With
a Little Help from Our Friends
How Monthly Meetings
on Google Hangouts
are enriching the VO
journeys of 6 voice-over artists
By Carrie Afrin, Debby
Barnes, Mike Broderick,
Mel Elliott, Steve
O’Neill, and Guy Slocombe
Beginning
in April this year, a group of four of us (Debby, Mel, Mike, and Steve) started
meeting once a month on Google Hangouts to talk about all things voice-over,
share our experiences, and offer each other support, encouragement, and advice.
The
experience has been tremendous – one we’d recommend without hesitation to
voice-over artists and voice actors everywhere.
We
thought we’d share with you how we started our group, how it works, why it
works, and what it means to each of us.
How it began
The
four of us had a shared connection: We’d
all taken part separately in Gary Terzza’s VO Masterclass, and subsequently met
each other through Google+ and Twitter, although to this day we’ve never met in
person.
We got
along well and found ourselves sharing tips and advice on social media. Mel had
experimented with Google Hangouts with a couple of us to test it for use with a
client, and then Mike suggested meeting regularly in a Google hangout, as he’d
had a good experience taking part in meetings of the VAU Mic Check.
After a
flurry of emails and diary checking we settled on a set date and time to meet
once a month, with Steve taking on the duties of sending out the meeting
invites on Google+. (Thank you Steve!)
How it Works
We meet
on the last Friday of each month at 11a.m., and the meetings run from 60-90
minutes. Because we’re all based in the UK and in the same time zone, it made
it easier for us to find a time when we could all meet.
(If
you’re inspired to use Hangouts for your meetings, one thing to consider when
using Google+ to send invitations is that it seems to apply different time
zones to different accounts, even if you select the same time zone (such as GMT)
for the meeting. This is something we learned when our first Google+ invite
requested we meet at 4am!)
There
is no set agenda or formal structure, although we generally start each chat
with an overview of how we’ve each done over the month.
From
there the discussions can flow across a wide variety of topics from
pre-screening Debby’s brand new commercial demo (which is superb), to hearing
about booked jobs or interesting auditions over the past month, to learning how
Steve’s sharp, new marketing videos are being received by his local business
community, to the tricky issues of dealing with awkward foreign translations,
or setting voice-over rates.
All
discussions take place in a safe, supportive environment, and everyone has time
to speak and ask questions.
It’s
worked so well that we’ve even agreed to cross-refer each other to potential
clients when our individual voices and skill sets don’t suit a given project.
Why it Works
To a
person we’re all positive, supportive, and helpful people who ensure that the
group remains an open, non-competitive forum. This is critical to the group’s
success.
We take
a professional approach to voice-over and are dedicated to mastering the craft (none
of us would touch Fivver with the proverbial barge pole). We’re generally new to the industry (with our
individual experience ranging from 6 months to three years), and most of us
have come into voice-over after a career change – with the majority having
worked in corporate or business – support positions.
Our group also has gender balance (with three
females and three males), decent geographic coverage across the UK (the
Southeast, Midlands, and North of England, as well as Scotland), a bit of
international flair (with 4 Britons and 2 UK-based Americans), and varied voice
styles and unique selling points.
What
started as the VO Fantastic Four (a
tongue-in cheek effort to “Marvel-ise” our little group) has recently grown to
the VO Super Six, with the addition
of Guy Slocombe who joined us for the first time in August, and Carrie Afrin
who will join us in September.
We’ve
decided to cap the group at 6, as we feel this would give us the maximum amount
of wide-ranging input and advice, while allowing each of us enough time to
speak and ask questions.
What it means to us
“I am
very new to the group, but I am loving it already! Everyone has been so supportive of each other,
and it is great to have the guys on hand for some feedback on a voice file or a
marketing idea.
I
like the idea of sharing our marketing efforts and ideas. Sometimes when you
try something different in your campaign it can take up quite a bit of time and
effort. I’m working on quite a big marketing project at the moment, and I’ve
discussed it with the team. This way I can test it out, and if it is successful
then maybe one of the others could do it for their campaign. On the other side,
if it turns out to be unsuccessful then it is only my time that is wasted
rather than a few of us, and the rest of the group know not to bother with that
particular activity.
As
a group we can test out a lot more marketing strategies than we could
individually. The way I see it, increased marketing can only make our individual
businesses stronger.”
What I’ve experienced in this particular posse can never be
underestimated. Sharing lives, stories,
experiences, values, and views has been profitable, uplifting and comforting as
well.
The individuals involved are marked with the same kind of open,
honest, affable and gracious qualities that the Voice-over Community as a whole
is marked with.
And because I haven’t enjoyed the luxury of getting to one of the
coveted VO conferences yet (…though I’m panting for the day I can!), this
Google+ circle has been such a boon.
