GARY MASON

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gary@gary-mason.com

Acting

Never Eat Lunch at Your Desk if You Can Avoid It!

Acting, Encouragement, General, Unplugging, Wisdom

Continuing the series

With this week’s topic “Never eat lunch at your desk if you can avoid it”.

But First

Some of you may have noticed that I haven’t posted a blog for three weeks.  Actually, some of you HAVE noticed because you emailed me to ask about it.  Thank you for reaching out to check on me and make sure everything is alright. Hearing from you makes me happy for a couple reasons:

  • It’s good to know that someone is actually READING what I write.
  • Some of you, at least, like it enough to notice when I don’t post. All the analytics in the world don’t mean nearly as much as hearing from you.  So thanks!

Schrodinger’s OK

You Big Bang Theory fans will get the reference.  Things are simultaneously OK and NOT OK at the same time in our household.  Let me explain.  This happened:

That’s my partner Karen.  She fell off the attic ladder while handing me empty Christmas decoration boxes to put away and broke BOTH arms.  This picture is in the emergency room, and a week later she had surgery on both arms.  Needless to say, she has not been able to do much of anything herself, so I have been her stand-in arms.

We’re OK, but not OK

No one is any danger or terribly ill, but things HAVE been a bit hectic especially with the Holidays here, so that explains why I’ve not bee doing any writing.  Or auditioning (much) or even really submitting for any roles. She’s come a long way since that photo was taken and is beginning to be able to do some small things for herself.  Luckily casts come off Thursday, so I expect things to get even better (and closer to back to normal) soon!

Not a fan

Personally, I am not a fan of decorating for Christmas.  I mean, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Christmas decorations…just not the decorating part (or the UN-decorating part).  I am a fan of heading to Belize for Christmas where it’s 80 degrees and you can snorkel on Christmas day.  I’m going to use this as an argument against decorating from now on.

Christmas 2019

Anyway…on to the real topic

Why is it important to never eat lunch at your desk if you can avoid it?  There are actually several good reasons for this, but, first, the IDEA of doing that is not really universal.  Here in the USA, it seems to be a pretty standard practice as we seem to have more than our fair share of workaholics here.  I think we think that eating lunch at our desks increases productivity.  NEWSFLASH:  It actually reduces productivity!

Lunch breaks improve productivity

As humans, we have only so much psychic energy to expend in a day.  Failing to take that lunch break continues to deplete that energy so that you wind up “burning out” earlier in the afternoon.  Getting up from your desk (and work) gives your brain a much needed rest that allows it to recharge a bit and actually INCREASES productivity throughout the afternoon.

De-stress

We all intuitively know, and many studies have proven, that stress is a killer.  Stress in our lives, while not proven to cause heart attacks and strokes, have been proven to increase that risk when other factors are involved.  No one sets out to “work themselves to death”, but that could, in fact, be what you are doing. Taking a break at lunch and changing your surroundings helps lower overall stress levels and can help you remain healthy.

Improved cognition

Lowering overall stress levels also helps to improve cognition according to a study by the University of Maryland Medical Center.  Studies indicate that regular stress can reduce glucose to your brain which reduces your brains energy source.  Stress is bad for your brain, so taking that break improves brain function (beyond fatigue).

Did you know?

Until COVID hit, it was illegal in France to eat at your desk!  Yes, failing to take a lunch break could lead to a fine.  Seems weird, but apparently the French government understands the need for a break from work mid-day.  Sadly, with the onset of COVID and many people working from home that law was rescinded.

Speaking of COVID

Now that people are working from home more often eating lunch at your desk is even MORE common. Not to mention longer hours overall, but that’s a different topic.  Some of the peripheral effects of working from home include more access to food (I mean, your refrigerator is RIGHT THERE!) which means more frequent snacking and increased health risks due to weight gain.  So, besides the mental health aspects of not taking a lunch break, eating at your desk (and snacking throughout the day) can lead to obesity and all the risks associated with that.

Gig culture

As voice artists, actors, and all types of performers, we are constantly hustling to book our next gig.  There is a fear among us that we must be constantly hustling to find and secure that next role.  Particularly people who rely on the next gig to pay bills and feed their families, the drive to just keep hustling can have us at our desks for many more hours than someone who works a 9-5 job.  What people DON’T see or realize when they turn on NETFLIX and watch a show or movie is the hours and hours of marketing and networking that went into booking that role.

Gotta hustle!

In the gig culture, we are typically either at our desks looking for gigs, corresponding with potential clients, editing/mastering audio and video for auditions or in front of the mic/camera recording those auditions.  Add to that the time it takes to study a script and come up with a character (traits and mannerisms) and rehearsing/recording/filming once the gig is booked, and you’ll realize that, just for the actor, that 30 second radio spot is the culmination of hours of preparation and for a 90-minute movie WEEKS of preparation.

