Made in America

I recently had a call from a production house for whom I do a fair amount of work. They had a script they needed me to voice, but didn't have time to get me into their studio. They asked if they might email the script to my studio, have me record it, and send it back to them for an edit in just a day or two.

www.smooth-male-voiceover-talent.com always aims at returning scripts to clients within 24 hours, so I said their deadline was very possible...uh huh. I received the script and began as soon as possible to record the six pages of copy. My voice wasn't cooperating...so I gave up for the day. The next day, I still didn't like what I heard, but completed the assignment to meet the client's deadline.

Bottom line, the production house was thrilled with what they received (who knew?). They complemented my studio, my microphone, me, and most members of my immediate family. Further, they indicated an intention to do more business through my studio rather than asking me to visit their facility.

I was feeling sheepish about the quality of the voiceover I was submitting...and they were really really happy with it! I can only guess I am, as I've always suspected, my most severe critic. But I think that's common in our profession. We have an image of the best sound or each job, and we'll work overtime to get that sound for our client. If we fall short of our imagined best, we're not happy...and no one can convince us that what we have done is "good enough."

I think that's a healthy attitude and reflective of the work ethic we all wish were the norm in today's world. There is nothing noble about our chosen profession (by a long shot), and I'm sure many others feel the same pride in their work (from assembly line workers to...shudder...attorneys). It is, after all, the private enterprise system and it's inherent rewards that make our country the only place one can achieve "the American dream," but we sure don't read, hear, or see much about it.

We need to collect examples of American pride so whenever someone expresses great surprise at our quality of work we can respond, "What's the surprise? It's made in America!"