Book More Voice Over Work by Being True to Yourself with Mike Previti

Mike Previti:
That comes with age as well, and going through life experiences. All of those things form you. So I think that if you have a strong sense of self, you can filter those things. They can come in one ear and you can process it and let it go out the other and just kind of take the good stuff.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
I'm Stephanie Ciccarelli from Voices. Thanks for listening to Vox Talk. You just heard Mike Previti today on the show, we're gonna talk about how you can bring yourself into the booth, and in fact, you know, you already do, but this is gonna be such a great conversation. Take a listen. Well, hello again, Mike. How are you doing today?

Mike Previti:
I'm doing great, Stephanie. How are you doing? Thank you for having me again.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Oh, absolutely. Doing great too. And, and thank you so much for coming on before and, uh, you just keep posting all the good stuff on LinkedIn. Like everyone should be following and or connected to you there, but, uh, you know,

Mike Previti:
Appreciate it.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Yeah. The last thing I saw, um, that really inspired me was you had posted a video about being yourself. So in your own words, what does it mean to be yourself?

Mike Previti:
You know, I think the, the best way that I think I could put it is probably who you are outside of your studio, because, you know, when you're in the studio, it's really, it, it, there's something, and a lot of people say this, and it's true, a lot of coaches say this and it, there's something about getting behind a microphone and, you know, and reading copy and, and reading an audition. And that it, it's why people talk about authenticity all the time because it's, it's hard to be authentic and you wouldn't think it would be because, well, it's me, it's me, I'm here, but blah, blah, blah. But it's a little more difficult than people think. So I just kind of look at it when I'm having a hard time, um, feeling like I'm being authentic and I'm, I'm putting on more of a character when I don't really need to, you know, um, I just think about kind of character traits that I have that, that are me when I'm not in the studio, when I'm with my kids, when I'm with my wife, when I'm with my friends, when I'm out at a, you know, a hockey game when I'm, you know, those types of things make you, you. So I, I think that that's the best way to kind of feed off of that and just re remember those things. When you do get into the studio, I think it can help you a little bit.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
That is one of the best ways I've ever heard it said is like, just be who you are,

Mike Previti:
thank you.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Outside of your booth, because yeah, there is something weird that happens to people when a microphone is put in front of them. They, they do, like, do I have to be someone else? Who am I? And I have to pretend, you know, put on a, a, a mask of some kind and, and you're saying, no, no, just, just be who you are when you are outside of your booth. Let that flow through the mic. So, um, you've also talked a bit about second guessing, you know, yourself or, or like thinking, oh, well maybe that's not right, or what have you. Um, why is it, do you think, Mike, that that we might, in certain situations be second guessing ourselves?

Mike Previti:
Um, you know, I think because there's so much outside noise, there is so much as, you know, I mean, social media, everybody has their own opinion. Everybody has, you know, their own thoughts about what you should do, what you shouldn't do. And it's really, really, really easy for that to get into your head so that when you're doing an audition, and, and it doesn't mean that you shouldn't listen to people's opinions that you have to coach. I mean, that's top of the priority list. You have to do those things, but the biggest thing that you have to do is you have to take what you've learned and you have to try to apply it to who you already are. You don't have to become a new person. So I think people second guess, and, and I'm guilty just along with everybody else, that, you know, you, you second guess because you're like, oh, well this person said to be like this, but this person said don't do this. And this person said, and if you think too much about that, you will second guess all day long and then you can't be yourself then it's impossible.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Oh, yeah. Well, as you said, so many opinions. There's a lot of noise definitely out there in the world.

Mike Previti:
Yeah,

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
and I think that's one of the trickiest things, and it could be with anything, um, just having so many opinions or so many options. Even like, if you think about going in the grocery store, you're like, I just need some yogurt. And it's like, how many pushers are you gonna find? That's just vanilla yogurt. But it's like, no, here's this and this and this, and then it's like, oh, forget it. I don't need yogurt after all. You know, you don't wanna go put yourself through it, but

Mike Previti:
Yeah, you don't even wanna bother at that point, right?

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Yeah. But, but what you're saying is, is if you already know, uh, who you are outside of the booth and you can bring that in with you, then anything that is shared with you, you would then put that through a different lens. Like the, the who am I lens and then what do I wanna take from this? And, and what can be helpful. Right, so?