It can be exhausting

Most people only see the finished product and not all the work that goes into bringing that project to life.  For independent talent, the motivation to just keep working is enormous.  It appears taking a break could mean the difference between booking a gig or not booking it.  And in some ways that can be true, but while you MAY miss one while on a break, an hour for lunch isn’t really going to make or break your ability to book gigs.  For performers it is even MORE important to take that lunch break!

Your performance

Beyond the health risks, working without a break leads to exhaustion which is going to negatively impact your ability to perform.  If you’ve ever tried to remember lines when you’re exhausted (which is typical since filming days can go 12, 14 or 16 hours), you’ll realize that the lunch break may be the difference between a mediocre performance and an Oscar winning performance.  The industry knows this as I have never been on a set that DIDN’T stop and take a real break for lunch (or dinner, or breakfast).

At the end of the day

Taking a real break to have lunch is good for your health, your mental ability, AND your performance.  So:  Never eat lunch at your desk if you can avoid it!

If you enjoyed this, please leave a comment below to let me know.  If you DIDN’T enjoy it, well, I’d like to hear from you too!

If you haven’t already, please feel free to subscribe so you don’t miss anything!

If you choose to go in drag, don’t sell yourself short!

Acting, Encouragement, Voice Over, Wisdom

I’M BAAAAAACK!

For those of you who notice things, you’ll notice I have been silent for the last couple weeks.  Yep, had a couple REALLY busy on camera (and away from my desk) weeks as well as completing a stand up comedy class (See my routine here) followed immediately by a need to head to Utah to help my mother-in-law move into a retirement home.  It’s been crazy, but I am back and ready to go!

Continuing the series

This week we continue the series with “If you choose to go in drag, don’t sell yourself short!”

So what is “Going in drag”?

Most people think of drag as a man dressing up as a woman, and those people would be partially right!  Drag is ALSO a woman dressing as a man.  A man dressing as a woman is sometimes referred to as a “Drag Queen” and a woman dressed as a man would be referred to as a “Drag King”.  Makes perfect sense, right?

Also…

Simply wearing clothing of the opposite gender would not constitute “Drag”.  So wearing your wife’s panties doesn’t qualify…I mean, it qualifies as cross dressing just not going in drag.  From my research, going in drag includes putting on the persona of the gender you are dressing as, typically exaggerating gender signifiers and gender roles most often for entertainment purposes.

Genders

Just to be clear, while I understand there are a number of genders beyond male and female, when speaking of drag in this blog, I am going to focus only on the two “birth assigned” genders of male and female.  Not to slight anyone or leave them out…just that for the purposes of this blog the totality of genders people identify with are irrelevant.  You’ll see why later.

OK, never mind

I’ll tell you why now.  While this blog purports to be about going in drag, it’s REALLY about not selling yourself short no matter what you choose to do.

The real message here

No matter what you decide to do, do it all the way…don’t sell yourself short!

What does sell yourself short mean?

Well, according to the Free Dictionary by Farlex, selling yourself short is:

  1. If you sell yourself short, you describe yourself as less clever or talented than you really are.
  2. If you sell yourself short, you do things that do not show how clever or talented you are.

Impostor syndrome

Selling yourself short relates to a syndrome most people in the entertainment industry are familiar with:  The Impostor Syndrome.   According to Psychology Today, people who experience impostor syndrome are people who “…believe that they are undeserving of their achievements and the high esteem in which they are, in fact, generally held. They feel that they aren’t as competent or intelligent as others might think—and that soon enough, people will discover the truth about them.”

But don’t be arrogant!

I mean, nobody likes someone who is too full of themselves, right?  Right, but I’m not talking about arrogance here.  Definitely don’t be arrogant.  I’m talking about not knowing and understanding your own talent and abilities. Many people feel they are not as talented as others suggest they are and are just WAITING to be found out.  I know for sure I’ve felt that way myself!

How does this hurt us?

As performers, both in Voice Over/Voice Acting and stage/screen acting, selling yourself short hurts us in several ways.  First, when deciding whether or not to submit for a job we may think “I’m not good enough to be selected, so why waste my time?” and then not submit to (potentially) the gig that will be the turning point in your career!  Second, your lower esteem for yourself will come through in your audition performance.  Believing you are not “good enough” means you are far less likely to take chances and make bold choice.

BE BOLD!

Listen, the truth is you are likely more talented than you think you are.  It’s really that simple.  We ARE our own worst critics after all.  Have a bold idea for an audition but feel like you don’t have the chops to pull it off?  DO IT!  Maybe you do, maybe you don’t…but you’ll never know until you try.  And if you don’t?  Practice.  KEEP practicing till you do…maybe not for this audition, but for the next, or the next…ad infinitum.

Make BIG choices!

Do you think you know what the casting director is looking for?  Here’s a newsflash for you – Many times they don’t know until they hear (or see) you do it.  So do it the way YOU see or hear it.  I’m not suggesting you completely ignore the CD’s directions, hardly.  But you almost always have a chance to give more than one take.  Do one according to directions, then play around and give them your best interpretation of the script.  You may be surprised.

Go big or go home!

You’ve likely heard this before, and it is no less true in the performing arts.  Bring you’re A game and give the CD your best interpretation of the character/script.  You may not book that one, but it could lead to other gigs.  I personally have auditioned, not been cast in the part I auditioned for but they liked my performance enough to actually write in a character for me.

They don’t know what they don’t know

Several times in my short career, I’ve given a performance that was NOT what the CD asked for, but they came to realize my interpretation was better than theirs.  Not all the time, sometimes they just cast someone else and move on…but a few times, I see the lightbulb come on.  The truth is, you have as much chance of booking a gig either way, but if you make bold choices and commit to them, you are being true to yourself, and you will book more often that way. As has been said (but no one really knows by whom although it is most often attributed to Oscar Wilde): Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.

STOP

Stop selling yourself short.  You are inevitably better than you think you are, and when someone tells you that you’ve given a good performance, or you are a good voice actor or a good actor – or a good ANYthing for that matter…believe them.

So…

Whatever you choose, choose it and fully commit to it.  If you choose to go in drag, don’t sell yourself short!

If you enjoyed this, please leave a comment below to let me know.  If you DIDN’T enjoy it, well, I’d like to hear from you too!

If you haven’t already, please feel free to subscribe so you don’t miss anything!

 

A handshake beats an autograph

Acting, General, Wisdom

Continuing the series

With this week’s topic “A handshake beats an autograph”.

First

Let’s talk a little bit about BOTH handshakes and autographs.  Where did they originate?  What is important about them?

Handshakes

Handshakes have been around for a very long time. They actually predate “recorded history”, so we could say that a handshake is prehistoric.   Although, to be fair the reason we know this is because there IS a history, captured in murals, drawings and carvings dating back as far as the 9th century BC, before written historical records mention them.  A handshake as a common greeting is believed to have begun only as late as the 1700s.

 

Today

Today, at least in the United States (and other, but not ALL) countries a handshake is a common greeting between men and women, most often in business situations or when meeting someone for the first time.  Among close friends, a handshake can be congratulatory or a sign of good sportsmanship.  Different cultures both perform AND view handshakes differently, and some do not shake hands at all.  It is so common here in the USA that it is difficult to believe that a handshake in some cultures may be considered rude.

History

It is pretty commonly held that handshakes originated as a way to greet someone while showing that you were unarmed.  It’s pretty tough to shake hands when you are holding a sword after all (well, unless you’re a lefty!).  A typical handshake usually includes some amount of up and down motion of the hands which is believed to have begun as a way to “shake out” any knives that may be hidden up someone’s sleeve.  Trust issues, maybe?

Recently

With the onset of a global pandemic, handshakes are beginning to go by the wayside in favor of fist and elbow bumps.  Skin to skin contact as in a handshake is known to transmit many germs and microbes so perhaps it’s a good idea to avoid them, at least for the time being.

But…

Did you know that A.) in some cultures raising the hand being shaken to the nose and taking a sniff is part of the routine?  And B.) this practice seems to transfer chemical signals between handshakers in a process known as “chemosignaling”?   It is believed to serve as an evolutionary method to learn about the person whose hand is being shaken…similar to the way animals sniff one another.  Ewwwww…OK, not for me!

Autographs

Like handshakes, autographs have been around for a very long time, longer than handshakes even!    We all know that an autograph (as we know it today, anyway) is the signature of some famous (or infamous?) person that is kept as a collectable or heirloom.

 

Early autographs

The earliest recorded autographs are actually not autographs at all as we know them today but instead a signet ring used to seal documents in wax or clay and validate their authenticity.  Each person (or family) had a unique design specific to them.  The rings were common before the majority of humans knew how to write, and they were NOT just for kings and nobleman.  There are definitely artifacts found with a farmers seal, or some other laborer.

Sooooo…

Autograph nearly literally just means signature or seal.  Over time as people became more able to write on their own, they began to not only seal documents, but sign and date them (all the way back to the Greeks and Romans).  Today we separate the word signature from autograph, but the word autograph literally means: signature.  From the Greek: “autographon, neuter of autographos “written with one’s own hand,” from autos “self”…+ graphein “to write”.  Autogrtaph=self written.

