finding your voice

When I started freelancing, we had answering machines.

I'd come home and first thing check the machine. A red light was exciting and hearing you have five messages was elating.

I'd bought myself a decent vodaphone one, with a good interface for recording your message too, onto the tiny cassette inside.

I found myself spending time to get the recorded message just right. Learned to start speaking immediately after hitting the button and pausing just half a beat before hitting it again. (This experimentation and practice meant my voice was right there when someone called, and my last word not cut off either.)

And then after a day or two I'd want to change the message slightly. I mean, 'this was the creative department', right?

I started to swing out with my message just a little. Then a little more.

I remember one that went, "Freesias. I love the smell of freesias. My house smells of freesias at the moment. Please leave a message. Bye!"

And over time, people started commenting how much they loved my answering machine messages. Looked forward to them.

Another time I recorded (said as fast as I could), "Hello thank you for calling I'm just running out the door so if you please leave a message I'll return your call just as soon as I am able thank you again goodbye."

Phil Gjedsted was Creative Director of an agency I worked with ongoingly. He called.

The first left message I heard after having recorded this new very fast and very silly version, was a brief moment's silence, then I could hear Phil's distinctive laugh.

The second, was Phil, saying - as fast as he could: "Hi Rowan it's Phil Gjedsted can you please call me back as I have some work for you thank you bye."

Sometimes you can find your voice in the most practical and satisfying ways.

(Come to think of it, what does my mobile message say?)