Mike Previti:
Agreed. Oh, okay. Yeah, that's, yeah. And I, I just think that that's the best way to go about it, because you will, it's human nature to second guess. I mean, everybody is gonna second guess themselves and some days it's really, you don't do that, and other days you do. So when it comes, you just kind of have to know how to, uh, how to deal with it really.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Right. And that's the how to deal with it part, and I'm gonna skip ahead here in, in my notes, but, uh, you know, it's the how to deal with it, how to filter, how to know if it's valid or, or if it's just a bunch of, you know, take this with a grain of salt sort of thing. Um, how, how do you know Mike? Like, ‘cause there's so much out there and you could know who you are, but, but how is it, um, that we can sieve like a sieve receive depending on where you are in the world, you might say?

Mike Previti:
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Like to filter, like how can we make sure that only those things, um, that are most beneficial to us can actually get through? Like what sort of ways can we either know what should get through and then how do we ensure that that is the only thing that we allow to influence us?

Mike Previti:
I think you have, there has to be a confidence in who you are to begin with. I think in, in order to not let it affect you so much, you have to be, um, you have to be confident in your abilities to do your work. And I think that that comes from coaching. I think that comes from, you know, getting jobs. I think that comes from all the things that you do as a voice actor that um, kind of, you know, even if they're baby steps, they're steps nonetheless. So I think you just have to really try to know who you are. And I think that comes with age as well and going through life experiences, all of those things, you know, form you as a person, all your experiences in life. So I think that if you have a strong sense of self, you can, I think it's maybe not automatic that you, you can filter those things, but they can come in one ear and you can process it and let it go out the other and just kind of take the good stuff really.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Mm-hmm. And that is, that is like a skill, I think it is a developed skill ‘cause none of us are born knowing how to do that. And they don't teach you how to do it at school. That I am sure of.

Mike Previti:
No, they do not.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
It's gonna help you to understand like what should matter and what what doesn't matter. Even like, you know, just people's negative opinions. People like, it doesn't even have to be information in the quality of said information or whether or not it's true. It, it can also just be like attitudes and, and influences and things that are just like, I don't want to have that be part of what's going on in my life. I'm just gonna, you know, like I don't think you can, you can't shut people and cut them off, uh, like, you know, have say, oh, we'll get rid of all the people who are, uh, I don't know, they're, you know, like there's

Mike Previti:
Certain, all the bad people, let's just get rid of 'em. Let's put 'em on a boat and ship 'em out somewhere. Oh yeah.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
But you can't sever, you know, relationships and, and things like that, that, that's right. Just because they, I, yeah, there, there are definitely people out there who are like, oh, just get rid of every negative thing in your life. It's like, well that's unrealistic and it's also not necessarily the right thing to do at times. And, and what do, and then they'll, what do you define as being right or wrong? And like, there's a whole, as you say, you go back to your foundation and you, you, you figure that out, um, and get to the source.

Mike Previti:
Right.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
You know? Um, but I'm just thinking like, you have to know that stuff. Um, but, uh, all of that said, there are times I think when someone might feel like they're, they're not able to act as they would normally do. And um, I think as you've put it, like they might hold back. So what is a trade-off? Um, when we do that, when, when we're not being ourselves?

Mike Previti:
Um, well, you know, I, I think the, the whole authenticity thing comes into play as well when you're not being yourself and you have a job to do. And, and, and again, it doesn't have to be an, uh, a job, quote unquote, it could be an audition and ‘cause it's what we do every day, all day is audition. That's really what our jobs are. Um, and, and so if you can't bring that authenticity to your, to the copy, whatever it is, it could be character based, it could be just commercial, it could be whatever it is. Um, then the person on the other side, the person that's listening to the audition is going to hear it and they don't know you, you know, unless it's a reocurring client or something. Right. But they don't know you. You're doing auditions blindly and you don't know who the client is and you know, uh, sometimes, and, and, but if if somebody's not being authentic, they can hear it. There's no doubt. And you can't be your true self. And when you can't be your true self, most likely you're not gonna get the gig because of it. You know, if you're, if you're going into auditioning feeling like yourself not, not being able to be comfortable, it, it is just gonna, it's gonna show on the other side and people can hear that, you know?

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Yeah, yeah. That makes sense. Because if you aren't convinced of the copy yourself, and if you're feeling like you're twisting your arm or your leg to do it

Mike Previti:
Yeah.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Then it's, it's just, it's it's awkward. It's painful. Like

Mike Previti:
It is awkward. Yep.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Yeah. And it, it wouldn't feel good going to bed that night being like, oh, I, maybe I shouldn't have done that. Or like, just Yeah. But if you're using, you know, the, the worldview, the lens that you have to understand who you are, then you don't run into these situations because you've drawn the line in the sand.