Collectors

Autograph collectors have been around for a long time as well.  There is evidence that as early as 900 BC a Roman dictators son-in-law kept a display case of signet rings.  In my mind the rings could be USED to create an autograph, or possibly to forge documents?  I don’t know, but for sure autograph collecting has been going on for a long time.

Why is a handshake better?

Good question.  It seems, on the surface, that an autograph would be better than a handshake, since it can be kept and displayed for a long time.  And there IS something to that, I suppose.  Many people collect autographs of famous people just to prove that they’ve met them and then drag them out as bragging rights to their friends.

But here’s the thing…

An autograph is impersonal.  Ever waited in line for your favorite celebrity, author, or sports figure to get that elusive autograph?  Notice that your interaction with that person was JUST about as long as it took them to ask your name and then sign whatever it is you have for them.  Notice that EVERYONE’S autograph says the same thing, nearly word for word? And if they DID shake your hand, it was distracted and perfunctory (I always wanted to write that word in a blog post, you’re welcome).  They’re distracted and doing this as a marketing gimmick.  They would rather be anywhere else.

Now…

Ever run into a celebrity in an everyday situation and had the chance to say hello?  Yeah, I know, many celebrities want to remain invisible, and probably rightfully so…but, I have had the chance to be around a celebrity or two “in the wild”, and let me let you in on a little secret:  They are people.  I’ve greeted and shaken the hands of more than one “celebrity” (of varying levels) and been able to just chat with them (albeit briefly).

Here’s the thing…

In meeting these people, the actual interaction, that begins with a handshake, was more pleasurable and more valuable than a signature on a piece of paper.  I would trade a dozen autographs for one genuine human interaction.

Something to remember

As a VO artist and an Actor, you MAY someday BE a celebrity.  I mean, maybe (probably) not like Jack Nicholson or Michael Keaton… but recognizable by SOMEONE.  Ask yourself: What would you look forward to more, talking to someone like a person or signing some piece of paper?  I know the answer for me, you have to ask for yourself.

For me…

For me, the genuine human interaction would be far more valuable thank ink on an object.  My dream is to play a round of golf with Samuel L. Jackson (did you know he was an avid golfer?), or to have a creative conversation with Martin Scorsese, or having a laugh and a beer with Jimmy Buffet.  THAT kind of memory, and potential friendship, in my mind is worth far more than asking for a signature.

Therefore…

A handshake, and the conversation that follows it (even if it is very brief), is far more valuable than a quick scrawl on some piece of memorabilia would ever be.  It’s far more personal and intimate.  And if you need to have that object to prove to your friends you met this person…maybe you need new friends.

If you enjoyed this, please leave a comment below to let me know.  If you DIDN’T enjoy it, well, I’d like to hear from you too!

If you haven’t already, please feel free to subscribe so you don’t miss anything!

 

Keep a picture of your first fish, first car, and first boy/girlfriend

Acting, Encouragement, General, Voice Over

Continuing the series

With this week’s topic “Keep a picture of your first fish, first car, and first boy/girlfriend”.

Not sure why

Confession time:  I’m not really sure why I chose this as one of the topics to write about, but I really liked the sentiment and now I am committed so here we go!

Second confession

Typically, I research these topics (read: google them) once I select them to get some idea about how to approach them.  I did that this time, too, but all I got in return was either the original list of 100 things, or people’s snarky responses to them.  As a result, you will now be subjected to my very own mad ravings about the topic instead of a well-researched discussion.  Bad for you, maybe more fun for me!

Overall

Overall, the sentiment here is a good one.  Firsts are important.  Remember the first fish you caught.  That was a red-letter day for you even if, almost especially if, you have gone on to catch many more fish.  Remember your first car.  That was a milestone day in your life when you became independently mobile.  Even if you have subsequently driven millions of miles, that first car was a special one!  Remember your first boy/girlfriend.  Another milestone for life!  This is where you began learning about how to be in a relationship, and that not everything is about you.

Maybe…

Maybe these were not awesome milestones in your life (although I struggle to think of a way catching your first fish might be bad) but it’s still a good idea to remember them.  I’ll talk about why in a minute.

Pictures

So maybe you didn’t TAKE those pictures, I didn’t.  But I still have a picture of them in my mind.  Just because you didn’t have a “Kodak moment” (and yeah, I know I am dating myself here) shouldn’t stop you from picturing it and remembering it (fondly or not).

Fish

Why is it important to remember that first fish?  No matter how old you were, it was your first success at fishing.  Maybe you caught a fish the first time you dropped a line in the water.  Maybe it took several fishing trips before you caught one (They DO call it fishing and not catching).  Either way, you were clearly trying to catch a fish, and then you did!  You succeeded!

