If you don’t want to ruffle any feathers, there are three topics you are not supposed to talk about: politics, money, and religion. Why?
Because people tend to have strong beliefs around these topics, and you don’t want to mess with these beliefs.
But you know me. I can’t keep my big mouth shut, so you have heard me discuss rates and money on this blog.
I usually preface those blog posts with a comment like:
“This is my personal OPINION. I don’t care if you agree with me or not. Please think about what I have to say, and make up your own mind.”
Today I’m going to talk about the use of religion in self-promotion, and whether or not I think it’s appropriate. Who am I to bring this up? Well, in a previous job I used to be a religious affairs correspondent. I’m the son of a Protestant minister, I sang plainchant for Pope John Paul II, and later in life I became Jewish. I think I know a thing or two about religion.
The reason I’m writing about it today, is a Facebook post from a voice over agent that read:
“God is the ultimate casting director. I truly believe that God knows who will fit each role I am casting and my prayer is that He will reveal them to me.”
DIVINE REVELATION
The theological problem I have with this post is that I don’t believe that beings as limited as humans are able to even imagine what a limitless entity such as what we call God, can or cannot do. How presumptuous of us to assume what “He” will reveal. I don’t even believe God is a “He.”
Mind you, this says way more about my personal belief than about anything or anyone else. But here’s the thing. If God is all-knowing and all-powerful, doesn’t “He” have better things to do than choose who’s the best fit for a bathroom tissue commercial? Shouldn’t “He” be doing something about the war in Ukraine or about global warming? Or better still, didn’t “He” create us with the ability to take care of business without His divine intervention?
Can we even state with absolute certainty that God is speaking through us? Some psychiatrists might dismiss these heavenly whispers as “auditory hallucinations.” And what are the practical implications?
Let’s assume there’s this fundamentalist Christian casting director who believes homosexuality is a sin. Will God mysteriously direct her not to cast gay talent? People have done worse things in the name of religious freedom.
Regardless of our beliefs, I think we should be very careful about invoking the name of God when we present and promote ourselves to the general public and potential clients.
I don’t advertise myself as a Republican or Democratic voice over either. It may deter clients who do not share my beliefs or political affiliations, and it’s usually irrelevant to the job.
MY FIRST EDICT
So, let me issue my first Commandment:
“Thou shalt not use the Lord’s name for purposes of self-promotion.”
I mean, what does the fact that you, quote: “Love Jesus” have to do with your voice over business? Unless you are solely marketing to certain Christian organizations, it is utterly insignificant. I say “certain Christian organizations” because I never hear Roman Catholics talk about God as their co-pilot.
Invoking a higher power may very well work against you. A casting director commented:
“I’ve gotten some of the cringiest auditions from voice actors who in their cover letters talk about how they “want to use their God-given talent for His glory” or some other gag-inducing, self-righteous reason like that. What’s worse was how bad their auditions were.”
Smart marketing means you use relevant and pertinent information to convince the client that you are a good fit. So, when a client is looking for someone from Northern Europe, I’ll mention that I was born in the Netherlands. However, if they want someone with a neutral English accent I won’t mention it, because they might think I have a thick Dutch twang.
USING RELIGION ON PURPOSE
The very first audio book I ever recorded (a historical novel), was by a conservative Catholic author. It was set in Europe, and it was all about church and religion. In the message that accompanied my audition, I mentioned my history of singing plainchant, and performing at the opening of the Papal Academy of Sacred Music, in the presence of Pope John Paul II.
This immediately resonated with the writer, and it landed me the job. Another book I recorded had strong Jewish elements and quotes in Hebrew, so I highlighted the fact that I belonged to a conservative synagogue (a denomination I knew the author belonged to as well).
The key is to always do your homework, and present your proposal in such a way and with such language that you gain the client’s trust. People like to be understood, and like to work with likeminded people.
Those are the only instances where I have ever referred to my faith, and only because it was relevant and it made me stand out from other narrators.
In all other cases I believe we should not mix advertising with evangelizing.
Remember: what is close to your heart may be offensive to other people. You want to present yourself as a good match, and if your religious beliefs do not jive with that of the client, it may cost you the job.
Of course I respect your convictions, but when promoting yourself, please keep the sacred and secular separate!
