What is your “why”? You need to know or your resolve will be weak at best. Your “why” is your reason, your motivation for making one more phone call, doing one more audition, doing one more take… even when you don’t feel like it, especially when you don’t feel like it. Your “why” will likely be a mix of rational and emotional reasons and, digging deeper, the emotional reasons are behind the rational ones anyway. Either way, your “why” must be strong enough to move you to action!
It’s really no different from what we do in our voice over work. We play to the “why” of the client’s target audience, using our voice to invoke the emotions of the audience to take action on the message we deliver. We color the emotional words in the script, the words that emphasize the “why”. Speak to their “why” and they will buy. So will you, but you need to know your “why”.
So what’s your why? Why are you a voice talent? Is it the freedom to own your own business and call the shots? Is it the flexibility of working from your own home? Is it the perceived image or celebrity status of hearing your voice and knowing you were paid well to use it? Maybe it’s the thrill of the challenge. Perhaps it’s the ability to finally do something you love! Whatever your “why” is, find it and write it down. Post it so you can see it each day as a reminder to keep doing what you need to do, whether its paperwork, auditions, takes, edits, you name it! Find your “why” and you’ll find your will.
Thanks Terry, great blog. I needed that today.
Paul