Perhaps

There is a fair chance that this first fish was caught while you were still young.  Maybe pre-teen.  It MAY have been your very first success at something you were trying to do.  These early successes set the stage for future success if for no other reason than learning that persistence pays off.  A string of failures does not make YOU a failure, because a success may be right around the corner!

Car

This one is also a success story.  People obtain cars in a lot of different ways.  Some save up for a long time to buy one, some are gifted cars from their parents.  It’s different from catching a fish because it MAY not have been anything you did to acquire it (not minimizing those of you that worked hard to be able to afford it).  You can get a car a lot of ways, but you can only catch a fish by…fishing.

Independence

The really important thing about your first car is the independence it affords you.  You no longer have to rely on your parents, siblings or friends to get to where you want to go.  You can now make your own schedule and not tie it to bus or train schedules or rely on taxis or Uber to get around.  Your first car sets you apart and establishes you as an individual.

Boy/Girlfriends

Unless you are married to your first, then this one could be tricky (depending on how jealous your SO might be).  Like the fish and the car, it is a success.  Like the fish, you had to pursue them to achieve success.  However, the real reason remembering that first boyfriend or girlfriend is important is because it was likely the first time someone other than your family valued you for who you are.  Regardless of how you felt about them, THEY wanted to be with you!  They saw your value, your worth.

Certainly

EVERYONE has value, partner, or not.  I am not suggesting that you need a partner in order to have value, only that they are one outward sign of your value as demonstrated by another human.  It’s not the only way to get that affirmation, but it is one way so if you have that, remember it!

All of these things

Each of these “firsts” in a person’s life marks a transition for them.  It changed the way they looked at the world AND made them “feel” a certain way.  With your first fish, you got the sense that if you just stick with it, you can accomplish your goals.  With the car you get the feeling that you don’t HAVE to depend on anyone anymore and with that first partner you understand that you have value to others.  These are all important things to remember.

A journey of 1000 miles

It is said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.  Simple, but true.  These firsts, and MANY others are steps along that journey that it would do you well to remember.  The original author chose these three things to highlight, but I submit that they were talking about ALL your firsts not just these.

Your first VO Demo

I remember receiving my first professionally produced VO demo and how AWESOME it made me feel to listen to it for the first time.  That demo represented WEEKS of training and preparation, as well as my first trip to a professional recording studio and it helped me to remember that training, preparation and hard work will definitely result in something worth having.  It’s important to remember that, especially when things are slow or being a drudge.  Work through it, keep practicing/improving and it will happen.

First VO Gig

Man, what a great feeling the first time someone wants to PAY you for a VO gig!  I remember the excitement of booking my first gig and imagining myself as a professional voice over artist!  It serves me well to remember that feeling with every new gig booked, but more importantly when I’m in a slump: I WILL book another!  I keep a copy of that check to remind me that people DO want to hear me read their copy.   I mean, I DID cash it, so it is now just a worthless piece of paper, but it symbolizes something.

First acting gig

For me it was a background role in a Hulu/Disney production (Dopesick – check it out on Hulu October 13th).  I was both excited and nervous to arrive on set that first time, but MAN it was absolutely the coolest thing I had ever done.  That feeling compelled me to study acting and submit for numerous roles.  The first time I was cast in a speaking part I was OVER the moon!

They sustain you

These firsts serve to sustain you in slow times, and help you remember why you do this.  I can tell you that in both VO and acting, there are a LOT more submissions and auditions than there are roles cast.  Sometimes, it is remembering those firsts that help me to keep moving forward.

At the end of the day

There are so many firsts in our lives, and each one opens a new chapter for us.  It’s important to remember them, and how they made you feel, as you continue to grow and improve.  And if you haven’t had some of these firsts yet, look at and maybe talk to those who already have.  Believe me, they’ll happen if you keep striving toward them…and they are AWESOME to think about when they do!

P.S.

If you should be on the hunt for your next great read, check out some of the titles in this October promo!

If you enjoyed this, please leave a comment below to let me know.  If you DIDN’T enjoy it, well, I’d like to hear from you too!

If you haven’t already, please feel free to subscribe so you don’t miss anything!

 

Don’t Dumb It Down

Acting, General, Voice Over, Wisdom

Continuing the series

With this week’s topic “Don’t dumb it down!” (Exclamation point mine)  The Urban Dictionary defines “Dumbing Down” as: The process by which products are stripped of depth and complexity in order to simplify them for the masses.  In this instance, the “product” is information.

What in the world does that mean?

In the simplest of terms, this phrase simply means if you are talking about a complex topic, don’t try to oversimplify it for your audience.  Are you an electrical engineer?  If it adds clarity, go ahead and use those engineering terms. If your audience doesn’t understand, they will ask (or not, but that’s on them).  Are you a doctor?  If it adds clarity, then use the medical terms and let your patient ask for clarification.  I will qualify the above by adding: If it makes the communication clearer.

