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Voice Coaches Radio #508 – More Than Just Talent
Voice Coach's Radio. Everything voiceover. And welcome to this week's edition of Voice Coach's Radio. I am Josh Heller. She is Marissa Lanczak. We are delighted to have you joining us here this week. week. Uh, Marissa, how we doing? It's pouring out and I don't like it. It is. It is. Doing that. Now, for those of you who are listening, if you're not listening at the time that we are recording this, it might not be, um, but just know that it is here.
Well, weather changes, you know, but right now it's pouring out, especially in the Northeast. It's gloomy. It's gross. And that's just not the way that a Friday morning should be. I mean, that's fair. That is, that is fair. Uh, again, those of you who are tuning in, um, Probably not Friday morning, but it was when we recorded it.
Right. Um, it's December though. I mean it is, it is the month of, I know, December. Rain, rain is better than what it could be. Could be, yeah. I remember we had that Thanksgiving storm a few years ago. Uh, yeah. Last year we had a massive storm the beginning of December, probably right around this time. Where we got like, 30 plus inches of snow.
Oh my god, I do remember that because I remember, um, I was working overnight. at the hardware store, you know, and I, my dad like drove me in and we had no snow, right? Nothing. When I got dropped off, he came to pick me up and he's like, Marissa, I just need to warn you that it's as if the world didn't know this storm was coming and none of the roads have been touched.
It was bad. It was so awful. Josh, like we were driving back. I've never seen the roads around here so poorly done in my life, because we're, I mean, it's New York. Like, we have a million plows. Well, yeah, like when I lived down south, it could have been a dusting, and everyone freaks out. No one knows what to do.
And, you know, things slow down. But I realize, I realize that it fell quickly, but it's not as if we didn't know the storm was coming. But I felt like they were like, eh, it's a pandemic. Nobody's out. It doesn't matter. You know? And here, here we were trying to get back to my house. And it took. forever. What should have been like a 10 minute trip took like almost an hour.
And on top of that, like, he goes to drop me off at my house, and I hop out of the truck. I'm like, All right, dad, see you later. And like, I I turned around to go into my driveway. And I'm like, um, I don't know how to get in the house like I remember. So the so this Uh, my son went to, to go, wanted to go play in the snow, and I was like, yeah, that's fine.
So we opened up our, our garage, and literally, like, the snow was higher than he was. Like, I had to, like, pick him up and throw him into the snow. Like, the snow, the snow was so high. Like, it was, like, up to my hip. Like, it was ridiculous. And I'm like, I am just going to... I was like, all right, Dad, see you in a couple hours to do the driveway, though I don't really know how my snowblower is gonna get through this.
And it didn't. We needed, like, the heavy industrial one that my neighbor had. Well, yeah, so I, I, I have a heavy industrial one. Uh, prior to that I've only had it for about a year. 'cause prior to that I had the electric snowblower that my, my dad used to use, that I used to use when I was a kid to, uh, to, to do what Mar driveway when I was younger.
Yeah. And, uh, it was, uh, it, it did fun. It was, this is how old it was. It was plugged in like with a cord, right? . And so like, it was electric and, which I know there are electric snowblowers out there, but like, it was electric, like with a cord. And I was always slightly paranoid that I was gonna run it over and, and, You know smash the cord and blow up or something.
I don't think that would happen, but I always figured it was possible But it was during one of those storms It was the the thanksgiving one two years ago Like I got to the end of my driveway and they had plowed which means the end of my driveway was basically oh my god Yeah, and uh, it absolutely destroyed it shredded that thing.
So I had to get a uh, a real one and that was the first Time I got to use my new snowblower was that that storm and I was like, well trial by fire Let's see if you were good because it was a used one. I bought it off Facebook marketplace or something, right? Well, so I was like, I don't know if this could work And it was so high that I had to literally like snow blow up and then because I you know It was higher than the the deck of the snowblowers.
I'd like do it in like two levels Yeah, because it was too much for it. I was like this is this is not well I remember my first Like, the first winter in Boston, it was the worst snowfall they had had in, like, years. And of course, like, I did nights, so I had to work, because radio is just like, you know, the post office.
We don't, we don't stop for nothing, you know? So it's like, here I am in my little Civic, trying to get out of my driveway, and I literally did the driveway five times. And, of course, I went inside for a minute, came back out, and the plow had gone by, just like you're saying, and it was just as high, and I'm like, my asthma can't handle any more of this, like, I can't, and how am I supposed to do a radio show now, I'm exhausted, so, and then, also, by the way, totally ruined the undercarriage of my car that night.
Oh, I bet that, yeah. It was awful. But that's why, like, literally, like, thousands of people die. Like yearly from shoveling snow because shoveling snow is the worst. Well in my opinion second worst What's what's the first worst? Raking. Oh, raking is pretty awful too. Yeah. Despite. Either one of, like, there's so much cardio involved that I just can't, like, my asthma can only handle so much of it.
I hate the raking. I hate it. I hate it because I, I, I rake it into, because I don't have a, like, a, a blower or anything like that, so I just rake it, and then the wind blows, and now I have to rake it again. And now they're all over the place again. And then, you know, it, it's, I never know what to, like, raking, it's, it's the raking it is annoying, and then the trying to pick it all up, that's annoying, and, uh, and you know, where do I put it?
That's annoying. And do I put it in a bag? That's annoying. You know, you know what's fun? Everything about it is awful. Let me just tell you what's fun. There's somebody in Texas, or California right now, or Florida, and they're just going, Ha ha ha, suckers! As well they should. And you know what my least favorite thing about raking is, and this is more of a me problem than anything else, is that my lawn is not what you would call good, and so when I rake, if I, you know, Start to get into it.
I literally will rip up my grass. Oh, that's how poorly my grass is Is seated in there. I want to use that voice acting money towards some sod or something. I met my dude You kidding me? I would need a lot of voice acting money Shoots expensive Because I have looked at it. It's crazy expensive No, my front yard before we moved in The woman who lived there, there are two big trees that used to be on the front that aren't there anymore that, that she had removed, which is great, but there's also two big circles in my front yard that won't grow grass no matter what I do.
Uh, and so it's very exciting stuff. Very exciting stuff. So, um, yeah, so that's what's going on here. Hopefully everyone is enjoying their... The holiday season it is if it is the holiday season and we do have some fun episodes coming up guys Later on in the month because we will be dropping an episode on Christmas Eve.
We'll be dropping one on New Year's Eve We're gonna have a little gift giving Extravaganza, uh, yeah. No, we're gonna count you down. Don't worry. We're gonna count you down You know, maybe we'll do just a live podcast New Year's Eve all the way until until midnight. I don't know. I'm I get I was gonna say, New Year's Eve is legitimately one of the most anticlimactic days of the year.
It's like, oh great, it's... It's another day. I have to stay up till midnight, like, alright, I mean, I guess, I guess I will. And then it's midnight and like, hooray, alright, goodnight, see ya later, like, that's it. That's really it. You know. Sleepy time. They have, they have, um, on, on Netflix and other things, they have, uh, little countdowns that you can play, like cartoon ones.
And so, we, uh, uh, my son and our neighbors will get together and have one of those, um, And they can watch it and, and count it down themselves, but there is, I did read somewhere, they have this thing, it's called a, um, Uh, I forget what it's called, but you do it at noon, so you, the countdown is to noon, instead of Oh, New Year's Eve.
Yeah, New Year's, that's right, New Year's Eve, and so that way the kids can be involved, and I thought that was actually pretty cool, maybe we'll do that this year. Yeah, that's, that's not a bad idea, because my son's not staying up till midnight, because that would be a nightmare. for that day and the following day and probably the rest of the week, uh, so that shan't be happening.
But we will have a, uh, a New Year's Eve extravaganza and, uh, and I, and I mentioned to you Marissa, we'll go back and dig into the archives a little bit at the beginning of the year and see what I said I was going to do in my New Year's resolutions, um, at the beginning of this year and how I did. And I gotta be honest, I don't think it's great, but we'll find out, I don't remember.
Mine has been stupendous, so. Well, aren't you special? Well, aren't you special? Well, listen, I I mean, the bar was pretty low. Exactly. I was starting from the ground. The bar was fairly low. Ground, and now we're here. So, I mean, it's, so, this, but this year, we're setting some lofty goals for ya. Lofty goals for ya.
Alright. And, uh, we're gonna make sure you hit them. And that goes for all of you. We're setting lofty goals this year, and we're gonna hit them. Even if we didn't this past year, we're gonna hit them. Uh, but we'll, uh, we'll obviously talk about that. Um, but, uh, we had some questions that, uh, that people brought up that I, uh, some interesting questions actually that were brought your way, Marissa, that, uh, that I wanted to, I wanted to hit on one of them.
Yeah. Um, you know, and, you know, because we have a lot of students that come through and it's like, we're helping them build their skill, right? So they're building the talent that they have. But the question that I had here was, you know, what beyond that talent do we feel... that one needs to really book work and keep working?
Yeah, no, that's a great question, uh, Insanity. That's helpful. Um, No, uh, you know, for me, I think the first thing that comes to mind, the first word that comes to mind for me, is perseverance. That's, that's the first thing that I think of when you first mentioned that question to me, that someone had asked you, that's the first thing I thought of was perseverance.
Because the thing is, I mean, talent is important. Don't get me wrong. Um, But, clearly, it's not the most important thing. I mean, look at us. Oh, wow. Speak for yourself, bro. That's a self burn. Plus. Plus, um, no, and, and so, you know, it, it, it obviously, you know, is important, but especially as you're going through this, you're going to have highs and lows, you're going to have, you know, dry spells, that's just going to happen.
But can you push through that? Can you continue to put in the work, continue to put in, you know, the practice time, the marketing? Can you continue to put yourself out there? Yeah, absolutely. And, and that gets difficult. I mean, it's one thing. You know, you know, you get your first job. You're excited. That's fantastic.
You know, you first start out, you want to get your stuff out there. Great, great, great. But what's going to happen when it's been a couple months and nothing's come up, which can happen, which can happen. You know, what are you going to do then? Are you going to fold? Are you going to keep going? You're going to keep pushing, right?
Talent's important and knowing you have the talent is important, but it's what you do with it. And if you're able to not get discouraged by that. That's what's really important, uh, and, and, and I'd say probably more important, uh, than, than talent, um, in, in many respects. Well, remembering, you know, just like when, when we're talking to the students after they do their demo, you know, it's trying to create those realistic expectations, right?
