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What Do You Want From Me?

Hey, there!

It’s that time of year.

You know, the time when I ask you a very simple question, and I really need your answer.

That question?

“What do you WANT from me?? Really! What??”

Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’m not whining with that question, complaining that you are ungrateful, too demanding, or that I don’t get enough respect for what I do with this 60 SECONDS newsletter. Believe me, you all are very responsive, very supportive and I love the kind words and conversation.

No, this is a different “what do you want from me?” request.

See, I want to be as useful as I can be with this newsletter. I do try to cover what I think are important things you need to know to be a successful VO artist.

But…I can’t read minds. So, I’m asking you: what do you want from me?

Do you want technology articles, showing you the latest sound technology and how to use it?

Do you want more business articles, discussing how to manage your VO practice better?

Do you want articles on performance, helping you to use your voice with the best and highest use of your talents?

Or something else? What one thing has been a challenge to you, confusing to you, or something in VO about which you just would like a simple explanation?

Tell me.

What would you like me to write about? Let me know in the comments below. If you need to keep your question just between you and me, drop me an email.

Hope this helps.

David

18 Responses to What Do You Want From Me?

  1. Robert Leach March 22, 2014 at 5:16 am #

    I really look forward to your emails.
    The two things I look for in any blog or article are marketing advice and performance tips.

    Thank you.

  2. Kendra Hoffman March 22, 2014 at 5:36 am #

    I particularly like your newsletters containing practical technical tips, such as for editing. It’s great to learn streamlining techniques.

  3. Una Love March 22, 2014 at 6:40 am #

    Alternatives for non-USA readers who can’t access ACX would be great from a business point of view…

    All the above you mentioned sounds good to me really. 😄

  4. Jill Maglione March 22, 2014 at 7:41 am #

    I love the content. I especially love the articles with specific technical info, like normalizing to 0 versus the preset value on Audacity, and why. If you have the time and the inclination, I’m wondering if there could be a search function on the web page that allows us to easily search through the 60 seconds entries. Often il remember seeing an article but won’t need the info until a few weeks later. If there already is a search function, I apologize for not bring able to find it!!

    • Natalie Winters March 24, 2014 at 3:41 pm #

      I second Jill’s idea, as I’ve had the same experience. I’ll remember something from a previous newsletter and want to search the 60 second entries for that article. That would be a wonderful feature. Otherwise, love the content – keep ’em coming!

      • David H. Lawrence XVII March 27, 2014 at 5:49 pm #

        There’s now a search bar at the top of the sidebar on every page, and we’ll be moving it to the header soon.

        David

  5. Marlon March 22, 2014 at 9:46 am #

    Personally, I seem to stumble over editing the most. Networking has provided assistance from some very experienced sound & VO people, who initially say, Oh, certainly. I can help you in Audacity,” only to find in a session that we stumble for 30 min. trying to do something simple like insert a marker, because the interface and shortcut commands don’t match Logic or Pro Tools. It’s happened with 2 very experienced sound people and frankly their egos kicked in, they get embarrassed or simply scoff at Audacity as a less-than-professional application.

    I’m continually searching for new YouTube tutorials and they are many, but often the don’t relate directly to what I find I need to do within the application. Sure, I can access the shortcut menu, but how about a “Daily Audacity Quick Tip” to end each newsletter? I think that would help it all sink in for all of us so we can fly across the keyboard with edits. I know for me, it would increasen the number of ACX auditions I submit.

    Ever grateful,
    Marlon

  6. Tom Leary March 22, 2014 at 11:03 am #

    First, thank you for all the you have already shared. It has helped me tremendously. Seeing how you’ve asked, I’d like more technical tidbits that one might do from their home studio (adding music to your vo, adding your voice to images ~ADR, continued sound reduction/recording tips), equipment tips (you always find the best equipment at the lowest prices) and tips on trends and new opportunities.

