Everything is perception. Perception is everything.
June 2, 2009
Two groups of kids were playing outside. Someone had written a big number six on the street and a fight had broken out because of it. One group claimed that the number was actually a nine. The other group insisted it was a six. Before the debate got totally out of hand, a little girl shouted: “Stop it! You’re all wrong. Can’t you see it’s just a circle with a line?”
The kids decided that she was right and they went on to do some cloud spotting. But as they were lying in the grass, another fight broke out. “That cloud looks just like a giant elf” said one of them. “No way”, said another kid. “It’s a fairy. Anyone can see that!”
SOME PERSPECTIVE
How on earth is it possible to come to very different conclusions, based on the same input? Well, the simple answer is that most of us tend to select information based on what resonates with our model of the world. The rest is conveniently filtered out. In other words: we see what we want to see and we hear what we want to hear.
I remember the story of a psychologist who decided to test this principle. During a road trip to promote his latest book, he had breakfast in a different diner every morning. And every morning he ordered “scramberred eggs”. Not once did a waitress ask: “Excuse me sir, what did you just say?” He always got a plate of scrambled eggs.
As a trained journalist I happen to be a professional skeptic. I was taught to always check my sources, and in the absence of empirical evidence, do my own fact-finding. So, when I read the “scramberred eggs” anecdote, I decided to put it to the test.
AN EXPERIMENT
One of my favorite sound engineers was a huge fan of a crooner known for songs like “Stardust”, “Mona Lisa” and “When I fall in love”. During a break I innocently asked: “Hey Mike, did you know that they just discovered an unknown recording by Napkin Cole?” He said: “Really? Where did you hear that?” And for the next half hour all we talked about was Napkin Cole. I must have used the name at least 40 times, and not once did Mike raise an eyebrow. It was unforgettable…
Having strong preconceptions is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, taking things for granted means that we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. It’s the principle of generalization upon which all learning is based. On the other hand, it closes us off to valuable new information. Worst of all, it seems to happen beyond our control.
For us voice-over pros, this is both comforting and frightening. When we record a demo, we base our approach on our take on the text. We put the info through our filters and come up with a unique interpretation. That we can control. But once our demo reaches the voice-seeker, everything depends on what unconscious filters are operating behind the scenes of her brain.
MY BIG BREAK
A few years ago, I auditioned for an amazing job. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I just knew that it was going to be my big break. Needless to say, I pulled out all the stops to make sure my demo was spot-on. I even asked people in the business to give me some honest feedback. Only after I was completely satisfied that I had absolutely nailed it, I sent my demo on its way. An hour later I received a generic rejection. It was a slap in the face and I felt like a complete failure. I listened to my demo over and over again, and I couldn’t figure out what had gone so horribly wrong. A year later I got the answer.
By chance I ran into a colleague of the voice-seeker who had crushed my dreams. He recognized my voice and we started talking about the project I had auditioned for. I said to him: “I have to ask. I would have been perfect for this project. Why didn’t I get the job?”
He paused for a moment and replied: “I know exactly why. You sounded just like her ex-boyfriend.”
When I heard those words, two very conflicting emotions boiled up to the surface. I was both livid and relieved. My angry ego shouted: how could this woman have been so unprofessional? At the same time I was glad to know that there was nothing I could have done to change her mind.
Ancient wisdom tells us that the world we see is a mirror of who we are. Everything is perception. Perception is everything. Case closed.
Technorati Tags: voice-over, voiceover, perception, demos, rejection, voiceover artist
Entry Filed under: Articles. Tags: demo, Dutch voiceover, perception, rejection, voice-over, voiceover, voiceover artist.
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Paul Strikwerda
1. brianhudson | June 2nd, 2009 at 11:11 pm
And beautifully spoken words to live by Paul.
Thank you.
2. julialombardo | June 3rd, 2009 at 12:20 am
This reminds me of a story I read once. Here it is:
American poet John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887) based the following poem on a fable which was told in India many years ago. It’s a great example of how easy it is for us to close our minds and fill in the blanks with sweeping generalizations. Also, it is a good warning about how out sensory perceptions can lead to misinterpretations.
Moral:
So oft in theologic wars,
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!
THE BLIND MEN & THE ELEPHANT
It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.
The First approached the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
“God bless me! but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!”
The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, “Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me ’tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!”
The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a snake!”
The Fourth reached out an eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
“What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain,” quoth he;
“Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!”
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said:”E’en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!”
The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a rope!”
And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!
3. flyingdutchman | June 3rd, 2009 at 3:29 am
What a great and poetic example! It just shows that this is nothing new, and certainly not limited to a specific culture.
My favorite example of selective hearing and selective vision is the blesses state of being in love. We idolize the object of our affection and refuse to see or hear anything that could pull our beloved from the pedestal.
Some colleagues are so in love with their own voice, that they have a hard time receiving feedback. But that’s for another time and another blog.
4. mstaji | June 3rd, 2009 at 12:45 pm
As we tiptoe, tumble or barrel on in this life… one thing seems to be constant… that others will try to pigeon hole, categorize or label us.
It brings order to their world and peace to their mind, shows them how wise they are… They are not alone in this… we do it ourselves. We see things in 1 dimension. It is easy for us to see the bad … but are constantly surprised that strangers can be kind.
I will quote a singer I don’t much like … but it fits:
“People are strange… when you’re a stranger… faces look ugly… when you’re alone.”
Thankfully… we’re not alone.
Taji
5. » Busting Five Voic&hellip | June 10th, 2009 at 12:03 am
[...] there’s your reality check. Feel free to disagree with me. Did I mention in my last blog that everything is perception? That’s why I’m really interested in your assessment of the voice-over business at this moment [...]
6. Double Dutch » Bust&hellip | July 2nd, 2009 at 8:14 am
[...] there’s your reality check. Feel free to disagree with me. Did I mention in my last blog that everything is perception? That’s why I’m really interested in your assessment of the voice-over business at this moment [...]