Anthony Mendez' Post-amp

What happens outside of my voiceover studio

Lessons from a paper clip

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I was clearing out the key dish and came across these paper clips. What struck me was how very different they were. Yet, when most people think of "paper clip," they picture the first one. That is, unless you happen to work with the second or third on a regular basis; I'm sure that, in that case, no other paper clip will do.

Excuse the anthropomophism, but I'm also sure that the second and third paper clip have no illusions of being like the first one. They do the same job, just differently; Under certain circumstances, even better.

This Holiday Season, let's be grateful for what makes us unique. Into the New Year, let's resolve to not worry about how others do what they do, but rather to do what we do in the only way we do it. There are those out there that will appreciate it. Not to mention, you won't get bent out of shape.

-Anthony

Try this on for size

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'Went shopping early this morning. I picked up a few things. I used to enjoy clothes shopping. Now, I just want to get in and out of there as quickly as possible, spend as little as possible, and - most importantly - not have to return to exchange anything. So, I try things on. But today, I tried something I hadn't before.

As I was leaving the dressing room, I approached the lady working the dressing room and lifted one of the shirts into the air, "I'm gonna leave this one. Where can I put it?" She replied, "I don't care. Put it anywhere, I don't give a damn." I was tempted to throw the shirt on the floor right where I stood and walk out. I mean, "how dare she speak to me like that? That was so disrespectful! She needs to find another job if she doesn't want to deal with people. It's not as if I was rude about it." But, for some reason, I pushed ego out of the way and I didn't do any of those things (insert record scratch here.) Instead, I approached her, face to face, shirt in hand, and asked, "That kind of day, huh?" She replied, "Yeah. These people got me doing all of these things and they know I have a heart condition..." I interrupted her and said, "I will be sending you positive vibes in hopes that your day turns around."

In all of her years, I don't think this older lady expected to that response. She just stood there speechless. I went on to say, "It's early. There's still plenty of time to turn it around." She smiled and said, "Well, I only work part time so I'll be home soon." I said, "Perfect! Have some tea and forget about this morning." She laughed and replied, "I already did. Tea is great!" I turned around and started to walk away with a smile on my face and said, "Yes it is! God bless you." She yelled across the showroom floor, "Have a blessed day! Thank you!"

Now, that made my day. I don't want to paint a picture of myself as a saint. I'm far from one. I do want to highlight the fact that, for every incident, we are in control of how we react and, apparently, a positive reaction will yield much better results.

By the way, I grabbed a great sports jacket at 50% off!

-Anthony

Are we being overprotective?

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In my previous post, I spoke about idea killers. Now, since the news of Google vs Microsoft and Apple, I'm starting to wonder if we are being overprotective of our ideas and, more importantly, is it hurting innovation?

On Facebook, I read about people in the intellectual property business referring to patents as "hunting licenses." That seems like an accurate description when you take into account the existence of companies, called non-practicing entities, that exist solely for the purpose of filing patents and defending them (i.e., suing others that may not have done due diligence when launching a product or business or filing their own patents.) I got into the wrong business.

While I have entertained filing several patents on inventions I've thought up, the cost of - or at the very least the time invested into - filing those patents is extraordinary when you take into account the research required in order to avoid infringing on an existing patent. There's something wrong here.

At the 2009 PromaxBDA Conference in New York, I asked Mike Walsh whether he believes that we are being overprotective when it comes to intellectual property and, as a result, are we being left behind? His answer, in a nutshell, was "Yes." Mike specializes in the "digital future" and emerging markets. His presentation, on how working together other countries' consumers are leveraging their collective power, was almost foreshadowing our present economic state. Just look at how the US's GDP growth percentage pales in comparison now to other countries like China, India... even Peru!

I'm no financial expert, so I don't want to digress too far toward what has already been hashed and rehashed by current local news outlets. In a nutshell, I am concerned that if we don't start to come together and share ideas instead of clasping on to them so tightly (like we do now) the negative effects will reverberate well beyond creative.

Let's be clear. I'm not referring to giving away your marketing tactics or ideas on growing your business (although, to a degree, there is value in that.) I'm referring to innovation; Inventions or ideas that can help individuals or society as a whole. It's an "open source" mentality for creativity. Where do we begin to loosen the reigns for the sake of growth? Despite Google's litigation issues, I think Google+ is a big step in the right direction. The term social-network no longer applies. It's an idea-network.

