A couple days ago, Rob Marley tweeted the following:
Really cheering for the #Dodgers, but Im not holding my breath.
There’s going to be no living with @MarcScott if the Red Sox win.
— Rob Marley 🎙 (@MarleyAudio) October 28, 2018
While Rob is probably not wrong, and I’ll probably be doing a little gloating and riding the high of last nights World Series win, I didn’t want it all to be about me and my team crushing the hopes and dreams of all the Dodgers fans! 😉 So I decided to dig into the win and find a little value in it for everyone.
You know… maintain balance in the Force, so to speak!
Having watched the Red Sox win the most games in franchise history, at 108, and then cap the season with the Championship, I definitely picked up a few lessons that are as applicable to voice over as they are to baseball.
Never Stop Learning: J.D. Martinez, for all intents and purposes, was a washout. A failed attempt at a baseball player. For a few seasons, nobody wanted him. He said, “Screw that!” J.D. turned himself into one of the premiere hitters in Major League Baseball, leading the league in many batting categories in 2018. When he arrived in Boston, he brought that knowledge and a willingness to share. The end result, it made everyone better hitters. One player, in particular, who benefited was Jackie Bradley Jr. You may recall, he was the ACLS MVP, thanks to some seriously clutch hits!
Whether you’ve been in the voice over business for one year, five years, ten years or twenty years, trends are always changing and there’s always something new to learn. The talent with the most longevity and success are the ones who never stop working on their swing. That is to say, they coach, practice, and never stop developing their craft.
Build a Great Team: Throughout October, I watched a group off All-Stars rely on each other completely. There were no egos. Star players were benched at times because it was the right thing to do for the team. Star pitchers were pulled at times because it was the right thing to do for the team. The theme that popped up in every interview, was guys willing to do whatever they were asked to do for the team. Humbling themselves often, for the good of the team. They knew that together as a cohesive unit, they were stronger. Better. Champions!
Voice over can often feel like an isolating industry. We’re in our little booths all day long. Nobody to talk with. No co-workers. Often, very little social interaction a all. Heck, we often only ever speak with clients via email. That doesn’t make this any less a team sport, and the people who build a great team are the people who succeed. Coaches, mentors, accountants, bookkeepers, producers, editors, engineers, assistants… there are a lot of people that can contribute to your team and make you better. Surround yourself with the right people and you’ll go far!
Don’t Quit: I’m not an emotional guy. In fact, I often joke with my wife that I’m emotionally stunted… except, I’m only half joking. That said, in Game 3, watching Nathan Eovaldi pitch until his arm almost fell off, I admit, I nearly got emotional. Watching David Price come out for Game 5 and throw, quite possibly, the game of his life on short rest, I nearly got emotional. Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez are both potential American League MVP’s, and both had silent bats in the World Series… until they each hit solo home runs in Game 5! These guys, the entire Red Sox team, had their eye on the prize. A World Series trophy was at stake and they were all prepared to do whatever it took to bring that trophy home. There was no quit in a single one of them. None!
Have you ever got really frustrated after a string of auditions leads to no bookings? When you’ve sent 100 marketing emails and received no offers, has it left you feeling defeated? When you fall short of your monthly income goal, have you ever questioned if pursuing voice over was a big mistake? Let me tell you, if you’ve been there, you’re not alone. What’s going to set you apart is whether or not you’ll push through. Throw one more pitch. Take one more swing. Send one more email. Submit one more audition. The prize is up for grabs for the people who don’t quit!
Play to Win
You don’t have to be a Red Sox fan to appreciate a World Series win. You don’t even have to watch sports period, to appreciate a World Series win. When someone is the best at something, there are always lessons to be learned. Attitudes to model. Habits to develop. You don’t get to be the best by accident.
I was flying high last night, just like the guys in the locker room. As I came into the office this morning, I couldn’t help but feel inspired. Motivated. Challenged.
Maybe you’re not going to win the World Series, but maybe you’re going to win a major booking. Land a major client. Sign with a major agent.
Your trophy is out there waiting… go get it!
