VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Philip Banks · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:42 am Post subject: Sound engineer genius

A two voice session yesterday. MVO (the lovely, pouting and dangerous Philip Banks) and an FVO (no names no litigation).

From the start the FVO moans about everything. Ad agency people are getting slightly annoyed.

"There's something wrong here! Is there anything you can do to make me sound better?"

Matt the sound thinks for a moment.

"Let me try something". He then hits her mic's mute button.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh! So much better.

Edo · Guest

And Philip still always being the gentleman... respect. And a very big PLUS ONE for the sound engineer Wink

Lizden · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:31 am Post subject:

I'm sure SHE'LL be working with you guys again! Rolls Eyes

L.
_________________
Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com

CarynClark · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:40 am Post subject:

fun-nay!! Is that a true story?
_________________
Caryn Clark... The Hip Chick Voice!

"A positive mental attitude and having faith in your ability is quite different from being irresponsible and downright stupid." - Dave

Philip Banks · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:44 am Post subject:

Happened yesterday afternoon.

Discrete phone call to me to ask for the name of another FVO while m'colleague was given the opportunity to leave the building.

CarynClark · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:46 am Post subject:

Wow, I asked not b/c I think you tell untruths, but b/c I can't imagine a vo acting like that.
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Caryn Clark... The Hip Chick Voice!

"A positive mental attitude and having faith in your ability is quite different from being irresponsible and downright stupid." - Dave

Lizden · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:48 am Post subject:

Philip Banks · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:10 am Post subject:

Yesterday was the first time I've witnessed such a thing in over 17 years.

When the session started I thought it was just nerves on the part of the FVO, so I tried to keep thing nice and light. It became fairly clear to me after 10 minutes that this woman was itching for a fight. Including the FVO there were 6 people in the studio plus me at the end of an ISDN.

The last straw came after 20 minutes of zero takes.

"Don't worry about the delay X it's the ISDN. Just do your bits and we'll fit to picture when we've got what we need"

"Oh wadda f*** up! Can't you fix it, it's putting me off!"

SILENCE

Engineer "We're just going to drop your line for a moment. Call you in a sec' when the guys have sorted something out here".

30 minutes later. New FVO. Job done in 10 mins! My lovely FVO friend was shopping in ASDA (UK Walmart) when I called her. She left hubby with the 2 children and dashed home to earn enough to pay for ....more than the weeks' groceries.

Lizden · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:47 am Post subject:

When I was working at the recording studio just outside of NYC, I often used foreign VO's for IVR work.
The thing with IVR is that once you're on a company's phone system, you're pretty much guaranteed regular work because there are regular updates to the scripts.

Well, a very large client needed an Italian FVO for a new system they were installing.

I called around, listened to demos & found an FVO who SOUNDED very good.

I called, told her what bus to take to get to the studio and waited for her to show up.

She shows up, all pissy saying that it was just too much of a hassle and that after this session, she doesn't think she wants to deal with the travel out anymore.....At which point I told her, thanks but if you're not available for updates, there's no point in recording the initial prompt sets.

I got another FVO who was great, sweet, and worked with me on this client's updates for over 2 years.

And NO, I never called or recommended the first FVO ever again.

MAJOR RULE OF VO: Don't piss off the engineer!!!!
_________________
Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com

Deirdre · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 8:36 am Post subject:

Lizden · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 8:37 am Post subject:

ABSOLUTELY!

L.
_________________
Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com

KaraEdwards · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 8:44 am Post subject:

A session I had with a MVO a couple of years ago will stick with me always. Every time he was asked to re-do a line he would expell a long list of curse words. Amazing! I haven't seen him again.

A year ago a job popped up I knew I wasn't right for, so I sent it to the voice I thought was the perfect fit. I never even received an e-mailed 'thank you'. Nothing. Through the grapevine I heard the client hadn't been too pleased either.

Rule #1 (as Liz said): Don't piss off the engineer
Rule #2: Don't piss off the client
Rule #3: Don't piss off anyone, cuz you never know where the work may come from!!!
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Kara Edwards
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CarynClark · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 8:47 am Post subject:

Wow, wow, wow, Banksey.

Seriously, how does one expect to make a lasting career if you po the people you work with?
_________________
Caryn Clark... The Hip Chick Voice!

"A positive mental attitude and having faith in your ability is quite different from being irresponsible and downright stupid." - Dave

ccpetersen · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 8:49 am Post subject:

Then again... if you're a big-enough name, you can be as pissy as you want and STILL get called to do work...

A colleague of ours needed a narration done for a documentary for a museum project. They got a "Big Hollywood Name" to do it. He donated his services, so I hear.

He got into the session, read the first page of the script, and allegedly threw it down in disgust and basically told them to call him back in when they had a script he could narrate. And walked out.

I think the producer and director together lost about 20 pounds in 10 seconds over that one... But, they completely rewrote the script -- and according to our colleague, it was a better script. The actor came back in, did the session, and that was that.

Which reminded ME of the first time I EVER booked a celebrity narrator for a project. He showed up and pitched a fit about all kinds of things, didn't want to take direction, and threatened to leave a couple of times. BUT... BUT... BUT... he turned in a great performance and the show was a hit. I think of him whenever I get frustrated with a piece of copy...

Moral: there's no moral, really. But will say that the FVO Philip worked with sounded like she was a bit in love with herself...
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DougVox · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:24 pm Post subject: