VC Radio
Voice Coaches Radio Episode 703 “Voice Actor Mindset”
John: [00:00:00] Hello, my friends. I'm John.
Tina: I'm Tina.
John: And this is Voice Coaches Radio, episode 7 0 3.
Tina: Wow.
John: I always wonder why we say seven. Oh.
Tina: Instead of 0 7 0 3 3. Yeah. 7 0 3. 7 0 3.
John: 703. Yeah. How about that? 703? That makes more sense.
Tina: Yeah. No,
John: no. Yeah. 7 0 3.
Tina: 7 0 3. Because 7 0 3. That sounds like a, uh, a flight. Yeah. Flight 7 0 3, like
John: they did say like, it is 9 0 2.
What was that? The show?
Tina: 9 0 2 1. Oh,
John: yeah. They didn't say nine zero.
Tina: Yeah, they didn't.
John: Right. And 9 0 2. 1 0 9 0. I can't even say it without saying 9 0 9 0 2 1 0 9 0 2 1 oh,
Tina: yeah. No,
John: no, no.
Tina: You
John: can't say oh 9 0 2 1 0.
Tina: Yeah, no. No,
John: not catchy.
Tina: Not at all. Not at all. Yeah. 9 2 1.
John: Oh, that show would not have been as successful.
Tina: No, it wouldn't have been.
John: No. Yeah, yeah. Uh,
Tina: analyzing the copy.
John: That was a long, that was a long time ago. That show.
Tina: Yeah.
John: Yeah. So the episode today is kind totally off topic, but [00:01:00] the episode, today's gonna be voice actor mindset.
Tina: All right.
John: Voice actor mindset. And what we mean by that is. What do we mean by that?
Tina: I don't know. You came up with it.
John: I know. What do we mean? No. So
Tina: now getting, um, how did we talk? We have, I forgot what we said. Oh,
John: you forgot all about it. So, you know, Tina, you really depend on me for these things. I
Tina: do.
John: You really depend on me. For these things, so, so what we're gonna talk about is a couple things.
First off, dealing with rejection.
Tina: Okay? Yes. Which
John: we've all
Tina: done. Yes, that's right. You did mention that. Yep.
John: See, Tina's never rejected. She doesn't even know what it was like. That's why she didn't remember. She has no idea what rejection is. She's like, yeah, John, you could talk about it. I've never been rejected.
Tina: I know. Never, never.
John: So deal. Dealing with rejection and also staying creative as a voice actor.
Tina: Okay.
John: Don't wanna talk about those things. So first off, dealing with rejection. Let me just say, if you are new to this, you may not know this, but being rejected is part of the job. [00:02:00]
Tina: Oh, absolutely, absolutely.
John: Part of the job.
Yeah. As a, as a matter fact, I have been rejected many, many, many times.
Tina: Yeah.
John: Uh, and. Yeah. And to, to the point where, um. It's, it's almost just a, a daily thing, so
Tina: No, it's, yeah. No, no, I get it. It definitely is. I, I, like, I always say to students, it is your 10 nos to your one. Yes it is.
John: Oh, that's a good one. And I've never heard the 10 nos to one.
Yes. I like that.
Tina: Yes. And that's a, that is a Dale Carnegie thing. I took sales.
John: Oh, okay. Okay.
Tina: But you don't ever, you don't hardly ever hear the No though. They just don't. You, you just audition and you know, if they like you, you hear no. Yeah. You don't hear the, no. Sometimes you will. Mm-hmm. Hmm. Sometimes you will.
I think, I think if you're, you know, it's you and one other person. Oh, you know what? We really liked your voice. We're gonna go with someone [00:03:00] else, but we will keep you on file. I've heard that.
John: Yeah. Yeah. And sometimes they do though. Yeah,
Tina: they do. They do. I think they really do.
John: I, I had, I have two rejections in my mind that I remember.
Listen, I, I let I, and, and, and by the way, that's good. Mm-hmm. I've had hundreds of rejections. Yeah. I only remember two of them. I usually let them roll off my back. And even these I did, but I, I, I, I remember them because. Um, one, I was in the final two. Mm-hmm. And it was a big campaign. It was New York State's stop smoking campaign and if, you know, if you live here in New York, you know, that was a big one.
Tina: That is a big one.
John: It was everywhere. Yeah. And I was in the final of thousands of voice actors. That's awesome. I was in, that's the final two of the people they're gonna choose. Mm-hmm. And. I did not get picked.
Tina: No. Wow.
John: And I, and so I remember that, 'cause I remember, I remember thinking in my mind how much work that was.
Mm-hmm. In my mind, I had already spent that money.
Tina: Yeah.
John: Oh, okay. You know, I get to the final two and I was thinking in my mind, and I, I'm always a positive thinker. I'm like, I have this, there's no way. I'm the final two. I got made this far. It's me, it is you. And it wasn't. And it wasn't me. And I was like, ah.
So I remember that one [00:04:00] very clearly. Mm-hmm. And then another one. And this is kind of a positive, I, I'm gonna take this as not a negative experience, but a positive experience. Mm-hmm. I was actually up for a job with one of our former clients. One of our former students that came through our voiceover program.
Tina: Wow.
John: And that person got it over me.
Tina: Woo hoo. Not because of you.
John: Yeah, yeah. No, but I was like, that's awesome. I listen, I, I do so much work. I was really happy because I was like, oh, you know what I mean? Don't get me wrong. I was like, at first, yeah. I was like, wait a minute, the student has surpassed the master.
You know, I, I was like, wait a minute, this person got a job over me. I'm the, yeah, I'm the pro. Mm-hmm. Um, but then I was like, you know what? This is. Awesome for this person.
Tina: Yeah.
John: This is awesome. Because this person's just starting out their career and now they've got their first job.
Tina: Yeah. I love that. That I love.
That's good. Yeah. Yeah.
John: So, so those are the two rejections I remember clearly. And, and, um, it just happens. It does, but you can't let it affect you because that can be a downward spiral.
Tina: Oh, absolutely. Because it, that's the one thing I, and I always also say is that just think of it as, you know, what they [00:05:00] liked your voice.
But they felt another, they wanted to go with something a little different. That's all it happens. It has nothing to do with you or anything like that. They were just looking for something else.
John: And neither of these were auditions, by the way. Mm-hmm. Because, you know, both of these were based on demos.
Tina: Yep.
John: And so, um. You're right. I didn't, I I, they didn't get back to me and tell me.
Tina: Yeah.
John: I
Tina: just, yeah.
John: They just use another voice for the New York state, and
Tina: that's what it is. A lot of it is. They don't get back to you. They don't say, but there will be some clients that will get back to you. Mm-hmm. Yep. And I love those ones because then they, oh, you could sometimes even ask.
Okay. Is there something else I, something that you would, you know, any suggestions, anything like that? If you, if you have that rapport, if you're talking back and forth with them, then definitely ask 'em, you know, go right ahead. But most of 'em will just, you just don't hear it. Yeah. It's the 10 nos to the one, yes.
You just don't hear it,
John: don't it personally. There's the key. Do
Tina: not,
John: do not take it personally. It has nothing to do whether they liked you, didn't like you, loved your voice, didn't love your voice. It is what they want right now.
Tina: Yes.
John: And, and, and I'm like that as a producer, when I mm-hmm. Hire voice actors, [00:06:00] I sometimes don't even know what I want.
Yeah. Until I hear it.
Tina: Mm-hmm.
John: And then I'm like, Ooh, that's the person.
Tina: Yeah.
John: Absolutely. Absolutely. And sometimes there's no like rhyme or reason I can express, it's just. A, a thing in my mind, like I go that that's what I want. Yes. And so it didn't mean I didn't like the other voice actors I heard. Mm-hmm.
It doesn't mean I'm not gonna use 'em in the future either. Mm-hmm. It just meant for this particular project.
Tina: Yeah.
John: I had an idea of what I wanted. Mm-hmm. And boom, there it is.
Tina: That's what I tell students all the time when they're writing out a script, they do have in their mind what voice they're looking for.
Like a female voicemail voice. They've got that in their mind and then they will, it is something they hear that voice and it's like. That's the voice. That's what we wanna use. So yes, they kind of have a direction they wanna go in, but they have to hear it first. Yeah. You know, hear it to say, that's the voice we want.
Exactly. Yeah.
John: And I don't know if the listeners noticed. Mm-hmm. Tina mentioned no rejections that she's had. Oh, I don't know if you noticed that. Uh, just like I said in the beginning, Tina, apparently I said, no rejections. I've had the 10. I told two, I poured out my heart, talked about two rejections I [00:07:00] had, and Tina just went right over it and just went, okay.
Yep, yep. You losers. Sometimes get rejected. Yep.
Tina: That's you all the way. Me never, every job I applied for, I've gotten it. Come on. Who would not wanna use my voice Like
John: no story whatsoever. Nothing. It's like, okay, yeah, great. You were rejected. That's
Tina: how what happened? No. Here's those things that those 10 nos.
I've gotten them. Yeah. I've gotten those 10 nos and I've gotten the one. Yes.
John: Yeah.
Tina: So that's my, I've, I feel that,
John: you know what, you have a better mindset because you just don't remember 'em. You're
Tina: like, yeah, I don't remember. I don't, I just, and that's the thing though, because I could dwell on it and then it's going to affect everything Yes.
That I put out there
John: and I have met new voice actors, especially
Tina: mm-hmm.
John: That dwell on it, and not so badly that they say. I, I've heard this exact thing. Mm-hmm. I don't know how I didn't get picked for that job. I was perfect for it.