Like, you're going to hear the word no a lot, because that's just the nature of the industry, because you audition for so many things. You're, you're not going to get every single one of those things. Like somebody already has an idea in mind in a lot of ways of what they're looking for. And you might just not fit it, but you're going to fit a bunch of stuff.
So you just like, you need to make sure that you keep that drive up, you know, keep your passion up. Um, the reasons why you got into this in the first place, you know, we're all here because we wanted to do something for us and we wanted to have fun. And you know, like this industry is a lot of fun, but you've got to remember that as you're, you know, going through that dry spell.
or, or leading to that next first gig, um, which can be hard, you know, it can be very hard. And, you know, we were talking about this a few minutes ago where, like, I've been a budget cut in radio five times in five years. Do you know how discouraging that is after the fourth or fifth time I've been? I was gonna say, is it, is it, is it you?
It's, no, it's, it's literally been somebody, like, up above sees a number next to your name and boom, you're gone. Uh, you know, also the pandemic was one of my budget cuts, you know, I was a budget cut, you know, for a couple different stations when that all happened. And, It was really just because the industry was struggling.
Um, you know, so it's like, the worst part about it is knowing that my ratings were like, awesome for every single thing that I was doing. I know that I've got the talent because I feel confident in that. I've had plenty of compliments and the ratings proved a lot of things too. And then, you know, I've dedicated my life to it.
I know the quality that I'm putting into the job is, is there. So it's like, you've gotta have that confidence in yourself and remember all of that. And allow that to drive you rather than weigh you down at the end of the day. Absolutely. Absolutely. Again, you know, everyone who goes into this, you have to have a, I mean, you don't want to be, you know, uh, super self absorbed, but you have to have confidence in yourself to, to, to try this.
Well, you can't take anything personally either. No, and the fact is, it isn't ever, uh, usually. Well, I mean, that's the thing is though, like, again, they have somebody in mind potentially. And it's just not you. Like, that's not anything against you. They might actually love what you did and the audition you did, but the sound of your voice maybe is just not what they were going for.
And you can take that personally if you want to. But, like, you shouldn't at the end of the day. Well, and I've gotten that, right? I think I've talked about this where, you know, I missed out on an audiobook because my voice wasn't deep enough. He wanted my voice to be deeper, and I was like, it isn't. This is it.
This is all I got. So, you know, what are you gonna do? Um, you know, and that's, and that's okay. I'm really glad that nobody's actually asked that of me. I feel pretty confident. To have a deeper voice. Yes. Please have a deeper voice. Hey, could you read this with a deeper voice?
Sure, yeah, I mean, yes, yes I can. Right, and that's, but that's what it came down to, and I was like, okay, well, I mean, and I, and I tried to, and he was like, ah, still. Picture, picture, in literally his words, I picture someone with a deeper voice doing this, and I was like, okay, I mean, that's not me, uh, what do you want me to do?
I, I don't have that. Right. And that was okay. That was okay. Is it disappointing? Of course it's disappointing. But is it, you know, should it be disheartening? Absolutely not. Absolutely not. Because he liked what I did. He liked my voice. He said he'd consider me for, for future projects, whether he will or not, I don't know.
But, that's what this is. This is no longer the, you have the voice, you don't have the voice. This is a, You have this voice for this part, maybe, maybe not. And so again, perseverance for me, that's, that, I think that's the one thing that I would say, you know, stick with it, stick with it, even when it gets rough, and it will, um, because that's just the way it goes.
We all go through, through patches like that. And, and, and we've talked about this also with that imposter syndrome, right? You're going to feel during those I'm not a voice actor. I haven't had work in months. Right, and it's like, oh, I guess I wasn't good enough for this, right? And that's, it's that self fulfilling prophecy of like, I knew I wasn't good enough for this, but now I definitely know I'm not good enough for this.
Like, no, screw that. Screw that. So don't let that, you know, creep in. And, and look, if it, if it creeps in your head, I mean, I know for me, I'm a slightly negative person. It will, as long as it doesn't affect. the amount of work I'm putting out there. It doesn't affect what I'm doing. Like, I can feel that way and be miserable, but at least I'm still going to do the work.
Um, I'm just going to be a miserable person to be around. Sorry. More so than usual. Um, but again, I mean, it's about sticking with it. It's about that stick to itiveness. Um, and I mentioned this story also, that, uh, I worked with a gentleman, um, who was a dentist. Larry, and you know, he, I asked him, we were talking about marketing stuff and, and I was like, look, you were, you were a dentistry in your own practice.
How did you build your, your, your work? And his literally immediate response was, well, it didn't happen overnight. And I was like, yeah, yeah, that's the point. That's the point. And neither will this and neither will this. And that's okay. Were there times where he felt probably like this was a mistake for him?
Maybe, but he kept with it and it didn't happen overnight, but it happened, but it happened. And this can too. So, that's, that's my, my, kind of, go to answer on this, is, is that's what I think is so, so very important, the, the willingness to, to do that. Yeah. Persistence, consistency, determination. Go. Consistent.
Persistent. Assistant. Drive. Uh, other, I can't think of any other... I don't have anything else that ends with A N T. Ant. It's all I got. It's all I got for ya. My son's in a big rhyming phase, so it's uh, it's fine. It's fine. Alright. Dr. Seuss books for him. Anybody want a peanut? What? Have you not seen the, have you, oh wait a minute, have you seen The Princess Bride?
