I've finally made my way back to NYC this month. I've been back for about a month and a few days. Within that month, it has become clear that I may have to join the union soon. This is a scary decision for me. But, lets start from the beginning.
PART ONE:
Back to NYC.
I'm going to be 100 percent honest here. I came back to NYC with goals. To do my best improv and vo work. I started to listen to some Tony Robbins. In the discs I listened to, they said that I need to set aside at least 15 minutes every day to do some exercise, incantations, and visualizations.
My goals: Become a great VO artist, Become a great Improv Artist, Find a great girlfriend, and live life to the fullest and make people's live's that much better.
The first day back, I got myself settled in. The second day, I set up my recording studio. The third day, I had my first audition from Access and it was for Dairy Queen.
I decided to start the day by walking with the tapes, become grateful for all the things I had and try and run. I'm not a healthy person but I did what I could. I also did all the incantations and visualizations. It felt amazing. I came into the audition and did it. Don't know if it went well. Apparently, it did.
I get a call that they want to book me for the DQ voice over. I think to myself, don't count your eggs, because it had happened before. I got a job and midway through they basically fired me and hired someone. That was soul crushing.
I go into the recording studio, the directors are patched in and I just take direction and do it.
So, I just did my first VO for a TV commercial. I am STOKED. Here's a few things you should know.
1) I don't know how much I'll make. (it's SAG AFTRA scale, so who knows)
2) I officially do a Taft Hartley waiver that says the next job I do i can do as non-union but the job after I must join.
3) AFTRA is 3000 bucks.
4) Joining union means no non-union jobs.
Weeks later, I find out I made about $500 for the hour of work and I think it was for the usage of the VO for like 13 weeks. I don't know if I get paid that much as long as they use it. I have no clue. Suffice to say, I wouldn't be coming close to that $3000. Eck!
But, I did my first VO for a TV commercial. As I write this now, I am on hold for another DQ audition.
Okay I'm going to address some questions that may arise from this blog post.
1) How do you get an agent?
a) I got it through shutupandtalk, a class with Roger Becker. It's 6 weeks and he basically teaches you about voice over. Mind you, I was training with Doriane Elliot a casting director at the time and we were in the process of recording a demo. Roger was very specific that you need a demo, the fact that I had a record date meant that he could recommend me. Also, mind you, I had done LOTS of non-union vo (produced it myself). Short answer to this: Take classes and one on ones with casting directors, do agent meetups, AND have a produced demo done or ready to be done.
2) How do you audition?
a) This was a first gig but I think a big part was that I wasn't tired. I did a little exercise. I was ready to go. I read the script 10 or so times in a row with no inflections. I did lots of hand gestures. Also, this is an interesting one, don't get all weird postured in the waiting room, walk around, do a superhero posture, get that positivity going. The tapes helped with this. I think being thankful for what you have, what you have accomplished, and the people in your life is a key aspect to feeling good. A person who feels good and confident and energetic is what people want to HEAR!!! If you have this dialogue of desperateness, it will bleed through. Have fun!! There are so many things in life that are not fun, make this fun!!
No comments:
Post a Comment