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ChatGPT is more than a text generator. It can also be used as a training tool. For YOU. Have you ever taken a course in logic? Or maybe debate? How about computer science? No? But I bet at one point in high school, you had to do proofs of mathematical theorems, right? (sigh) Maybe on that last one I'm just showing my age.... I remember doing more than I ever cared for. The point I'm getting at is that learning how to think logically, step by step, is an invaluable problem-solving skill, though I rather suspect that few people have really ever learned it. Let's put it into every day terms: Do you ever have trouble asking for something? A lot of people do. Maybe it's not being able to muster enough courage to ask for what you want or need. Maybe it's the fear of being told "no" that's holding you back. Or the fear that you may look stupid or foolish. (Who HASN'T dealt with that one?!) Or maybe it's just not knowing how to frame your question clearly and specifically. Technology can train your brain to think more logically, clearly, and specifically. Important for life, not just for interacting with a computer program!

AI is positioned to replace creative talent ... or is it? Mechanization and robotics did a pretty good job replacing factory workers in the last century. Or at least what was left after manual labor was outsourced and factories relocated overseas. White collar jobs seemed pretty safe. After all, creative talent like artists, graphics designers, performers, and writers couldn't be easily replicated by a machine. Right?    Enter AI and everything is upended. Everywhere you look, someone somewhere is creating an AI-based tool that allows the average Joe to suddenly write more coherently, organize and elucidate complex information within a blink or two of an eye, create striking graphics designs, develop new ideas by bouncing them against an electronic brain, and produce animated videos complete with voice over narration.    Yikes. Are creative human beings going the way of the buggy whip?

What do you lead with when you're at a business networking event and you do more than one thing? I'm putting together a virtual networking event for later this year. The idea is to present a hot topic - perfecting your elevator pitch, in this case - and bring attendees together in small groups throughout the event to network with each other and discuss their ideas in different ways. The topic, as you can probably tell from this blog's title, is how to develop a strong elevator pitch. It's going to be a work in progress, because our businesses continue to evolve. It's even more of a challenge for those of us who have more than one business. What do we lead with? Do we talk about them all or just pick one, and if so, which one?

Hard sells don't make compelling, memorable videos. Stories with subtext do. There’s a maxim in acting: show, don’t tell. It means that watching a character do something and having the story unfold before your eyes is far more compelling than having a character spell everything out for you as it happens. The audience identifies with the character's emotions and thoughts, rather than just following a descriptive narrative.   Same thing with writing. And videos, especially if you’re hoping to sell something. No one wants to be preached to, sold to, bombarded with demands from someone who rather obviously just wants something from you.   We are very much interested, though, when people talk about something of concern to us . We respond when what they have to say mirrors how we’re feeling or what we’re thinking. Our curiosity is piqued when someone suggests a solution to a problem we’re facing. We also love a good distraction or entertainment or even something that is quite unexpected.      Some of the best advertising tells a story and reveals the brand name only at the very end. We make a connection between the heart of the story and the product, so we don’t need to be hit over the head with the obvious. But most importantly, we remember them. Here some of classic examples where the product name is only revealed at the end of the commercial:     "The "Mean" Joe Green" (Coca-Cola) This iconic ad shows a football player offering a Coke to a young fan, with the Coca-Cola branding only prominently displayed at the final shot.   Nike "Just Do It" campaigns Many Nike ads feature athletes performing incredible feats without explicitly showing the product until the very end, relying on the brand association and powerful imagery.   Or going back 40 (!) years:   "The "Apple" 1984 Super Bowl While not strictly a "reveal at the end" concept, the famous "1984" Apple ad features a dystopian world with the Apple computer as the symbol of rebellion, only fully identifying the brand towards the end of the ad. In all these cases, the message is received without hitting the audience over the head with a 2x4.   Want to be memorable? Couch your message within a story. People respond to vulnerability, failures followed by success, new discoveries. These are the stories that become memorable, that build a brand. Create your own memorable videos Our videos can do the same thing. A tall order? On the surface, but really not. We all have stories: origin stories. Success stories. Stories of failure and redemption. Testimonials from those we've helped. And in these days of social media, you don’t need a top-notch advertising team to tell these stories for you. You can re-enact them yourself or show your audience how they played out. Casual videos that feel authentically created (i.e. not professionally) seem to do better than those that come across as “made for TV.” Just speaking to the camera and explaining how and why you began your business can be very powerful. You build your credibility in videos showing how you've solved a problem or enabled another person to become successful. Behind the scenes videos provide glimpses into your process and the people who make it happen. People respond to vulnerability, failures followed by success, new discoveries. These are the stories that become memorable, that build a brand. And the small business creators who post these informal, vertical short videos are doing pretty well. And you can, too.   I took on the challenge a couple of years ago. In my case, because two thirds of my business is grounded in entertainment, I wanted to create a video series that would be fun to watch. Something very, very short but memorable, that would show what I can do for my clients in a personable, humorous way. I came up with MOMisms, ultra-short 4-10 second videos (on average) that give a bite-sized dab of fun while demonstrating my skills as an actor, voice actor, and video content creator. Content designed to appeal   Creating Momisms was also a bit of an experiment. I was curious how much value I could pack into a video that was not much longer than the typical “hook” time of 3-4 seconds. I was taught back in high school to write clearly and concisely, to convey ideas in as few words as possible without sacrificing story or context, and wanted to test that idea in videos. I also wanted to have fun making a video series that could have wide appeal and a long shelf life. The trick was to showcase the three services I offer without coming across as salesy or trying too hard. No one likes to be sold to. Least of all me! And I used to be in sales, so I was especially sensitive to it.   