Someone asked me the other day why I didn’t submit anything to the One Voice Awards or the Voice Arts® Awards. Wouldn’t it be nice to be recognized by my peers, and take home a prize?
The way I look at it now, I don’t see that ever happening.
To understand why competitions are not my thing, I need to take you back to my childhood.
Growing up as the son of a minister, I lived in a glass house. All eyes were on us as a family, and as children, my sister and I were always expected to be the best. A decent B plus was not acceptable. Only A’s would do.
MY FIRST CONTEST
When I was seven years old, I took part in a competition organized by the local library. They were looking for the best young narrators who were tested by having to read a short story to the audience. Little did I know that I would eventually become a professional storyteller!
Months before the competition, my mother started prepping me. Instead of playing outside with other kids, I had to practice, practice, practice… until I made no mistakes.
By the time the event was held, I practically knew the story by heart, and I hated it more than anything. When it was my turn to read, I obediently did what was expected of me, and I walked away with first prize. I was such a good boy. Always doing what I was told.
At home I violently threw the shiny medal into a corner, and asked my mom: “Can I play with my friends now, PLEASE?”
“When you behave like that, absolutely not,” said my mom. “Go to your room and think about what you just did. I am so disappointed in you!”
BEING BULLIED
But things got even worse on Monday when I returned to school. Kids had seen a photo of me in the paper, holding up my medal, and they started mocking me.
They said the contest was rigged and I had only won because I was the son of the minister. They called me names and threw things at me in class.
I was a good student. One of the best to be exact, and every time I got a top grade, other kids resented me. They called me “Paul the professor” and a “smartass.” I didn’t show it, but it hurt. Since when was being good at something a bad thing, and why?
SHADOWS FROM THE PAST
I know I am no longer that little boy who threw away his prize, but after those traumatic moments, competitions are not my thing. Part of me still wants to protect that compliant, meek little boy who got hurt some fifty years ago, when he won an award.
Don’t get me wrong. I still want to be good at what I do, but I don’t have the urge to beat everyone and win. Doing my best is more important than being the best.
I have no need to prove myself, or to be in the spotlight. I am happiest when I can help others be successful.
So, if this blog or my daily posts on Instagram have helped you in any way, personally or professionally, you have made my day!
You are the best prize I could ever hope for!
Related Posts
The One Voice Awards: More of the Same, or Setting a New Standard?
One Voice Conference. Two Countries. Changing Lives and Careers.
The Voice Arts™ Awards. The New Pay to Play?
Competitions Are Not My Thing, And Yet They Are
THE THING NEWBIES DON’T UNDERSTAND
Stop Being a People Pleaser!
UNDERCOVER AT THE ONE VOICE CONFERENCE
The Magnet, the Colander, and the Clay
What a fantastic story my friend! And what an experience. I feel the same way: I am competitive but I don’t like contests and I don’t care for awards, nor the glitz and glamour associated with them. I merely want to provide for my family. And my ongoing reward is booked jobs that do that and that I can take pride in knowing that my family is being provided for. That’s my ultimate award, and one that I will never hurl into a corner of my room! And THANK YOU for being such an outstanding student and for all you bring to our planet! We mortals are very grateful for you!
We’re on the same page, Josh! We must agree to disagree at some point. This is getting boring! NOT.
Oh I don’t think it is! There! Disagreement=CHECK!
I don’t do competitions. My “Grammy” is repeat bookings. I’m grateful for my “shelves full of Grammies.”
If my client wins something and I played a significant part in it, I’m happy to spread the joy, but I’m not on “glory patrol.”
Thanks for the great article.
The competitions I do take part in, are called “auditions.” I do them almost every day.
…i can relate to your story, good sir (though not as the result of a single award). While I’ve won a few and I do appreciate them, I’m about the only one now who even knows what those competitions were. I look at these events as celebrating the “best out of those who submitted entries”.
I also won an award and it was for a show I produced during my time at the BBC in London. I didn’t even know this show was in the running, so it came as a total surprise. Though the recognition was nice, the award didn’t do anything for my career. Back in the Netherlands no one had ever heard of the award, so no one was impressed.
There are so many awards programs and related recognitions that it has almost become like the yard signs one sees so obnoxiously posted: “Congratulations to Kyle/Kerry/Whoever on surviving second grade at Whocares Elementary School!” The exception I’d make would be the myriad of film or video festivals, where at least there are showcases or on-line postings for most of the best entrants where someone besides the judges can see them.
PS to Rowell Gorman: “best out of those who submitted entries” – bingo, sir!!!
You hit the nail on the head, Rowell, with the line “best out of those who submitted entries.” I’ve directly won two awards for audio production and one indirectly, if you will, as a voice talent on a winning entry. It was a hoot winning the awards but after the “I’m a winner!” feeling wore off, I wondered how many entries the competitions received. In fact, I got my answer regarding one of the competitions when they asked me to be a judge. I went down to New York City from Connecticut for the judging session, and saw exactly how many entries they had in the category in which I won and who submitted them. Not many. Don’t remember the exact number but it wasn’t many, which confirms your theory that it might not be too hard to come top of the pile if the pile is small and the entries weak. The competition asked me back the next year, but I said no after considering the situation. Again, winning an award is fun and an ego boost but in the long run in this business not that important to one’s success. Just thought, though, that one award, an Oscar, has it’s benefits, especially how much more money a star can command at least for their next movie or two! The awards I won had no affect at all in the pricing department. 🙂 And, Paul, thanks for this post about competitions. I think it helps put them in perspective for folks, especially people new to the business.
You’re very welcome, Drew. Before I would even consider entering any kind of competition, I’d ask a few questions:
– Is the organization running the competition reputable?
– Does this competition have the potential and credibility to raise the professional bar?
– Are the criteria by which people are judged fair and clear?
– Are the judges known experts in their field, and are there no conflicts of interest?
– Does every entry receive a professional evaluation?
– Is the entry fee proportionate to the prize?
– Does the prize give a credit worth having?
Good stuff, Paul, good stuff! “Doing my best is more important than being the best.” Amen and amen! That should be engraved on a plaque and posted above every microphone in every Whisper Room across the globe. Thanks for keeping it real!
I’m happy for everyone who has won an award. It’s always nice to get confirmation you’re on the right track, but a steady stream of returning clients is all the confirmation I need.
One more note, also regarding Peter’s post: the last time I submitted a VO directly, there were only four judges; my “grades” from 1-10 (worst to best) were 10, 9, 2 and 1. It was a narration for a client who was a frequent repeater. I took their repeat business as my “final grade.”