Member Blogs

Mandy Nelson - Dandysound's Blog

Sounds Like...Someone Else's Voice

One of my big clients emailed me yesterday to do a voice demo. Easy enough except they wanted it to sound exactly like this other woman's voice. It's taken me many years to realize I just don't do that. My voice is the one voice I do and that's pretty much the end of it. That's not to say I won't work with a client to get the sound they want (cheerful, sad, friendly, etc.). But this was a bit of a stretch for me. And I realized I knew the perfect voice for them. Within a minute I had emailed both the client and the voice introducing them to each other and leaving it at that.

Then I started having second thoughts. This project I just reccommended someone else for is big. Huge. Super dooper humungo. That all equals some serious dough. And then I had to remind myself that I'm not the sound they are looking for and someone out there will want me.

When I was starting out I encountered some real, um, hitches. They were back stabbing women who tried to keep me as far from the industry as possible. I swore I would never be that person. My voice is like no others so they'll like me or they won't. I've lived by that for these 10+ years and it's been great. Slow, but great. So this was the time to really remind myself. And remind myself.

Then, at some point this afternoon, I let it all go. I realized it was right and I started to hope, hope, hope she gets the job. Then, about a minute (or 12 b/c I'm getting sucked in by the Celtics game) ago she emails me with a whole different lead to a client that needs a voice like mine.

HELLO! Thank you karma. How sweet is it to find people who are willing to watch your back and help you out? Ahhh, there is goodness in our world.

13 comments so far...

At the end of the day, remember you're left with one voice to reason with, and that's your own. You were so right to refer someone else. If you had accepted the job, you would have spent a lot of time doing something you really didn't want to do in the first place. You've lasted 10 years being you, and my guess is that you've been happy with that choice. Way to go!

Flag as inappropriate Posted by DandiK on 27th January 2008
You gals are all so terrific! Yes, MaryP...just go to my website www.dandysound.com and there are sound clips there. And that reminds me that I have some serious work to do on that site! For a really fun example of what I do just call 1-888-872-8356 ;)

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Mandy Nelson - Dandysound on 25th January 2008
There you go! As I was reading, I was composing a response in which I said, "You've just earned yourself some cosmic brownie points. This woman will remember this, and it'll come back to you." I was going to say, "Just wait and see!"

Guess you didn't have to wait very long, huh? That's so great! We all need to hear stories like this, where doing the right thing pays off, and there is such thing as getting what you deserve, and karma happens.

Meantime, I'm developing a solid curiosity about what your voice sounds like "on the job". Are there any clips out there on the internet we could hear you in action?

Flag as inappropriate Posted by MaryP on 25th January 2008
That's so awesome - love stories like that and I'm a huge believer in karma!!!

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Victoria on 25th January 2008
It's nice to know we really do mature in ways that manifest themselvesother than wrinkes. Wisdom. Patience. Honest to goodness freak outs that stop after a few hours...YAY Mandy

Flag as inappropriate Posted by on 24th January 2008
You totally did the right thing and how awesome that you were rewarded for your good deed so QUICKLY!!

Good for you!

Flag as inappropriate Posted by KathyHowe on 24th January 2008
You really just lifted my spirits with that story. Sometimes it's easy to forget that people really can be great. Way to go!!!!!

Flag as inappropriate Posted by mamajama on 24th January 2008
Sometimes it really DOES all work out for the best, doesn't it? Seems to me that this is a story not just about karma, but also the value of good networking :-). Nice going!

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Florinda Pendley Vasquez on 24th January 2008
*does a little happy dance in her chair for Mandy*

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Lylah M. Alphonse on 24th January 2008
Here, here! I echo what Kate said. - Paula. (p.s. sorry about the Celts last night) :-(

Flag as inappropriate Posted by tkd_mama on 24th January 2008
Wonderful!

Life is a circle: The good you do comes back to you.

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Uhura on 24th January 2008
This is great! I DO absolutely believe in Karma and so glad that it went your way!

Flag as inappropriate Posted by KC on 24th January 2008