VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Philip Banks · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 2:47 am Post subject: Important feedback

A number of years ago I had a contract to do live TV announcements for part of the UKs major commercial network. It was part of my life as a VO and like a lot of things they come to an end. Cost saving, mergers etc resulted in my contract not being renewed and for me it wasn't the end of the world.

I was the voice on HTV for a few days each week saying "..and next we have". People watch TV. I was an anonymous voice. The press got hold of the information that I was to leave and published an article to that effect. The whole point of being an anonymous voice is that no one knows who I am so I cringed a great deal.

TV viewers called and wrote to the broadcaster and today whilst looking for something in my office I found a copy of one such letter. It's obviously from a very uncomplicated man who went to a great deal of trouble to write.

In LA and NYC if I market myself to the GREAT VO agencies I get tossed in the garbage. What would Frank say to that news? To whom did I make a difference? Were I to publish testimonials on my web page there would be only one.

Deirdre · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 8:15 am Post subject:

I am so glad you kept that. Fan letters are unexpected treasures.
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Chuck Davis · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 1:05 pm Post subject:

For folks who typically only get feedback from producers and clients that is something pretty special. So good that you've hung on to it.
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Lisa · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 8:45 pm Post subject:

Well, Philip, a study by the research firm TARP found that for every person that provides feedback there are 26 others who don't. (http://bit.ly/vOsyq)
Glad you kept the letter. Be assured that 26 others never made it to your mailbox.
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Jen Gosnell · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 12:40 am Post subject:

I love this, Philip.

Unrelated to testimonials, but it reminds me of this story: One time after parking my car in an urban neighborhood, I came across a lady desperately trying to get into her car in a parking lot - she had locked her keys inside. Mona felt sure she could get in if she had a coat hanger, but she did not. I offered to look for one and went off. When I came back, there was a hand-written note on ruled notebook paper tucked under my windshield wiper: "To the Lady Who Offered Help: Thank you so much for looking for a coat hanger. I finally got it open. May God be with you. -Mona"

I tucked the note into my purse. Some time later while cleaning out my purse I came across it and upon reading, decided to tuck it back inside again because it gave me a warm feeling to re-read it. And so I did for eight or nine years. It was only two weeks ago that the note finally fell apart, and I let it go (after realizing that I had inadvertently committed it to memory!).

Somehow, every time I read that note I felt happy that I had made a difference to somebody. It seemed to have some kind of strange power to remind me that I was a good person, in a way that I unquestioningly believed. And there were times over the years that I really needed to be reminded of that!

Mona could have had no idea that the service she did to me far exceeds any small help that I tried to give to her. And I can't thank her directly. So for my part, I simply take the indirect approach and try to continue with a similar type of kindness to what was shown to me.
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audio'connell · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 5:42 pm Post subject:

No marching bands.

No name in lights.

Just a simple note.

"And that has made all the difference."
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Lizden · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 9:19 pm Post subject:

I like it. Smile

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Lee Gordon · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 5:44 pm Post subject:

May I just say that the fact that a faceless, nameless, off-camera voice receives any fan mail at all is simply astounding! Bravo!
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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 9:47 pm Post subject:

I still get fan mail from an ancient man who used to listen to me on the radio back in the 90's.
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Karen Souer · Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:22 pm Post subject:

Awesome!

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