That’s when I decided to follow the “show, don’t tell” mantra of many artists and writers. After all, as an actor, that’s I’m supposed to be doing. Just ask any acting teacher! On the surface, I’m providing a little entertainment, a chuckle to spread a bit of cheer in someone’s day. The subtext, by way of demonstration, is that I’m an actor for on-camera performance, hosting, and voice overs, and someone who knows her way around video creation and can help others do the same. A “walk the talk” without  ramming the obvious down anyone’s throat.   Well-received videos can be made by anyone with basic equipment and little to no budget. They certainly don’t have to be flawless creations, either!   Laura's Quick Tips Forget perfection! Viewers relate better to “real people” videos vs. those that are highly produced. Your basic studio? Your phone’s camera, 1-2 ring lights, and a fairly quiet space. If you’re speaking in your short video, be yourself! Let your personality shine through. It’ll help potential customers feel like they’re getting to know you, which goes a long way to building trust and a potential business relationship.   I do want to mention that videos don’t have to be entertaining to be successfully received. They just have to be interesting. And interesting is really not all that hard to do. If you are offering a service and the product is yourself, please take my word that YOU are interesting. Who you are, how you tell a story, the mistakes you’ve made and learned from, a behind the scenes view of your work ... it all adds human interest. And shows that you are a real person, someone that everyone can relate to, because we’re all trying to figure this stuff out, too.   Are you looking for ideas for your short videos? They make great social media content, especially when they’re reposted or transformed into quotes and graphics. If you’d like to brainstorm or have feedback on your options, schedule a free 15 minute consult. I’d love to talk with you! Want to learn more? Let's talk! I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER •  ON CAMERA •  CONSULTATION & COACHING

You can't beat short-form videos for grabbing attention quickly Short form, long form - which type of video is better for growing your business? It used to be that long-form video was pretty much all that was available online. It resided on YouTube, perhaps Vimeo, and showed up on other social media platforms, too, especially on LinkedIn if it was business-centric. These videos were often 5-20 minutes long and shot in landscape (or horizontal) mode. Great for watching on your desktop or large screen, though not so much for mobile devices unless you turned your screen 90 degrees to watch in landscape mode. Short-form videos were under 60 seconds and shot in portrait or vertical mode. These videos were far more casually produced than their long-form counterparts and showed up on social media as Instagram or TikTok reels or stories on Facebook and Instagram. Fast forward to today's social media landscape and short videos dominate by a huge margin. Why? Short-form videos are almost always more successful than long-form content Today's content consumers don't want to feel "sold to;" they prefer to watch something that seems genuinely shared. The case for short videos Short videos proliferated across multiple social media channels because they deliver most what viewers want: information, entertainment, or perspective in bite-size chunks, ready for that spare moment or two of idle scrolling. Not much of a surprise with attention spans counted in seconds, not minutes.   Long-form videos can do well, too, but they don’t have the viewer hold time unless they already have an established audience and reputation. Short videos have a number of advantages because they are ... more cost-effective to produce mobile-friendly easier to consume more attention-getting more addictive Furthermore, short videos have the potential to go viral very quickly and put your brand on the map. They're easy to repurpose in ads, marketing emails, social media, and website blogs and pages. Best of all for everyday content creators, they're expected to be more casual and "real-life" vs. a high-end production. Today's content consumers don't want to feel "sold to;" they'd rather have something that feels shared with them, and testimonials are typically short, punchy, and personal. Just like short videos. Advantages of long-form videos Conversely, long videos offer more depth and detail to more fully entertain or educate their audiences. Because they spend more time explaining a problem and solution or how something works, they may lead to more purchases. Other advantages include: more complex storytelling more time and detail translates to deeper connections with the audience higher conversion rates a comfortable format for detailed demonstrations and more extensive narratives, such as marketing strategies and client or employee education What to choose, what to choose ... It used to be that long-form video had a strong advantage over its short-form counterpart because it was available for SEO optimization. That's changed; both short and long videos are easily found based on their titles, thumbnails, and keywords. My biggest suggestion here is to host both types on a YouTube channel. YouTube is the second largest search engine after Google (and it's owned by Google!) and people search more now than ever before for video content to answer questions or just to be entertained. Chances are your videos will be seen by new eyes vs. a subscriber base due to their searchability. Are you looking to monetize your YouTube channel? Hey, why not! Just keep in mind that it's easier to do with many long-form videos than fewer short-form videos unless your short videos explode in popularity. According to YouTube, you need: 1,000  subscribers AND 4,000  hours of watch time across all your videos over the last 12  months OR 10 million  Shorts views over the last 90  days So you'll have to make up in volume with short videos what you could potentially accomplish with far fewer long-form videos. Mix and match In the end, the right choice is what best serves your purpose. And there's much to be said for mixing up the two for your audience.   Do you have a lot of content to share? There are two ways to go about it. Create a long-form video and then break it up into multiple short videos, keeping one simple point per short video. Publish both versions, thereby potentially creating greater reach with both formats working together. Create multiple short videos only, one topic per video, and present them as a series (Youtube playlist). Set a consistent day and time for sharing each installment and your audience will grow to expect them. Also, with a audience who comes to know you, tthere's a much higher chance of your entire video being watched. They'll also have more time to absorb and remember each topic, rather than taking in everything all at once.   For either format, get to “the good stuff” in your video right away. Viewers who don’t already know your work won’t stick around if something doesn’t immediately grab their attention. Unless they see immediate value, statistically you have less than four seconds before they click away. Forget about a long introduction; jump right into the material so that viewers get what they’re expecting up front. My experience  What do I do? I’ve produced both long-form and several short-form video series, including the ultra-short MOMisms series. Very clearly, analytics prove my shorts outperform my long-form series by a wide margin, with MOMisms performing best of all. I think that's because they are so short and watchable, but also because they waste no time getting to the point of the video and use humor to do so. Not sure what you should do? Start with a few short videos for social media and then, if you have a lot more to say, experiment with a long-form video. If you're having trouble getting started, like figuring out what to say or how to say it - or even how to make a short video quickly, easily, and very inexpensively - give me a call. I can help you strategize and get you up and running with some short videos in no time! Want to learn more? Let's talk! I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER •  ON CAMERA •  CONSULTATION & COACHING

