Liz de Nesnera. Best of Both Worlds VO.

Fluently Speaking Your Script's Language in English and French.

Pay it back by paying it forward

By

I’ve said it before in this blog, but I’ll say it again, there really is no competition in VO. Either you’re right for as gig, or your not. And I love that.

It leads to a wonderful sense of community within this business that I don’t think exists in any other. Those of us that work at our VO dream everyday know this and live it. How?

By helping each other out whenever we can.

I’ll take this past Tuesday as an example.

I get an email from a client who was looking to have a script translated and recorded into French.
So I gave them the name of a wonderful French translator I trust implicitly, Guylaine Laperriere.

Now, my client was going to submit my voice (thank you!) but they also said their client was leaning toward booking a male talent for this particular job so they needed a French male sample as well. So, I gave them the name of a French male talent I also trust. Full disclosure: he’s my brother André, but that’s really beside the point. He’s a male French talent and that’s what they asked for.

So what happens?

Guylaine booked the translation gig.
André booked the VO gig.

And what did I get from this?….think before you answer….
.
.
.
I got a very happy client who remembers that I helped them out.
And I have two friends who got work they may not have gotten otherwise!

My father used to tell me: “When someone does you a favor, you may not be able to pay them back directly, but you can do it indirectly by helping someone else who asks you for help.” And this was WAY before the move Pay It Forward came out!

As an example, this week alone I was forwarded a lead from non-other than the wonderful Bob Souer, and got amazing advice from DB Cooper, Kara Edwards, Moe Egan and Pat Fraley.

I have been on the receiving end of so many favors from VO friends & colleagues that I consider it essential to return those favors by helping out those that I can.

Call it Karma, call it the right thing to do, call it the whatever you want, but to me it just makes me smile!

Comments

  1. Hey Liz, great story. I think that’s how it should always be! Investing in others is feeding your spirit and it is investing in yourself. Have a great weekend. Bernard

  3. You said it right at the start: We are not really in competition. Occasionally, yes, but rarely. I think many talents may be unnecessarily cloistered because they don’t understand that or they feel this is a more cutthroat community than it is.

    Make some contacts! Share some leads and help each other out! It’s a better way to work and a nicer way to live.

    Great post Liz.

  7. You’re right Liz. I’m so happy and blessed to be a part of the worldwide voice over community. They’ve certainly come through for me with encouragement and friendship. And, I hope I’ve been able to offer the same. I really feel happy when I can pass on a lead to one of my fellow vo peeps!

    Bless!
    😀