Tina: Yeah.
John: I was like, you don't know that.
Tina: Yeah, I know.
John: Don't feel like that.
Yeah. Listen, I, I get it. You, you saw this right? And you were like, I am perfect for this. And then you [00:08:00] didn't get the job. You go, I don't understand. I'm perfect. Yeah. Okay. Cool. Yeah. You're perfect in your mind. Mm-hmm. Right. Don't feel like that they had, they, they, they had an idea or they didn't have an idea, one or the other.
Tina: Mm-hmm.
John: But when they heard the person they picked, that was, that was it.
Tina: That was it. Yeah.
John: It just happens.
Tina: Yep.
John: And don't worry about it. You will get the job. Just keep mm-hmm. Plugging away.
Tina: Yes. Keep at it.
John: Don't get upset. So there's one aspect of mm-hmm. Uh, voice actor mindset.
Tina: Mindset.
John: Yeah.
Tina: Yes,
John: yes. Yeah.
And so, uh, the other thing we're gonna talk about is stay creative.
Tina: Mm-hmm.
John: Right?
Tina: Yes.
John: You have to stay creative.
Tina: You do. You really do. And, and the biggest that I tell students is go in there. Be outside the box, be out, go, start right from the get go, be outside the box. If you're a little too much, they'll pull you in.
It's harder to get you to be outside of the box if you're not that person, you know?
John: Absolutely. Yeah. I think what, again, this is a newer voice actor thing, I feel like mm-hmm. Is that with some new [00:09:00] voice actors do is they get into the booth and here's what they think. Again, it's a mindset they think. You know, for example, um, the first time I have someone read something, typically mm-hmm.
I don't give them any direction. I'll put 'em in the booth. I do, I do sound checks. So I set levels. Mm-hmm. And then I go, okay, go for it. We're rolling. And here's what I, I can almost hear the gears going and, and here's what that voice actor thinks. Okay. You know what, I'm just gonna read a flat. So they can hear my voice.
Mm-hmm. And then they'll gimme direction. I don't want that. What I want you to do is I want you to be creative. I want you to do mm-hmm. I want you to go for it.
Tina: Yes.
John: If you think it's sarcastic. I want, I, I don't want, and I've had this lately too. Mm-hmm. I've had people go, so a little sarcasm. I said, I didn't say that.
I said sarcasm, and if I say sarcasm, go for it now, but, but if you think, okay, I haven't given you any direction yet. You think it should be sarcastic, I want to hear that. Mm-hmm. I want to hear you go for it. I'd rather have you be over the top sarcastic so I can go, okay. Hey, let's bring that down a little bit.
What does make me nervous is when someone reads a flat [00:10:00] because, well now my gears in my mind are going and I'm thinking, uhoh, I'm gonna have to really push this person. Yes. Yeah. This person is not super expressive. Which is weird because I probably hired you based on your demo. Yes, yes. And you're probably very expressive on your demo.
And now I'm nervous. Mm-hmm. Because now I'm thinking, did some really good producer just walk them through their demo?
Tina: Oh, that's
John: true. And, and make them sound good. Yeah, because a good producer can make anybody sound good.
Tina: Absolutely.
John: Yeah. So now I'm nervous. Now I'm thinking Uhoh, I wish I had that producer in here.
Yeah. To do this voiceover because this person obviously can't be. Mm-hmm. And, and that might not be true. You're just, you're, again, you're overthinking it and you're think, I'm gonna read flat.
Tina: Yeah.
John: Do not read flat. Go for it. And, and there's no, and and, and there's no right or wrong. Like, in other words, I'm not gonna say even if you're wrong, there's no right or wrong.
It's the way someone wants it. It's the way we interpret it. Right. Just go for it and then we'll, then we'll go. Okay. That, Hey, let's try it this way instead.
Tina: Absolutely.
John: Yes. Or we just tone it down or whatever.
Tina: Yeah. That don't, yeah, go
John: for
Tina: it. Don't go in there and just be like, okay, the dog ran down the street.
John: Right?
Tina: No, [00:11:00] no. The dog ran down the street.
John: Yeah. Yeah. Go for it. Yes. And then we'll go. Okay. Hey, I, let's try it this way. Hey, instead of being sarcastic, let's be annoyed. Let's be, we'll give you some direction. Yes. Once you, but if you think you're being a blank slate, that is not what I want.
Tina: No, no. Absolutely.
John: That is not what I want. Uh, I want a professional voice actor. And a professional voice actor is creative. Mm-hmm. You know, it's, this is a collaborative indus collaborative industry. Right. I want collaborate back and forth with you. Mm-hmm. I don't wanna, mm-hmm. This was something that we talked about by, by the way, uh, and a few podcasts ago, ai, right?
Tina: Oh, yep.