-Anthony

Don't kill my ideas...

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create your own.

What is it about us that we thrive on building people (and their ideas) up and then, inevitably, tearing them down? Is it our nature? If it is, then our nature is one of insecurity. We have a pack mentality that, as advanced as we consider ourselves, is much closer to our animal nature. Look, I'm not a psychologist, sociologist, or any other "gist" for that matter, so I can't say with certainty why we do this. However, I can tell you that it makes me sad.

Ever since yesterday's news that Google+ is seeing a decline in users, the stones have begun to be cast. I have no interest in Google, other than using their services for both business and personal. But I can't help but think that some people were just waiting for this news and that those same people were all over G+ when it began, touting it's many advantages over its social-network predecessors. That's just one example of a great idea that the public will initially love and then yell, "I told you so" at it's first stumble.

I'll give you another example. A talented colleague, who has become a friend of mine, voice-over artist Donovan Corneetz, just recently signed with a new West Coast talent agency. While the congrats were plentiful, I'm sure the unsolicited advice (and "warnings" about agents) were just as numerous. It's a shame. When Donovan told me the news, I celebrated as if it were my own (if not more so.) Why? Because it's inspiring to see a fellow freelancer grow.

When it comes to ideas, it's the same. There are those that will be naysayers from the beginning. I like those people. You can always count on them for negativity and in being such consistent downers, you learn to not share your ideas and good news with them. The challenging ones are those that will tell you how great your idea or news is, and then - at the first sign of their perception of failure - will backpedal and withdraw their support. The few that remain supportive, those are your friends; Your allies. And you would do well to remain close to them.

With that said; When someone asks me how did I get my agents, I tell them that the best way to get an agent is not to need one. In the same way, Hugh MacLeod, author of "Ignore Everybody*," says, "The best way to get approval, is not to need it."

In short - and to borrow from another author (Russell Simmons) - "Do YOU."

-Anthony

*affiliate link

Starting Over

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Every once in a while, there are changes that require a "reboot." That picture is from my installation of Ubuntu (a Linux operating system distribution) on my Dell mini 9 netbook. Since last December, I have dumped Windows on all my home computers, except my studio (Mac,) in favor of Ubuntu.

There is something liberating about having my machines run an Open-Source operating system. But with that freedom, comes having to learn how to do essential tasks that I used to take for granted in Windows. A few of those things, as they pertain to my work and marketing, include designing in Photoshop, editing HTML in Dreamweaver, editing video (specifically Quicktime,) and creating documents in Word. It was like starting over - a reboot.

Everybody who knows me is familiar with the fact that although I love technology, I follow a simple "if it ain't broke don't fix it" rule (I still run OS9 on the studio machine.) I felt my previous operating system was broken (Windows' registry can be like a brat throwing a tantrum when things aren't exactly the way it wants it to be) and so I "fixed" it by replacing it with Ubuntu. With that comes some growing pains, but when you understand the benefits and can see the big picture, rebooting (i.e., starting over) is well worth it.

In the coming weeks I'll be "rebooting" my PromoARK blog as I shift gears into writing more about on-air promos. This blog will continue to be a place where I discuss ideas, observations, and technology and their affect on life and work - just not as frequently as before. In other words, the hub of my hub-and-spokes social media presence, will shift. I hope you will shift with me.

-Anthony

It's the experience not the soda

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Two dollars for 8.5 ounces of Coke? Heck yeah! Look at that bottle! I felt cool just walking around with it. I even let it hang out of my back pocket (after all the soda was gone) as I walked down the chilly streets of Manhattan this past February. It wasn't about the soda (I used to drink three 20-ounce bottles of Coca-Cola a day,) it was about the experience; How it made me feel and how it stimulated more than just one sense.

What is is about design that stimulates us? As a former architecture student, I can tell you that it's definitely about how it makes us feel. The best architects don't design homes. They create an experience by manipulating light and space. The walls are simply a product of the journey-by-design. In the same way, the experience we create can have a lasting impression on both our professional and personal relationships.