Serve up an attitude of gratitude as a side dish to your Thanksgiving turkey As the year is winding down, the holidays are cranking up in a big way. Lights, decorations, holiday markets - it's a nice distraction to the ups and downs of 2024. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays and I like to take it seriously. It's a time to put aside our worries and petty grievances, and be mindful instead of all the blessings of the past year. Or at least to put it all in perspective. It's also the time to celebrate the harvest. I'm not a farmer, though I do enjoy a good farmers market. I was just at our local one yesterday morning. Nothing better than getting outside on a crisp fall morning and strolling around, seeing how the produce in the vendor stalls changes with the seasons, picking up specialty items, and enjoying all the prepared foods that are for sale. And the sampling! It's better than a walkthrough of Costco at lunchtime. I have my personal list of things I'm grateful for, which includes family, friends, and health - all the usual suspects. Here instead are the top 5 things I'm grateful for in my professional life. Do you keep a record of your wins, large or small? Reviewing your list from time to time can help bolster your spirits whenever you're feeling low. " Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will." Keep count of the good stuff! It's so easy to dwell on all the negativity in our lives. Disappointments, missed opportunities, mistakes, losses, embarrassing moments - you name it. Start off your new year instead with a list where you'll put all your wins, both large and small. Watch as it grows over time and you'll be presented with unrefutable evidence that good stuff does happen all the time. We just tend to dismiss or minimize them when compared to problems that pop up now and again. Not today. Not this time of year. I'm looking at my list of positive outcomes over this past year and finding five big areas to be grateful for. Laura's Attitude of Gratitude Friendships through networking Short, casual videos Film, commercial, and voiceover bookings Speaking opportunities My new program: Lights! Camera! Confidence! Friendships through networking We have two options for networking these days: in person and virtual. I especially enjoy in person options. Professional groups, speaker luncheons, happy hours, special events ... even my acting classes. There's something special about the energy in the room of a live event when people interact face-to-face. Appreciation of being post-pandemic hasn't dissipated from what I can tell. More than before 2020, people relish being together and professional networking groups have risen from the ashes of Covid-era social distancing. That's not to say virtual has gone away. I love the fact that I can interact with others worldwide from the comfort of my own home. Frienships, business partnerships, referrals - all have evolved from meeting people online. I especially enjoy LinkedIn and have had the pleasure of forming real, in person friendships and business relationships with people I've met online. Another huge source beyond the several virtual networking groups I'm active in would be my voiceover accountability group, VO classes and 1:1 coaching, and workshops. If it weren't for virtual networking, the number of friends I could count would be sadly diminished! Short, casual videos What's better than leveling the playing field for small businesses who want affordable ways to promote themselves? Of course, quality matters, but the barriers to entry have fallen. Social media awards those who post short videos, provided that the content is interesting and relevant to the viewer. You don't need fancy production quality either. In contrast, it's the more casual, "filmed it myself" vibe that trends. My On Camera Confidence coaching program encourages clients to make short videos. They're not hard to do; they just take planning and a few performance and filming tips. I'm looking forward to extending the scope of my program in the new year. On camera and voiceover bookings I love the performance side of my work! What else can I say? This past year (and it's not even over), I've been in front of the camera for films, commercials, and industrials (corporate videos) and behind the mic for TV shows, commercials, and web-based videos. The highlights? Some of these projects are actually comedy routines dressed up as commercials and were simply outrageously funny. I'm under a few NDA's, so I can't disclose business names or details, but once I can, I'll have some great stories to tell. My favorite voiceover bookings, though, were with Tyler Perry Studios for his show "House of Payne." The studio complex is amazing and the people were so kind. Although I was prepared to record and submit the voice overs remotely from my home studio, I was very happy to drive the relatively short distance to the studio to record in person the couple of times they hired me. It reminded me of when I used to call on Disney in my corporate days. Speaking opportunities Networking has brought me even more speaking opportunities this year. Most were on the topic of On Camera Confidence, but I was invited to talk about in a number of ways, such as establishing an executive presence online, how speaking to the camera is different than addressing a roomful of people (and how to adapt), how to segue successfully from a corporate career to an artistic one, and how to reinvent one's professional self later in life using social media (like LinkedIn) and a video presence. I'm now booking events in 2025 for all types of audiences: coaches, small business owners, podcasters, women's groups, and more. If you're interested in a dynamic speaker who loves sharing with her audience, please reach out! On Camera Confidence expands I'll share more later, but I'm so excited to offer several levels of my signature program in 2025, from video assessments to working 1:1 on specific performance skills to creating short videos with my clients in an easy "one and done!" fashion. There'll be webinars focused on developing aspects of video creation and performance, too, so "watch this space" for details. What about you? I know I'm not the only one reflecting on this past year, so what's on your mind? A little gratitude can go a long way. Come on, you can tell me. As we’re rounding out 2024, what are you most thankful for? Enjoy a very happy Thanksgiving! (and a sane start to this holiday season) Want to learn more? Let's talk! I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER •  ON CAMERA •  CONSULTATION & COACHING