Mike Previti:
That's right.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
You already

Mike Previti:
That's right.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
know, that's, and, and if there's an opportunity, then you just say no. But, but holding back does have a price and it's, it's often a deep one.

Mike Previti:
Yeah, no, it does. It does. And I, I mean, I can't tell you how many times I will be reading copy and I'll do a take and then I'll be like, okay. Because most times I, I just throw away my first take on almost every audition anyway, uh, regardless of how good or not I think it is. Um, yeah, I might keep it, but I'll do a second take. But, um, I, I mean, I've done things that have been, you know, I'll, I'll be like on the fourth take and I'll just be like, I'm not, and I'm not gonna do a lot more than takes, takes the neck because then you lose something.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Mm-hmm.

Mike Previti:
So I'll just get up and I'll get out of the booth and I'll go and I'll do, you know, whatever make, make something to eat or, or grab a coffee or, uh, sometimes I even, you know, go to the gym and I'll just be like, in the middle of an audition, I'll be like, okay, I gotta come back to this in an hour and I'll come back. And then you come back and you sit down and it's totally different

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Mm-hmm.

Mike Previti:
because your perspective has changed. Just what you're looking at, what you're doing, what you're seeing, um, you know, physically that can change everything as well. So, um, that helps.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Yeah. And I was just thinking that that same concept would apply on the other side of the glass or in the casting chair too. Like if they're having a, a bad day or they need to kind of take a, a breather, go for an hour at the gym and come back That's right. Then perhaps, um, you know, their judgment would be clearer on, on what they'd like to do or, or how they would cast even, you know, depending. So it's interesting. I think it can come both ways. So all of that said, um, these are lessons and reminders that, you know, sometimes we, we tell people the things that we ourselves need to be reminded of. Um, and you know, it's just, it's good. It's good ‘cause you have to tell yourself sometimes the things that, you know, we

Mike Previti:
talk to yourself a lot, especially in our business, Stephanie, you talk to yourself a whole lot.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Yeah. It's, it's, it's like talk to yourself more than you listen to yourself. I think that that's right's something I've heard too. Um, but it's very true. It's, yeah. So how do you remember who you are, Mike Previti? What do you do to get back to the, to who you are?

Mike Previti:
Um, you know, I think, I think I do, you know, because I second guess I, you know, question what I'm doing. I'm Quest, I question if it's good I question, you know, like everybody else. Like, like we all do. Um, I think I get back to that by doing those things that I mentioned. I mean, I, getting out of my booth is, and that's kind of the beauty about working from home. You know, we all have studios in our home now and, and you know, this remote work. So it's easy to get up and, and get a different perspective and walking from one room to another and sitting down on, on your couch in the living room is just, it's, it's a different perspective. And, you know, it doesn't, excuse me, have to be anything crazy. Um, and then sometimes, I mean, if I come back and I'm still kind of not feeling it, sometimes I'll actually move on to another audition and then go back to that one.

So there's a few different ways, you know, but I, I think just kind of remembering who you are. I mean, I, I have a story. I did a job, uh, like last week and it was a radio spot and I was on the phone with the producer and the director of the spot and, you know, I, I was doing this, the, the work, and we were having fun doing it, doing the job. And we were laughing and talking and, and I remember the director saying, you know, ‘Mike, this is so great because we have no idea what we want ever.’

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Wow.

Mike Previti:
And I was like, okay. So, and the funny thing is, you hear that from a lot of people, like, there there'll be coaches or casting directors that will say, yeah, a lot of times we don't really know what we want, but yet you'll have, here are the specs and this is what we're looking for and blah, blah, blah. But it's kind of good to hear that. And I think, you know, getting that comfort level of knowing that there are, you know, clients out there that really don't know what they want, kind of allows you to free yourself a little bit as well. Um, and think back to, you know, who you are, your characteristics. When you're, when you were out on Saturday with your kids and you were on at, at a bouncy house, what was it like, you know what I mean? That type of thing. Just bringing those outside sources into your head. And that's kind of, you know, to get to your question, that's how I remind myself is I, I think of those things and it brings me back to real life. Not that vo isn't real life, this is your job, but it you back to, you know, the stuff that you love and you feel positive about. And, um, it, it definitely helps me for sure.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Oh, that's great. So, um, much of the clutter, obviously we've talked about online is negative. And, and you know, there's enough of those thoughts that get planted in our heads that we have to deal with, let alone like, you know, the stuff we can actually decide to shut off, close a tab, do whatever, um, you know, how important is it that we stop negative thoughts in their tracks and what can we replace them with? Because I, I think that you have to replace them with something because it'll just leave a void.

