I have many secrets - and most of them will remain secret. But for Sunday Scribblings, I'll spill one:
Some of you are familiar with my breathy, little-girl voice. Previously, I've written about the effects of my voice on the telephone: either the caller asks to speak to my mother or is intrigued and wants to know more about me. I've told you about a man in San Francisco who liked my voice so much, he kept phoning me on silly pretenses. One day he showed up at my office, hoping to meet me. It wasn't the first time that had happened. What I didn't tell you is that a man I met in the course of a news story found my voice appealing and offered me a job as a phone sex operator.
He and his girlfriend took me out to lunch and tried to tempt me with a) money; b) the stories I could regale readers with and c) the interesting things I'd learn about men. A newspaper editor tried to encourage me to masquerade as a phone sex operator for the story value. Posing as my concerned boyfriend, he went with me to the company's upscale offices off Market Street. We were both curious to see how their business was conducted.
Predictably, women - some of them hugely fat; others dressed chicly in the styles of the moment - sat in cubicles, moaning "Oh,baby," etc. etc. into the phone, while knitting a sweater or filing their nails. They seemed jaded and bored, as they murmured whatever the men on the other end of the phone wanted to hear. It was a sad environment, with the business owner raking in tons of money from apparently lonely and needy callers.
I told the editor - and the owner who'd offered me the job - I couldn't do it, even for a day. The business owner couldn't believe I wouldn't take advantage of my "sexy voice," to "make lots of money," but the editor was relieved. He seemed disillusioned by the matter-of-fact business-like environment at the phone sex office. Perhaps he was expecting women to be sitting around in various stages of undress while talking about sex to strangers?
Ironically, in New York my voice once proved detrimental in a job interview. A female executive at a public relations agency wouldn't hire me because she thought my voice "wasn't strong enough or authoritative enough." She had a raspy cigarette-fueled voice, so I told myself she was just jealous.
What an interesting secret!! You are a woman of many talents ;-) xx, JP
Posted by: JanePoe (aka Deborah) | 26 June 2007 at 07:44
oh Tara, you "naughty girl" you...well, I guess you turned out to be not "naughty" enough!
Posted by: wendy | 25 June 2007 at 17:04
I have just spent a lovely time reading most of your post; it was delightful ! I live very next to Paris and I really do love this town.
I was down town with my husband yesterday and we saw something great on Georges V Avenue, I took some pictures of it; I invit you on my blog if you want to see it !
Posted by: audomaroise | 25 June 2007 at 10:21
ahhaha loved this tid bit* and now I MUST hear this little girlie voice! I'm glad you declined that job offer! hahhahahaha!
Hola chica! I'm making some quick rounds tonight to say hello and hope all is going great in tara land:) xo
Posted by: blue egg | 25 June 2007 at 04:29
I'm sure she was jealous! But I'm sure your 'mom' voice is a sweet one. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: bella | 25 June 2007 at 04:29
Now that's something interesting I didn't know about you. I must give you a ring after I move to say hi. :) XXOO
Posted by: Tammy | 25 June 2007 at 00:34
Great Post! Anyone with a raspy-cigarette voice would had to have been jealous!
Posted by: Lisa | 24 June 2007 at 23:38
This is a terrific story, Tara. We are all glad you didn't change careers!!
It really does sound both depressing and demeaning. I am sure we all feel proud of you for feeling that even one day and even for a story it wasn't something you were willing to do. It also made me feel some respect for your boss at the time who went with you to the interview and then put no pressure on you to do it "for the story."
As alway, thanks for your expertly told sharing of your experiences.
Posted by: sundaycynce | 24 June 2007 at 21:41
Good and accurate description of the sex phone workers. I once saw a segment on this topic on television, and was slightly surprised to learn that some of the sex phone workers were even men - men with very sexy (female sounding) voices. The voice is all that matters.
Posted by: Annie | 24 June 2007 at 19:22
Oh that is funny. For some reason, very odd men tend to deem my voice sultry ... for reasons unknown to me. One guy showed up to my office in Budapest years ago with a plastic baby doll in a short skirt. Neither my boss nor I knew exactly how to react to that one (I had forgotten all about that). And another client was so stalkerish the he would yell down the phone 'Put Stefanie On!' if anyone mistakenly answered. This caused my boss to take him off my client list forcefully, but discreetly (don't want to piss off fund managers with lots of money) as he thought the guy was a slight security risk.
I am glad I don't trade anymore and have not had anymore such run ins in years (and I smoke like a maniac ... so maybe my voice has changed).
BTW - all is ok. Really!
Posted by: lacithecat | 24 June 2007 at 18:51
You have me curious about your voice!
I have a good french friend that has an amazing voice. She has worked for FIP radio and radio Blue Provence, and other stations as well. My friend is a voluptuos mother of two, and I bet some men would be surprised by the look of the woman behind the voice.
Posted by: meredith | 24 June 2007 at 17:17
Tara,
Perhaps a career in broadcast journalism should be next. ;-)
rel
Posted by: rel | 24 June 2007 at 17:03
my southern voice is always my best ally
Posted by: daily panic | 24 June 2007 at 16:50
my southern voice is always my best ally
Posted by: daily panic | 24 June 2007 at 16:50
I used to hate my voice when I was younger as it was very nasal (people would always be asking me if I have a cold when I didn't). It didn't help that my brother would say mean things about it, or that my Mum always comments on what a nice deep voice my brother has! It's got better as I've got older, although my brother still says mean things about it from time to time.