Authenticity is today's currency. AI bots, scammers, and freeloaders can take a hike off the nearest cliff. I received a note in Messenger recently that just made my jaw drop. I've heard one or two other voice actors mention this sort of thing before, but the sheer audacity of this freeloader was just galling. Especially since I don't know him from Adam and I'm not sure how he found me. Clearly, he doesn't know the first thing about building a proper business relationship. Most people, when they first reach out to someone, think to introduce themselves and their connections to whomever they're reaching out to, or perhaps how they come across their profile. Usually, there's a little conversation asking about the other person's work and explaining what they do themselves. Oh, no, this guy had a more direct approach: Hey can u get me some voice over auditions or submit my voice over demo as a referral to your talent agency Um, excuse me? You do know I'm an actor just like you and not a paid casting director, manager, or agent? You really think that someone who doesn't know you is going to start promoting you? Some random guy with no VO experience? Or training, in all likelihood? Yeah, right.... So much for the direct "it's all about me" approach. Sorry, Charlie. That's NOT how you start a productive conversation. You see, we all have to build our own businesses. We put in the investment and sweat equity to train and develop industry relationships, and play the long game. No one does the hard work for us and no one should. Besides, it reflects very poorly on US to recommend someone who can't deliver the goods they promise. While my male VO friends snorted and said they'd tell this guy to go off and do his own @#%& work, I thought, "OK, maybe he's new to the business and simply doesn't know how it works. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and show him how to get started." Honestly, cynical me doubted he just didn't know better, but being a mama who knows that we all spectacularly screw up now and then, I spent the time sharing some resources and giving him a few pointers. Things like the casting sites where he could find auditions, online resources for digging into direct marketing, and some pretty great places to take relatively inexpensive VO classes to truly up his game. Nah. He knew what he was doing and was just looking for a short-cut through someone else's connections. Sorry, bub, not happening. Even if it were productive - or wise - to refer someone with no experience or training (it's not), he needed to know hat it cuts both ways. Could he hook me up with people ready to hire me on the spot? Arrange introductions with top bi-coastal agencies that want me on their roster yesterday? Crickets. Yup, curiously enough, he never replied. Huh. Saved me the work of "unfriending" and blocking him myself. Relationship potential: Nada. Ejected from any future consideration. Want customers? You've got to be your own person. Credibility is EARNED. When you put in the work and achieve results, you build credibility. Respect. Recognition for youraccomplishments. It's the same thing when it comes to using AI. Generative AI tools can save a lot of time and hard work when used properly under the direction of skilled human beings who add their own creativity and intention to the mix. They're not, however, a great content producer in and of themselves. And guess what? A lot of people can tell the difference. Be genuine. Authentic. It's the only way to beat the bots. Our built-in BS meters have ratcheted up a level or ten in response to an onslaught of generative AI. We have no choice. There's so much automation out there, throwing sales pitches (that predictably all sound alike) and other nonsense at us. ALL THE TIME. Scammers offering us so-called investment deals and special opportunities with limited availability. (Don't you just hate to miss out on those?) Or who try to scare us with imaginary orders placed in our names, worth hundreds of dollars that we will soon be billed for UNLESS we alert them of an error. Uh huh. Not all of them are from Nigerian princes, either. (Heavy sigh) Carpal tunnel could easily set in from all the click-deletes going on. These "offers" fill up junk folders, text messages, and worse, direct messages on LinkedIn faster than they can be deleted. I don't know about you, but they come in faster than any filter I can throw up in defense. So on the flip side, as a content creator and someone who organically engages in other people's posts, what does work? As far as I'm concerned - and I'm not alone in this - the answer is to show up as uniquely human. Use AI to inspire and maybe even guide your work, but don't let it masquerade as you. As a human being, reach out and develop relationships 1:1 by being genuinely yourself. Get to know people through well-thought out comments on their posts and attendance at their events, both in person and virtually. Share your own stories, successes and failures alike. Show your humor, artistic touch, or whatever is part of who you are. Show up as yourself. If people aren't tired of fake interactions yet, they will. And I think we're all getting there pretty quickly. The more things become automated and fake, the more we crave the real, genuine thing. Don't be surprised when we eventually see the resurgence of the art of conversation. Live theater and concerts, too, not just the big Broadway shows or star-studded celebrity performances that draw thousands. Real things we can see, feel, and touch, including appreciating nature and a slower way of being. It's balance. There's nothing intrinsically wrong with technology, but it needs to be balanced with human connection. It's why I think there'll always be a demand for human voice actors, storytellers, musicians, and artists, because there's a huge difference between an algorithm trying to simulate an emotion and the real thing. We inherently respond to the real, the genuine, the true. While we may be entertained by the fake, it won't really affect us where it matters: our sense of being. And intrinsically, we can tell a fake a mile off. We just KNOW. This principle applies across the board, whether you're judging a performance or work of art or deciding where you're spending your hard-earned money. The cheap, fake look-alike, sound-alike may be affordable, but it's the real thing that's valued. Likewise, we all interact with the fake on a fairly regular basis. Alexa or Siri, anyone? We know that they're alorithms and machines at heart, and they have purpose and value as a tool. But value as in a relationship? I don't think so. People being people, we do business with those we've come to know, like, and trust. That only happens when there's been time spent building a relationship and proving ourselves as credible, genuine, and worthy of other people's time and attention. Not from being bombarded with mass-produced solicitations, because it's cheaper and easier than reaching out one-to-one. Authenticity. Just like most of us women will choose an honest-to-goodness diamond over a manufactured one, it's the real thing that counts. An original Picasso will always be worth more than a really good fake or even a limited print. And so too a real person reaching out will be more appreciated than a mass-produced email ... as long as they can get through the filters, but that's another conversation altogether. Laura's Quick Tips Be yourself: do your own work - don't expect to use another person or AI to convince others of your skills As AI proliferates, the uniquely human will hold more value ("it's the real thing") It may get there soon enough, but right now we can pretty much tell when something's been generated by AI. It just doesn't quite ring true. That goes doubly for AI-generated comments left on other people's posts. Generic, unoriginal, and dull. Upcoming Events The Business RadioX ® - Amplifying The Voice Of Business Monday, November 11 at 11:30 am EST Want to learn more? Let's talk! I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER •  ON CAMERA •  CONSULTATION & COACHING

The entertainment industry is changing - and even insiders aren't sure where it's headed The entertainment industry is going through a major shakeup. After years of steady increase, thanks to the rise of streaming services, the number of original scripted TV shows has been dropping. Theatrical releases have also declined - and many theaters are in danger of bankruptcy from lack of business. It's not just due to COVID and the writers' and actors' strikes. The industry itself is changing in many ways and the cause is two-fold: technological and generational. There's a fallout, with intense competition over smaller audiences who are demonstrating that they have choice - and it's not with these more traditional players. Forces at work Several factors are at work here. Content - what's being watched Audiences - who's watching it YouTube and social media - where it's being watched What we're seeing is the decline of traditional media (TV shows that focus on linear story-telling) and the rise of a more interactive, immersive experience. One that sees the merging of streaming video, social media, and social gaming that actively engages its audience. Technology is behind the ability to create a new type of entertainment experience, but you can't discount the people who are driving it with their demand. Those would be the younger generations, particularly Gen Z and the up-and-coming kids of Gen Alpha. They are the digital natives and very tech-savvy. More than other generations, they are globally connected, especially through video gaming networks and social media channels like TikTok. These younger generations do not feel restricted to finding their entertainment on broadcast and streaming channels, and certainly not in the theaters. They're showing a clear prefer for original short content created outside of Hollywood and the entertainment industry, and they're finding it on social media channels like YouTube, Instagram Reels, and TikTok. There's another factor, too: AI. Human vs. AI No matter how much creatives would like to sideline AI from the entertainment industry, AI is not going anywhere. And the studio are feeling like they're up against a wall. While independent content creators may feel no compunction against using AI at will to write, produce, and edit their work, the film and TV industry is being held accountable to when and how AI may be used. Independents don't have to answer to unionized writers, actors, and other creative artists; Hollywood and other mainstream outlets in the industry do. As an on-camera and voice actor, I'm glad that they do. Not only would our livelihoods be at greater risk, but so would be the quality of future productions. Storytelling is a uniquely human art, where emotion and connection to the audience is intrinsically vital. While we will get used to accepting AI-generated materials, we would still feel like something is missing: the "heart" or truth that strikes a response in ourselves. Profitability is always a factor Money is a factor. It always is, always will be. If an enterprise cannot sustain itself and see a profit, it will cease to exist unless something else (like government funding, venture capital, or wealthy patrons) props it up. The studios that produce network shows are having a harder time showing a profit. So too are some of the independent producers and streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime that saw good times and big bucks during the rise of streaming services from 2009 - 2019. While the streamers saw a boon during the early years of COVID, things are changing again. There's a fallout, with intense competition over smaller audiences who are demonstrating that they have choice - and it's not with these more traditional players. The old business models aren't working and no one's quite figured out what's replaced them yet. The effects are felt up and down the industry, from the creatives (like screenwriters and actors) to production locations to the viewing public. Less content is being made and what is produced is granted a much shorter time to prove itself before being axed. We in the creative trenches feel it first: writers, casting directors, actors, talent agents, crew, etc. The recent strikes played a big role, true, but still there are fewer new shows and movies being made. As an on-camera and voice actor, I've seen it and so have many others. Fewer auditions, fewer projects. Some talent agencies are shrinking or disappearing altogether. Smaller studios are closing and some taping services, too. Productions are always searching to save money, too, and that's where tax incentives come in. Georgia, my home state, has been a major film/TV production center for nearly 20 years because of our generous tax incentives. In turn, Georgia has attracted and retained many well-trained actors and crew members and sparked tremendous growth of film studios and the infrastructure to support them. It hasn't hurt either to have the whole-hearted support of our governor and state legislators, and the attractions of our state's natural beauty and diversity of topography, including our usually good weather year-round (even our hot, humid summers!). TV shows and movies have globe-trotting legs There's no rule that says that US productions have to stay within the US. Cost-cutting measures, tax rebates, favorable exchange rates, cheaper labor - there's much that can pull a production off-shore. Case in point: Marvel. After a number of years making its movies in Georgia, Marvel has pulled stakes for a few upcoming productions and relocated to London. It's all part of following the money, whether it's around the US (from Florida to Wilmington, NC to New Orleans to Atlanta) or internationally to Australia, Iceland, South Korea, New Zealand, and Canada. Cheaper crew rates draw productions outside of the US, especially to Eastern Europe, which also offers gorgeous scenery and a classic old-world vibe. It's quite possible that, without the restrictions imposed by US-based unions, productions may use AI to replicate foreign actors' images and voices for future projects without their knowledge, consent, or proper compensation. The future My crystal ball is in the shop for repairs right now, so I can't forecast a clear future. All I can tell you is that everything is cyclical. And everything is subject to change and either evolves or dies. The entertainment industry will adapt to these technological and generational changes. It will find new and better ways to tell great stories and undoubtedly, new tools like AI will become essential. As long as the creatives in charge remember that's AI is best used as a tool rather than as a sole content generator, they'll be successful. And actors like me will learn to adapt as well, so staying abreast of these changes and continuing to train in our craft is essential. Fingers crossed that Atlanta remains a top place to make movies, but in the meantime, I'll continue to make engaging content myself. Short videos. Hosted on YouTube. Laura's Quick Tips Every generation puts its stamp on society and modern culture. Gen Z's is truly digital! Something to consider about AI: Don't let it become your task master instead of your tool. Don't bemoan change, whatever the reason. Understand and adapt to it. Check out my short videos at: https://www.youtube.com/@lauradoman Want to learn more? Let's talk! I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER •  ON CAMERA •  CONSULTATION & COACHING

