The rumors started a few years ago. It all began when they had seen her struggle to get to the car. It was not a pretty sight.
Swaying from one side to the other, Jennifer stopped to take a breath and regain her balance. Her brain was telling her body to walk upright, with that strong, steady gait she had been so proud of. But somehow, that message didn’t reach her muscles because she kept on waddling like a duck.
As she looked down, she realized how uneven the sidewalk was. Every tile that was sticking out turned it into an obstacle course.
She stopped again and looked at her neighbor’s porch. A shadow quickly moved away from the front window.
When she finally reached the car, she had to hold on to it, to stay on her feet. Jennifer opened the door and swung herself into the driver’s seat. When she drove away, she already felt exhausted, and the day had barely begun. She wondered how well she would do at the audition.
NEIGHBORS
The people next door were old school. They didn’t say much, and when they did, it was usually behind her back. Much of the world was a mystery to them, and yet, they acted as if they knew everything.
For one, they thought that Jennifer was lazy, because she hardly ever left for work in the morning. They had no idea that Jennifer had a state of the art voice-over home studio.
Secondly, they were pretty sure that Jennifer was faking a handicap. One day, they had seen her walking with a cane. The next day, she seemed to be totally fine. Besides, she looked great.
Perhaps Jennifer was feigning disability to get money from the government. How else could she afford the mortgage? After all, she had no job and people abuse the system all the time.
The neighbors also knew something else: Jennifer liked a drink or two… or three. That would explain the swaying and the stumbling on the sidewalk. In short: Jennifer was a jobless, lazy drunk who shouldn’t even be driving. She should be ashamed of herself!
THE STAGGERING TRUTH
This week is MS Awareness week, and like many other people who suffer from multiple sclerosis, Jennifer was gearing up for the annual Walk MS event in May. She needed sponsors for the walk and she decided to stay close to home. Jennifer loved to bake and had an idea: she would go door-to-door with her delicious home-made cookies and raise funds for the event.
As the oven was heating up, she thought back to the last meeting of her support group. That night, they had discussed the many misconceptions surrounding MS.
Larry, the facilitator, warned everybody: “When it comes to a chronic illness like MS, if it’s not visible, it does not exist. In other words: as long as you’re not in a wheelchair, people tend to think that you must be doing alright.
Some folks think that MS is the result of a poor diet or negative thinking. In other words: you’re basically doing it to yourself. Eating healthy and an optimistic attitude alone could solve the problem. Wouldn’t that be lovely?
As you know, many MS symptom are silent; different people have different symptoms and some of them come and go. There’s poor coordination, fatigue, vertigo, visual disturbances, tremors, spasticity, weakness, slurred speech, unstable walking, sensitivity to heat… do I need to go on?”
POLLING THE PEOPLE
“When they surveyed people in the UK about MS last year, almost half of the respondents couldn’t name a single symptom. Others believed that MS was contagious or inherited and almost always fatal. None of that is true. Mind you, the people that were interviewed were from a cross-section of the population. They weren’t exactly uneducated.
So, on top of suffering from a nearly invisible autoimmune disease, people with MS also suffer from these myths and misconceptions.”
At that point, Carlos interjected. He had been a flight attendant for many years, until MS had him grounded.
“I always tell people: Even though I have this disease, it’s not who I am. I’m still the same person. I don’t want your sympathy. I want your understanding.”
SPONSORS NEEDED
While Jennifer was making her cookie dough, I thought of the things I could do raise money and awareness. I decided that it was time to re-launch my campaign for the Walk. It’s called “Giving a voice to MS”. This is how it works.
There must be people who’d love to have their favorite poem or short story read by a professional narrator. Well, when you make a donation to my Walk MS-team, you can send me a short script and I’ll record it for you as my way of saying “Thank You”. You can donate from anywhere in the world. For now, my campaign is geared toward the general public, but I’m willing to consider corporate sponsorships for more substantial gifts.
This year, my goal is more ambitious than ever: I want to raise at least $1500 for the fight to find a cure. Here’s where things stand. My campaign started at the end of last year, and thanks to the generosity of one colleague, I managed to raise 25 dollars.
Every amount counts, but I really need to step it up if I want to come close to my target. Please click on the MS-banner on the right, for details. Even if you don’t need me to record something for you, you can still make a donation.