John: That's the difference between ai, like you're not ai. Mm-hmm. I wanna collaborate with you. AI is something where I just instruct it.
Tina: Yeah.
John: And I have to be super specific. Yes. Part of your job is to take direction. Yes. But really this is collaborative. So what I want is you to just go for it. Mm-hmm.
Give me what you have because then maybe. You do something that I didn't even think of. Yeah. That's part of being creative. I'm not the end all, I'm not the most creative person in the room. I [00:12:00] hope.
Tina: Yeah.
John: I hope you are too. And so do something and maybe I didn't think of that and I love it.
Tina: Mm-hmm.
John: Like I might, you might go, I might go, oh wow, this job, this, this project's gonna be even better than I thought it was gonna be.
Yeah. This person really came up with something I didn't think of that is part of your job as a voice actor.
Tina: Yes. Step outside of that box. We'll pull you in if it's too much.
John: So, yeah. So that, that is again, voice actor mindset. Um, I mean, there, I, I'm sure there's many things we could talk about, but I think those are really the two most important because I think those are the two things that can set voice actors, especially new again, newcomers.
Tina: Yes.
John: That can set them back.
Tina: Mm-hmm.
John: Really, the, the rejection one is.
Tina: I, I think that's,
John: I've had some people really get bummed.
Tina: That's the biggest thing of the question I get with students as we're getting towards the end and they're, you know, ready to get further demo, is that, okay, so what do I do? You know, is there, you know, all these jobs out there and how do I handle this, this, and this, you know, going positive.
That's, that's the fir, that's the biggest thing because again, we've [00:13:00] already said we love this job. We absolutely love it. You're gonna love it too. You know, just, but have some fun with it. Go in positive, be creative.
John: Yes. And that, and that, just that alone, coming in with that positive mindset mm-hmm. Um, being super creative, just that alone.
And I know when we talk about voice acting, I think people really focus on the first part, the voice part of it.
Tina: Yes.
John: And sure, we, we hired you because we loved your voice, but it's not just what we loved, what you did on your demo. Yes,
Tina: absolutely.
John: Um, if it was, again, if we hired based on your demo. We love to do what you did on your demo, so hiring you again, again.
Mm-hmm. That's key to this is, is, is developing a clientele, developing reit. What? Ise, I
Tina: don't
John: dunno. Developing repeat clients. Mm-hmm. Um, we really, a big part of why I hire someone again is because mm-hmm. I actually like being in the room with 'em.
Tina: Yes, absolutely. Yeah.
John: Wow. This person was so much fun.
Mm-hmm. And they took direction really well, but they're super creative.
Tina: Yes.
John: That's a reason we bring you back in and. You take rejection Well, and, [00:14:00] and I, I'm gonna use rejection in a different way. I, I'm talking about the direction we give you. Some people take some people, unfortunately, and, and, and, uh, I think I mentioned this on another episode, I think, but some people take direction as rejection and don't do that.
Tina: Oh yeah. Yeah. Don't
John: do that. Don't. When we're directing you, it has nothing to do with other We like, you like what you did. No. Yeah. It's, it's just, we want something different. Don't take direction as rejection. And people have done that. I have seen it in their face where the more direction I give them, the more they start to get bummed.
Tina: They feel defeated.
John: They feel defeated.
Tina: Yeah.
John: Don't, we're just trying to help you. Right.
Tina: Yeah. No, no. That's it. Yep. We just trying to get, they're trying to think if you're in there. Uh, first of all, they already like your voice, but they want and make sure they get the project, what they're looking for. Yeah.
What they're really trying to get out of it. And they're trying to help you. We're not trying to mm-hmm. You know, say to you, we're trying, not trying to hold you back. We want, we know what we can get out of you. Right. We've heard it. We're saying, let's go. We can, I heard it once. I know we can do it again.
John: Exactly. And believe me, you're gonna get enough rejection in this industry without mm-hmm. Creating it.
Tina: Yes, that's for sure. [00:15:00] Yep.
John: Don't create rejection for yourself if you're not being rejected. We're just giving you direction. That's
Tina: all. That's that is it,
John: you know, so awesome. Well, listen, uh, I, again, 2026 is crazy, but this is episode 7 0 3.
Tina: Yeah.
John: 703. 7 0 3 7 0 3, whatever, however you wanna say it. Uh, but it's 7 0 3 and this episode was called. Voice actor mindset. I hope you helped. Yes. Mindset. I hope it helped. Believe me. I'm sure this can help someone out there who's bummed right now. Mm-hmm. Don't be
Tina: bummed.
John: Don't be bummed. Yes. You don't worry.
The job's out there
Tina: they are.
John: Um, but I wanna thank you very much for listening. I'm John. And
Tina: I'm Tina.
John: And uh, do we have to give out our email again? We give it out every time.
Tina: Yeah, we do. I know, but go ahead.
John: Okay. John [email protected].