Oh god no. What?! Alright, well that's it for today's podcast. I gotta go. Uh, this is gonna be the last podcast for probably ever. Uh, at least for Marissa. Oh my god, you, you, okay, you're mad at me for that. I was mad at you the other day for Titanic. I don't even. Whatever, at least I know about it. You haven't seen The Princess Bride?
I know about You would love The Princess Bride. I don't think I don't know if that's the Giant is in it. It's got Indigo Montoyo. You wouldn't know that's the character's name. Um, um, I can't think of his real name right now. Um, uh, oh my god. Are you thinking about you're like talking about the old version, right?
And not the newer version? What? Isn't isn't there one with like Anne Hathaway? No, no, you're thinking of the Princess Diaries. Oh, maybe. I don't know. This is the Princess Bride. It's a, it's a hilarious Rob, uh, uh, I think, um, I think it's Rob Reiner. Uh, maybe not. I'm not sure. But it's, oh my god, oh, okay, well, we need to, okay, you need to educate yourself.
Billy Crystal's in it. Oh, Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas are in the newer one. The Princess Bride? Yeah. Has it come out yet? I don't know. They can't make a new one of it. They can't make a new one of it. Well, they're trying. Ew, gross. No. No. No. No. No. Being remade this summer. This is from 2020. No. No. No. No. No. No.
No. No. No. No. No. Neil Patrick Harris, Jack Black, Diego Luna is so important in this movie, he's listed twice. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? No, why did they remake anything? Why? It's so good. You have to, okay, forget about that. I don't know what that is. That sounds like garbage. Don't, don't, don't do that. But do watch the original Princess Bride.
That is your goal. That is your, your assignment. That, um, Are you going to watch Titanic? How much time? Well, here's the thing. So, okay, I, I hear what you're saying, but two things. A, that's super long, and B, it's not like I can just watch Titanic and have, like, my family watch it with me. My five year old's not gonna want to watch Titanic.
Like, you could watch The Princess Bride with your... Dog and Okay, so because I am single and live alone It has nothing to do with that! It I can watch The Princess Bride at my house. I'll tell you what, we can have a Princess Bride party at my house. You can come over and watch it. Okay. I want my son to see that movie.
It's so good. We'll have a, uh, Carrie Can I dress up? Carrie Elwes is in it. I don't know who that is. Uh, he was in Robin Hood Men in Tights. See, I would have said, I would have said that was a woman. Uh, no, uh, it's not, it's not. Um, um, That's how much I didn't know who that person was. Well, you know what, you know what, You would recognize, I can't even, I can't even, folks listening in at home, if you still are, and I don't blame you if you're not, um, like, come on, back me up on this.
The Princess Bride is a tremendous, it's actually based on a book, um, but it's a tremendous movie. I, it's, oh, come on, you, mm, okay. What if you, what if you do the audiobook for it and then I listen to it? I've never read the book of it, although my sister did, and she said it was, she said it was good. Um, but I have not actually read the, uh, read the book of it.
But the movie, it's cause I don't know why, why would I? The movie was amazing, the movie was perfect. The movie was, was purrrfect. Mandy Patinkin's in it? I don't know who that is either. Ma. Mandy Potkin. Oh, so Mandy Potkin was in, uh, criminal Minds for, uh, for a couple seasons. He, okay. You wouldn't necessarily know this, but he, he was, he's big in, um, it was Japan Broad Broadway.
Broadway, okay. Yeah. Broadway. He was one of the main characters in the Secret Garden. He's a beautiful voice and he has one of the greatest lines in all of film Dom. Hello. My name is Engo Montoya To Kill my father, prepare to Die. So good. So good. Uh, so that is, you need to watch that movie. You would like it.
I'm dead serious. You would like it. I will watch Titanic, I guess. I know what happens. I know the ending. So? Like, I know what happens in the end. I've known what happens in the end for, you know, a hundred and ten years. Not with Rose and, and, and, and Leo. Yeah, I also know there was room enough for her and him to be on the door.
What a giant bee, I'm just saying. That's selfish. It is very selfish. Selfish. Um, and uh, yeah. So that's uh, that's my thought on that. I am, I am wound up right now. You are. Um, Princess Pride. See it. Love it. Alright, fine. Change your life. It will change your life. It'll be one of my New Year's resolutions. No, because you're gonna watch it before New Year's.
That's, uh, that's a fact. It's gonna be one of your New Year's resolutions this year because apparently you did all your other New Year's resolutions. I did. So, meh. Um. And, um, clearly one of them was being on a killer podcast. I mean, obviously. Nailed it! That's mine. Nailed it! Um, alright, well, that is, uh, that is it, uh, Perseverance, that's what I need to be able to, uh, continue to do this podcast with you, um, So, uh, uh, love to hear from you guys.
Again, the holidays are coming up. Hopefully everyone is, uh, is doing well and, uh, enjoying the holiday season. Josh at voicecoaches. com, that's how you can get in touch with us. Tell me how much you love The Princess Bride, because of course you do, because it's amazing and how much Marissa... As literally, life is not, uh, uh, honestly, honestly not complete until she sees the princess pride.
