Am I going to compare myself to a golfing legend? Yes, yes, I am

Have you seen it?

A moment that will go down in history.

For anyone who's lost as to what I'm referring to, a few days ago golfer Rory McIlroy won the US Masters and consequently became the 6th person in history to win the Grand Slam.

My enjoyment of golf comes and goes (my husband is a big fan, and his brother is a pro so there's a fair bit of chat happening at home) but, even if you hate golf, you cannot help but be moved by the outpouring of emotion on display when Rory, after 11 failed attempts, finally cinched his victory. The mental fortitude needed to stay in the zone and perform at that level was incredible.

Now, I appreciate we’re all going to be seeing countless, often tenuous links, most likely on LinkedIn, of people trying to connect their product/service/lifestyle hack when an event like this happens - but indulge me as this one really struck a chord. There is more overlap with athletes and actors than you might realise.

…Ok, so the “prize” is very unlikely to be millions, and the eyes of the world aren't usually on us, but the amount of resilience and determination needed to "make it" as a professional voiceover and actor is enormous. When the media proffers voice acting as a way to make a quick buck is laughable when you learn what really goes in to be successful in this industry.

Every time we are up for a role the odds are heavily stacked against us. Some roles may have over a thousand people apply, most will have tens or hundreds. You must develop a send-and-forget mentality to auditioning. Do your best, send it, move on. I have gotten pretty adapt at cultivating this mindset over the years, but some loses inevitably still sting. When a no comes, or more likely when you hear nothing back at all, you just need to pick yourself up, brush yourself off and go again.

The best performances are often because a performer has brought a little of themselves into the role – one of the many reasons AI will never quiet stack up to a human- but let’s not go there right now. So, therefore must our auditions, and bringing your all to each audition can take its toll, especially if you lose focus, or start to doubt yourself.

Oh, but when those wins happen the feeling is incredible; to know you’ve been chosen, that a brand/developer/creative/business owner has picked your voice and is putting their trust in you is utterly sublime.

I had my own Rory McIlroy moment a few months ago when I was chosen to be the brand voice for McArthurGlen Designer Outlets for the year. It’s my biggest gig to date and I’m thrilled they’ve put their trust in me. I didn’t throw my club and fall to my knees, but I wasn’t far off.

Now, if everyone could make sure they shop at their stores that would be great. 60% off RRP. 😉

Jen Lawton-Hunt Northern British female Voiceover and Actor