your product something your clients will want to use again and again?
While you consider these questions...here are a couple of links I strongly recommend checking out:
First, a post on VoiceOverSavvy in which Bob Bergen discusses the need to develop your own individual brand. Second, a post from my friend Mary McKitrick about all the things one must consider when setting their voice over rates.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
No Stupid Questions...
We've all heard the phrase 'there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers'. Of course, we've also all been on the giving and receiving end of one of those stupid questions. However, if you find yourself too afraid of asking questions for fear of appearing stupid, you might want to reconsider.
A few months ago, I was given the opportunity to audition for a new children's show on a major network. Part of this audition required me to cry and coo like a baby. Now, it is no secret that I am a huge fan of Pat Fraley (character voice extraordinaire), so I immediately consulted my collection of Fraley CD's. There it was, the 'baby in a hanky' trick once made famous by Mel Blanc. But, there was no 'trick' to cooing.
In a moment of complete abandon, I e-mailed Mr. Fraley to ask if he would coo into a hanky the same way he might cry? Yes, I felt foolish actually typing the words...but this was a serious audition!
Much to my surprise, Mr. Fraley not only e-mailed me back...he sent his response in the form of an .mp3! He answered my question in the most entertaining and helpful way.
Imagine if I hadn't had the guts to ask?
Last week I spent a few days in Texas with my family attending a cousin's wedding. When I returned, I had almost a dozen e-mails asking me for information about the voice over biz. Most of them were pretty straight forward, but one woman pointed out that every time I write a blog or an article- I always encourage folks to e-mail me with questions. She said it was because of that encouragement that she decided to write me.
By no means am I an instructor or anywhere near genius when it comes to voice over, but I have managed to learn a few things over the years. I consider it my responsibility to answer any questions, just as so many have answered mine.
Don't let fear ever stop you in your pursuit of knowledge. Sure, you may hit a bump or two along the way...but imagine what you might miss out on if you if you stop pushing forward!
Oh, and the answer to the baby coo? Perhaps it will be on Pat's next CD :)
A few months ago, I was given the opportunity to audition for a new children's show on a major network. Part of this audition required me to cry and coo like a baby. Now, it is no secret that I am a huge fan of Pat Fraley (character voice extraordinaire), so I immediately consulted my collection of Fraley CD's. There it was, the 'baby in a hanky' trick once made famous by Mel Blanc. But, there was no 'trick' to cooing.
In a moment of complete abandon, I e-mailed Mr. Fraley to ask if he would coo into a hanky the same way he might cry? Yes, I felt foolish actually typing the words...but this was a serious audition!
Much to my surprise, Mr. Fraley not only e-mailed me back...he sent his response in the form of an .mp3! He answered my question in the most entertaining and helpful way.
Imagine if I hadn't had the guts to ask?
Last week I spent a few days in Texas with my family attending a cousin's wedding. When I returned, I had almost a dozen e-mails asking me for information about the voice over biz. Most of them were pretty straight forward, but one woman pointed out that every time I write a blog or an article- I always encourage folks to e-mail me with questions. She said it was because of that encouragement that she decided to write me.
By no means am I an instructor or anywhere near genius when it comes to voice over, but I have managed to learn a few things over the years. I consider it my responsibility to answer any questions, just as so many have answered mine.
Don't let fear ever stop you in your pursuit of knowledge. Sure, you may hit a bump or two along the way...but imagine what you might miss out on if you if you stop pushing forward!
Oh, and the answer to the baby coo? Perhaps it will be on Pat's next CD :)
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