Um, so, uh, so yeah, so do that and, um, uh, and any other questions, whatever voice tech and stuff you have. Happy to talk about those too. All right, so, uh, thanks so much for tuning in this week. Until next time, Marissa, ugh, whatever. Oh, wow. Love you too. So long, everyone. Visit voicecoaches. com for more voiceover news and information.
Well, weather changes, you know, but right now it's pouring out, especially in the Northeast. It's gloomy. It's gross. And that's just not the way that a Friday morning should be. I mean, that's fair. That is, that is fair. Uh, again, those of you who are tuning in, um, Probably not Friday morning, but it was when we recorded it.
Right. Um, it's December though. I mean it is, it is the month of, I know, December. Rain, rain is better than what it could be. Could be, yeah. I remember we had that Thanksgiving storm a few years ago. Uh, yeah. Last year we had a massive storm the beginning of December, probably right around this time. Where we got like, 30 plus inches of snow.
Oh my god, I do remember that because I remember, um, I was working overnight. at the hardware store, you know, and I, my dad like drove me in and we had no snow, right? Nothing. When I got dropped off, he came to pick me up and he's like, Marissa, I just need to warn you that it's as if the world didn't know this storm was coming and none of the roads have been touched.
It was bad. It was so awful. Josh, like we were driving back. I've never seen the roads around here so poorly done in my life, because we're, I mean, it's New York. Like, we have a million plows. Well, yeah, like when I lived down south, it could have been a dusting, and everyone freaks out. No one knows what to do.
And, you know, things slow down. But I realize, I realize that it fell quickly, but it's not as if we didn't know the storm was coming. But I felt like they were like, eh, it's a pandemic. Nobody's out. It doesn't matter. You know? And here, here we were trying to get back to my house. And it took. forever. What should have been like a 10 minute trip took like almost an hour.
And on top of that, like, he goes to drop me off at my house, and I hop out of the truck. I'm like, All right, dad, see you later. And like, I I turned around to go into my driveway. And I'm like, um, I don't know how to get in the house like I remember. So the so this Uh, my son went to, to go, wanted to go play in the snow, and I was like, yeah, that's fine.
So we opened up our, our garage, and literally, like, the snow was higher than he was. Like, I had to, like, pick him up and throw him into the snow. Like, the snow, the snow was so high. Like, it was, like, up to my hip. Like, it was ridiculous. And I'm like, I am just going to... I was like, all right, Dad, see you in a couple hours to do the driveway, though I don't really know how my snowblower is gonna get through this.
And it didn't. We needed, like, the heavy industrial one that my neighbor had. Well, yeah, so I, I, I have a heavy industrial one. Uh, prior to that I've only had it for about a year. 'cause prior to that I had the electric snowblower that my, my dad used to use, that I used to use when I was a kid to, uh, to, to do what Mar driveway when I was younger.
Yeah. And, uh, it was, uh, it, it did fun. It was, this is how old it was. It was plugged in like with a cord, right? . And so like, it was electric and, which I know there are electric snowblowers out there, but like, it was electric, like with a cord. And I was always slightly paranoid that I was gonna run it over and, and, You know smash the cord and blow up or something.
I don't think that would happen, but I always figured it was possible But it was during one of those storms It was the the thanksgiving one two years ago Like I got to the end of my driveway and they had plowed which means the end of my driveway was basically oh my god Yeah, and uh, it absolutely destroyed it shredded that thing.
So I had to get a uh, a real one and that was the first Time I got to use my new snowblower was that that storm and I was like, well trial by fire Let's see if you were good because it was a used one. I bought it off Facebook marketplace or something, right? Well, so I was like, I don't know if this could work And it was so high that I had to literally like snow blow up and then because I you know It was higher than the the deck of the snowblowers.
I'd like do it in like two levels Yeah, because it was too much for it. I was like this is this is not well I remember my first Like, the first winter in Boston, it was the worst snowfall they had had in, like, years. And of course, like, I did nights, so I had to work, because radio is just like, you know, the post office.
We don't, we don't stop for nothing, you know? So it's like, here I am in my little Civic, trying to get out of my driveway, and I literally did the driveway five times. And, of course, I went inside for a minute, came back out, and the plow had gone by, just like you're saying, and it was just as high, and I'm like, my asthma can't handle any more of this, like, I can't, and how am I supposed to do a radio show now, I'm exhausted, so, and then, also, by the way, totally ruined the undercarriage of my car that night.
Oh, I bet that, yeah. It was awful. But that's why, like, literally, like, thousands of people die. Like yearly from shoveling snow because shoveling snow is the worst. Well in my opinion second worst What's what's the first worst? Raking. Oh, raking is pretty awful too. Yeah. Despite. Either one of, like, there's so much cardio involved that I just can't, like, my asthma can only handle so much of it.
I hate the raking. I hate it. I hate it because I, I, I rake it into, because I don't have a, like, a, a blower or anything like that, so I just rake it, and then the wind blows, and now I have to rake it again. And now they're all over the place again. And then, you know, it, it's, I never know what to, like, raking, it's, it's the raking it is annoying, and then the trying to pick it all up, that's annoying, and, uh, and you know, where do I put it?
That's annoying. And do I put it in a bag? That's annoying. You know, you know what's fun? Everything about it is awful. Let me just tell you what's fun. There's somebody in Texas, or California right now, or Florida, and they're just going, Ha ha ha, suckers! As well they should. And you know what my least favorite thing about raking is, and this is more of a me problem than anything else, is that my lawn is not what you would call good, and so when I rake, if I, you know, Start to get into it.
