The Good Karma Network is an entertainment industry support group. We're here to help each other cast projects, get cast in projects, advertise the projects we get cast in, and share tips and tricks to succeeding in our field.
Monday, November 30, 2009
GKN Weekly Update 11/30/09
Happy Post-Thanksgiving! I hope everybody enjoyed their holiday weekend, did some shopping, and housed some leftovers. I had a blast at dinner with family and friends.
This holiday weekend was also eventful because I went to my 20th high school reunion!
That's me with my friend Yvonne. Dig the mini-mullet on my name tag!
I can't even begin to tell you what a fantastic time I had seeing old friends and catching up. Everyone was interested in my voiceover career and a few of them said they may have work for me! That was very nice, but I'm not about to tell you to use your high school reunion as a networking tool. A bit tacky, if you ask me.
TIP OF THE WEEK: Those of us who are self-employed train ourselves to look for networking opportunities in any situation. Sigmund Freud once said "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." The reunion was just a reunion, a purely social situation. I'm not saying I had to resist the temptation to pass around business cards. It didn't even occur to me until someone broached the subject. I'm just saying there is a time and place for everything.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: If you trip in public, don't blame the sidewalk. Pick yourself up and pretend nothing happened. (from the book “Rules for my Unborn Son” by Walker Lamond)
DISCUSS!: Has anyone ever solicited you at an inappropriate time? How did you handle it?
Have a great week!
This holiday weekend was also eventful because I went to my 20th high school reunion!
That's me with my friend Yvonne. Dig the mini-mullet on my name tag!
I can't even begin to tell you what a fantastic time I had seeing old friends and catching up. Everyone was interested in my voiceover career and a few of them said they may have work for me! That was very nice, but I'm not about to tell you to use your high school reunion as a networking tool. A bit tacky, if you ask me.
TIP OF THE WEEK: Those of us who are self-employed train ourselves to look for networking opportunities in any situation. Sigmund Freud once said "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." The reunion was just a reunion, a purely social situation. I'm not saying I had to resist the temptation to pass around business cards. It didn't even occur to me until someone broached the subject. I'm just saying there is a time and place for everything.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: If you trip in public, don't blame the sidewalk. Pick yourself up and pretend nothing happened. (from the book “Rules for my Unborn Son” by Walker Lamond)
DISCUSS!: Has anyone ever solicited you at an inappropriate time? How did you handle it?
Have a great week!
Monday, November 23, 2009
GKN Weekly Update 11/23/09
And hello on this Pre-Thanksgiving, Holy Crap Did I Buy Enough Cranberry Sauce Monday! I hope everyone is looking forward to a short work week, lots of great food & family, and of course FOOTBALL! BTW whose idea was it to put my Giants on the NFL Network this Thursday? Shenanigans, I say!
So I had a great audition last Thursday to narrate some audio books. I read excerpts from three stores and I think I did very well. The auditioners were really cool and they were a pleasure to read for.
I did make one gaff, though. The guy who auditioned just before me was a middle-aged, very talented man with a deep, resonant voice. As I was settling into the booth, I said to the auditioners, "I bet it'll be a bit of a shock going from him to me." I was referring to them going from listening to a guy who sounds like James Earl Jones to a guy who sounds like Matthew Broderick. You know, very different voices with a different approach to reading copy. They said he's a great talent and so am I so what's the problem? It came off like I said the last guy is great and I suck, a lame attempt at self-deprecating humor. I explained my "joke" and everything was fine. After the audition they said I'm a great actor and they were very pleased. WHEW!!!
TIP OF THE WEEK: When you make a joke at an interview or audition make sure:
A) It's appropriate, and
B) It doesn't make you or them look like an ass.
Obviously you should avoid jokes involving profanity, politics, sex, race, and religion. Also, you don't want the joke to raise or lower your status/position in relation to your audience. I will always you encourage to break the ice and make things fun. Just be careful where you try to find the funny!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Stand up to bullies. You'll only have to do it once. from “Rules for my Unborn Son” by Walker Lamond
DISCUSS!: Have you ever told a joke at an audition or interview that fell flat? How did you recover?
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
So I had a great audition last Thursday to narrate some audio books. I read excerpts from three stores and I think I did very well. The auditioners were really cool and they were a pleasure to read for.
I did make one gaff, though. The guy who auditioned just before me was a middle-aged, very talented man with a deep, resonant voice. As I was settling into the booth, I said to the auditioners, "I bet it'll be a bit of a shock going from him to me." I was referring to them going from listening to a guy who sounds like James Earl Jones to a guy who sounds like Matthew Broderick. You know, very different voices with a different approach to reading copy. They said he's a great talent and so am I so what's the problem? It came off like I said the last guy is great and I suck, a lame attempt at self-deprecating humor. I explained my "joke" and everything was fine. After the audition they said I'm a great actor and they were very pleased. WHEW!!!
TIP OF THE WEEK: When you make a joke at an interview or audition make sure:
A) It's appropriate, and
B) It doesn't make you or them look like an ass.
