Do you have an embarrassing VO moment story?
Please do not feel alone!
I asked our instructors to share their cringe-worth VO stories. I thought this may bring a smile to your face, maybe a chuckle, and remind you that we’re all imperfect. A mess up isn’t a life sentence. In fact, maybe one day I’ll ask you to share YOUR story. 🙂
 Heidi This was before the Atlanta Voiceover Studio had been born. It was a Tuesday, and I completely forgot I had a Beautyrest Commercial VO session(at a studio – back when we were usually booked in studios!). Richard Hutchison (my agent) called me at 10:05 to see if I was okay (the session was at 10). Mortified, I told him I’d be on my way. No makeup, sweatpants on and hair in a bun, I ran out the door only to realize I told Mike he could take MY car that day (he was still working at the radio station). And the only car left was the Jeep, which is a stick shift. I used to be able to drive a stick shift but couldn’t do it at that point anymore…at least where I felt that I and others would be safe on the road. Side note: that may be the sub-embarrassing story. I panicked, then realized…I must do what needs to be done! I called an Uber. Thankfully the client had worked with me before and knew this wasn’t the norm. But I was so mortified…both about the fact that I had forgotten, and that I had no make-up on! |
 Gabby Naylor (engineer for Jill’s Beginner Intensive & full-time voice actor) I had booked my first paid voiceover session, and was recording in my booth – which was held up by PVC pipes, had moving blankets, and a plywood roof. I get on the call, start getting directed, and as soon as I go to give my second take the whole right side of my booth collapses on me. When they asked if everything was alright, I tried to play it off like my cat had just knocked something down outside the booth but it was ok! (It was not ok.)I kept my booth from totally collapsing by holding up the roof with my left hand and my right arm was holding up the fallen moving blanket, like how a vampire would conceal their face, so that my sound quality wouldn’t be ruined. I stayed like that to the end of the session. |
 Trevor Johns (Beginner Intensive Instructor and Private Coach) I showed up at the wrong studio for a job. A recurring job! I showed up at Doppler like “hey!”They were like “ahhh we don’t have you on the books for anything today.” Bill Quinn/we called Richard and sure enough I was supposed to be around the corner at another studio. I just spaced out. I was used to always going to Doppler. Another time I had a client in London. I calculated the time difference incorrectly. So I was driving to the studio for the gig and my phone rang…it was London calling. “Where are you???” |
Curt Bonnem
(Audiobook Class Instructor)
Back in the late aughts I think it was, my manager got me an audition to do a Voice Match for one of the characters in the movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2. The voice match was for an animated character played by a middle-aged Mexican performer with a definitive Mexican accent. Remember, this was before anyone was particularly cognizant or concerned with equity in casting when it came to VO. So, I went ahead and did the recorded audition…and got an in-person callback at Disney in Burbank.
When I walked into the casting office for the callback, it was just me and two other middle-aged Hispanic actors. Mind you, there were no headshots submitted for this, so no one had any idea that I was a 30-something white guy. It was like the needle was pulled off a record when I came in. Everyone was looking at me like I was an alien and seemed very confused that I was there for the callback. Even though I nailed the callback, unsurprisingly (and thankfully) I did not get the part. Of course, now I wouldn’t even accept that audition, but it was quite a funny scene at the time.
Aaron Goodson
(Beginner Intensive Instructor and Private Coach)
One that comes to mind is probably my first full time year in VO. I had a closet booth set up in what was our home office and it shared a wall with the bedroom of my two boys (who were 8 and 9). This was during the pandemic and everyone was home during the day.
Well, during a commercial recording session, my boys got particularly loud and could be heard over my mic. I muted myself and then screamed from the closet “HEY FELLAS I’M RECORDING, QUIET PLEASE!” I then heard the producer laugh and say “that was hilarious”. I apologized and everyone laughed it off and we continued on, but it definitely made me more cautious about yelling at my kids during sessions.
It also made me long for the days when I could upgrade my studio.
See, you’re not alone! Hope that made you smile today.
