I’m cited several times in a good brief article\u00a0about a common block in moving our lives forward. \u00a0It’s about voice training but the same words apply to psychotherapy and life.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.edgestudio.com\/blogs\/are-you-addicted-voice-over-training<\/p>\n
Or just read it here:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
An Edge Studio student of voice-over asked us, \u201cIs it possible to become addicted to training?\u201d Wow, what a good question. We don\u2019t mean, \u201cAre you addicted\u201d in the way that you\u2019d answer \u201cyes, they\u2019re always fun!\u201d This time we mean, are you so addicted to the point that you don\u2019t let go and take the next step, which is to start your VO business?<\/p>\n
It would not be professional for us to say, \u201cNo, keep taking all the courses you can.\u201d In fact, it would not be correct, and there are a number of reasons why:<\/p>\n
As Edge Studio founder David Goldberg told that student:<\/p>\n
\u201cCertainly some voice actors become addicted to coaching sessions,\u201d he said. \u201cCoaching at the beginning of your career is absolutely necessary for learning standard industry practices, preparing your personal capabilities, and building your voice-over business. But once you\u2019ve learned, it\u2019s time to cut the link, because voice actors ultimately need to do this on their own.\u201d<\/p>\n
Why do some people hang onto coaching too long? And when is the right time to stop for awhile?<\/p>\n
Timidity.<\/b><\/p>\n
Given the word \u201caddicted,\u201d we also spoke with a clinical psychologist, Bennett Pologe, Ph.D. (He is also an actor, currently recording the audiobook version of his book, \u201cStop Lying: Getting Un-lost and Un-stuck in Your Life.<\/a>\u201d)<\/p>\n \u201cPeople cling to lessons, coaches, therapists, et cetera beyond the time when they’re still learning,\u201d said Dr. Pologe, \u201csimply because it’s a bit scary to go out and be on your own, without a net … without asking the teacher \u2018is that ok?\u2019. That applies to anything, but especially something as personal and difficult to quantify as voice acting.\u201d<\/p>\n In other words, it\u2019s like a form of stage fright. It\u2019s normal. (In fact, many great performers continue to have stage fright throughout their careers.) In this case, the solution is to … just get out there. When your coach says you are ready, implement your business plan. And turn any nervous tension into the energy required to complete your business-startup tasks.<\/p>\n The \u201cready-aim-ready-aim…\u201d cycle<\/b><\/p>\n A variation on the theme … some people tend to figure they need to touch up one more thing before pulling the trigger. When is it time to take the shot? Dr. Pologe told us, \u201cJust ask yourself if you’re still learning anything.\u201d<\/p>\n David Goldberg fine-tunes this to the VO coaching environment: \u201cWhen starting out, train until you and your coach(es) feel you’re able to do what you want on your own. Then train from time to time in order to remain relevant and grow your business.\u201d<\/p>\n Here\u2019s why your coach\u2019s signal is important. An experienced VO coach (and this means they are not just a voice or acting teacher but are also familiar with the VO business and the process of getting started in it) will know when the time is right. You shouldn\u2019t wait too long before hanging out your \u201copen for business\u201d shingle, but also don\u2019t launch prematurely.<\/p>\n As Dr. Pologe, reminds, \u201cYou may be re-learning something, but that counts as training. People often have to relearn something before it becomes internalized.\u201d<\/p>\n That need is even more the case if you\u2019ve had a negative experience. \u201cResistance makes us \u2018forget\u2019 and have to re-learn something many times before it becomes internalized,\u201d he said. So the answer varies from individual to individual. But there is<\/b><\/em> an answer.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not you; it\u2019s the coach<\/b><\/p>\n \u201cMore often, the problem is with the coach,\u201d said David Goldberg.<\/p>\n We\u2019re not talking about a \u201cSvengali\u201d situation. Svengali was a fictional character who psychologically dominated his student and made her dependent on him. It has come to mean anyone who exerts such control with evil intent. In VO coaching, we\u2019ve never encountered that, so we didn\u2019t even ask the doctor about it.<\/p>\n But there are many well-meaning coaches out there who fall short in one or more of these ways:<\/p>\n \u201cLastly, and sadly,\u201d David added, \u201cthere are some coaches who take voice actors for a ride.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s not a Svengali \u201caddiction,\u201d but it\u2019s just as bad. The student is being taken for a ride if the coach has encouraged them, but they\u2019re just not suited to VO work, and will likely never reach the professional level. Or if someone else has given unwitting encouragement, and the coach is too happy to oblige.<\/p>\n At Edge Studio, we politely discourage people for whom voice-over training does not seem appropriate.<\/p>\n The solution:<\/b><\/p>\n The bottom line is that coaches should teach, rather than direct, so that voice actors learn to work solo.<\/p>\n Even if (or especially if) you\u2019ve opened shop and are getting work, it\u2019s time to cut the cord. Relying on a coach for every audition and paid job is costly and takes extra time. Worse, when the coach is not available — especially on a last-minute audition or job — the voice actor is, well, screwed.<\/p>\n Proper VO training not only teaches you how to do<\/b><\/em> things. It also gives you the experience and confidence necessary to make sound performance judgments and do them on your own.<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n In that, David and the psychologist agree:<\/p>\n Dr. Pologe: \u201cIf you\u2019re no longer learning new things, then maybe you are just being a bit timid to go out and use what you know, to do what you can<\/em> do. Do it.\u201d<\/p>\n David Goldberg: \u201cWhen starting out, train until you and your coach(es) feel you’re able to do what you want, on your own. Then do it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I’m cited several times in a good brief article\u00a0about a common block in moving our lives forward. \u00a0It’s about voice training but the same words apply to psychotherapy and life. https:\/\/www.edgestudio.com\/blogs\/are-you-addicted-voice-over-training Or just read it here: Are you addicted to … Continue reading \n