Simplifying versus Over-Simplifying

Simplifying something is not nearly the same as over-simplifying it.  Simplifying your message means you bring the message down to the simplest terms possible WITHOUT losing some part of the message. While oversimplification often results in losing nuances or details required for complete understanding.  Hence, the phrase “dumbing it down”.

Over-simplifying things reduces meaning

Look, almost every profession on earth has certain “jargon” that goes with the territory.  The jargon is there for a reason and serves (in most instances) to make sure communication within the industry is clear. Now, I am NOT talking about industry or (SHUDDER) government acronyms.  I spent 40+ years working for the government and know that the same acronym may have multiple meanings depending on what agency or program you are talking about.  Government acronyms drove me batsh*t crazy the entire time.  Industry is almost as bad as government.

Generally…

The “don’t dumb it down” issue arises when you are attempting to teach, mentor, coach or otherwise help someone.  That help can take many forms such as giving a presentation to a group of industry newbies, writing a series of blog posts or even allowing someone to shadow you as you go about your work.  I’m thinking primarily of speaking to someone who is either trying to break into your industry, is researching the industry, or who is generally interested in learning about the industry.

It’s not really helpful

Here’s the thing.  When you dumb things down, you risk not fully communicating what you are trying to pass on.  Even   worse, dumbing something down has a tendency to add a lot of words in order to convey the same information, which is likely to cause you to lose your audience.

It makes assumptions about your audience

And not good ones.  Feeling the need to dumb things down indicates you feel your audience is not smart enough to understand something. That may or may not be true, but it’s bad to assume in any case.  Much better to assume they DO understand and let them ask for clarification where they need it.  Dumbing down can also make your audience feel patronized.

The better approach

Instead of dumbing down your material, there are several things you can do to make sure your audience understands:

  • Define unique terms and acronyms. This is particularly necessary when (as in the case of government acronyms) the same acronym may be used for different ideas.
  • Whenever you use an industry term or phrase with an unknown audience, briefly explain the term after the first time you use it. EXAMPLE: For this audio I need 10DB of dynamic range – in other words I want the difference between the loudest and softest parts of the audio to be no more than 10DB.
  • Offer additional information (presumably offline). Simply make additional information available if the audience wants or needs it for clarification.
  • Break down complex ideas into smaller bits and explain the smaller bits. In my previous example you may first discuss decibels (DB) and explain them, then define what dynamic range is, and finally what 10DB of dynamic range means.
  • Offer a Q&A period. Along with offering more material if needed, allow for some Q&A as well.  You can do this easily if live, or if in writing (like this blog) provide a comment section and a way to contact you for further clarification if needed.
  • Show…don’t tell. Whenever possible provide a demonstration of the concept you are discussing.

Or…

You COULD just simplify whatever it is you’re trying to say.  “Isn’t simplifying it the same as dumbing it down?”.  No.  While I just spent several paragraphs telling you to “Go ahead and use the jargon” …I would suggest that jargon be used only when it is the BEST word or phrase to convey the information.  If it can be said more simply without losing important details, becoming over wordy or insulting your audience, then feel free to simplify.  As Albert Einstein said: “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.”

Sometimes jargon is just shorthand

This shorthand assumes a level of familiarity that may or may not exist with your audience.  Using industry shorthand is really not the same as using industry jargon.  Using the term packet when referring to transfer of data over a network means something very specific.  A packet is a small subset of a larger dataset broken down and then reassembled on the receiving end.  A packet is jargon, but NOT shorthand.  A DB, on the other hand is shorthand jargon for decibel, a measure of magnitude.

Here is an example of jargon as shorthand:

“We have to drop a SOT and VO into the package and feed it to Atlanta on the bird.” Which can be simplified into “[We] have to insert a sound bite and some voiceovers into the news segment I’m working on and then send it by satellite to the Atlanta bureau.” (Throughline, Brad Phillips)  Note that if you are not working directly in the industry, that first phrase sounds like something your grandmother said while chewing a mouthful of mashed potatoes without her teeth in.  The second phrase, which has the exact same meaning as the first is easily understood by anyone.  This is an example of simplifying your message, without OVERsimplifying it.

How does this relate to voice over and acting?

I’m glad you asked!  In both of these industries artists tend to try and be very helpful with one another.  Actually, this aspect of the entertainment industry is one of the things I like best about it.  It’s very competitive, but the PEOPLE (by and large, not ALL of them) tend to not be competitive with one another.  Dumbing down, or oversimplifying, industry jargon when helping someone, especially someone new to the industry, hurts them (instead of helping) in a couple different ways.

