Who doesn't like new voiceover gear? A new microphone might be just what you need to take your career to the next level. But is it? In this video, Gabby talks about why your gear might be holding you back.
How is this even possible? - 3:54
I like gear. Gear is great. Who doesn't love gear, right? I mean, it's just, ah... so comforting. Gear is good - doesn't make me better, but it's good. Hey guys, welcome to another edition of The Gift of Gab. So I hear so many voice actors talk about wanting to buy a new microphone, a new interface, a new this, a new that, a new this, but it's not because they need it, it's not necessarily because they can justify it, it's just because they want it. Sometimes I get the impression that people think, "If I just had the better piece of gear - the better microphone, the better interface" they think that somehow that's going to make them a better voice actor, that it's going to make them more desirable. I hate to tell you this but it doesn't. It doesn't do any of that.
The reality is if you have a car that car gets you from point A to point B, it doesn't matter what you're driving. Now, the luxury vehicle has a little more style, right? A little more fashion, makes people turn around and stare. This is why when you go to rent a car you have all kinds of different options, but they all do the same thing, ultimately. Same with our gear, right? Yeah, it's fun to have different microphones. Sure, it's really nice to be able to say, "I have a blah blah blah" or this or that because it sounds prestigious, but it doesn't make you better at your job, you know?
Gear can be an excuse, right? It's easy to just jump on the web, go to Sweetwater, go to B&H, click buy, put something in your cart, and take out a credit card. That's super simple. But the harder thing is taking some of that money - and I do mean some, because it's a fraction - and taking a class and having to actually do something, learn something, having to hold yourself accountable not just to yourself, but to your coach, and maybe also to your classmates. That is the much harder decision and also the thing that is going to make you better. So that's really something to think about: are you wanting that new piece of gear just because you want it and you think it's going to make you better? Or do you want that new piece of gear because you really can justify the expense and because you have the data to prove that it is a good point in time in your business to make that investment? Big difference, okay?
Just think about that. The gear does not make the actor, the same way the suit doesn't make the man, right? You've got to give yourself the time to develop your skills, to improve upon your acting, to really get to a place where you are making a living at this, maybe with the entry-level equipment or the not as prestigious, not as big brand name microphone. That's how you know that you're gonna succeed, that's how you know that you, the actor, the thing that people are really buying, is in great shape.
Hope this helps. If you want more tips like this take a look at this video over here. Promise I'm not petting a fuzzy mic throughout the whole thing.
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, How to Be a Better Voice Actor, voiceover coaching, YouTube Channel, Voice Acting Coach, microphone, recording studio, recording equipment, headphones, brand name microphone, TLM 103, Sennheiser MKH 416, Neumann, recording studio gear, shopping, gear for sale