I hope you’ve enjoyed this month’s series of Performance Tips, shared by the staff at Edge Studio, designed to help you ‘Get an Edge’ on your voiceover career. Today’s article, the last in the series, is designed to help you lighten the mood when you make a mistake, flub, or just have one of those days behind the mic. And believe me; you will have one of those days!
If you would like to review this month’s Edge Studio Performance Tips, here’s a link to each:
- Are You Appropriate For The VO Assignment?
- To Articulate? Or Mumble?
- Handling Punctuation Like A Voice-Over Pro
You can visit the Edge Studio Free Career Center for more useful information, and join us next week for a new series to help ‘Give You an Edge’ on your VO career with Edge Studio Marketing Tips.
Performance Tips
4 Flub Recoveries That Win Over Your Client!
By: Edge Studio Staff
You will flub. Someday, in fact, it will be bad: in front of a high-profile, big-budget, new client, you’ll continually trip over the same line. When it happens, you have two choices: a) lose a point or b) score a point.
This article will advise you on 4 WAYS TO SCORE POINTS WITH YOUR CLIENTS WHEN YOU FLUB.
1. JOKE
I’ve worked with the best voice over talent. I’ve heard them have their worst days. And I’ve heard them crack jokes about it. We’ve laughed so hard, in fact, that I looked forward to casting them again.
My favorite lines have been, “I got to stop drinking before recording sessions”, “Sorry ’bout that – they said I’m getting paid by the hour so I’m just dragging this out.”, and “You’d think I could do this by now. Heck, I’m a trained professional!”
So to all talent out there- enjoy your work, remember that even the best make mistakes, and laugh it off. BUT if your client is not the laughable type, laugh only to yourself.
2. LUNCH
Just hearing the words, “Okay, this is silly now. Let me buy you lunch.” works for me. Of course I’ve never accepted a free lunch due to another’s mistake, but the gesture lightens the mood and always makes clients smile.
Try it.
3. GIFT
There’s nothing like a next-day-delivery of cookies to make clients think respectfully of you. Include a card that says, “Geez that session took me a little while to get through. Hopefully these sweets will last longer.”
4. MONEY BACK/OFF
While I’ve rarely seen our client accept money back, this offer goes a long way toward maintaining your professional aura. This step is best saved for times when you have cost the client significant time. For example, if you read 15 pages of text without hitting record, or if you stumbled on the client name 20 times in a row, that may be a nice time to tell your client that you won’t charge them for that time.
Alternatively offer a credit off the next time they hire you.
Either way, you’ll have a happy client.
A FINAL NOTE:
I cannot emphasize how critical it is that you ALWAYS remain confident, and do NOT turn sweaty red or become nervous, flustered, or angry when you flub. As stated above, every one flubs. Dealing with it professionally is what separates the experienced from the newcomers. THINK ABOUT THE OUTAKES on comedy TV shows – all the famous actors flub and they all laugh. It shows that they’re professionals. Do the same. It keeps everyone in a good mood.
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