Talk about a rude wakeup call. Hello, mind? This is your body calling. PAY ATTENTION! Hello, reality check. We all get them, whether we want them or not. I certainly didn't. Got one anyways. This was mine. See this photo? That's me last month. Yeah, in the ER. Not a place I normally find myself. My story is a PSA to SLOW DOWN when life heats up too much. It's not worth burning ourselves out. It's never a pretty picture and I can guarantee you that it rarely comes at a good time. We're often our harshest critics. Sound familiar? Cut it out. Yeah, I need to take my own advice. And this one: Life rarely follows the timetable you set for yourself. I prefer to schedule my spontaneous moments So what happened? Things got very hectic and my body decided it had had enough two days before my husband and I were scheduled to leave on a three week trip abroad. If you're anything like me, the days before you go out of town are usually hectic. Not just work-related matters, but more mundane tasks like doing laundry, paying bills, watering the plants, and packing up for the big trip.   It was a crazy week all right, but I didn't expect to be woken up by painful chest compressions, tightness in my back, and difficulty breathing. WTF?! I’ve always been healthy. Exercising every day, eating right. Never spent time in the hospital except to birth a couple of babies. OK, forget about the falls and minor out-patient procedures - they don’t really count. No, this was not good.   Of course, it happened at a very inconvenient time. Yeah, that’s how I think. Potential heart attacks should be scheduled when I have time for them, right? We were leaving in only two days and this. was. not. convenient. I had oodles of things to do. I’m a woman with a LIST.   The body has a mind - and will - of its own Strangely, the body doesn’t care two whits for the mind’s wants when it’s had just about enough. Fortunately for me, it wasn’t a heart attack. Not even a blood clot, like my surgeon husband suspected. I had no clue or early warning; all I knew was that women experience heart attacks quite differently than men and someone somewhere was trying to tell me something.   So I staggered downstairs out of breath, talked to Alex, and he drove me right to the ER. After a battery of tests over half a day, the conclusion was … stress. The kind that people like me experience but don’t recognize or pay much attention to if we do. How embarrassing. I land in the ER over stress? I didn't even know I had it. Well, I guess I did, I just blew past it. It wasn't convenient. Guess some self-reflection is overdue....  I wasn’t going to post about this episode. After all, who wants to admit that your uber-energized, super-productive self was abruptly brought up short? And reminded that we're human, just like everyone else? Sigh. Don’t you just hate being reminded of your limitations?   While I was waiting for the result, I decided to take a photo of me in the ER, just in case I changed my mind about sharing this experience. And now a month or so later (and back from our trip), I have. ‘Cause there are a lot of other people like me who just press on taking care of business, disregarding the warning signals their bodies may be sending. Or possibly like me, refusing to slow down just because we're older. After all, we feel like we can handle as much as we ever did. Hmmm. Maybe we really can't ... (ouch). It’s hard to think that I may have been brought up short because I’m getting (aacckk!) older. I do what I do regardless of how many years my body has racked up because it’s fun and rewarding. I may ignore that biological number, but my body keeps score. So … I got a wake up call to slow down a bit, because I needed to, like it or not. So what am I going to do differently? Certainly not stop what I enjoy so much, just take things more in stride and at a more leisurely pace.   I’m often asked how and why I went from Corporate to Creative. You may guess that I still have a lot of the corporate can-do, get-it-done mindset in me. It’ll never go away, it’s a good part of who I am. But the creative is the playful, joyful side that balances the corporate and keeps the human happy. And I've realized how much I NEED it. The on-camera and voice acting is so fulfilling and an expression of a side of me that didn’t get much play when I was younger. And as I’ve gotten older, I love sharing what I’ve learned about working in front of the camera and behind the mic to help people in business – my former tribe – become better at it, too. My lesson here is that part of getting better at anything, is perhaps not driving ourselves overly hard in the process.   I see an analogy here. Coming from the world of tech, I’ve always been aware how quickly things change and how we need to keep current to stay relevant. Hey, I started my corporate career “dialing for dollars” and working with printed catalogs to find sales leads and now I use social media, the internet, and all sorts of AI tools to do the same thing. I love it learning, but my goodness, it’s coming faster than ever. Who remembers Lucille Ball’s famous scene with the conveyer belt? If you’re of a certain age, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It's easy to lose control if too much is coming at us at once. This is where I get on my soapbox to distract from my embarrassment We can’t program ourselves to be faster and faster. We can learn to “work smarter” and use new tools, but we still have a human pace to understand and incorporate it all. And that human side will at one point say … WHOA! Slow down. Work to live, don’t live to work. And enjoy what’s around you. Remember the creative play and don't let the taskmaster destroy you.   I see that message in this fall season. Instead of taking the time to smell the roses (they're all dying now anyways), take the time to stomp the leaves. The really crunchy ones. It's weirdly satisfying.   Fall is also the beginning of the wonderful holiday season, which for me means more time with family and friends. It's a lovely balance and the perfect opportunity to step outside of ourselves and appreciate others, nature, and all that life offers. It's also quite the relief to finally be done with the heat and humidity of summer, which if you know anything about Atlanta, can be rather oppressive. So I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing, but reset to a more balanced mindset. Everything in its time, and if I have to slow down due to an overload of stress or a seasonal cough, so be it. Nothing wrong with stepping away from time to time to walk outside, take in the cooler, crisper air, and find some extra dry leaves that need stomping.   See ya on the nature trail. And happy upcoming holidays. ☺️ Want to learn more? Let's talk! I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER •  ON CAMERA •  CONSULTATION & COACHING

Who doesn’t look to shorten their sales cycle and bring in qualified leads earlier? AI is getting a lot of attention for its many productivity tools, but there is one relatively low-tech marketing strategy you can do right now to bring in more qualified leads quickly and fairly easily.   Short videos are THE best way right now to grab viewer attention, make an impact, and serve as an instrumental part of your pre-sales process. Most people spend at least a few idle minutes scrolling, and short videos are what shows up most in their feeds across social media channels. And if some of those people happen to be in your target market and like what they see? You'll see increased traffic to your website and other content as they check you out.   There is "push" and "pull" marketing. The push variety are those outbound calls and emails to your target market, looking for interested leads. Pull marketing draws leads to you through advertising, articles, posts, blogs ... and videos. Video has the added advantage of giving visual and audio form to your message and brand - and by being memorable.   The best videos are memorable, because they tell a story that’s interesting, relatable, or humorous. Can you relate to the ups and down of parenthood? This short humorous video series is all about moms, while showcasing several skills in just a few seconds.   