I AIN'T NO DICK VITALE!
Published March 24, 2010
At what point do you simply say, “Sorry, I can’t help you?”
One of the biggest mistakes that Voiceover Talent make is to try to be something that they are not.
Let me give you an example. A few weeks ago I had a client ask me to voice a commercial for him in a particular character. He was looking for a Dick Vitale type read. Now, I don’t really do characters. I’ve tried. I’m terrible. Because I’m fluent in English and fluent in Spanish, about the only character I can do well is English with a Spanish accent. And my Dick Vitale doesn’t sound right with a Spanish accent. Or without a Spanish accent.
So, I told the client I really couldn’t do a Dick Vitale read. He told me he was desperate. His client was demanding that, and he was down to the wire, and would I please give it a shot.
Crap! He’s a good client. I couldn’t just tell him “Sorry. No!” Maybe if I listened to Vitale enough times I could get close.
So I said ok. Reluctantly.
After an hour’s worth of work, I sent him the most perfect Dan Hurst Dick Vitale ever!
The next day my client called and said his client had decided to do something else.
Ya think?!?!?!?
It just proves my point. You are who you are. Do what you do. Stick with it.
I don’t know why I let myself get pulled into those situations. They never work out! Never! Not for me, anyway. I know what I can do. I know, for the most part, what I can’t. To overstep that boundary is foolish, a waste of time and energy, and misleading to the client.
Here’s the understatement of the year: You didn’t get to where you are by being something that you’re not.
Well, actually if things haven’t gone well for you maybe you did get to where you are by trying to be something you’re not. But the point is that the best of what you’ve got is where you’ll earn your living. It’s that simple.
Don’t kid yourself. Do what you do and leave the other stuff to people that are better at it.
I have a friend who had a carpenter do some work at his house. The guy was awesome! Incredible work. My friend also needed some concrete work done on his driveway, so he asked the guy if he could do concrete work. The guy said he had done his own driveway, but he wasn’t really a concrete guy. My friend hired him on the spot.
Do you know how much it costs to have a driveway re-done by someone who really knows what they’re doing?
You are who you are. Do what you do. Stick with it.