I literally will rip up my grass. Oh, that's how poorly my grass is Is seated in there. I want to use that voice acting money towards some sod or something. I met my dude You kidding me? I would need a lot of voice acting money Shoots expensive Because I have looked at it. It's crazy expensive No, my front yard before we moved in The woman who lived there, there are two big trees that used to be on the front that aren't there anymore that, that she had removed, which is great, but there's also two big circles in my front yard that won't grow grass no matter what I do.
Uh, and so it's very exciting stuff. Very exciting stuff. So, um, yeah, so that's what's going on here. Hopefully everyone is enjoying their... The holiday season it is if it is the holiday season and we do have some fun episodes coming up guys Later on in the month because we will be dropping an episode on Christmas Eve.
We'll be dropping one on New Year's Eve We're gonna have a little gift giving Extravaganza, uh, yeah. No, we're gonna count you down. Don't worry. We're gonna count you down You know, maybe we'll do just a live podcast New Year's Eve all the way until until midnight. I don't know. I'm I get I was gonna say, New Year's Eve is legitimately one of the most anticlimactic days of the year.
It's like, oh great, it's... It's another day. I have to stay up till midnight, like, alright, I mean, I guess, I guess I will. And then it's midnight and like, hooray, alright, goodnight, see ya later, like, that's it. That's really it. You know. Sleepy time. They have, they have, um, on, on Netflix and other things, they have, uh, little countdowns that you can play, like cartoon ones.
And so, we, uh, uh, my son and our neighbors will get together and have one of those, um, And they can watch it and, and count it down themselves, but there is, I did read somewhere, they have this thing, it's called a, um, Uh, I forget what it's called, but you do it at noon, so you, the countdown is to noon, instead of Oh, New Year's Eve.
Yeah, New Year's, that's right, New Year's Eve, and so that way the kids can be involved, and I thought that was actually pretty cool, maybe we'll do that this year. Yeah, that's, that's not a bad idea, because my son's not staying up till midnight, because that would be a nightmare. for that day and the following day and probably the rest of the week, uh, so that shan't be happening.
But we will have a, uh, a New Year's Eve extravaganza and, uh, and I, and I mentioned to you Marissa, we'll go back and dig into the archives a little bit at the beginning of the year and see what I said I was going to do in my New Year's resolutions, um, at the beginning of this year and how I did. And I gotta be honest, I don't think it's great, but we'll find out, I don't remember.
Mine has been stupendous, so. Well, aren't you special? Well, aren't you special? Well, listen, I I mean, the bar was pretty low. Exactly. I was starting from the ground. The bar was fairly low. Ground, and now we're here. So, I mean, it's, so, this, but this year, we're setting some lofty goals for ya. Lofty goals for ya.
Alright. And, uh, we're gonna make sure you hit them. And that goes for all of you. We're setting lofty goals this year, and we're gonna hit them. Even if we didn't this past year, we're gonna hit them. Uh, but we'll, uh, we'll obviously talk about that. Um, but, uh, we had some questions that, uh, that people brought up that I, uh, some interesting questions actually that were brought your way, Marissa, that, uh, that I wanted to, I wanted to hit on one of them.
Yeah. Um, you know, and, you know, because we have a lot of students that come through and it's like, we're helping them build their skill, right? So they're building the talent that they have. But the question that I had here was, you know, what beyond that talent do we feel... that one needs to really book work and keep working?
Yeah, no, that's a great question, uh, Insanity. That's helpful. Um, No, uh, you know, for me, I think the first thing that comes to mind, the first word that comes to mind for me, is perseverance. That's, that's the first thing that I think of when you first mentioned that question to me, that someone had asked you, that's the first thing I thought of was perseverance.
Because the thing is, I mean, talent is important. Don't get me wrong. Um, But, clearly, it's not the most important thing. I mean, look at us. Oh, wow. Speak for yourself, bro. That's a self burn. Plus. Plus, um, no, and, and so, you know, it, it, it obviously, you know, is important, but especially as you're going through this, you're going to have highs and lows, you're going to have, you know, dry spells, that's just going to happen.
But can you push through that? Can you continue to put in the work, continue to put in, you know, the practice time, the marketing? Can you continue to put yourself out there? Yeah, absolutely. And, and that gets difficult. I mean, it's one thing. You know, you know, you get your first job. You're excited. That's fantastic.
You know, you first start out, you want to get your stuff out there. Great, great, great. But what's going to happen when it's been a couple months and nothing's come up, which can happen, which can happen. You know, what are you going to do then? Are you going to fold? Are you going to keep going? You're going to keep pushing, right?
Talent's important and knowing you have the talent is important, but it's what you do with it. And if you're able to not get discouraged by that. That's what's really important, uh, and, and, and I'd say probably more important, uh, than, than talent, um, in, in many respects. Well, remembering, you know, just like when, when we're talking to the students after they do their demo, you know, it's trying to create those realistic expectations, right?
Like, you're going to hear the word no a lot, because that's just the nature of the industry, because you audition for so many things. You're, you're not going to get every single one of those things. Like somebody already has an idea in mind in a lot of ways of what they're looking for. And you might just not fit it, but you're going to fit a bunch of stuff.
