Steve Kownacki
3
COW Coins
2
Premiere Pro Coins
Forum Replies Created
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I sat here last night with my teenage daughters curiously reading the questions because I thought this would enlighten them as they are preparing to head to college in a year and 2 years and then out to the world at some point.
I got to thinking not really about the questions, but the job market itself and the methodology of interviewing. And Grin, as bold as he is, has the confidence in his abilities – and the skills to back it up. This is a big difference between a smarta** without the chops – thinking the world owes him something. I also remember my first job being told in my 1 year review “you’re getting a $.50/hr raise. We’re a stepping stone station and expect you to move on.” They admitted they placed no value on the employees. And after the Enron stuff, it seems apparent to me that it’s like a “we’ll play nice together, but who’s going to screw who first” kind of mentality between employees and employers.
With the glut of candidates available due to layoffs & closures everywhere, I think anybody who walks in should have the skills they say they do and Google is just cutting to the chase. Sure, they’ll get around to the typical interview stuff and do their due diligence with references, but they want to know who you really are. This is way better than the psych tests most corp places put you through. It is a stupid game as Grin mentions, but potential employees better know how to navigate through it. Maybe candidates better brush up on the questions they ask at the interview to include some of this type of stuff specific to their business.
PS- if you are the web developer at businessinsider.com you probably don’t have a chance of getting into google. That page has some of the worst navigation ever.
Steve
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Hi Hunter and welcome to the biz!
While I agree with all that’s been said, I don’t think you’re ready to get hung up on gear – be sure to check out the audio forum https://forums.creativecow.net/audioprofessionals too. Starting out it’s difficult to be an artist and technician especially if you’re not getting any direction on delivery. I have found that the great voice we had in our studio is crappy when they record at home because the high-priced vocal chain is now a USB mic to a laptop without a tuned room. Again, check out the audio forum.
A book is good but will only go so far. Pick some programs and mimic then on delivery, pacing, control. What I love about great VO talent is the ability to take direction, you don’t just come in and read. You have to understand what the director is looking for and then your talent takes it there. You have to be able to breathe correctly. The narrator that can read a full page of complex terms without me having to edit is something I love. We just recorded a 67 minute program with 2 narrators in about 3 hours. I’ve had “talent” before that would take 6 to do the same – aggravating.
My suggestion is to contact your local production companies and offer to do a few free sessions and in return ask for coaching and genuine feedback AND a copy for your demo. I have a great relationship with the local college’s theater dept and every once in a while she’ll bring in a few interested students and I have them read stuff for my website or message on hold – some suck, some don’t – but they get a feel of a real gig. I have one guy that I now pay well for jobs. He REALLY wanted to be a VO talent and came over anytime he could to sit in on other sessions and just see what it was all about. He’s interning with us in the spring too just so he can hang around and learn.
Be passionate and tenacious about your career & don’t undersell yourself. Great voices get work.
Good luck!
Steve
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I was literally talking with my atty yesterday about my switch to an s-corp and he asked “a true s-corp or and LLC with an S elective”. That’s a new one on me. Needless to say I have a mtg on Tuesday with my accountant and the atty to review the intricacies of it all.
And then I inquired about incorporating in another state – Delaware advertises quite a bit for that. The corp taxes are cheaper, but when I look at the administrative cost of corp filings (among other stuff) in 2 states, it doesn’t give my small company any financial benefit.
Steve
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any maybe some sleep, water, lots of fruit.
Steve
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I’m changing from a sole proprietor of the last 18 years (at times up to 6 employees) to an s-corp this month. Way better tax advantages that were explained to me by my new CPA of 4 months (5th for me since starting up and ironically the cheapest). I’ll now be an employee! My retirement will essentially stay the same. Don’t have to worry about healthcare thanks to wifey.
Steve
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Oh yeah, I agree with you both in that I see no need for them. Just wanted to confirm… in fact, the check just came in the mail! I will promptly deposit that credit. Thanks.
Steve
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Goes back to the 80/20 rule – 80% of the biz comes from 20% of your clients. Focus on that 20%.
Take the bad ones off your mailing list and other communications. Basically ignore them politely. If they request a bid, don’t bid. If you do bid, make it worth your while kindly explaining to them that to do the job correctly and for me to function as a business the number is (insert astronomical number here).
This is actually a great opportunity to create a great client. Some will always be the grinder, but I’ve found that once educated to proper habits (be it scheduling, paying, whatever), a poor client can become your biggest advocate.
Steve
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Where’s the dropping sheep wipe?
Steve
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Why not just send you a few stills or rehearsal video from a cell phone? It’s quick, requires nothing special as far as computers or internet and in my opinion would provide more than enough detail for your review. No need to complicate things.
Oh and about iChat not being serious enough… We haven’t tried it yet but with SnowLeopard and FCP, you can share the HD edit window in realtime for online instant collaboration. For years the best way to convert sequential still files to video was with Quicktime or iMovie. We still use iDVD for a bunch of stuff that is far faster and easier than DVDSP. Our profession (video in general) has more to do with capable, talented people utilizing the right resource than with specific tools that might impress a client. (Don’t read that statement wrong, I’m not saying an HDV camera compares to RED.)
Steve