Not capturing the full meaning

Whenever you are attempting to help another voice artist or actor, not clearly communicating your message with all the details and nuance required stunts the audience’s growth.  Anyone attempting to truly understand needs all the information and all the nuance required for full understanding.  True, with a novice, you may have to repeat the lesson, or follow up in some way with clarification, but you are not really helping if you aren’t using the correct terminology.

It puts them at a disadvantage

You may have helped, and they may think they get it, but once they get into a directed session or on set it is going to become painfully clear that something is missing.  If the director in a VO session says “Let’s do a pick up at 1:10, and you have not helped them understand what a pick up is, they will be dumbfounded (and possibly look unprofessional or unprepared).  If an actor is on set early in their career and the director yells “Cut, first positions” that new actor may stand there with a deer in the headlights look, instead of returning to his (or her, or their) starting point to retake the scene.  That’s just not helpful.

So, don’t dumb it down

It can be frustrating trying to explain your industry to someone new or inexperienced. I get that.  But “dumbing down” the information serves to hurt them rather than help.  Better to direct that person to someone who can help them without oversimplifying rather than “help” them in a way that is not helpful!

 

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Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

Acting, Voice Over, Wisdom

Recovered

Well, I am fully recovered from vacation this week and ready to continue the series I started a few weeks back.  This week we explore the idea that “Just because you CAN doesn’t mean you SHOULD”.

It’s a big idea

Yeah, I recognize this is a voice over and acting blog, and while this topic certainly has relation to those endeavors, as I begin to write it, I am discovering that it is a MUCH bigger topic than just those two areas.  So, excuse me if I stray away from them from time to time.

So MANY ideas

Are you a writer?  Ever written a regular blog?  No?  Well, let me tell you that the two most difficult things related to blogging are:

  • Coming up with what you hope are interesting topics.
  • Assembling your thoughts on those topics in a way that makes sense and doesn’t wander too much.

And there I go…

Wandering already.  See how tough this is?

Seriously

It is an age-old idea, but one that needs to be talked about.  There are just certain things that, although it is possible to do them, are not something you SHOULD do.  I mean, just because you CAN smoke while you fill up your car with highly combustible fuel, SHOULD you?  (SPOILER ALERT: NO).  You COULD walk into the reception area of your local police department sporting you shiny new Glock 9 handgun in an open carry (or even concealed carry) holster, but is that really a good idea?  Again, no.

A lot of things…

There are so many things that it is possible to do that are just not a good idea that it’s overwhelming to think about.  Shouting fire in a crowded theater (no, it is not actually illegal to do this)?  Making bomb jokes at the TSA checkpoint in your local airport (yes, it IS actually illegal to do this)?  Bad ideas.  Standing on the wrong side of the wall at the Grand Canyon so you can get a good picture?  Not the smartest idea.  The world is FULL of things that you CAN do but that really wind up being pretty bad ideas. Many of us learned this as teenagers (yeah, me included) and are probably fortunate to still be around today to read (or write!) this post.

OK, enough procrastinating…

OK, I’m done talking about nonsense, let’s get to the meat of the matter.  In both voice over and acting there are things (like with other areas of life) that are POSSIBLE, but not very smart.  What follows is a partial list of those things I’ve gleaned over the last couple years.  Some of these (and I won’t tell you which ones) I’ve learned painfully through experience, and others by watching (or reading about) others learn them painfully.

Voice Over

There are a number of things related to voice over that are possible but not really a good idea.  Again, this is a partial list and I’m SURE my fellow voice artists can list many more, but I try to keep this blog at around 1500 words, so it doesn’t become TLDR.  If you don’t know what TLDR means, ask your kids. Honestly, if you have other things you think I missed, related to VO and acting or not, I’d LOVE to hear about them in the comments.

Microphones

The selection of microphones these days is astronomical.  I think one of the questions MOST often asked in online VO forums by new or aspiring voice talent is: Which microphone should I use?  The short answer is (really) whichever microphone makes your voice sound the best within your price range.  But there are some that are JUST not professional sounding.  Yes, you can record voice over scripts with your cell phone.  No, you should not record voice over scripts with your cell phone (unless you are doing that to practice pacing and delivery and the quality doesn’t matter).

More on microphones

If you are interested, I have an entire blog post that talks about choosing a microphone for your VO business.  If you would like more detail, take a detour there for a few minutes.  At the end of the day, what seems to work best for most people is a large diaphragm condenser microphone, and they come in ALL price points.  Now, to be honest, a microphone choice is personal, and what works for one person may or may NOT work for another.  In general, a cheap USB mic you can pick up at Best Buy is not a good choice.  Just because you CAN record on a cheap microphone, doesn’t mean you SHOULD (not if you plan on earning a living this way).