Well said Paul. I often maintain that we have very little brains.God has no brain but a deity. How can we possibly understand what s/he is thinking? – if indeed that is the correct verb.
This is a huge subject, but it does upset me slightly that some folk (particularly our US friends) feel the need to proclaim their faith before they’ve even said hello without realising they may be offending someone.
Just love your neighbour as yourself and all shall be well (and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well).
Someone said (was it Aldous Huxley?) that we know as much about God as a mouse can know about the contents of the British Museum? I even think that comparison is off, but it tells us something about how limited we as humans are, compared to the limitless divine.
Love your comment Paul.. spot on!
It’s dangerous to mix politics or religion with business. I’m appalled that a talent agent would proclaim that God is the ultimate casting director. I don’t know who this agent is but good luck building your client base with this kind of nonsense.
Of course I’m not going to name names, but I get the impression that blending religion with business (and politics) happens more in the USA than anywhere else. In my experience, people tend to be a bit more informal, and like to “overshare.” In the Netherlands people tend to think that religion is a private matter.
Well considered, Paul. I believe I am correctly interpreting your (clearly stated) intent in seeing this piece as NOT a critique on the mysteries of or adherence to religious faith, but as your assessment of the appropriateness of a blanket-invocation of faith in the workplace – with an aside about the danger of bigotry cloaked in the language of devotion. That’s a bit more a mouthful than, “Don’t criticize my faith!” (will you get such responses?). But your expressions are nuanced, so I think they deserve nuanced reflection.
I think you got the gist of it, Paul. People are free to believe what they want to believe as long as no one gets hurt. Of course some folks may read this as a personal attack, but this article is more a reflection of my personal convictions than anything else.
As a working voice actor I do my very best to be a good match for my clients. If our religious beliefs (that have nothing to do with the project I hope to land) do not match, my chance of booking that job will decrease. For that reason alone it’s smart business not to mention religious beliefs and affiliations.
It strikes me that this is very much a US & developing 3rd world issue. Here in the UK (and I assume the rest of Europe), religion just isn’t really a thing. If someone overtly mentioned that they were doing things for ‘His glory’ etc I think they would be categorised as ‘one of those religious nut jobs’ and be given a wide berth – perhaps other than by people of the same persuasion. However, that would present them with a severely limited audience as the Uk is by and large secular.
As a fellow-European, I have to agree with you. You don’t want to stack the deck against you even before the client has listened to your audition. People do judge books by their covers, and if a certain type of religiosity isn’t your cup of tea, you are not going to work with a person who sounds like a fundamentalist evangelical. But I have found that in the US of A there is little sensitivity to the way people do business in Europe, and how the private and professional are kept separate. I guess God didn’t whisper that in their ears…
Hey Paul,
While I completely agree that “never the twain shall mix”, if you happen to be referencing the fact that I mention that I “love Jesus” in my recently-released promo video, that was a personal choice listed among many things that I love, and that make up who I am. Will it attract some clients and repel others? Sure. And I’m OK with that. Will some think it’s offensive, and others think it’s neat? Sure. And I’m OK with that.
As a Christian, I am called to share Christ with others. “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel” is what the scriptures tell us. As the son of a minister, you may have heard this verse. So ultimately, while I should – you are correct – NOT be mixing these together on a daily basis, it is one single attribute of myself that makes up the core of who I am. I am not the casting director going out on a limb stating the reason for why I would cast or not cast. That is their own personal belief system on how they operate…but I am simply stating that this is a core of who I am. Again, flip a coin: it will offend some and instill pride in others.
Similar to the voice talent who is gay and says so in their advertising or marketing: it is a core of who they are, and they are proud of it. Does it have anything to do with voiceovers? Absolutely not. But they are proud of it, as I am of my own identity, and I wanted to share it. Is that evangelism or “God in my self-promotion?” I think not. My own video was made to share who I am behind the scenes, most elements of which my clients would never know. But to deny it is to say “I would rather not say.” Again, “woe to me if I do not preach the gospel”, even in subtle, unforced ways – which is the way it should be if you’re going to say anything at all.
Now, preaching “Hi I do voiceovers, oh and also you better turn or burn, fly or fry, live or die” is COMPLETELY inappropriate. “I’m a voice talent, and I hope you’ll hire me, because Jesus loves me, and He loves you, and He WANTS you to hire me” is both bombastically overpreachy and incredibly presumptuous – we are projecting our own wants over God’s will, and who are we to know God’s will?