Tina: [email protected].
John: We out.
Tina: I'm Tina.
John: And this is Voice Coaches Radio, episode 7 0 3.
Tina: Wow.
John: I always wonder why we say seven. Oh.
Tina: Instead of 0 7 0 3 3. Yeah. 7 0 3. 7 0 3.
John: 703. Yeah. How about that? 703? That makes more sense.
Tina: Yeah. No,
John: no. Yeah. 7 0 3.
Tina: 7 0 3. Because 7 0 3. That sounds like a, uh, a flight. Yeah. Flight 7 0 3, like
John: they did say like, it is 9 0 2.
What was that? The show?
Tina: 9 0 2 1. Oh,
John: yeah. They didn't say nine zero.
Tina: Yeah, they didn't.
John: Right. And 9 0 2. 1 0 9 0. I can't even say it without saying 9 0 9 0 2 1 0 9 0 2 1 oh,
Tina: yeah. No,
John: no, no.
Tina: You
John: can't say oh 9 0 2 1 0.
Tina: Yeah, no. No,
John: not catchy.
Tina: Not at all. Not at all. Yeah. 9 2 1.
John: Oh, that show would not have been as successful.
Tina: No, it wouldn't have been.
John: No. Yeah, yeah. Uh,
Tina: analyzing the copy.
John: That was a long, that was a long time ago. That show.
Tina: Yeah.
John: Yeah. So the episode today is kind totally off topic, but [00:01:00] the episode, today's gonna be voice actor mindset.
Tina: All right.
John: Voice actor mindset. And what we mean by that is. What do we mean by that?
Tina: I don't know. You came up with it.
John: I know. What do we mean? No. So
Tina: now getting, um, how did we talk? We have, I forgot what we said. Oh,
John: you forgot all about it. So, you know, Tina, you really depend on me for these things. I
Tina: do.
John: You really depend on me. For these things, so, so what we're gonna talk about is a couple things.
First off, dealing with rejection.
Tina: Okay? Yes. Which
John: we've all
Tina: done. Yes, that's right. You did mention that. Yep.
John: See, Tina's never rejected. She doesn't even know what it was like. That's why she didn't remember. She has no idea what rejection is. She's like, yeah, John, you could talk about it. I've never been rejected.
Tina: I know. Never, never.
John: So deal. Dealing with rejection and also staying creative as a voice actor.
Tina: Okay.
John: Don't wanna talk about those things. So first off, dealing with rejection. Let me just say, if you are new to this, you may not know this, but being rejected is part of the job. [00:02:00]
Tina: Oh, absolutely, absolutely.
John: Part of the job.
Yeah. As a, as a matter fact, I have been rejected many, many, many times.
Tina: Yeah.
John: Uh, and. Yeah. And to, to the point where, um. It's, it's almost just a, a daily thing, so
Tina: No, it's, yeah. No, no, I get it. It definitely is. I, I, like, I always say to students, it is your 10 nos to your one. Yes it is.
John: Oh, that's a good one. And I've never heard the 10 nos to one.
Yes. I like that.
Tina: Yes. And that's a, that is a Dale Carnegie thing. I took sales.
John: Oh, okay. Okay.
Tina: But you don't ever, you don't hardly ever hear the No though. They just don't. You, you just audition and you know, if they like you, you hear no. Yeah. You don't hear the, no. Sometimes you will. Mm-hmm. Hmm. Sometimes you will.
I think, I think if you're, you know, it's you and one other person. Oh, you know what? We really liked your voice. We're gonna go with someone [00:03:00] else, but we will keep you on file. I've heard that.
John: Yeah. Yeah. And sometimes they do though. Yeah,
Tina: they do. They do. I think they really do.
John: I, I had, I have two rejections in my mind that I remember.
Listen, I, I let I, and, and, and by the way, that's good. Mm-hmm. I've had hundreds of rejections. Yeah. I only remember two of them. I usually let them roll off my back. And even these I did, but I, I, I, I remember them because. Um, one, I was in the final two. Mm-hmm. And it was a big campaign. It was New York State's stop smoking campaign and if, you know, if you live here in New York, you know, that was a big one.
Tina: That is a big one.
John: It was everywhere. Yeah. And I was in the final of thousands of voice actors. That's awesome. I was in, that's the final two of the people they're gonna choose. Mm-hmm. And. I did not get picked.
Tina: No. Wow.
John: And I, and so I remember that, 'cause I remember, I remember thinking in my mind how much work that was.
Mm-hmm. In my mind, I had already spent that money.
Tina: Yeah.
John: Oh, okay. You know, I get to the final two and I was thinking in my mind, and I, I'm always a positive thinker. I'm like, I have this, there's no way. I'm the final two. I got made this far. It's me, it is you. And it wasn't. And it wasn't me. And I was like, ah.
