Now those of a certain age will get the reference in my title. For those who don’t it’s from Monty Python. (Google it)
I have recently started on a mental health journey. While I’m certainly not going to be giving a play by play of my steps and situation, suffice it to say I’ve had my share of trauma over my life. Parents divorce, Stepdad suicide in front of me, Mom passing away suddenly, those kinds of things. All of these experiences have led me to have some pretty substantial PTSD. I’m always looking for the next threat or always trying to be prepared for the next shoe to drop. I’ve realized that this mental state I’m in is in fact negatively affecting my voiceover career.
Being as we are artists and artists having those fragile egos that need validation, voiceover is not the best place to always being looking for that next threat. When you’re in the mindset of preparing for the bad thing that could possibly happen, you can’t focus on the wins that you have. My thought process tarnishes all the trophies I should be proudly displaying on my mantle.
For example, I’ve been working on building a connection with an advertising/marketing company for a while now. They always like my social media posts and we message back and forth every now and then. They finally sent me an audition a few months ago. It wasn’t really in my wheelhouse, but I wasn’t about to let that opportunity go. I went into the studio and gave the audition my all. The company liked it a lot, the client, not so much. They wanted to go in a different direction, so I didn’t get it. Now the older thinking me would have spiraled out in depression and be like, “they asked me. What did I do wrong that lead them to reject ME?” Looking for the positive however, I’ve got to think that yes they did ask me, because they felt I would be a good fit, I’ve now built that relationship better with the advertising company as they did fight for me with the client. I’ve developed that connection and that’s what voiceover is all about, the connection. Look on the bright side.
Voiceover is all about rejection, yes. You get rejected on average 90% of the time. (I don’t know if those stats are right, but it looks good and makes my point). The best way to make it in this business is to stay positive and keep plugging away. If you’re constantly looking for the negative, then negative is all you’re gonna find. It’s ok to celebrate the little silver linings. If you are having trouble finding them, ask other VO talent. Join and be a participant in a voiceover support group or accountability group. Have others help build you up until you can do it yourself.
It’s hard to ask for help, but once you do, you’ll wish you had done so sooner. Now take that Holy Hand Grenade and chuck it at that Ex parrot and keep kicking ass!