Be very careful with how you manage your conflicts in voice-over. If you mess up, you can easily ruin your reputation in the industry. Confused? Let's chat about it.
This voiceover mistake can ruin your reputation - 4:54
Hey guys, it's Gabby. Welcome to another edition of The Gift of Gab. I am so thankful that our industry is finally at a place where the business end of voiceover is talked about and acknowledged just as much as the performance side. And today, I want to answer some questions about a very specific topic: conflicts. If you've heard the term and you're unsure of what it means, stick around.
Very simply, a conflict in voiceover means that you have already done a similar type of job for either a company's competitor or someone else who is advertising in the same region or marketplace. There are conflicts that come with a contract, meaning you are literally under contract and cannot do a similar type of job for a period of time—usually anywhere from 6 months to a year. Or there are conflicts that are just, for lack of a better way to put it, an unwritten rule. For instance, the biggest difference I think here really comes down to status: Union versus non-union.
Union talent are under stricter guidelines, and a conflict is a really big deal because once you're in a contract with one company, let's say a fast-food place, if you're doing ads for Burger King, you can't do them for McDonald's, you can't do them for Taco Bell, you can't do them for Wendy's. Hell, you probably can't even do them for a pizza place, even though you would think, right, different category? Nope, not a different category, different food group, but same category: fast food. You're restricted on being able to take additional work that, again, is very similar in type.
On the non-union end of things, it's a courtesy, but it's an important courtesy because it really can affect how people see you as a business owner. I do a lot of work for a cable company that mostly runs in and around Illinois, but they have other territories throughout the Midwest and some that dip down even further. That being said, when I see auditions for a cable company or an internet provider, I have to be really, really careful as to where it's airing because if it in any way overlaps with the existing job I already have with a cable and internet provider, that's kind of a dick move. You know, like, it would be asinine to audition for a competing company. You can't do that. You're actually going to put your original contract in jeopardy. You're going to put that relationship in jeopardy, but you're also going to make a not-great name for yourself as someone who doesn't honor basic courtesies in the industry. But that's really all it is.
Conflicts are just, be very, very aware of the types of projects you are involved in and if they are broadcast projects, where are they airing, how are they being used? If it's a non-broadcast project, same question, right? How is it being used and where, how is it being consumed? And make sure that you are not in jeopardy of stepping on the toes of those clients you already have. When in doubt, ask. Always ask. Tell the casting director, tell the producer, tell your agent, listen, this might be a conflict. I'm not 100% sure. You can submit an audition that way as well by making that caveat and saying, hey, there could be a conflict here. I just want to make everyone aware, and that'll help you too to get the hang of what conflicts exist and what don't.
But again, it's pretty simple. Same type of product or service, same market or usage application, those are your conflict zones. Alright, and you really don't want to do it because conflict is bad. No one likes conflict. Very bad. Anyway, I hope this helps. I hope this cleared up some confusion about what conflicts are and how they arise in voiceover.
704-674-8294 / GabrielleNistico.com / gabby@voiceovervixen.com
Gabrielle Nistico, Gabby Nistico, The Voiceover Vixen, The Business First VO Coach, #VoiceoverVixen #VoiceOnFire #BusinessFirstVOCoach Voiceover, Charlotte, North Carolina, Voiceover Demo, Voiceover Coaching Advice, Working Actors, Los Angeles, New York, Pozotron, sponsorship, contract, conflict, union actor, non union actor