FEELING IT
Have you ever wondered what it feels like to have MS? Singer-songwriter Kristie Salerno Kent was officially diagnosed in November 1999. She made a short film about living with MS. Please take a few moments to watch it. I think you’ll like her approach. Depending on your computer, you might have to turn the volume up a little:
DOOR-TO-DOOR
Let’s pick up Jennifer’s story where we left off. Her scrumptious chocolate chip cookies were ready and wrapped with an orange ribbon. Within the hour, she had sold almost her entire batch, and there was only one house left: the neighbors. On her last legs, she rang the doorbell.
“What’s up with you?” asked the neighbor. “It looks like you were hit by a truck.”
“Oh well,” said Jennifer. “It’s the fatigue. I’ve been going door-to-door to sell these cookies for the MS Walk…”
“I know exactly what you mean,” interrupted the neighbor. I get tired too. We all do. Just get some rest and you’ll be okay. Why are you selling cookies? Did you join the Girl Scouts?”
“It’s for people who want to sponsor my team for the MS Walk in May. You get three for a dollar,” said Jennifer.
“MS… that’s what Michael J. Fox has, right?” asked the neighbor. “He looks fine to me. Saw him on the Olympics a few weeks ago. Once an actor, always an actor.”
“I believe he has Parkinson’s,” said Jennifer. “I raise money for Multiple Sclerosis.”
“I’ll tell you what,” said the neighbor. “I just gave money to those people in Haiti, and I’m sure you’ll make someone else happy with these cookies for Multiple… whatever it is. Right now, my pizzas have arrived.”
As Jennifer walked back to her house, the guy from Domino’s made his delivery.
“Sir, that’ll be $18.98”.
“Here’s twenty five,” said the neighbor. “Keep the change.”
FACTS*
MS is a chronic, unpredictable neurological disease that affects the central nervous system.
Approximately 400,000 Americans have MS, and every hour someone is newly diagnosed. Worldwide, MS affects about 2.1 million people. Even though there is no cure, there are now FDA-approved medications that have been shown to “modify” or slow down the underlying course of MS. In addition, many therapeutic and technological advances are helping people manage symptoms.
MS SOCIETY
The National MS Society is the largest nonprofit organization in the United States supporting research for the treatment, prevention and cure of multiple sclerosis. Approximately 83% of Society income is devoted to research and service programs that enhance the lives of people with MS and their families.
WALK MS
Every spring nearly 300,000 people unite across the country to participate in Walk MS. All walks have an accessible route so people of all abilities can participate. Funds raised support the Society’s research and services programs. For more information click on the MS banner on the right, and visit walkMS.org.
Thank you so much for your support and for your donation!
I just spent more on Halloween candy than some of you got paid for your latest voice-over gig. Ain’t that sweet? Not really! Talking about money ain’t funny. We don’t want to admit publicly that we put in a low bid, just to get something going. Something is better than nothing, right? The guy said it would look good on your resume. His law office was brand new, so don’t you want to cut a start-up business some slack?
And before you know it, you’ve talked yourself into something you’re not too proud of, but what the hay. A week later you open the local paper. Your destitute attorney won a major lawsuit, and he’s getting ten percent of a very nice six figure settlement. Meanwhile, you’re still waiting to get paid. Life is not fair….
Now, as the personal coach told you: in the face of adversity, some get bitter and some get better. You’re gonna get better for sure. But how? How do you avoid getting ripped off by undercutting colleagues and clients that make Mr. Scrooge look like a philanthropist?
Here’s what you do: first you take a step back to analyze the situation. Come one…. pour yourself a nice glass of grape juice and read my latest article… It will only take you a few moments, and by the time you’re finished, you’ll know all about the research Antonio Rangel did that answers the eternal question: does an expensive bottle of Bordeaux taste better because of the price tag?
If you are one of my regular readers, I’m sure you have noticed a shift in the past couple of months. Since I started my company Nethervoice, I have turned my Double Dutch Blog into an extension of my website. So, instead of having one platform in the blogosphere, I now have two: one at VoiceOver Casting and one on my own site. I guess that’s part of the “Double” in Double Dutch. VoiceOver Casting has been a great launch pad for me, and it will still be a place where I feel among friends. So, don’t worry… this is no goodbye!