So you just like, you need to make sure that you keep that drive up, you know, keep your passion up. Um, the reasons why you got into this in the first place, you know, we're all here because we wanted to do something for us and we wanted to have fun. And you know, like this industry is a lot of fun, but you've got to remember that as you're, you know, going through that dry spell.
or, or leading to that next first gig, um, which can be hard, you know, it can be very hard. And, you know, we were talking about this a few minutes ago where, like, I've been a budget cut in radio five times in five years. Do you know how discouraging that is after the fourth or fifth time I've been? I was gonna say, is it, is it, is it you?
It's, no, it's, it's literally been somebody, like, up above sees a number next to your name and boom, you're gone. Uh, you know, also the pandemic was one of my budget cuts, you know, I was a budget cut, you know, for a couple different stations when that all happened. And, It was really just because the industry was struggling.
Um, you know, so it's like, the worst part about it is knowing that my ratings were like, awesome for every single thing that I was doing. I know that I've got the talent because I feel confident in that. I've had plenty of compliments and the ratings proved a lot of things too. And then, you know, I've dedicated my life to it.
I know the quality that I'm putting into the job is, is there. So it's like, you've gotta have that confidence in yourself and remember all of that. And allow that to drive you rather than weigh you down at the end of the day. Absolutely. Absolutely. Again, you know, everyone who goes into this, you have to have a, I mean, you don't want to be, you know, uh, super self absorbed, but you have to have confidence in yourself to, to, to try this.
Well, you can't take anything personally either. No, and the fact is, it isn't ever, uh, usually. Well, I mean, that's the thing is though, like, again, they have somebody in mind potentially. And it's just not you. Like, that's not anything against you. They might actually love what you did and the audition you did, but the sound of your voice maybe is just not what they were going for.
And you can take that personally if you want to. But, like, you shouldn't at the end of the day. Well, and I've gotten that, right? I think I've talked about this where, you know, I missed out on an audiobook because my voice wasn't deep enough. He wanted my voice to be deeper, and I was like, it isn't. This is it.
This is all I got. So, you know, what are you gonna do? Um, you know, and that's, and that's okay. I'm really glad that nobody's actually asked that of me. I feel pretty confident. To have a deeper voice. Yes. Please have a deeper voice. Hey, could you read this with a deeper voice?
Sure, yeah, I mean, yes, yes I can. Right, and that's, but that's what it came down to, and I was like, okay, well, I mean, and I, and I tried to, and he was like, ah, still. Picture, picture, in literally his words, I picture someone with a deeper voice doing this, and I was like, okay, I mean, that's not me, uh, what do you want me to do?
I, I don't have that. Right. And that was okay. That was okay. Is it disappointing? Of course it's disappointing. But is it, you know, should it be disheartening? Absolutely not. Absolutely not. Because he liked what I did. He liked my voice. He said he'd consider me for, for future projects, whether he will or not, I don't know.
But, that's what this is. This is no longer the, you have the voice, you don't have the voice. This is a, You have this voice for this part, maybe, maybe not. And so again, perseverance for me, that's, that, I think that's the one thing that I would say, you know, stick with it, stick with it, even when it gets rough, and it will, um, because that's just the way it goes.
We all go through, through patches like that. And, and, and we've talked about this also with that imposter syndrome, right? You're going to feel during those I'm not a voice actor. I haven't had work in months. Right, and it's like, oh, I guess I wasn't good enough for this, right? And that's, it's that self fulfilling prophecy of like, I knew I wasn't good enough for this, but now I definitely know I'm not good enough for this.
Like, no, screw that. Screw that. So don't let that, you know, creep in. And, and look, if it, if it creeps in your head, I mean, I know for me, I'm a slightly negative person. It will, as long as it doesn't affect. the amount of work I'm putting out there. It doesn't affect what I'm doing. Like, I can feel that way and be miserable, but at least I'm still going to do the work.
Um, I'm just going to be a miserable person to be around. Sorry. More so than usual. Um, but again, I mean, it's about sticking with it. It's about that stick to itiveness. Um, and I mentioned this story also, that, uh, I worked with a gentleman, um, who was a dentist. Larry, and you know, he, I asked him, we were talking about marketing stuff and, and I was like, look, you were, you were a dentistry in your own practice.
How did you build your, your, your work? And his literally immediate response was, well, it didn't happen overnight. And I was like, yeah, yeah, that's the point. That's the point. And neither will this and neither will this. And that's okay. Were there times where he felt probably like this was a mistake for him?
Maybe, but he kept with it and it didn't happen overnight, but it happened, but it happened. And this can too. So, that's, that's my, my, kind of, go to answer on this, is, is that's what I think is so, so very important, the, the willingness to, to do that. Yeah. Persistence, consistency, determination. Go. Consistent.
Persistent. Assistant. Drive. Uh, other, I can't think of any other... I don't have anything else that ends with A N T. Ant. It's all I got. It's all I got for ya. My son's in a big rhyming phase, so it's uh, it's fine. It's fine. Alright. Dr. Seuss books for him. Anybody want a peanut? What? Have you not seen the, have you, oh wait a minute, have you seen The Princess Bride?
Oh god no. What?! Alright, well that's it for today's podcast. I gotta go. Uh, this is gonna be the last podcast for probably ever. Uh, at least for Marissa. Oh my god, you, you, okay, you're mad at me for that. I was mad at you the other day for Titanic. I don't even. Whatever, at least I know about it. You haven't seen The Princess Bride?