So I remember that one [00:04:00] very clearly. Mm-hmm. And then another one. And this is kind of a positive, I, I'm gonna take this as not a negative experience, but a positive experience. Mm-hmm. I was actually up for a job with one of our former clients. One of our former students that came through our voiceover program.
Tina: Wow.
John: And that person got it over me.
Tina: Woo hoo. Not because of you.
John: Yeah, yeah. No, but I was like, that's awesome. I listen, I, I do so much work. I was really happy because I was like, oh, you know what I mean? Don't get me wrong. I was like, at first, yeah. I was like, wait a minute, the student has surpassed the master.
You know, I, I was like, wait a minute, this person got a job over me. I'm the, yeah, I'm the pro. Mm-hmm. Um, but then I was like, you know what? This is. Awesome for this person.
Tina: Yeah.
John: This is awesome. Because this person's just starting out their career and now they've got their first job.
Tina: Yeah. I love that. That I love.
That's good. Yeah. Yeah.
John: So, so those are the two rejections I remember clearly. And, and, um, it just happens. It does, but you can't let it affect you because that can be a downward spiral.
Tina: Oh, absolutely. Because it, that's the one thing I, and I always also say is that just think of it as, you know, what they [00:05:00] liked your voice.
But they felt another, they wanted to go with something a little different. That's all it happens. It has nothing to do with you or anything like that. They were just looking for something else.
John: And neither of these were auditions, by the way. Mm-hmm. Because, you know, both of these were based on demos.
Tina: Yep.
John: And so, um. You're right. I didn't, I I, they didn't get back to me and tell me.
Tina: Yeah.
John: I
Tina: just, yeah.
John: They just use another voice for the New York state, and
Tina: that's what it is. A lot of it is. They don't get back to you. They don't say, but there will be some clients that will get back to you. Mm-hmm. Yep. And I love those ones because then they, oh, you could sometimes even ask.
Okay. Is there something else I, something that you would, you know, any suggestions, anything like that? If you, if you have that rapport, if you're talking back and forth with them, then definitely ask 'em, you know, go right ahead. But most of 'em will just, you just don't hear it. Yeah. It's the 10 nos to the one, yes.
You just don't hear it,
John: don't it personally. There's the key. Do
Tina: not,
John: do not take it personally. It has nothing to do whether they liked you, didn't like you, loved your voice, didn't love your voice. It is what they want right now.
Tina: Yes.
John: And, and, and I'm like that as a producer, when I mm-hmm. Hire voice actors, [00:06:00] I sometimes don't even know what I want.
Yeah. Until I hear it.
Tina: Mm-hmm.
John: And then I'm like, Ooh, that's the person.
Tina: Yeah.
John: Absolutely. Absolutely. And sometimes there's no like rhyme or reason I can express, it's just. A, a thing in my mind, like I go that that's what I want. Yes. And so it didn't mean I didn't like the other voice actors I heard. Mm-hmm.
It doesn't mean I'm not gonna use 'em in the future either. Mm-hmm. It just meant for this particular project.
Tina: Yeah.
John: I had an idea of what I wanted. Mm-hmm. And boom, there it is.
Tina: That's what I tell students all the time when they're writing out a script, they do have in their mind what voice they're looking for.
Like a female voicemail voice. They've got that in their mind and then they will, it is something they hear that voice and it's like. That's the voice. That's what we wanna use. So yes, they kind of have a direction they wanna go in, but they have to hear it first. Yeah. You know, hear it to say, that's the voice we want.
Exactly. Yeah.
John: And I don't know if the listeners noticed. Mm-hmm. Tina mentioned no rejections that she's had. Oh, I don't know if you noticed that. Uh, just like I said in the beginning, Tina, apparently I said, no rejections. I've had the 10. I told two, I poured out my heart, talked about two rejections I [00:07:00] had, and Tina just went right over it and just went, okay.
Yep, yep. You losers. Sometimes get rejected. Yep.
Tina: That's you all the way. Me never, every job I applied for, I've gotten it. Come on. Who would not wanna use my voice Like
John: no story whatsoever. Nothing. It's like, okay, yeah, great. You were rejected. That's
Tina: how what happened? No. Here's those things that those 10 nos.
I've gotten them. Yeah. I've gotten those 10 nos and I've gotten the one. Yes.
John: Yeah.
Tina: So that's my, I've, I feel that,
John: you know what, you have a better mindset because you just don't remember 'em. You're
Tina: like, yeah, I don't remember. I don't, I just, and that's the thing though, because I could dwell on it and then it's going to affect everything Yes.
That I put out there
John: and I have met new voice actors, especially
Tina: mm-hmm.
John: That dwell on it, and not so badly that they say. I, I've heard this exact thing. Mm-hmm. I don't know how I didn't get picked for that job. I was perfect for it.
Tina: Yeah.
John: I was like, you don't know that.