However, in terms of branding, I think it’s important to have a clearly defined, single identity for Nethervoice. Much to my surprise, my blog has become an integral part of that identity. Since the start of my new site in July, thousands of new readers have found me, and that number is growing by the day. I have found a renewed passion for writing, and the journalist in me discovered opportunities to stir the pot of all that’s cooking in the voice-over world. And if it’s up to me, I will continue to rock the boat every now and then… with your help, of course. This site is only as strong and relevant as our connections.
COMMUNITY
I firmly believe that a sense of community is more vital than ever. When the economy is doing well and there are plenty of opportunities, it’s easier to be more or less self-reliant. But when the going gets tough, and when there are more talents and there’s less work than ever before, the pressure is on.
Let’s be honest. The voice-over market is pretty much saturated at this moment. You don’t need a degree in economics to realize that a greater supply in a weakened market can only mean one thing: tumbling prices.
The best way to speed this process up, is to have suppliers engage in a furious bidding war. Darwin would have named it: “Survival of the Cheapest”. Isn’t that exactly what is happening? And if you don’t believe me, why is it so hard to buy products that are not “made in China”? Before we know it, all of us will be replaced by speech synthesis technology. It’s almost as good as the real thing and I bet it’s a lot cheaper.
STRAIGHT TALK
A week or so ago, I had a long conversation with one of the people at a voice-over website that shall remain unnamed. I asked him why they were still posting $50 jobs on their site. He gave me two reasons:
1. It’s a free market; it’s not up to my site to set or uphold minimum rates
2. As long as there are people who are willing to do these jobs for $50, this site will post them. He then added: “Believe me, there are plenty of people willing to do these jobs for fifty dollars.”
Now, I could just filter these low-budget jobs out. End of discussion. But that does not solve the fundamental flaws in the system. If we leave things to market forces, we will end up with a “survival of the cheapest”, and in many respects, we’re already there.
The market has no morals. The market does not care about what is fair and reasonable. That’s precisely how and why we ended up in this economic crisis. And that’s exactly why there’s such a thing as a minimum wage (which is not even enough to sustain a family), and why governments all over the globe are proposing and imposing new rules, regulations and oversight.
I have a feeling that a lot of these low-budget jobs are snatched up by amateurs. Now, I don’t mind losing a job to a talented amateur. I do mind losing a job to an amateur charging 20% of my minimum rate, because for this person “it’s just a hobby”. Their voice-over work doesn’t need to pay for the mortgage, health insurance, college tuition, pension plans, car payments, groceries and so on and so forth. And by the way: most of these things have gone up while our rates are steadily going down.
STANDARDS
Any organized profession that takes itself seriously has minimum standards, it offers continued education, it does research to further the field and stands up for its members to make sure that they get paid a fair wage. What makes our line of work so different? Is it because so many of us aren’t unionized or otherwise organized?
Perhaps the instrumental word is “organized”. The question is: are we just a bunch of freelancing, every man and woman for him- or herself, and may the best win-group of people? In that case we are throwing ourselves into the hands of the lowest common denominator, as voice-seekers watch us fight over a $50 dollar bone. I think we could and should do much better than that. We haven’t gone to the dogs yet, or have we?
DOOM & GLOOM
Well, if you’re looking something a bit more lighthearted, my latest blog might just do the trick… And if you happen to be a Cyril Ritchard, Peter Cook or Steve Martin fan, you’re especially in for a treat. A Dutch treat! What else did you expect?
So far it’s been a great week for Nethervoice! I’ve worked on surveys for Microsoft and Novartis, and I translated for Pearhead, a delightful new company making charming keepsakes for babies and pets. Dutch company ABCinema released the English version of their digital movie course (narrated by yours truly), and I became the European voice for Finnish company Safera.
The icing on the cake was the release of my fourth audio book “Trial of the Mystic”. It’s a medieval mystery novel, set in a dark and devious monastery. It doesn’t get much better than that! Truth be told, not every week is like this… but I’m sure you know what that’s like. If it rains it pours. Some projects were a long time in the making.