There have been no posts on this blog since November of last year. I was experiencing. I was living. I've made no secret of my intention to not discuss voice-over for voice-over discussion's sake. While I love the field that I work in, most of the discussions around that space don't create much of an experience for me. Instead, I enjoy electronics and how its technology impacts our entertainment. I enjoy entertainment and how its marketing impacts its inherent design (main titles, on-air promos, billboards, etc.) And I enjoy design itself and how the creatives behind it think and, in turn, make me think. Technology and design is what drives my consumption; My purchasing decisions (albeit emotional) revolve around how good those products make me feel (my wife provides the counter-balance or economic justification - in short, she has "veto power.")

So, there you have it. No holier-than-though blog post about how you should focus on the experience you create for your clients and buyers. Just one man's intention to slow down and enjoy those little things created by his fellow, creative, and technical man that bring a smile to his face after plugging them in or opening them up.

-Anthony

How the Hermés man changed my perception

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This past Monday, I spent the major part of the morning walking the Upper East Side with my wife and newborn (he wasn't walking - free-loader!) while my older children attended school. We hadn't intended to stay out of our home, except that I got a call for a couple of voice-over bookings for that afternoon that made it easier for me to visit a different studio versus having to run back to my home studio then run back again to pick up my kids. Because of this unforeseen scheduling, neither I nor my wife were dressed to be out on the town - much less in the Upper East Side.

To make a long story short, we ended up having to go into Bloomingdale's (not such a bad thing) looking for a place to feed our baby. My expectations were that, as a result of our attire, we weren't exactly going to encounter much help or pleasantry there. I was wrong. This has got to be the most delightful bunch of sales people in the world! Yes, there were one or two who didn't exactly make eye-contact with us as we strolled the maze of fragrances in search of an elevator, but overall we were met with sincere enthusiasm about our visit. However, there was one individual who went above and beyond a "sales pitch." His name was Dave Chin.

Yes, Dave handed me a Hermés fragrance sample card, but he seemed to sense that we were on a different hunt, so he pleasantly asked, "How can I help you?" I replied, "We're looking for the elevators." He not only walked us over to the elevator, leaving his sales post unattended, but he pulled out a business card, handed it to me, and said, "The elevators are right there. If I can be of any further help with anything at all, please don't hesitate to contact me." That's Dave's card in the picture. Guess who I will be looking for next time I buy cologne or simply visit Bloomingdale's on Third Avenue again? Way to go, Dave!

What Dave accomplished was more than just a pre-sale. He changed my perception of Bloomingdale's. You see, I'm more of a discount chain cologne buyer. Not that I don't like the finer things, but with a family of five, I'm much more conscious of how much I spend on myself and focus more on what my family needs. So, beyond changing my pre-conceived notion about shopping in the "Beverly Hills" of Manhattan, he made me feel like I belong simply by validating my concerns. That goes a long way in any business - retail or service.

-Anthony

New logo

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At the risk of sounding self-serving (as if that would ever be possible - everyone wants to know about me. Right? No? Fine!) I wanted to present my new logo. I didn't bother to create a poll or consider public opinion, because in the end nobody really cares about a voice-over artist's logo anyway (crowdsourcing my logo would have also been the ultimate expression of ego.) That's precisely what drove the change; the fact that no one really gives a hoot (unless you're Gap, of course.)

People care about people; period. Although many find voice-over intriguing or even "cool," what draws anyone to the artist is the artist himself; his persona, if you will. While the old logo emphasized my last name, voice-over, and my website, the new logo simply highlights my name while giving a nod to my accent (both literally and symbolically) and declares "voiceover" as an afterthought; a secondary conversation, if you will. The person takes center stage now, yet he is humble (hence the use of lowercase.) However, he will not be confined or put into a box.

There you go. Simple. Understated. And now I have a little red accent/exclamation thingy (I've always wanted a thingy.)

-Anthony

Are You Infected With "Yeah-But"

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Every year, millions of creative people encounter others (creative or not) afflicted with "Yeah, but." It's a virus that spreads from person to person. It's infected corporate environments. It's infected creative environments. It's even infected mommies and daddies at home. Yeah-but. Your best protection from acquiring yeah-but-edness is to distance yourself from those infected; family, friends, co-workers.