Tina: Yeah, I know.
John: Don't feel like that.
Yeah. Listen, I, I get it. You, you saw this right? And you were like, I am perfect for this. And then you [00:08:00] didn't get the job. You go, I don't understand. I'm perfect. Yeah. Okay. Cool. Yeah. You're perfect in your mind. Mm-hmm. Right. Don't feel like that they had, they, they, they had an idea or they didn't have an idea, one or the other.
Tina: Mm-hmm.
John: But when they heard the person they picked, that was, that was it.
Tina: That was it. Yeah.
John: It just happens.
Tina: Yep.
John: And don't worry about it. You will get the job. Just keep mm-hmm. Plugging away.
Tina: Yes. Keep at it.
John: Don't get upset. So there's one aspect of mm-hmm. Uh, voice actor mindset.
Tina: Mindset.
John: Yeah.
Tina: Yes,
John: yes. Yeah.
And so, uh, the other thing we're gonna talk about is stay creative.
Tina: Mm-hmm.
John: Right?
Tina: Yes.
John: You have to stay creative.
Tina: You do. You really do. And, and the biggest that I tell students is go in there. Be outside the box, be out, go, start right from the get go, be outside the box. If you're a little too much, they'll pull you in.
It's harder to get you to be outside of the box if you're not that person, you know?
John: Absolutely. Yeah. I think what, again, this is a newer voice actor thing, I feel like mm-hmm. Is that with some new [00:09:00] voice actors do is they get into the booth and here's what they think. Again, it's a mindset they think. You know, for example, um, the first time I have someone read something, typically mm-hmm.
I don't give them any direction. I'll put 'em in the booth. I do, I do sound checks. So I set levels. Mm-hmm. And then I go, okay, go for it. We're rolling. And here's what I, I can almost hear the gears going and, and here's what that voice actor thinks. Okay. You know what, I'm just gonna read a flat. So they can hear my voice.
Mm-hmm. And then they'll gimme direction. I don't want that. What I want you to do is I want you to be creative. I want you to do mm-hmm. I want you to go for it.
Tina: Yes.
John: If you think it's sarcastic. I want, I, I don't want, and I've had this lately too. Mm-hmm. I've had people go, so a little sarcasm. I said, I didn't say that.
I said sarcasm, and if I say sarcasm, go for it now, but, but if you think, okay, I haven't given you any direction yet. You think it should be sarcastic, I want to hear that. Mm-hmm. I want to hear you go for it. I'd rather have you be over the top sarcastic so I can go, okay. Hey, let's bring that down a little bit.
What does make me nervous is when someone reads a flat [00:10:00] because, well now my gears in my mind are going and I'm thinking, uhoh, I'm gonna have to really push this person. Yes. Yeah. This person is not super expressive. Which is weird because I probably hired you based on your demo. Yes, yes. And you're probably very expressive on your demo.
And now I'm nervous. Mm-hmm. Because now I'm thinking, did some really good producer just walk them through their demo?
Tina: Oh, that's
John: true. And, and make them sound good. Yeah, because a good producer can make anybody sound good.
Tina: Absolutely.
John: Yeah. So now I'm nervous. Now I'm thinking Uhoh, I wish I had that producer in here.
Yeah. To do this voiceover because this person obviously can't be. Mm-hmm. And, and that might not be true. You're just, you're, again, you're overthinking it and you're think, I'm gonna read flat.
Tina: Yeah.
John: Do not read flat. Go for it. And, and there's no, and and, and there's no right or wrong. Like, in other words, I'm not gonna say even if you're wrong, there's no right or wrong.
It's the way someone wants it. It's the way we interpret it. Right. Just go for it and then we'll, then we'll go. Okay. That, Hey, let's try it this way instead.
Tina: Absolutely.
John: Yes. Or we just tone it down or whatever.
Tina: Yeah. That don't, yeah, go
John: for
Tina: it. Don't go in there and just be like, okay, the dog ran down the street.
John: Right?
Tina: No, [00:11:00] no. The dog ran down the street.
John: Yeah. Yeah. Go for it. Yes. And then we'll go. Okay. Hey, I, let's try it this way. Hey, instead of being sarcastic, let's be annoyed. Let's be, we'll give you some direction. Yes. Once you, but if you think you're being a blank slate, that is not what I want.
Tina: No, no. Absolutely.
John: That is not what I want. Uh, I want a professional voice actor. And a professional voice actor is creative. Mm-hmm. You know, it's, this is a collaborative indus collaborative industry. Right. I want collaborate back and forth with you. Mm-hmm. I don't wanna, mm-hmm. This was something that we talked about by, by the way, uh, and a few podcasts ago, ai, right?
Tina: Oh, yep.
John: That's the difference between ai, like you're not ai. Mm-hmm. I wanna collaborate with you. AI is something where I just instruct it.
Tina: Yeah.