Obviously you should avoid jokes involving profanity, politics, sex, race, and religion. Also, you don't want the joke to raise or lower your status/position in relation to your audience. I will always you encourage to break the ice and make things fun. Just be careful where you try to find the funny!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Stand up to bullies. You'll only have to do it once. from “Rules for my Unborn Son” by Walker Lamond
DISCUSS!: Have you ever told a joke at an audition or interview that fell flat? How did you recover?
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
GKN Weekly Update 11/16/09
Good morning on this crisp Autumn day!
Okay kids, no voiceover anecdotes today. I want to share a goofy little hobby of mine. As you know, I collect quotes and post them on this here Good Karma Network thang. What you don't know is that I also collect bad movie lines!
I collect lines or actions that, any time you hear or see them in a film, you know the movie is BAD. I'm talking about some seriously uninspired cliches. My only rule is that I don't collect lines that were made famous by one particular actor/character such as "I'll be back" or "Go ahead, make my day". I just started so the list is pretty small. I encourage you to add to the list. The lamer, the better!!!
BAD MOVIE LINES
Let’s get out of here!
Go on! Get out of here!
Go ahead without me!
What’s going on here?
Whoa...whoa…whoa! (When any child is sliding down something)
According to my calculations…
(Man) Stay here. (Woman or Child) I’m going with you!
I’m too old for this!
Bingo!
Jackpot!
I’d like to propose a toast.
Get your hands off me, creep!
We’ve got company…
Something’s fishy…
What are we gonna do?
I’ll see you in hell!
I’m scared.
(Insert name) is my name and (insert profession or activity) is my game!
VILLAIN LINES
Well, well, well, what have we here?
Look what the cat dragged in!
What is the meaning of this?
Or what? (Usually proclaimed by school bullies or thugs before they get whomped)
Get them!
Stop them!
Take them away!
Excellent!
Fools!
Intruders!
Interlopers!
THE DREADED INDICATORS
(Staring longingly at a photo that has just been picked up)
(Blood splattering on an object to indicate an act of violence)
(Closing a dead person’s eyes)
(A series of quick cuts showing the action hero suiting up for battle)
(Putting a coat on a woman’s shoulders)
TIP OF THE WEEK: I love doing stuff like this! It's easy, it's fun, and it doesn't take up much time. Benjamin Hoff wrote, "If we add up all the rewards in our lives, we wouldn't have very much. But if we add up the spaces between the rewards, we'll come up with quite a bit". Doing things like collecting bad movie lines is one of the things I use to fill up the spaces and strangely enough, it turns out to be a reward in itself. Life isn't birthdays and bar mitzvahs. It's about all the space in between. Use it well.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: After writing an angry email, read it carefully. Then delete it. Walker Lamond, "Rules for my Unborn Son"
DISCUSS!: What small, fun things can do you do to fill the spaces?
Have a great week!
Okay kids, no voiceover anecdotes today. I want to share a goofy little hobby of mine. As you know, I collect quotes and post them on this here Good Karma Network thang. What you don't know is that I also collect bad movie lines!
I collect lines or actions that, any time you hear or see them in a film, you know the movie is BAD. I'm talking about some seriously uninspired cliches. My only rule is that I don't collect lines that were made famous by one particular actor/character such as "I'll be back" or "Go ahead, make my day". I just started so the list is pretty small. I encourage you to add to the list. The lamer, the better!!!
BAD MOVIE LINES
Let’s get out of here!
Go on! Get out of here!
Go ahead without me!
What’s going on here?
Whoa...whoa…whoa! (When any child is sliding down something)
According to my calculations…
(Man) Stay here. (Woman or Child) I’m going with you!
I’m too old for this!
Bingo!
Jackpot!
I’d like to propose a toast.
Get your hands off me, creep!
We’ve got company…
Something’s fishy…
What are we gonna do?
I’ll see you in hell!
I’m scared.
(Insert name) is my name and (insert profession or activity) is my game!
VILLAIN LINES
Well, well, well, what have we here?
Look what the cat dragged in!
What is the meaning of this?
Or what? (Usually proclaimed by school bullies or thugs before they get whomped)
Get them!
Stop them!
Take them away!
Excellent!
Fools!
Intruders!
Interlopers!
THE DREADED INDICATORS
(Staring longingly at a photo that has just been picked up)
(Blood splattering on an object to indicate an act of violence)
(Closing a dead person’s eyes)
(A series of quick cuts showing the action hero suiting up for battle)
(Putting a coat on a woman’s shoulders)
TIP OF THE WEEK: I love doing stuff like this! It's easy, it's fun, and it doesn't take up much time. Benjamin Hoff wrote, "If we add up all the rewards in our lives, we wouldn't have very much. But if we add up the spaces between the rewards, we'll come up with quite a bit". Doing things like collecting bad movie lines is one of the things I use to fill up the spaces and strangely enough, it turns out to be a reward in itself. Life isn't birthdays and bar mitzvahs. It's about all the space in between. Use it well.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: After writing an angry email, read it carefully. Then delete it. Walker Lamond, "Rules for my Unborn Son"
DISCUSS!: What small, fun things can do you do to fill the spaces?