Recording space

Like a microphone, you have a LOT of options where to set up and record your voice overs.  And like the microphone the number of opinions on the matter seem to be completely personal.  You can record in your untreated office, you can record in your walk in closet full of clothes, you can record in a blanket or pillow fort.  Sometimes, you even HAVE to record in a less than optimal space.  But at the end of the day, just because you CAN record in an untreated space, doesn’t mean you SHOULD.

Here comes the hate

Like I said, your recording space is a personal thing.  At the end of the day recording in a less than well treated space, when circumstances don’t dictate the need (like recording in a hotel room on travel, when a pillow fort is the best you can do) is just not a good idea.  At best, it complicates your post production processing and at worst it renders your audio unsalvageable which translates to unprofessional and means you won’t book the gig.  So don’t shoot me, but just because you CAN record in a “poor” space, doesn’t mean you SHOULD.

Acting

The list for acting is similar in many ways to the list for voice over.  There are so MANY things you CAN do as an actor that ultimately sabotage your chances and are just not a good idea.  In this day and age auditioning for acting roles has moved to a virtual space.  Rare are the in-person auditions from pre-COVID, so actors are now responsible for recording themselves and “producing” a professional audition video.

Camera

Believe it or not, an actor’s self-tape audition can be done well with a cell phone camera IF it is one of the newer phones with a 4K camera.  In this instance, because you can (and assuming you don’t have money to spend on a more professional camera) you SHOULD use your cell phone to record self-tape auditions.  Make sure your settings meet the spec required, and that you are filming in landscape (horizontal) instead of portrait (vertical).  So, while this blog is about what NOT to do even though you can, here is one that is perfectly acceptable.  Having said that, make sure you are using the best camera you own to capture your self tape!  Oh, and make SURE you have whatever you are using mounted on a nice, stable tripod.

Lighting

You CAN use your overhead (or natural) lighting to film an audition, but you really shouldn’t.  Typical overhead indoor lighting has an orange tint to it, natural sunlight has a blue tint, and having only that single source of lighting will add a lot of shadows to your face and background that will be distracting.  You want casting directors and producers to be able to see your eyes and focus on that…so you don’t want to have any distractions.  Just because you CAN film with your homes overhead lighting or the sun’s natural light, doesn’t mean you SHOULD.  You shouldn’t.

Background

Like lighting, the background you are filming in front of is pretty important.  While you CAN film your auditions in your home without a solid background, you definitely should not.  Like with lighting, all of the things lying around your home behind you are just going to be a distraction to the people viewing your video, and may just get you unselected no matter how good your performance is. Most sources I have found suggest a solid background, usually a light or slate blue color.  Stay away from white (It washes out the video) if you can, and unless you are a whiz with editing, don’t use chromatic green either.  Just because you CAN film with your home’s “natural” background, doesn’t mean you SHOULD.  Again, you shouldn’t.

Editing software

For both VO and acting, make sure you have, and know how to use, professional quality editing software.  For VO, you will be capturing your audio in a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) and probably editing it in that software as well.  I talk about DAW’s in an earlier blog post, so if you want to learn a bit more about them take a look there.  Suffice it to say you’ll want to use the best software you can afford to edit both your VO and audition tapes.  The software that comes bundled with your computer may do in a pinch, but if you want to provide professional level material you need to get good software.  Just because you CAN use the bundled software that came with your machine, doesn’t mean you SHOULD!

Suggestions

For you budding actors out there, just because I mentioned it, below are a few suggestions for the equipment I use for filming self-tape auditions.  Since I have covered VO equipment extensively in this blog, I am only including video related equipment here.

Lighting:  This is the setup I have, and it works well for me.  I’m not saying, “BUY THIS ONE”, but I want to give you a rough idea of the type of setup you’ll want.  Generally light both sides of your face to reduce shadows and the background from both sides to reduce shadows and give you separation contrast.

Background: While the lighting setup above comes with a cloth background, I found that to be difficult to maintain.  The fabric wrinkles, and those wrinkles create shadows that are distracting.  Instead, I use the frame and hang a large roll of photo paper from it.

Tripod:  I tried several tripods before landing on this one.  It is adjustable, stable, and pretty versatile.   The ones before this didn’t have the same number of adjustable bits, and even more importantly were not as stable.  Basically, they shook whenever I moved.

Well, I’ve gone over!

There is probably a LOT more I could say on this topic but I busted my self imposed 1500 word limit by at least 300 words this week, sorry for the TLDR post this time.  But at the end of the day remember that: Just because you CAN do something, doesn’t mean you SHOULD do it!

 

If you enjoyed this, please leave a comment below to let me know.  If you DIDN’T enjoy it, well, I’d like to hear from you too!

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