Show ‘em, don’t tell ‘em! No one likes to be preached to, but they sure like to be entertained.   Build pre-sales trust and likeability by being yourself on video You certainly don’t need to be an entertainer or have razzle-dazzle production quality. The best videos resonate with “real person” authenticity and a natural sincerity. But if you’re promoting your business, they need to have a clear purpose and call to action to operate as an effective lead generator. Even if you’re just looking to enhance your visibility, know who your ideal audience is and what impression you want to leave them with.   A lot of relevant content and value can be packed into a short video. Furthermore, you can do so in a way that lends entertainment value and showcases your personality alongside your product or service. Your personality DOES matter, whether you’re a small business owner interacting with your customers or a coach or consultant providing individual or small group sessions. Clients often book because of YOU: your personality, approach, and style – and not just your content.   Video is one of the best ways for potential clients to get to know you and your services. You’re building a business relationship and the foundation of having them “know, like, and trust” you without them even realizing it. When they watch your videos over time, your future clients have started down your pre-sales funnel, in a way that’s private, anonymous, and stress-free to them. Laura's Quick Tips Let potential clients see you as a real person. It’s the first steps to building the ol’ “know, like, and trust” that leads to developing a solid business relationship. Know your purpose and how your video fits within a larger marketing strategy. Make sure it has a well-defined focus that speaks to your target audience. Keep your video within 60 seconds – think of it as an introduction to who you are and what you offer. Relax! If you’re uncomfortable in front of the camera, it’ll show. Check out my series of short videos on building On Camera Confidence to get you started. Be yourself, not the person you think you should be. Authenticity is the key. Don’t come off as a phony.   Short and sweet These videos don’t have to be long, either. For example, my humorous MOMisms series of ultra-short videos are only 5-10 seconds each. Some are even shorter. Their purpose is to demonstrate through entertainment my skills as an on-camera and voice actor, as well as my knowledge and expertise in creating short videos, which I coach entrepreneurs to do for their own businesses.   Let me leave you with a tip: If you’re creating a short video series, post new ones consistently over time to grow your viewership and cue your audience to look for them on a specific day or time.   Ready to create your own short video series? Need a few ideas for coming up with your own short video series? I’d love to talk with you and see how I can help. Sometimes it takes someone from outside your business to provide a perspective that your potential clients can relate to. Or give you that nudge to get started. Or show you the basic video-making equipment and tools you need and how to use them.  Upcoming Events NetConnect 2024 I'm hosting a virtual networking session for professional women everywhere. Plus: how to create an elevator pitch that's memorable, perhaps funny, maybe even musical! October 17, 4-5:30 pm EST Want to learn more? Let's talk! I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER •  ON CAMERA •  CONSULTATION & COACHING

Take the time to do them well and you can use your short videos over and over again. If you’re going to make a video – of any length – you want it to pay off. After all, you’re investing valuable time, perhaps money, and more than a little sweat equity to create something you hope will move your business forward. Otherwise, what’s the point?   Unless perhaps you’re making videos for the joy of it or to establish yourself as a leader in a pursuit outside of business. Fair enough.   I like to get more than one use out of something. Maybe that’s why I go for wearable art as a souvenir of my travels. Clothing, shoes, jewelry … I always remember where I found them, which brings back wonderful memories of my travels. And I can enjoy them again and again. Who says women aren’t practical?! 😆 Know your purpose, your personal style, and how you want to be remembered. All this goes into the making of your videos, so they're uniquely recognized as yours. Your videos don't have to be flashy, expensive, or even professionally produced! They just have to reflect you and/or your business. MOMisms as an example of leveraging several purposes in one video This practical philosophy transfers over to my work, too. One way to go about it is to repurpose good content or at least tweak it over time to update or reformat it as fresh content. Even better, as far as I'm concerned, it to have one piece of content accomplish more than one thing. With my MOMisms series of super-short videos, they actually do three things for me.   First, they’re fun to make. They’re comedic and I get a kick out of performing funny quips, sayings, and wry advice that moms often give (whether or not anyone is listening!). My audience likewise enjoys watching them, enough that people have sent me ideas for future MOMisms – and a few other moms have even joined me in a MOMism we make together. I confess … those are my favorites!   On a practical level, MOMism videos demonstrate my skills as an actor and content creator, especially in the areas of comedy and improv.   They help establish my credibility as a coach/consultant for others who want to create short videos for their own businesses. Together, we discover their unique voice and perspective for their videos, create a strategy that makes sense for their time and budget, and produce and roll out their first short video for social media.   Making your videos stand out with the 5 C’s Videos provide content for social media visibility, but more importantly, they’re also a sales tool to attract potential clients. It’s not enough, however, to just put out a video without having a clear purpose in mind. For them to truly be effective and well-received videos, whether they’re long or short form, they need to be at least four these five things: Creative Concise Clear Consistent Comedic   Creative  in the sense that they're interesting and reflective of you and your business. Notice I didn't say they had to be flashy, expensive, or even professionally produced. Concise , because your future buyer's time is valuable. Tell them upfront what you're all about. Keep it short. And don't throw in the kitchen sink. Leave them with a question or wanting to know more. Clear  messaging, so that viewers know immediately what problem you're offering to solve. Whether they buy into your solution or not, they'll at least appreciate your direct approach that respects their time and attention. And who knows? They may come back to you later or refer a colleague to your site. Consistent , in that they become familiar with the concept of the videos, their structure (what to expect), and a regular publishing schedule that they can look forward to. Comedic , or humorous, is a bonus: something that both attracts and retains regular viewers. Keep it clean. Stay away from old cliches (unless you're skewering them). And don't insult others. As I was taught early in my IBM days, "don't disparage the competition." It just boomerangs and makes you look unprofessional and unworthy. The beauty of short videos Short and sweet. That resonates with a lot of people, especially in their first engagement with you. Think of it as that first meeting, the coming movie attraction, or the promo for a new product. I saw very quickly with MOMisms that because each video is so short and entertaining, viewers tended to watch the same video more than once and share it with others in their networks. The algorithms note when videos are watched through to their end and viewed more than once. In turn, they push what they read as well-received content to even more people on their platforms. The longer a given video demonstrates staying power, the more it is pushed. The algorithms are always looking for content that resonates ... which brings more eyeballs to you and your platform.   