Voice-over professionals all over the globe share an isolated,
home-studio/ “cave-dwelling” lifestyle, so this is a welcome hangout. After
all, it gets lonely inside our “caves”.
“For
starters, all the members of our group seem to be very good and nice people,
and I’m so glad to be getting to know them.
They
are incredibly generous, helpful, and supportive. Each has gone out of their
way to help me, and I’m very appreciative.
Mel has
pointed me in the direction of some sizeable auditions (which ultimately
connected me to the Voice Realm and auditions through Marc Cashman) and also recommended
me and Steve to a video producer. Steve
has shared his tips for creating great voice-over marketing videos. Debby has informed me of an excellent demo
producer (Anthony Reese) to consider when I need a new demo, and Guy has
offered to master music into some of my audio files.
In
addition, my compatriot Debby and I have discussed the special challenges and
opportunities associated with being American voice-over artists based in the
UK.
Every
month I’m inspired to hear how the other members of our group are booking jobs
and chasing their VO dreams with gusto, and I’m very happy to be a part of
their journeys.”
“A request from a client to direct a session using Google
Hangouts resulted in my first ‘face to face’ meeting with Steve & Mike.
Having only hooked up on Google+ via the Mighty Mr Gary
Terzza, it was a bit of a punt to be honest to ask them to test it out with me
before I met with my client for real.
I was astonished how readily they both came to my rescue
– fully kitted out Superman style with their pants outside their trousers! Well, they may well have been for all I could
see! Up until then, other than Gary’s
support, I’d pretty much followed the solitary VO journey using the endless
streams of information online ... and I can tell you I’ve never looked back.
With the infectious enthusiasm of Debby to add to the mix,
our first Google Hangout was a breath of fresh air for me – an excited sharing
of experiences, pearls of wisdom, and a realisation that we have something
special here!
With Guy and Carrie on board now, too, we’re a force to
be reckoned with! The breadth of
background, knowledge, styles and skills coupled with a willingness to share it
with each other is, without a doubt, a recipe for continued success and growing
friendships for us all! And I for one am
delighted to be part of it!”
“When
I first set out in voiceover, I found the VO community to be the most
supportive, accessible, considered, and balanced group of people I have EVER
worked with. Whilst we all want success, it does not come at the expense of
other VO artists – a truly refreshing balance.
Having
the benefit of being able to video conference with like-minded VO people, the
monthly hangout is invaluable. It lets me catch up, have a laugh, learn and
find out how other people solve the challenges I’ve been faced with, without
fear of criticism or ridicule. I find myself being totally honest (a little too
much sometimes!)
It
also enables me to test my ideas with a group of people who can offer a
balanced, considered and – most importantly – real world viewpoint.
At
first we had considered various lengths of time, but monthly seems to work, and
they don’t half come around quickly!
I
love being able to share, critique, giggle and generally keep in touch with
reality each month.
·
Debby
is our voice of experience, and one of the kindest people I know.
·
Mike
offers a truly rounded viewpoint, and loves the ‘tech’ side of what we do.
·
Mel
perhaps has the most similar background to me, and defines the word
‘professional’ – she keeps me in order too!
·
Guy
brings a wider spectrum of experience, and has some fab tips!
· Carrie
is a tornado of ideas, enthusiasm and energy – can’t wait for our next session
and for her to join us.
I would
thoroughly recommend meeting up with your own group of peers/colleagues/friends
using Google Hangouts, particularly if you’re looking for something informal
and straightforward.
I’m
looking forward to the next session, gang!”
“After 20 years working in the corporate sector, I decided to change my
life and follow my dream of becoming a professional VO artist and actor.
I hooked up with Gary Terzza and then went for it (and continue to do
so) at 100mph, with the result of now having clients in the USA, UK, Europe,
and India in addition to being on Spotlight.
It was through a conversation I had about ipDTL (Yes, I know, but at
least it’s not about the weather) that led me to Mike Broderick’s door.
We were able to help each other out and get a connection via ipDTL in
advance of any clients wanting to use this medium.
To me that sums up the ethos of the members of the VO community I have
met so far. We are all in the same boat, locked away in our acoustic-tiled
cell with optional bass traps (stop it!) loving what we do, wanting it to be
the best and of the highest quality.
Through Mike I have joined the group, and it has been a real pleasure to
spend time with fellow VO artists. We can share our knowledge and
experience to help each other, and you know what…we are all unique and bring
our own skills to the table.
If someone asks me now whether I can recommend a genuine American
voice...Yes I can, y’all!”
For
more information about our Google Hangouts group, or if we can assist you with
your voice-over project needs, please contact: Carrie, Debby, Guy, Mel, Mike,
or Steve via our websites. We’re always happy
to help!
.jpg)
.jpg)