    Thank you!
    Tom

  7. Marilyn March 22, 2014 at 1:08 pm #

    I would love it all! And fully appreciate all that you do and the fact that if I have an emergency I can email you about it and you get back to me pretty quickly, considering I know how busy you are. But, I would like to know how I can sell my own downloadable recorded content. I do also like Jill’s idea of a search feature. There have been a couple of instances that I’ve had to search for an article I knew was on your site.

    As always thank you for all you do and your great information.

  8. Joe March 22, 2014 at 1:41 pm #

    With SO much often contradictory and all-too-often self-promotional VO information thrown out into the ether, your 60 SECONDS newsletters are a beacon of BS-free education and information. I always look forward to them and save them for future reference. At this point in my nascent VO career, I’m still learning every aspect of the profession, but if I had to identify particular aspects of the business I’d like to see in your newsletters, it would probably be business. And marketing. And how to maintain confidence in one’s innate abilities in the face of silent rejection by the dreaded pay-to-play sites.

    All the best,
    js

  9. David March 23, 2014 at 2:07 pm #

    I second what the others have said about being extremely grateful for what you have already shared. You offer authentic help and not just the same old trite stuff.

    Things that would be helpful to me, and I think others based on questions I see in various forums, blogs, etc. are:

    # 1 The client has said yes! Now what questions or information do you send the client and what is an appropriate working agreement? Not too long or legalistic but covering the key points.

    # 2 What are the best 3 – 4 types of work for beginners to pursue from:

    A. Easier to find work and market for work

    B. Level of competition and amount of competition

    C. Chance that there might be recurring work vs. one time work

    # 3 Tips for creating an effective VO web site. I have looked at many and most are not as good as they could be. They typically require clicking through a couple of times to get to demos and often don’t allow downloading demos. And, I have yet to find one that really works well, looks good, on mobile devices.

    # 4 As a VO talent starts to get a little busy, in what order should they outsource their editing, various aspects of marketing, etc.

    # 5 What are the things, besides the demo, that larger clients (national brands, etc.) look for before agreeing to work with a VO talent?

    Thanks again for the great job you do!

  10. John Tanner December 9, 2016 at 5:53 am #

    I like getting information that comes from your direct personal experience and i trust you to know which topics would be of value and interesting. Like many others who read your newsletter I need tips and performance tips all the time but I’d rather have your personal take on these topics rather than a step by step tutorial on some basic facts. I can google that stuff and get what i need most of the time. But again your flavoring the topic is what I am looking for. And if readers want advice on the basics, rather than you come up with something or have to curate a topic to find something, let your readers in the comments section provide some information. Many of us have already googled what make a good VO website, we can direct people to the links we found. You can give us your take on it and let readers do the rest. I would hate to see you get bogged down with providing fundamentals unless you feel a need to do that, and at times fine, but we want your perspective, analyses, review, insight, recommendations. That is always helpful to me.

  11. Bruce Andis December 9, 2016 at 6:43 am #

    For those of us beginning and not ready for a professionally produced demo, tips on how to bootstrap a vo career would be nice. Meanwhile ditto to the previous comments, including especially Joe’s.

  12. Beverly Astley December 9, 2016 at 7:05 pm #

    David I too enjoy your articles. My biggest thing I want to do well (and I know I don’t) is marketing. Tips on marketing would be very helpful.

  13. Jennifer Dixon December 10, 2016 at 8:44 am #

    I agree with John Tanner, I enjoy your personal experiences and tips derived from them. I value your opinion, and your straight forward approach to BS. Thank you for your generosity in sharing as you do.

  14. Stephanie December 12, 2016 at 1:57 pm #

    I love the 60 second emails. It is honestly the only thing I open whenever I see it because it is jam packed with info every time and a fast read.

    I would love to know more about the tech side and getting the max out of Audacity and ACX. I plan to sign up this year and can’t wait to learn all the goodies.

    Marketing is always a huge help too.

    Other than that keep up the fantastic newsletter. It really helps a ton!

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