John: And I have to be super specific. Yes. Part of your job is to take direction. Yes. But really this is collaborative. So what I want is you to just go for it. Mm-hmm.
Give me what you have because then maybe. You do something that I didn't even think of. Yeah. That's part of being creative. I'm not the end all, I'm not the most creative person in the room. I [00:12:00] hope.
Tina: Yeah.
John: I hope you are too. And so do something and maybe I didn't think of that and I love it.
Tina: Mm-hmm.
John: Like I might, you might go, I might go, oh wow, this job, this, this project's gonna be even better than I thought it was gonna be.
Yeah. This person really came up with something I didn't think of that is part of your job as a voice actor.
Tina: Yes. Step outside of that box. We'll pull you in if it's too much.
John: So, yeah. So that, that is again, voice actor mindset. Um, I mean, there, I, I'm sure there's many things we could talk about, but I think those are really the two most important because I think those are the two things that can set voice actors, especially new again, newcomers.
Tina: Yes.
John: That can set them back.
Tina: Mm-hmm.
John: Really, the, the rejection one is.
Tina: I, I think that's,
John: I've had some people really get bummed.
Tina: That's the biggest thing of the question I get with students as we're getting towards the end and they're, you know, ready to get further demo, is that, okay, so what do I do? You know, is there, you know, all these jobs out there and how do I handle this, this, and this, you know, going positive.
That's, that's the fir, that's the biggest thing because again, we've [00:13:00] already said we love this job. We absolutely love it. You're gonna love it too. You know, just, but have some fun with it. Go in positive, be creative.
John: Yes. And that, and that, just that alone, coming in with that positive mindset mm-hmm. Um, being super creative, just that alone.
And I know when we talk about voice acting, I think people really focus on the first part, the voice part of it.
Tina: Yes.
John: And sure, we, we hired you because we loved your voice, but it's not just what we loved, what you did on your demo. Yes,
Tina: absolutely.
John: Um, if it was, again, if we hired based on your demo. We love to do what you did on your demo, so hiring you again, again.
Mm-hmm. That's key to this is, is, is developing a clientele, developing reit. What? Ise, I
Tina: don't
John: dunno. Developing repeat clients. Mm-hmm. Um, we really, a big part of why I hire someone again is because mm-hmm. I actually like being in the room with 'em.
Tina: Yes, absolutely. Yeah.
John: Wow. This person was so much fun.
Mm-hmm. And they took direction really well, but they're super creative.
Tina: Yes.
John: That's a reason we bring you back in and. You take rejection Well, and, [00:14:00] and I, I'm gonna use rejection in a different way. I, I'm talking about the direction we give you. Some people take some people, unfortunately, and, and, and, uh, I think I mentioned this on another episode, I think, but some people take direction as rejection and don't do that.
Tina: Oh yeah. Yeah. Don't
John: do that. Don't. When we're directing you, it has nothing to do with other We like, you like what you did. No. Yeah. It's, it's just, we want something different. Don't take direction as rejection. And people have done that. I have seen it in their face where the more direction I give them, the more they start to get bummed.
Tina: They feel defeated.
John: They feel defeated.
Tina: Yeah.
John: Don't, we're just trying to help you. Right.
Tina: Yeah. No, no. That's it. Yep. We just trying to get, they're trying to think if you're in there. Uh, first of all, they already like your voice, but they want and make sure they get the project, what they're looking for. Yeah.
What they're really trying to get out of it. And they're trying to help you. We're not trying to mm-hmm. You know, say to you, we're trying, not trying to hold you back. We want, we know what we can get out of you. Right. We've heard it. We're saying, let's go. We can, I heard it once. I know we can do it again.
John: Exactly. And believe me, you're gonna get enough rejection in this industry without mm-hmm. Creating it.
Tina: Yes, that's for sure. [00:15:00] Yep.
John: Don't create rejection for yourself if you're not being rejected. We're just giving you direction. That's
Tina: all. That's that is it,
John: you know, so awesome. Well, listen, uh, I, again, 2026 is crazy, but this is episode 7 0 3.
Tina: Yeah.
John: 703. 7 0 3 7 0 3, whatever, however you wanna say it. Uh, but it's 7 0 3 and this episode was called. Voice actor mindset. I hope you helped. Yes. Mindset. I hope it helped. Believe me. I'm sure this can help someone out there who's bummed right now. Mm-hmm. Don't be
Tina: bummed.
John: Don't be bummed. Yes. You don't worry.
The job's out there
Tina: they are.
John: Um, but I wanna thank you very much for listening. I'm John. And
Tina: I'm Tina.
John: And uh, do we have to give out our email again? We give it out every time.
Tina: Yeah, we do. I know, but go ahead.
John: Okay. John [email protected].
Tina: [email protected].
John: We out.
Tina and John talk about having a good Voice Actor mindset.