Mike Previti:
Yeah, yeah. No, agreed. Agreed. And there's so much, I mean my, you know, there's so much negative in the world nowadays. It's like every time you get on another, you know, social media platform or turn on the TV or whatever, it's, it's negative, negative. And I think, I think surrounding yourself, um, you know, it's cliche, but surrounding yourself with positive people is one. And also, you know, social media is the norm now. And so it's like, you know, it's like waking up in the morning, unfortunately, like everybody's on social media. But I think choosing the things that you look at, choosing the things that you, you know, I I, I try to make it a habit of following those. Um, I, they're like pages that only show positivity, you know, positive videos and heartwarming videos. I think that's one of the, the pages on like an Instagram or something. But, but you know, I try to do more of that just because I am on social media. I have to be on social media. If I'm going to be replacing, looking at something negative with something that's popping up on my feed that's positive, it just helps. And making sure I take the time to pick up my kids at school, drive my kids to school, um, you know, and, and take five minutes to talk about their day when they get home. You know, those types of things are just really important. And I think that, that that's how you replace the negative. Um, you just involve more positive in your life in, in every way, shape or form that you can.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Mm-hmm. Something life giving, you know, like not something that's gonna make you be like,

Mike Previti:
Uh, angry and mad and sad all at the same time.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Yeah, yeah.

Mike Previti:
You need some, you need that.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Yeah. ‘Cause it's really, there are no neutral exchanges in life. It's either gonna be positive or or negative. It's gonna lead you toward good things or it's, or bad things, depending.

Mike Previti:
That's right. Right.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
You know, incrementally or otherwise. So, uh, I know, I appreciate that kind of just trying to block out things that, you know, have no eternal value that are just, that's right there to rip you apart, tear you down and be like, you know what, this is not good in the temporal sense and it's not good in a, you know, in a forever sense either. So, but just finding, yeah. Like I think that reminding yourself, I know that some people who listen, uh, you have a faith background perhaps you, you read or journal or, or do other things. Scripture, um, you know, meditation of some kind

Mike Previti:
Yeah.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Um, that is helpful for, for a number of people. But it's, it's important that you find ways to, to relax, but also to remind yourself of what is good and beautiful and noble and just worth thinking about those things that are

Mike Previti:
Yeah.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Just, you know, the, just take a look at side the

Mike Previti:
Real life stuff. Yeah. The real life stuff and, and, you know, I have a very strong faith and that carries me every day, you know, um, of my life. And, um, so that's a biggie for me too, you know. And, um, but yeah, there's, there's, you know, the, the more positive you have in the life, in your life, the, the less that negativity, you know, has a place in it. And there's always gonna be, you know, some negative because life is life. Um, but to be able to, to turn that, um, and, and know how to kind of get outta that mindset is, is really huge. And, uh, it's only gonna help not only your, your work, but it's gonna help your, your life.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Right. We gotta, you know, look at like, I know, but I was just yesterday, it's like probably looking at like a, a video of a, a baby, like a chick swimming in a tub and like, oh, that's so cute. I mean, like, there's that kind of distraction.

Mike Previti:
I, yeah.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
But then there's also just like, you know, keeping yourself from irreverent babble, keeping yourself from things that are just, you know, destructive. So, no, appreciate that. So, um, as, as we move along in the conversation here, obviously there are ways that you can protect your heart and your mind, Mike, as we are just kind of talking about. Um, but what are some of those safeguards that you've put in place for your business, um, that ensure that you can live out your values and remain true to yourself while you're in the booth?

Mike Previti:
Um, you know, I think some of that has to do with how you deal with people where in a, in the people business. So I think safeguard wise, I would say it's more so in the way that I choose to communicate, the way that I choose to communicate when there is a client say that is maybe a little, uh, strong quote unquote, if you will.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Yeah.

Mike Previti:
Um, or, you know, it is not adhering to the agreement that you had or something, something like that comes into play. You know, you can choose to do one of two things. You can reply in an email or if you're talking to a person and get all bent outta shape and say, well, this is what we agreed and I'll never work for you again, or whatever the case, right? But the safeguard that I have is that, you know, you just don't want to burn bridges. And that's, I mean, that's in every job. I, before I was in voice over, I was, uh, in property management for like 13 years as a job and it was a soul sucking job. Um, just property management by nature is that type of job, because you're the complaint department, right? So you're hearing people's, and I learned really through that, you know, that there's a way to communicate and, and you can really, um, change the way people are perceiving a situation if you're just nice and if you're pleasant. And it doesn't mean that you have to be a pushover. It doesn't mean that you have to just, oh, well, they're the client, so I have to give in. No, you're a business, you're, you're on the same playing field. Um, so one of the safeguards or the really the safeguard that I have is just the way that I communicate to make sure that I don't burn bridges. And sometimes, sometimes, you know, things don't work out, but I choose to make sure I communicate in a positive tone, uh, in a positive manner all the time, regardless of the situation. Um, and a lot of times doing that, even when something's kind of going south, really helps and you can turn things around.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Right. Think so. Well, you know, the soft word will, will work better than a harsh one. That's for sure. You don't want, you don't need more wrath, right? You don't need so

