It happened to me about a year or so ago. Some man called me and stated he was with some ad agency and asked if I would do a phone audition- a simple sneeze over the phone. He also said that his name didn’t show on my caller ID as he was calling on a VOIP telephone.
I thought that this is a REAL unusual request, but I went along with it. I have auditioned for other things before over the telephone, so I thought it was OK.
But I couldn’t sneeze on cue. It just felt wierd, and I wasn’t going to feign it!!!! Then he suggested I take a little white pepper and inhale it gently. That’s when I told him I wasn’t interested in this job, and hung up quickly, feeling a bit violated in the aftermath. I’ve seen a lot of interesting and sometimes strange things in my
v-o career, and this one is right up there in the top 10 Most Bizarre!
I didn’t think much more about the incident until I listened to a recent Voiceovers on Demand podcast #13 with Ben Werlin of Such A Voice, who discussed this somewhat humorous and alarming story. It turns out there have been a number of vo ladies contacted by telephone this way in the recent past.
A man who calls himself “Bill Johnson from the Lang Agency” in Las Vegas has been calling female voiceover talent and asking them to sneeze for an audition for a national commercial.
I don’t remember his name, but I do remember how wierd the experience was, and to learn that this is still happening, I’m doing my part just getting the word out….
Now that…is odd.
Please keep us informed if you find out what it’s all about.
James
Hopefully by reaching out with this information, others may share their experience with this strange , and as you say, odd occurence.
Thanks for your comment, James.
Best,
Bobbin
I knew this sounded familiar:
http://www.vo-bb.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1717&highlight=sneeze
Jeff,
Wow. This one was before I joined that board, and never read that post in the archives. I actually forgot about the whle thing and then I heard it’s still happening. Thank you for sharing this here!
Best,
Bobbin
Yep – same thing – about the same time as the thread appeared on VO-BB – first he suggested the pepper and then rolling up a tissue and sticking it up your nose. I too just felt icky about the whole thing about 30 seconds into the call. Thanks but no thanks!
Connie,
Thanks for visiting here. Yes, icky!
Best,
Bobbin