Have a great week!
Friday, November 13, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
GKN Weekly Update 11/9/09
Good morning to you on this surprisingly warm Monday! It will probably be the last one for a while so enjoy it...
As many of you know, I HATE cold calls! So I came up with a way to make it more fun. This is the game I've been playing: my goal is to have a Golden Client in every state. When I say "Golden Client" I mean a company who likes my voiceover demo and will keep it on file to be considered for future projects (thanks to Dan Duckworth of Voiceovers Unlimited calls for coining that phrase!). So far I'm up to 44! Here are the remaining six states:
Maine
Nebraska
South Carolina
Tennessee
West Virginia
Wisconsin
I'll let you know when I hit 50!
TIP OF THE WEEK: Many things we do in our jobs/careers are categorized as "necessary evils". Some of them are small & annoying, others can turn into phobias or even make you quit your job. Remember: you can't control the world, you can only control your reaction to the world. With that in mind, try to come up with ways to make those "necessary evils" feel a bit less evil. Make a game out of it or turn it into a competition with yourself or a co-worker.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: When things go wrong, don’t go with them. Elvis Presley
DISCUSS!: What can you do to make your job more enjoyable? How can you make it fun for yourself?
Have a great week!
As many of you know, I HATE cold calls! So I came up with a way to make it more fun. This is the game I've been playing: my goal is to have a Golden Client in every state. When I say "Golden Client" I mean a company who likes my voiceover demo and will keep it on file to be considered for future projects (thanks to Dan Duckworth of Voiceovers Unlimited calls for coining that phrase!). So far I'm up to 44! Here are the remaining six states:
Maine
Nebraska
South Carolina
Tennessee
West Virginia
Wisconsin
I'll let you know when I hit 50!
TIP OF THE WEEK: Many things we do in our jobs/careers are categorized as "necessary evils". Some of them are small & annoying, others can turn into phobias or even make you quit your job. Remember: you can't control the world, you can only control your reaction to the world. With that in mind, try to come up with ways to make those "necessary evils" feel a bit less evil. Make a game out of it or turn it into a competition with yourself or a co-worker.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: When things go wrong, don’t go with them. Elvis Presley
DISCUSS!: What can you do to make your job more enjoyable? How can you make it fun for yourself?
Have a great week!
Monday, November 2, 2009
GKN Weekly Update 11/2/09
Happy Halloween!!!
I hope everyone had a fun, safe, and loot-ridden weekend. I went to my friend Jim's house Saturday night for a party. I dressed up as Earl Hickey from "My Name is Earl". I wrote the list, grew a mustache (that took a month!), and made sure my eyes were closed every time my picture was taken. Go to my Facebook profile to see what I looked like (and yes Jerry, my eyes are open there, I was trying to pose like he does at the beginning of the show!)
So, I start working at Awareness Audio Books next week. I'm pretty excited! They're going to schedule a rehearsal to help determine which parts the cast will play and then record later in the week. I've never been to a voiceover rehearsal before. These audio books are more like audio dramas or radio plays so it makes sense. Also, my guess is that since this is their first time working with the cast they want to get to know us and get a feel for what we can do. I'm looking forward to the process!
TIP OF THE WEEK: I've been doing voiceovers for over thirteen years now and I love it when I have a new experience in the industry, like I will next week for Awareness. I've learned over the years to enjoy working out of my comfort zone. It kick-starts your brain and makes you re-examine your behavior. It's very healthy and I strongly suggest you do the same from time to time!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: ...if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best. Marilyn Monroe
DISCUSS!: When was the last time you worked out of your comfort zone? Did you learn anything?
Have a great week!
I hope everyone had a fun, safe, and loot-ridden weekend. I went to my friend Jim's house Saturday night for a party. I dressed up as Earl Hickey from "My Name is Earl". I wrote the list, grew a mustache (that took a month!), and made sure my eyes were closed every time my picture was taken. Go to my Facebook profile to see what I looked like (and yes Jerry, my eyes are open there, I was trying to pose like he does at the beginning of the show!)
So, I start working at Awareness Audio Books next week. I'm pretty excited! They're going to schedule a rehearsal to help determine which parts the cast will play and then record later in the week. I've never been to a voiceover rehearsal before. These audio books are more like audio dramas or radio plays so it makes sense. Also, my guess is that since this is their first time working with the cast they want to get to know us and get a feel for what we can do. I'm looking forward to the process!
TIP OF THE WEEK: I've been doing voiceovers for over thirteen years now and I love it when I have a new experience in the industry, like I will next week for Awareness. I've learned over the years to enjoy working out of my comfort zone. It kick-starts your brain and makes you re-examine your behavior. It's very healthy and I strongly suggest you do the same from time to time!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: ...if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best. Marilyn Monroe
DISCUSS!: When was the last time you worked out of your comfort zone? Did you learn anything?
Have a great week!
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