13163: A Bend In The Road Is Not The End Of The Road, Unless…
Hey there, hero!
The rest of that quote (from Helen Keller) is really important to know.
Life in general, and our chosen path in life (being an artist) specifically, has some twists and turns in store for us.
Some unexpected stops, some uphill climbs and some out of control skids.
Some bends in the road.
Unless…you are watching, vigilant and prepared.
I wonder how you handle the unpredictable. Especially when the unpredictable is as weird as it can be as a voice talent, an actor or a writer.
I’m going to show you how simple acknowledgement of the challenge can go
Do you find yourself at a loss when the road sign is squiggly? What do you do to “cover” yourself for the unexpected? Let me know in the comments below.
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Raw transcript:
Raw transcript:
Helen Keller once said a bend in the
road is not the end of the road unless
you fail to make the
turn and I think that’s worth reminding
ourselves of so I’m going to remind you
of that and myself of that in this
episode of the vo Heroes
[Music]
podcast what a great statement a bend in
the road is not the end of the road
unless you fail to make the
turn and we see things coming at us that
are curves that are thrown at us that
are you
know just awful moments when we feel
like we’re a failure or we feel why did
I even go into this business why am I a
voice Talent why am I an actor why did I
do this look at how everybody else is
doing so much better than I
am you know do I want to continue with
this you know I haven’t seen anything
happen to increase my uh my profession
increase my my uh productivity my
abilities you know you get these Kinks
that happen but it’s always worth
remembering that these happen to
everybody doesn’t matter where you are
in your journey you me people who are
way ahead of us people who are just
getting started wherever you are in your
journey there’s always going to be
little speed bumps along Ong the way
there’s going to be Curves in the road
bends in the
road and those things tend to be what we
focus on rather than the notion of we
can put the brakes on we can take that
curve at a little bit slower speed maybe
look at how we’re handling things look
at how we’re doing things or just be
patient with the notion that it’s a
little dry right now in terms of
auditions it’s a little dry right now in
terms of pins and avails and maybe even
bookings but the notion of wanting to
fail to make the turn that’s it I’m done
I’m out I’m not going to do this anymore
it’s just too hard on me mentally
sometimes just acknowledging that that’s
how you feel can give you the
opportunity to make a change can give
you the opportunity to take that bend a
little bit easier you make the turn a
little bit
easier uh sometimes we get overwhelmed
with the lack of progress that we have
or the lack of opportunities that we
have
it’s hard to believe but even people who
you think work all the time go through
that stuff as well so I just wanted to
stop by and remind you and while I was
at it remind myself because there have
been some bends in the road lately for
me as well that abandon the road is not
the end of the road unless you fail to
make the turn and I hope that helps I
really do give me your thoughts in the
comments below if you’re on vooh
heroes.com I’d love to hear what you
have to say about about this I’d love to
hear if you are able to do that if
you’re able to make those turns if you
sometimes have to remind yourself about
that sort of thing let me
know if you want to hit the like button
as hard as you want and uh like this
channel you can subscribe to the channel
you can you can be notified of new
episodes by hitting that Bell that you
see somewhere on this page I’d love if
you did that or if you forwarded this on
to another actor that you think might
benefit from this message I hope so I’m
David H Lawrence the 17th I thank you so
much for watching and for listening and
I will see you in the next episode of
the vo Heroes
[Music]
podcast
(from YouTube)
An excellent reminder, thank you, David.
I was once in a class where the speaker pointed out that, most of the time, when we are in the middle of feeling like we are helpless, hopeless, should give up, etc. when we think we are, indeed, at the end of the road…What we need to realize is, if we were above the road and could see where we are headed, we would see some beautiful, wonderful things. Things that make the ick part of the journey worthwhile. So we gotta hang in and keep knowing we are where we are supposed to be and things are as they should be. And of course, follow the bend, trees hurt when you run into them full force.
Thanks for the uplifting message, David! I completely agree, and I’m putting that on my whiteboard right now!
Five years of VO with no income makes me wonder if I’m at a turn in the road or if I missed a turn in the road.
I wouldn’t think that is a bend in the road, as opposed to the road itself. I’m not sure what your “office hours” look like these days or what you’re auditioning for, but please post in ProConnect your process and let us help you (not here, this is public).
A great morning to write a response! Heading down a “black hole” has become too familiar, and I have to fight all the time. David, you not only gave me a HUGE boost by plugging my little kids’ book, but reminded me to look for the rainbow ’round the bend. Last night I was rewarded hugely by the monologue I wrote & performed for NeoEnsembleTheatre’s MonFest. An unexpected choice by TWO CDs choosing their 3 faves. Back on the horse is sure better than flat on the floor! THX for your words. My rainbow reward shines through the clouds today!
And until you make that turn, it is hard to see what’s around the corner! I recently breathed out a huge sigh of relief when I got feedback that there was some distortion in one of my submissions. Even though ACX was approving my submissions, I figured out that a technical issue contributed to my lower booking rate elsewhere!