Be careful! People with Yeah-But will sometimes hide behind the mask of being realists (as if that's any better.) It's another limiting facade; so limiting, in fact, that it will sometimes kill the initial spark of your creative genius; an abortion of your ideas before those ideas have had the chance to come to full term and flourish.

At other times, you might be approached by Yeah-But people looking for advice. Looking for the answer to what ails them. Don't fall for it. Mid-sentence or, if you're lucky, mid-presentation, you will begin to hear the telltale signs of their affliction, "Yeah, but..."

No one goes to a concert and yells, "Yeah!!!!! Buuuuuut!!!"

Stop it! Try to notice if you've been infected. Listen for the words "Yeah, but" coming out of your mouth. Then take action to eliminate that phrase from your vocabulary. It will make for a much better performance! Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

-Anthony

P.S. The picture is of a Mariachi band playing "La Bamba" at my daughter's school for a Hispanic Heritage Month assembly. I'm sure that when Ritchie Valens wanted to record "La Bamba" he had to overcome "Yeah, but it's in Spanish" (or some other form of "yeah, but." I'm glad he did.)

Ideas as currency

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Since attending Adage's IDEA Conference, I've had a renewed sense of purpose for something I've always loved to do - generate ideas. At no point in my life did I ever see such value in the practice of thought and creation like I did that day. I went to college for architecture, but my true love was simply expression; art, if you will. I only chose architecture because, at the time, it seemed the most "professional" of the arts. I later tried my hand at the music business. I was a better listener than a singer, so I started engineering. Audio engineering led to voice-overs. Through it all, generating ideas has always been at the heart of what I do. "Expression" is born out of those ideas. Simply put - I'm an idea man, but not one without action. If there's a challenge, I'll figure out a way to overcome it even if it means using outside resources. So, in that sense, I'm a producer as well.

However, at some point, I lost my motivation for creating. I think it's because I started to think that its purpose was to create and sustain a business. Therefore, the primary motivating factor became money. I forgot what I had learned many years ago in architecture school - that an idea and, consequently, the design are solutions to a problem not a means to an end. Besides problem-solving, intentionally generating ideas has other benefits, as well. It re-connects you to one of humanity's greatest and most powerful gifts - imagination. And if it's true that we are all a piece of our Creator, then we are all creators as well.

The idea of "ideas" is something that has been showing up with quite some frequency lately. The recent mid-term elections are proof positive that ideas are powerful. Let's face it - there are policies and rhetoric, but we vote on the basis of ideas (both ours and those put forth by others.) That's quite a case for ideas. Where good ideas come from is also the topic of Steven Johnson's book. And, of course, "ideas" took center stage at the IDEA Conference.

But now what? How do you begin this process of generating ideas? Do you do it alone or with others? There are arguments for both. What's most important is to understand that the idea is the beginning of a solution to a problem or challenge. I've stopped sending out postcards to producers. I've stopped handing out business cards. And I even wiped out my entire newsletter database of agents, producers, and casting directors (and started over with a 100% opt-in list. Hi, Mom!) The ideas behind those approaches to marketing no longer solve a problem, because the problem itself has changed (and will most likely continue to change.) Unless you sit down and take into account what today's challenges are, you will never gain any ground using yesterday's ideas.

I used to brainstorm on a blank sheet of paper or send myself emails whenever an idea came to mind, but recently I've started to use Accidental Creative's Personal Idea Pad. Some people, like Steve Rubel, use mindmaps. Others use an almost physical form of a collaborative mindmap, if you will, in the form of an unconference. I personally like the idea of writing on paper because, to me, it's the beginning of physical manifestation. Use whatever approach feels best to you, but pick one and get started.

I've said it before, ideas are currency; but couple that with Ernest Chu's philosophy that your soul is currency too, and as long as you truly love generating ideas, you're building wealth (and are a step ahead of your competition.)

-Anthony

EDIT: Immediately after posting this (via email) I noticed an email inviting me to a Meetup called "Entrepreneurship 101: Turn your ideas into a successful business." The idea of "ideas" is snowballing. Start yours. (For the record, I can't attend, because I will be at Promax's "Emerging Media Workshop.")