VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Tom Test]

One of the most enduring and useful tips I learned from my favorite voice-over coach, Ms Marice Tobias, was the idea that “whatever is true with me emotionally in the moment will come through in my performance.” I had an illustration of that concept this afternoon that I want to share with you.

A few days ago, I auditioned for a “Denis Leary” attitude type of read for a food product. Brash, bold, confident, masculine. I recorded at home, felt pretty good about it, then MP3’d it to my agent. Then this morning I got a message from my agent that the casting director had decided that she’d ONLY consider talent who could come in and read in-person this afternoon. Sure, I could do this, and was feeling confident.

Then an hour or so before I had to leave for the in-person audition, I began working with a new preamp I just got. Connecting the preamp then began to completely vex me (why the hell don’t all mfr’s use the same terminology for inputs and outputs? But I digress…). Try as I might, I just could not figure it out – which any red-blooded he-man will tell you, is a devastating defeat for the fragile male ego. A man who cannot figure out how to use his tools is a loser, unworthy of affection, and to be shunned by other red-blooded men. In other words, I began feeling like the Anti-Denis Leary! I could feel my heart sink, and that brash confidence I needed to pull off an attitude read like this had vanished.

As I was walking out the door, another wave of negativity washed over me as I realized that after 4 pm, most of the street parking in the location of this agency in downtown Chicago became tow-zones, and I’d likely have to pay $18 to park in a lot just for an audition! Arrrrgh! So I drove south on Lake Shore Drive, feeling like utter crap, knowing that I would completely blow this audition if I was feeling this way when I got behind the mic. I was totally “in my head” and literally had tunnel vision.

I knew that I had to get out of this frame of mind if I were to have any chance. So I began to consciously think about events in my life where I felt supremely confident. Just then, I snapped out of it by noticing how beautiful the skyline and lake shore looked in the light of the setting sun. A broad smile broke out spontaneously as I felt the joy of the beautiful scene before me. I started feeling much better.

And then, I actually managed to find a spot to park on the street for $2.50, and headed off to the agency. As I walked up to the high-rise building where the agency was located, I realized that the place I was going to was familiar – until then I had not realized exactly where I was going because my agent had used the agency’s acronym rather than the full name I know it by. A pleasant surprise! The casting director there is a lady I have become closer to over the years, and especially lately now that we’re Facebook friends. Feeling even better…

So whereas just an hour before, I was in a very bad place emotionally to be able to give a good read for this script, due to some luck – but also due to a conscious effort on my part – I was able to get out of it. I gave two good reads for 2 different scripts, and the casting director was very complimentary. In fact, as I was leaving, she told me “I knew you’d be great with this script. In fact, you’re my top choice for this.”

So the moral of the story is: whatever is true inside of you will come through in your read. Don’t settle for a sub-par performance from a negative state of mind. If you’re in a bad place in the moment, you CAN get out of it.
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Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

[Deirdre]

Let us know when you get it!
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DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

[scottnilsen]

Fantastic post, Tom. Thanks!
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We have nothing to fear but fear itself.

Well, that and mimes.

(714)408-6405 www.scottnilsen.com

[JBarrett]

Awesome advice, Tom. Thanks so much for sharing it with us!
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Justin S. Barrett
http://www.justinsbarrett.com/

[bobsouer]

Tom,

Well said. Thank you for that inspiring story.
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

[Lee Gordon]

Tom, I hope you get the gig, but I'm a bit confused. First, you're fumbling with the pre-amp and getting pissed off. Then you're thinking about getting stuck paying 18 bucks to park for an audition that may or may not pan out.

TIME OUT! It seems to me that is precisely the attitude Dennis Leary conveys. I just hope the positive things that began to happen to you do not interfere with your ability to channel Leary's innate cynicism.
_________________
Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

[Tom Test]

[Rob Ellis]

Tom, I think we can all relate.

I don't know if this breaks any of Deeb's rules, but Eckhart Tolle's "Power of Now" has really helped me be less prone to falling into the self-sabotaging paths that my mind likes to go down (for some crazy reason)

But I still have moments like you describe in the solitude of my booth.

[Philip Banks]

Ms Marice Tobias “whatever is true with me emotionally in the moment will come through in my performance.”

"Yer woman's an eejit" Philip Banks - Greatest Voiceoverist in Portgordon channeling a 19th Navvy from County Clare.

[Lance Blair]

See gearheads, your choice of preamp can affect your performance.

btw...what one was it?

More importantly, congratulations. This is a lesson I'm working on - people want their voices to be confident. Not arrogant or smarmy (unless that's the direction) but even if you're being vulnerable, you must be confident of that vulnerability!
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Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

[Diane Maggipinto]

yeah, those frEEKin' preamps!

Perhaps you need a little Rabbit Medicine? Native American beliefs in animals as totems and guides also connect various medicines or traits to particular animals, such as Rabbit: Do not be fearful--you get what you fear most.



Rabbits are the fear caller, afraid of tragedy, illness, disaster, and being taken. They call these to themselves. What you fear most is what you become. Stop talking about horrible things about to happen or is happening. Get rid of the what if. It is not a time to worry about the future, or trying to exercise your control over what is unformed. STOP NOW.

I f you have tried to resolve a situation in your life and are unable to, you may be feeling frozen in motion. This could indicate a time to wait for the forces of the universe to start moving again. It could also indicate the need to stop and take a rest. It will always indicate a time when you need to re-evaluate the process you are undergoing, and to rid yourself of any negative feelings, barriers, or duress. Simply put, you cannot have your influence felt until you rearrange your way of seeing the present set of circumstances.

There is always a way out of any situation, because the Universal Force does move on. It is the way in which you handle problems that allows you to succeed.

Take a hint from Rabbit. Burrow into a safe space to nurture yourself and release your fears until it is time again to move into the pasture.
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sitting at #8, though not as present as I'd like to be. Hello!

www.d3voiceworks.com

[todd ellis]

hippie.
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[Gp]

This post reminds me of when I was personal coaching.
There is the old adage of F.E.A.R. Standing for False, Evidence, Appearing, Real.
It means really that we fear what we THINK will happen. Not what WILL happen.
There is a lot of truth to being in the moment. There is no question about that. I think the thing to do is remember to stay in the moment once you hit the booth. It really shouldn't matter to you what happened before you go in the booth. Once you are in you are an actor playing a role and no longer the person that just had all those troubles on the way in.

Yes I know it is easier said than done.

[Diane Maggipinto]

_________________
sitting at #8, though not as present as I'd like to be. Hello!

www.d3voiceworks.com

[voicy1stef]

Cool advice Diane. I love oracle cards!
Have several sets, and one a set on my iPod,

Glad it all came right for you in the end Tom. Keep the faith!
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Intuit and do it!

British-American voice artist based in England for the past umpteen years. I say, has it really been that long!

http://www.stefsvoice4u.co.uk
Podcast: Positive Affirmations and Audio Stories, on iTunes, Spotify etc.