Meanwhile, I discovered a wonderful way to use and promote my voice-over skills to a live audience. It fell into my lap, a few weeks ago, and I highly recommend you give it a try…continue
The second thing I’d like to share with you, is my frustration with the overall quality of voice-talent on some Pay-to-Play sites. I hate beating a dead horse, but some things simply need to be said. And instead of whining about it, I believe I came up with a few unusual solutions to persistent problems. But let me warn you ahead of time. You might not like my ideas. But if we’d all agree, life would be quite boring, wouldn’t it? So, it’s time we talk about the amateurs pretending to be voice-over pros, and in particular about this question… continue
As of December 2007, blog search engine Technorati was tracking more than 112 million blogs. Any idea how many websites are floating around in cyberspace? Believe me, you almost don’t want to know. Having a website is no accomplishment. Dogs have sites. Dead people have sites. Here’s the amazing thing: some of those sites get more visitors in a day, than you hope to have in a year. Ever wondered why? Probably not, because you’re too busy auditioning for that $100 voice-over job on a pay-to-play site. Or am I getting too bitter and morose?
My question to you is this: if you happen to have a personal website and you’re not getting any traffic, what’s the point? Give the money you send your Internet Service Provider to a worthy cause. That way, at least somebody’s benefiting from it.
On the other hand, if you’d like to know what you can do to boost the number of visitors to your corner of the Web, I invite you to read on
For those of you who are looking for some real answers to the question: “What the heck just happened to my audition?“, there’s some good news. The big black hole I wrote about last time, might not be as big as we thought.
David and Stephanie Ciccarelli, the team behind Voices.com, gave me a behind-the-scenes look at where your submissions land, once they’re in cyberspace. In addition, a former casting agent gives his side of the story… You won’t believe what is going on with these “Mad Men” of the advertising industry!
Over the years I have learned that it’s always good to look outside of my own profession for inspiration. If you’re like me, you’re probably running a one-man (or one-woman)-show. We’re not only performers; in many case we act as our own agents, coaches, directors, sound engineers, web designers, marketing professionals, bookkeepers…. the list is endless. The joys of being an independent contractor are bountiful, and from time to time slightly overwhelming. Don’t you sometimes feel like one of those Chinese acrobats juggling too many plates?
But here’s the thing: at the end of the day, I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m getting kind-of spoiled working for this boss of mine. He can be quite demanding and perfectionistic, but he’s a cool guy and some say he has a lot of potential…
During the past couple of weeks, I have been looking outside of my (soundproof) box, and I read up on things like web analytics, conversion management and interception rates. That doesn’t make me an expert, but at least I know where to go for info. In the process I was forced to take a good look at past audition submissions, and if you’ve been reading my recent blogs, you know that I wasn’t exactly impressed by what I discovered. Luckily, I found out that I was not alone. My ponderings struck an alarming chord.
In a few days, readership of this blog skyrocketed to unprecedented heights, and colleagues and pay-to-play site owners alike, contacted me personally. Of course this hype will be over in a few days, but I’ll take it as long as it lasts. To quote Jim Dale on the show ‘Pushing Daisies’: “The facts are these”… it looked like three quarters of all my custom demos had ended in a place called nowhere, simply because the voice-seeker had never bothered to award the job to someone. Is that what I was paying my subscription fees for? Or was this only part of the story?
The investigative journalist in me decided it was time to explore the issue further. One of the first things I did was look outside of my profession for some answers. That’s what lead me to a man named John. You should know that John hasn’t exactly had an easy time during this economic recession. It was all due to his profession…
Some people can’t live with them, and some can’t live without them: voice-over websites. Let’s be honest: have you entered a co-dependent relationship? How much do you rely on them to get work?
I remember when I first joined a few of these sites. In the beginning, every new job posting seemed to open an exciting window of possibilities. I attacked my auditions with vigor. Every single demo had to be spot-on. Every letter to a job seeker was unique. And when I finally released my masterpiece into the universe, my adrenaline was pumping and my hopes were high. I paid to play, and boy did I play!
A few days into my membership, it happened: I hit the jackpot!! My very first booking was right up my alley: an audio book. I was so excited, I was glowing in the dark! This project was followed by another one, and another one… it was almost addictive. Soon -I told myself- I would join the ranks of the high rollers….
A few months into my subscription, the universe intervened. The gods of voice-over roulette decided it was time to bring me down to earth and pop my beloved bubble. It was early in the morning and the neighborhood was still asleep. I had…
Have you heard the one about the three voice-overs bragging in a bar?
“My condenser has phantom power”, says the guy with the spooky voice.
“My shotgun produces killer demos”, retorts the man in black.
“My ribbon has a suspended diaphragm”, snaps the girl in the Hogan baseball cap.
Waitress: “Anyone ordered a Blue Bottle?”
Unidentified customer: “No, I just got a Snowball.”
“Can I get some MixCubes on the side, please?”