Anyway, I guess there has always been women who will use their sexy voice, or smile, or hair, or body, or whatever to make a ton of money. Thank goodness you're not one of them, using your intelligence and talent to make a mark on the world instead.
Posted by: Kamsin | 24 June 2007 at 14:38
Yikes--now that's a story! Glad you didn't give up your day job for a career in the entertainment industry.
:)
Posted by: January | 24 June 2007 at 13:31
Yeah yeah, we all got a phone sex operator interview story...now where's the juicy stuff? ;) Fun post!
Posted by: sognatrice | 24 June 2007 at 12:34
Blessings............
Love to hear all that you write about.
In my life I have often lost my voice especially
when overly tired............
I learned The sound of Silence
and like to listen now more than I speak.
Each of life's lessons teaches us something
Be well.
Love and hugs
Posted by: Jeanne | 24 June 2007 at 11:10
Tara - you little minx you... cool post! :)
I have a decent voice for doing male phone sex for woman. Realizing this, and knowing the world can be a lonely place -- I do random acts of free phone sex.
I pick a ladies number at random, dial, and -- go to it!
You'd think people would be a damned sight more grateful...
Posted by: Rob Kistner | 24 June 2007 at 11:02
A very interesting and enlightening post. I've always wondered about those phone sex places. My daughter and I sound exactly the same on the phone - makes for some fun.
Posted by: Gill | 24 June 2007 at 09:36
oh! I get the same phone answers...."May I speak to your mother" or...."We only take messages from adults" jajajaja!
Sexy voice? not mine! :)
Posted by: Catalina | 24 June 2007 at 08:38
Oh Tara! You have a MILLION great stories!! LOL. This one is really good.
Once when I was a teen ager, a guy got the wrong number. He liked my voice-- although it is not soft or breathy. It is deep.-- Anyway, he started flirting with me. And he called back a few times to flirt some more. At first I thought it was fun, and then it was creepy...And then he told me his name, and I realized that he was a friend of my step-dads! A much older, married man with kids just a few years younger than I was. Pft! Perv!
:)
Posted by: Amber | 24 June 2007 at 08:35
oh Tara - what fun - I've not thought of you in terms of a "voice" - I had a therapist who has/had a teeney tiny voice - she always said to speak softly and carry a big stick... when my son answers the phone - everyone thinks that he is me - same voice and likewise with my Mom...
well Ms. sexy voice... Hi! - glad you are speaking in the Voice that suits YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
xox - eb.
Posted by: eb | 24 June 2007 at 03:52
LOVE it!! Great story Tara!
And how interesting too....i figured a sex phone line place would be like that....it is sad.
Posted by: awareness | 24 June 2007 at 03:46
Wow! This is unexpected from you! I love it!
Really a "secret"!
I have imagined you with a strong voice because your words & thoughts are so well put-together.
Fun!
Posted by: Megnificent! | 24 June 2007 at 02:41
ooh la la Miss Sexy Voice! I can't believe you were judged on your voice!! How ridiculous is that? You're right she was jealous! :)
Posted by: lucy | 24 June 2007 at 01:27
Thanks for spillin' the secret. Very entertaining! My mom and I once discussed women who did this for money, and came to the conclusions that your story proves (knitting and filing nails while whispering oh baby).
People always ask to speak to my parents too. I just tell them they are not available. Hah.
Now I'm going on a tour of your apartment.
Posted by: rochambeau | 23 June 2007 at 22:58
Mine is very quiet, very very quiet. (Got a chuckle out of Pam's comment)
Posted by: AscenderRisesAbove | 23 June 2007 at 21:32
What a great experience! Thanks for sharing, and too bad you didn't get a chance to see how the seedy underworld operates :)
Posted by: bonggamom | 23 June 2007 at 21:16
Isn't it great to have a good voice? As for me, I have a loud and clear teachers voice. Vey authoritative but never raspy.
Posted by: gautami | 23 June 2007 at 19:10
To be judged on your voice- like women don't have enough of that kind of superficial stuff going on as it is...
A very interesting story, Tara. I find it funny to hear myself on a recorded message- it's like, who is that speaking? I don't think it sounds like me but I guess that's how I sound!
Posted by: Regina Clare Jane | 23 June 2007 at 18:37
My mother and I both have low voices. Hers is more like Brenda Vaccaro. Mine is apparently quite assertive and serious because business people who meet me after talking on the phone say they thought I was 5 ft. 10 in. tall and big boned. Actually I'm petite.
Look at it this way Tara, you will always sound young, even when you are 95 years old.
Posted by: martina | 23 June 2007 at 18:15
I always wanted a voice like Brenda Viccaro, but I wouldn't have taken that job with it either. When people call me up, they usually ask if they woke me up!
You could write a good undercover story about this. How about being the voice to a cartoon movie character?
Posted by: colleen | 23 June 2007 at 17:56
That is too funny! I think you made the right choice. Our posts this week could be distant cousins.
Posted by: Herb | 23 June 2007 at 16:25
That was so interesting!
I think a young voice is so wonderful -
it projects a happy energy and I bet
it draws a lot of delightful people to you -
and makes them happy just to hear
you speak:)
Posted by: maddie | 23 June 2007 at 16:10
Yeahh ..drink some whiskey...smoke some Gitanes..and stay out all night..then you can have a raspy voice! HA! I have a weinie voice,but if I go down an octave it sounds better. Have a great weekend!!
Posted by: pam aries | 23 June 2007 at 15:25