I know about You would love The Princess Bride. I don't think I don't know if that's the Giant is in it. It's got Indigo Montoyo. You wouldn't know that's the character's name. Um, um, I can't think of his real name right now. Um, uh, oh my god. Are you thinking about you're like talking about the old version, right?
And not the newer version? What? Isn't isn't there one with like Anne Hathaway? No, no, you're thinking of the Princess Diaries. Oh, maybe. I don't know. This is the Princess Bride. It's a, it's a hilarious Rob, uh, uh, I think, um, I think it's Rob Reiner. Uh, maybe not. I'm not sure. But it's, oh my god, oh, okay, well, we need to, okay, you need to educate yourself.
Billy Crystal's in it. Oh, Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas are in the newer one. The Princess Bride? Yeah. Has it come out yet? I don't know. They can't make a new one of it. They can't make a new one of it. Well, they're trying. Ew, gross. No. No. No. No. No. Being remade this summer. This is from 2020. No. No. No. No. No. No.
No. No. No. No. No. Neil Patrick Harris, Jack Black, Diego Luna is so important in this movie, he's listed twice. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? No, why did they remake anything? Why? It's so good. You have to, okay, forget about that. I don't know what that is. That sounds like garbage. Don't, don't, don't do that. But do watch the original Princess Bride.
That is your goal. That is your, your assignment. That, um, Are you going to watch Titanic? How much time? Well, here's the thing. So, okay, I, I hear what you're saying, but two things. A, that's super long, and B, it's not like I can just watch Titanic and have, like, my family watch it with me. My five year old's not gonna want to watch Titanic.
Like, you could watch The Princess Bride with your... Dog and Okay, so because I am single and live alone It has nothing to do with that! It I can watch The Princess Bride at my house. I'll tell you what, we can have a Princess Bride party at my house. You can come over and watch it. Okay. I want my son to see that movie.
It's so good. We'll have a, uh, Carrie Can I dress up? Carrie Elwes is in it. I don't know who that is. Uh, he was in Robin Hood Men in Tights. See, I would have said, I would have said that was a woman. Uh, no, uh, it's not, it's not. Um, um, That's how much I didn't know who that person was. Well, you know what, you know what, You would recognize, I can't even, I can't even, folks listening in at home, if you still are, and I don't blame you if you're not, um, like, come on, back me up on this.
The Princess Bride is a tremendous, it's actually based on a book, um, but it's a tremendous movie. I, it's, oh, come on, you, mm, okay. What if you, what if you do the audiobook for it and then I listen to it? I've never read the book of it, although my sister did, and she said it was, she said it was good. Um, but I have not actually read the, uh, read the book of it.
But the movie, it's cause I don't know why, why would I? The movie was amazing, the movie was perfect. The movie was, was purrrfect. Mandy Patinkin's in it? I don't know who that is either. Ma. Mandy Potkin. Oh, so Mandy Potkin was in, uh, criminal Minds for, uh, for a couple seasons. He, okay. You wouldn't necessarily know this, but he, he was, he's big in, um, it was Japan Broad Broadway.
Broadway, okay. Yeah. Broadway. He was one of the main characters in the Secret Garden. He's a beautiful voice and he has one of the greatest lines in all of film Dom. Hello. My name is Engo Montoya To Kill my father, prepare to Die. So good. So good. Uh, so that is, you need to watch that movie. You would like it.
I'm dead serious. You would like it. I will watch Titanic, I guess. I know what happens. I know the ending. So? Like, I know what happens in the end. I've known what happens in the end for, you know, a hundred and ten years. Not with Rose and, and, and, and Leo. Yeah, I also know there was room enough for her and him to be on the door.
What a giant bee, I'm just saying. That's selfish. It is very selfish. Selfish. Um, and uh, yeah. So that's uh, that's my thought on that. I am, I am wound up right now. You are. Um, Princess Pride. See it. Love it. Alright, fine. Change your life. It will change your life. It'll be one of my New Year's resolutions. No, because you're gonna watch it before New Year's.
That's, uh, that's a fact. It's gonna be one of your New Year's resolutions this year because apparently you did all your other New Year's resolutions. I did. So, meh. Um. And, um, clearly one of them was being on a killer podcast. I mean, obviously. Nailed it! That's mine. Nailed it! Um, alright, well, that is, uh, that is it, uh, Perseverance, that's what I need to be able to, uh, continue to do this podcast with you, um, So, uh, uh, love to hear from you guys.
Again, the holidays are coming up. Hopefully everyone is, uh, is doing well and, uh, enjoying the holiday season. Josh at voicecoaches. com, that's how you can get in touch with us. Tell me how much you love The Princess Bride, because of course you do, because it's amazing and how much Marissa... As literally, life is not, uh, uh, honestly, honestly not complete until she sees the princess pride.
Um, so, uh, so yeah, so do that and, um, uh, and any other questions, whatever voice tech and stuff you have. Happy to talk about those too. All right, so, uh, thanks so much for tuning in this week. Until next time, Marissa, ugh, whatever. Oh, wow. Love you too. So long, everyone. Visit voicecoaches. com for more voiceover news and information.
This week, Josh and Marissa tackle a question from a listener. While talent and skill is important, what other skills are needed to be successful?