As I mentioned above, well-received videos don't have to be fancy or cost a lot of money! They can be made by anyone with basic equipment and little to no budget. Their success instead is based on the 5 C’s. They deliver on the promises in their titles and thumbnails. And they provide content that is relevant and valuable to their audiences.   Ready to create your own short video series? Need a few ideas for coming up with your own short video series? I’d love to talk with you and see how I can help. Sometimes it takes someone from outside your business to provide a perspective that your potential clients can relate to. Or give you that nudge to get started. Or show you the basic video-making equipment and tools you need and how to use them.    Curious about the Momisms? Come visit the YouTube channel that’s dedicated to them, with a new one uploaded every four days: https://www.youtube.com/@mymomisms   Upcoming Events NetConnect 2024 For women who want to expand their professional networks. Virtual networking & speaker on the ultimate elevator pitch! Prizes, too. Thursday, October 17 4 - 5:30 pm EST Want to learn more? Let's talk! I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER •  ON CAMERA •  CONSULTATION & COACHING

Networking takes time. It takes patience. But boy, oh boy, can it pay off. There’s a saying in the entertainment world that progress is “a marathon, not a sprint.” There’s another in the business world: “It’s who you know, not what you know.”   Well, I think experience and skill go a long way to building a strong career, but it's true. The right connections CAN make all the difference to your success. It usually just takes time to make them.   Maybe I’m slower than the average bear, but it took me a little while to learn the value of networking. Perhaps it’s because in my 20s, I had a corporate mindset rather than an entrepreneurial one. Back then, career expectations were that you worked your way up the food chain at one, two, maybe three companies at most in your career, rather than jump around multiple employers or – gasp! – start your own venture. Networking, at my level anyways, mostly took place within your company's local division amongst your peer group.   Times have changed since then, and so have I. Like many others, I’ve become entrepreneurial, which is a good thing now that I’m a freelancer. Networking is essential … and quite fun at that. I love meeting people both virtually and at in-person events and it's how many of my friendships today started.   Take the initiative and start something wonderful. Who knows? You might meet someone who will change your life. There’s something to be said for taking a leadership position and making things happen. Networking is how I met my husband In addition to networking, this slower than the average bear has also figured out that if you want opportunities, to just go out and create your own. That’s the mindset of the entrepreneur, which I've come to embrace, and actually, it’s how I met my husband. Way back when I first moved to Atlanta, I didn’t know anybody outside of the office. I’d been vegetarian a few years and become quite the vegetarian cook. I loved exploring farmers markets and trying new restaurants and thought that by creating a vegetarian club, I’d attract others interested in the same. Truth be told, I was especially hoping to meet some great guys who were open to vegetarian foods, as most (not surprisingly) were die-hard meat and potatoes types.   Well, sometimes the right person shows up right away and sometimes it takes a while. That’s the story of how I met Alex.   My club was going strong and I’d made friends with other single women and couples (some with kids) who joined in our potlucks. Then one day I received a call asking about the group from a guy who’d just moved to town and wanted to know more about it. I was struck by his gentle, friendly manner and, well, he just had a beautiful voice. I immediately liked him and invited him to our next get-together.   He never showed. Even after I added him to our mailing list and sent out monthly newsletters, he never came, though I never forgot his name.   Then, a few years later, after I’d begun traveling extensively for work and dropped the club as too much work, we met in person at an unrelated event. Sparks flew, especially when we instantly recognized each other’s names. I knew that night I’d met my future husband (he knew it, too). We married a little over a year later.   Networking pays off! So does patience and having the gumption to take risks. By the way, Alex wasn’t a vegetarian when we met, but he said he was drawn to the ad I’d placed about the club and felt he just had to call. (Who knows, maybe karma will be the subject of a future blog!) And yes, he loves vegetarian cooking, though now we’re pescatarian (fish). Why wait for someone else to make it happen for you? All of this is a long way of saying that great things happen when you grow your professional and social circles. You never know who you’re going to meet or who or what they’ll introduce you to. There’s also something to be said for taking a leadership position and making things happen.   I’m doing that now again, in a professional sense. A couple of years ago, I joined a local professional women’s networking organization called PROWIN . We have luncheons with guest speakers, happy hours, mastermind workshops, and social events. As happens when you start to show up a bit, you become more involved. When you become more involved, you take on a leadership position. When you take on a leadership position, you think of new and exciting events to host. (Kinda like the adult, professional version of “ When You Give a Mouse a Cookie ” children’s book, doesn’t it?!)   Thanks to the Grand Connection , a virtual networking organization I’m happy to be part of, I’ve learned that well-run virtual networking events can be tremendously valuable. I’ve met so many interesting, talented people all over the US and Canada and been a guest on many of their podcasts. So, since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and with co-founder Susan Jarema’s tutelage, I’m spearheading a virtual networking event with a speaker for PROWIN, open to professional women worldwide.   NetConnect (thanks, ChatGPT, for helping me come up with the name!) is a 90 minute event featuring a dynamic speaker and three breakout sessions for attendees to freely network. Rochelle Lisner, founder of Dynamic Business Growth , is introducing the “power pitch,” how to introduce yourself and your business in a way that’s memorable, funny, and occasionally musical. She’s incredibly dynamic and if you’re tired of the same old elevator pitch concept, you just have to join us. NetConnect will be held Thursday, October 17 from 4-5:30 pm EST. Register at www.prowin.com ; $10/member and $20/guest. Let me know if you have any questions! I’d love to see you there.   Happy networking! Upcoming Events NetConnect 2024 October 17, 4-5:30 pm EST Want to learn more? Let's talk! I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER •  ON CAMERA •  CONSULTATION & COACHING