Either way, my sermon here is finished, and I hope you’ll all join me in the fellowship hall for refreshments afterwards as Miss Darby Cartwright serenades us with Hymnals 567, 932 and 27!
As a religious person myself, I understand that some people wish to share their faith because they feel that sinners need to be saved. The question is: how do you go about that? Do you knock on doors like the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Mormons, or do you subject people to religious messages in your advertising? It’s a fact that most people on this planet don’t believe the way you do, so you are taking a big risk by pissing the majority of people off with something that has NOTHING to do with the job you hope to land. I don’t need to remind you that more churches are closing than opening.
Whether you like it or not, we do judge a book by its cover and it is bad for business if people form a less than favorable opinion of you based on your urge to share your love for Jesus. By the way, as far as I can tell it’s only one branch of Christianity that feels the need to shout it from the rooftops. Lots of Christians feel that actions speak louder than words, and that religion should not be used to sell goods or services. They feel it cheapens their faith.
I don’t want to admonish anyone for practicing their faith one way or another, but choices have consequences. If faith gives you certain values, then demonstrate those values in the way you do business. People who hire you need a service, not a sermon.
You do it tactfully, definitely. But whether it’s evangelizing, or simply, as St. Francis of Assisi said, “preaching the gospel at all times, and if necessary, using words”, Jesus commands us to share our faith, period. And I am not preaching a sermon. I merely said “I love Jesus” in my video. Witnessing doesn’t have to be hellfire and brimstone: nor should it be, as who would even respond favorably to that??? And I do look for an invitation to talk over dinner as opposed to street-corner-wearing-my-sandwich-board-and-ringing-my-bell (the latter of which I would never do). The Bible instructs us to “do this (witnessing) with gentleness and respect.” That’s how it’s done. Ultimately, Jesus Himself said “If you confess me before men, I will confess you before my Father in Heaven.” So I will confess Him before men. It is my pleasure to do so. But again, there is a tactful way to do this. I don’t think saying “I love Jesus” in a video is a BIble-thumping, fundamentalist approach, and to call it such smacks of religious intolerance. I am totally fine in taking the big risk. Again, some people will accept it, some will reject it. I’ll let the chips fall where they may. I’m doing it to please my Lord and Savior, not men, and there’s a verse in Jeremiah 20:9 hat says “But if I say, ‘I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.’ ” Amen to that. Back to the subject of voiceovers and religion however: no, they don’t need to be fused, and the casting director who implies that God is the ultimate casting director and will lead them to cast whom He saith, uh, I don’t think so. You should be casting the right person for the role. Pray about it if you like, sure! But use your head, not just your heart.
I don’t think you’re a bible thumping fundamentalist, Josh, although you’re starting to sound like one with all these biblical quotes. I’m not responding to these verses because this would get me into a theological debate which usually doesn’t end well. Besides, one can use the bible to defend any position imaginable because everything is open to interpretation. Unless you’re a fundamentalist and you take everything literally, instead of as literature.
Bottom line: people are free to promote themselves in any way they want…. as long as they realize that the meaning of their communication is the response they get. The casting director I quoted in my article is a good example of that. My advice would be to always present your proposal in terms of what is relevant to the client, and leave the personal stuff out. Our clients want to hear a solid demo, and don’t care if you have found faith in your life. That has nothing to do with religious intolerance, by the way. It’s just smart business.
I hear you and I respect your opinion! Please respect mine: my video is a personal glimpse into who I am, and a Christian is an undeniable part of who I am. Thank you my friend! 🙂
As I wrote in the article: “this says way more about my personal belief than about anything or anyone else.” My respect for you and your choices is not up for debate. It never was.
By the way, I don’t think He is the ultimate casting director – but I DO think he’s the ultimate voiceover artist. For reference, “Let there be light!” And there was light. 😛
*rests easy tonight* Thank you my friend! As I said before, I appreciate the dialogue and if there was one more thing I would have included in my video alluding to the things I’m grateful for, it would have been YOU! You are a friend, and a beloved mentor. We differ greatly on this whole perspective, but please know that I appreciate you wholeheartedly. ❤