Waitress: “Active or Passive?”
Hearing voice-overs talk is like listening to a Monty Python skit. It can be slightly surreal and silly. One thing’s for sure: many VO’s have opinions. Strong opinions, especially when it comes to gear. Whenever people take themselves too seriously, I’d like to tickle them a little. If you ever plan on messing with the mind of a VO-pro, go to an online voice-over group and type in the following words:
“Hello. I am new to this business and I would appreciate your advice. What’s the best voice-over mic?”
Unknowingly, you just released the beast. If you honestly believe that the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is a big deal, wait until you get voice-overs started on their choice of mics…. You’ll soon discover that some VO-Pros suffer from a condition the psychological community calls “Microphone Envy”. So far, there is no sound treatment for this auditory affliction.
Here are some of the comments these hired voices might make about their precious sound catchers (in order to protect their identity, I decided to name all of them ‘Mike’).
Gear Geek-Mike: “My mic has a 32 mm gold sputtered thin Mylar capsule.”
Show-off Mike: “Mine has a retail value of $7,775. I got it for 7 grand on Ebay.”
Frugal Mike: “My cheap Chinese mic sounds almost like your pricey German one.”
Model Mike: “But I cut a deal with the Germans to endorse this microphone”
Macho-Mike: “Mine is bigger and better.”
If you happen to be in the market for a microphone, these message boards might not be the best place to solicit advice. In fact, I highly recommend not asking anyone for any recommendations. Period. Not online. Not in the shop. Trust me, you’ll sleep much better. Do your own homework instead.
Researching mics can be good fun. Why not fire up your laptop on a rainy Sunday afternoon, and listen to a few microphone tests. The fellows on this page always manage to crack me up… They’ll say something like this: nethervoice-mic-test
(test: courtesy of Nethervoice Test Laboratory)
If this type of shootout still leaves you in the dark, try taking the blindfold test. The authors even provide a pfd form to make notes as you listen. I’m not sure how to do that while being blindfolded, so let me know how it goes.
OK, time to take the eyecover off and visit www.howaudio.com. Sound engineer Jeff Dykhouse (no doubt of Dutch descent), posted “Getting good Sound for Voiceover”, a 20-minute microphone throwdown, featuring the Neumann U87, Sennheiser ME66 Shotgun, Sennheiser 421, Rode Podcaster and the MXL UBS .009. It’s actually quite informative, and you can brush up on your Bible studies at the same time!
And finally, many of you have asked me what microphone I use to bring home the bacon, which is not an easy thing for a vegetarian…. Well, here’s my pride and joy: the Avantone CK-6 Large Capsule Cardioid FET Condenser Microphone. As you can see, it comes with a custom retro shock mount, an elegantly padded genuine wooden mic box and a padded aluminum storage/travel case.
If you experience a sudden attack of “Microphone Envy”, remember this: writing about microphones is like ice skating about food. It doesn’t really make sense. Just as you can’t get wet from the word water, you don’t know if a certain microphone is the one that will flatter your voice the most by merely reading about it or by staring at a picture. You’ve got to use your ears.
So, have you heard the one about the two voice-overs in a bar?
With tears in his eyes, the first one exclaims: “Why did Don LaFontaine have to go before his time? It is so unfair.” The other one thought about it for a moment, took a deep but silent voice-over breath and replied: “I guess God wanted his voice back!”
If I were to make a top-ten of the hardest words in any language, this word would be my number one pick. It’s also one of the shortest. This simple sound has destroyed countless careers; it has propelled people into the depths of depression, and it has broken many hopeful hearts. It is the horrible, ugly word “NO”.
“No” is every salesperson’s nightmare. “No” has turned rejected lovers into vindictive maniacs. And -as any parent will tell you- “No” can turn the sweetest kid into a manipulative monster. In fact, this two letter word is so destructive; one could make a case for it to be banned from our vocabulary because of the damage it has done over the ages. But I can predict what our linguists would say to that: “No”.
Here in the States, the nation is watching another season of “America’s got talent”. I pity the three judges who have to sit through a never-ending parade of geriatric belly-dancers, tone-deaf Whitney Houston wannabees, drag queen contortionists and hip hoppers with egos bigger than their beefed up physiques. And all of them believe that they’re the next big act to hit the Vegas strip, worthy of a million dollars. All I can think of is: who opened this loony bin… and who is going to close it?