Mike Previti:
Oh my God, we need a lot less of that. But yeah, it's, that's so, I mean, for me that's a big deal, you know?

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Absolutely. No, thank you for that. And, and you've been obviously such an encouraging person in our industry and, um, thank you. And I know that community matters an awful lot to you. So, um, you know, given that voice actors are often alone, as most of you are

Mike Previti:
Every single day of our lives,

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Every day in that booth, right in the padded booth on a room, talking to yourself, um, how important is it, Mike, that, that we have community in the voice over community for those who are working alone?

Mike Previti:
Um, it, it is ev it's everything. It's everything because, you know, you, you are alone and you're working every day. And, and I will say, I mean the, the, the voice over community is spectacular. I mean, there's so much support and there's so much community. Um, I've never, you know, and, and, and you hear that, but not until you experience it do you really, really know what the community is like. And, and so I think that that's really important to have community. I think that, um, the community's already great. And I think that by getting out there, you know, introducing yourself to other voice actors, um, when you coach with people, you know, introducing yourself to coaches and casting directors and what, whatever the case is, just people in the industry, um, you know, demo producers, whatever the case, because everybody that I've met in the, in, you know, my career, um, thus far has just been, it's amazing because even though you're in different facets of this business, it's still all the same mindset and, and everybody's so willing to help each other and support each other. And, um, it, it is, it's really amazing to see. And knowing that you have that community out there to kind of lean on is huge. When you are having slow weeks and you're having, you know, bad days and your, whatever the case is, um, community is, is really everything. And I've been lucky enough to become really friendly with, you know, a few of my coaches, um, and some other voice actors, um, and yourself, for instance, just doing this podcast in and of itself is like therapy for me. I feel like I'm laying on a couch right now. Um, but it's, but it's helpful and it's just amazing how positive, you know, everybody is. And, and I think, um, you just as a voice actor, there's no competition. You gotta think that way that you just, you're not comp, I know everybody's competing against each other, but there's plenty of room for everybody and there's plenty of work, and you just have to be genuinely happy for people and their achievements. And I think that's a big way that we continue growing the community the way we are.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Wow, that is beautiful. And I think you actually answered my last question in this in the answer here. Because I was gonna say, Mike, how do we be as encouraging as you are? But, but you've, you've mentioned a lot of ways that, that, you know, we could be reaching out to others and, and being that listening ear, you know, for somebody

Mike Previti:
Yeah.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Or being in community, um, with someone. And, um, but yeah, I, when whenever I think of you, Mike, I always think that you're such an encouraging person that you give so much. Um,

Mike Previti:
Thank you so much.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
You know, and it's just, it's wonderful in our community. So thank you for, for being there and uh, so other people can find you ‘cause that's what I want them to do now. Um, other than LinkedIn, Mike, um,

Mike Previti:
yeah

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Where, where can they find you to learn more about what you're up to?

Mike Previti:
So, um, my website www.mikeprevitivo.com. Um, I'm also on Instagram, Mike Previti, v o I'm on TikTok Mike Previti V O. Anytime I say I'm on TikTok, I always laugh. I don't know why that is. I just, because I think of it as such a, like, my kids were on it way before I was.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Yeah.

Mike Previti:
And I just, I was like, oh, do I do I, and now it's, I it's almost one of my favorite things. Um, so, um, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, you could find me on all the social media. Um, I'm not on Twitter anymore, um, but I'm on the other three and, uh, LinkedIn and you can always go to my website as I mentioned.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
Fantastic. Well, thanks again for joining us, Mike, it's always a pleasure to see you.

Mike Previti:
Thank you Stephanie, so much for having me. It's good to see you.

Stephanie Ciccarelli:
And that's the way we saw the world through the lens of voice over this week. Thank you for listening. Thank you also to our special guest, Mike Previti and for his encouraging words. For Voices. I'm Stephanie Ciccarelli. Vox Talk is produced by Geoff Bremner. We're grateful to spend time with you. See you next week.