Yet, the people in our profession have something in common with these strange folks. We too, audition. We might not do it on national TV, but time and again we face the final verdict that could shatter our dreams into a million pieces. Or not. This is what I learned about rejection dejection.
The greatest disappointments are always well-planned. Yes, you’ve heard me: we are setting ourselves up for disaster. Expectation and disillusion are twins. Evil twins. The more we expect, the bigger the disappointment. Watch “America’s got talent” for a few minutes, and you’ll see the following tragic story unfold: a camera zooms in on a middle-aged librarian who’s showing all the obvious signs of a sedentary lifestyle. The talent tells the interviewer: “I’ve been blessed with a unique gift. Since the moment I took my first breath, I knew I was destined for greatness. I am definitely going to blow the judges away. This is the moment I have been waiting for all my life.”
He steps up to the microphone; introduces himself to the world, and starts rubbing his hands together. This better be good! The next thing we hear is a sound that can only be described as someone breaking wind to the tune of “America the beautiful”. Yes, we’re blown away alright!
The audience starts yelling; the judges hammer on their red buttons and moments later, our handy hero is crushed and crumbled under the weight of humiliation that will haunt him for the rest of his librarian life.
Lesson number two: know your strengths! Small fish wanting to play in the big pond better bring something extraordinary to the table; otherwise the big fish will have you for lunch. One AGT-episode featured a self-professed ‘celebrity impersonator’. He was so bad that -even though he spelled out which impression he was going to do- no one got it. I know voice-over artists who make a decent living pretending to be someone else. Some of them are so good, it’s frightening… they sound even better than the original! But unless and until your impersonation is spot-on, don’t tell the world you’re the next big thing. People might get the wrong impression…
Lesson three: get a reality check (before going on reality radio). In other words: go for a second opinion. Get as many second opinions as you can. And please, don’t run to your mother for feedback. She’ll love you no matter what. That’s her job. What you need is an honest opinion. Go to a pro. Not one of those people who get paid to chat you up so you’ll enroll into some vague voiceover academy. A good coach will analyze every ounce of your talent (or lack thereof), and expose you for what you are. A great coach will also tell you what you need to do to improve. A superb coach will teach you the tricks of the trade.
Back to the show for lesson four: have a recovery strategy. I am still floored by how ungraceful some of the untalented are in defeat. They become defensive, they come up with excuses, they blame the judges… it’s always something or someone else, isn’t it? Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for positive reinforcement. But America’s upbeat culture of programmed positive praise has led to a distinct lack of self-awareness and humility. Thus, smiling small town hero’s turn into angry big town, big time losers when they hear the dreaded word “No”.
This begs the question: how should one prepare for possible rejection? Should we simply expect not to expect anything? That way, we won’t ever be disappointed. If you don’t strive to win, you’ll never lose. Could that be the answer? But what about our hopes, our dreams and aspirations? Isn’t life about taking risks, shooting for the stars and about being the best one can be? Had we been playing it safe, we’d still be staring at the moon, instead of landing on it.
Here’s the good news. There is an effective way of dealing with denial. It’s no magic bullet, but it will certainly keep you grounded. It is part of what I call my ‘Ultimate Auditioning Strategy’. I have refined it over many years, and I’d be happy to share it with you. Here’s the thing: this strategy works for any type of audition. I have taught it to musicians, stage actors, public speakers, job seekers, sports people and yes… to voice-over artists.
To learn more about my Ultimate Auditioning Strategy, click this button,select “Blog” from the menu and read on!
The rumors started a few years ago. It all began when they had seen her struggle to get to the car. It was not a pretty sight.
THE STAGGERING TRUTH
SPONSORS NEEDED
DOOR-TO-DOOR
Hearing voice-overs talk is like listening to a Monty Python skit. It can be slightly surreal and silly. One thing’s for sure: many VO’s have opinions. Strong opinions, especially when it comes to gear. Whenever people take themselves too seriously, I’d like to tickle them a little. If you ever plan on messing with the mind of a VO-pro, go to an online voice-over group and type in the following words:
If you experience a sudden attack of “Microphone Envy”, remember this: writing about microphones is like ice skating about food. It doesn’t really make sense. Just as you can’t get wet from the word water, you don’t know if a certain microphone is the one that will flatter your voice the most by merely reading about it or by staring at a picture. You’ve got to use your ears.
Paul Strikwerda