We were lucky to catch up with Dakota Farnsworth recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dakota, appreciate you sitting with us today. Maybe we can start with a topic that we care deeply about because it’s something we’ve found really sets folks apart and can make all the difference in whether someone reaches their goals. Self discipline seems to have an outsized impact on how someone’s life plays out and so we’d love to hear about how you developed yours?
Self-discipline wasn’t something that came naturally to me, but was actually inspired quite a bit by various individuals in my life and also tv personalities. I would say that the person with the largest impact to my mindsets in terms of having standards and sticking to them would be, ironically enough, Gordon Ramsey.
Of course, Gordon Ramsey isn’t a voice actor, and I am not a chef (I have set three fires while cooking, I’m not built for that life haha), however that doesn’t stop me from taking various mindsets and techniques that he has in cooking and apply it to voice over. Standards are probably the largest part of my business, and I have a tendency to be pretty picky about auditions I send, because I always look to make sure that what I am bringing to the table is being performed to a level that shows what I am capable of and in a healthy way.
Gordon often talks on his television shows about the importance of such standards, namely in Hell’s Kitchen where he stresses the importance of not bringing incomplete/mediocre dishes up to the hot plate to be served to customers. If you wouldn’t eat it yourself, and it doesn’t match what you’re capable of, don’t serve it. I hold myself to the same rules in our industry.
This does not mean that I will not try for roles that I am not comfortable in. That feeling of walking on a tightrope and asking myself the question of “can I do this?” is quite exciting to me, and I have no problem leaving my comfort zone. However, I make sure that if I am going to send anything, that it is truly the best I can do.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My name is Dakota Farnsworth, and I am an artist, Voice Actor, Director, former Photographer, professional optimist, and social butterfly.
I have been in the voice acting business for two years, and have had the opportunity to work on projects such as Project: Eden’s Garden, Sirenhead: Southpoint, Dispute, Judgment, and the upcoming animation Human Nature. I have also had the opportunity to work with former and current creatives from companies such as Netflix, Riot Games, Hoyoverse, Ubisoft, and Counterplay Games.
My main drive as a creative is to not only make art and play incredibly in depth characters, but I also look to make a positive impact with my work that teaches the importance of human connection, individual strength, and growth. With this in mind, I am always thinking about the next big move, or as I call it, the next big “echo” that I can create in order to increase my brand awareness and build up those around me.
For this reason, I am always learning. I love learning, and it is my passion to live everyday with the intention to be more than I was the day before. If I know something I didn’t know yesterday, today is a win. This love of learning has done me wonders in meeting and being taught/coached by some of the greatest minds, and people that I have ever met. My current mentors include Richard Horvitz, MLA Entertainment, and Richard Durden from Counterplay Games, all of which have challenged me to look at life and business from new perspectives and have encouraged my growth as both an artist and a human. I want to make each of them proud and let them know that their lessons and the trust they’ve placed in me are in good hands.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three qualities that I go into every audition and job with include one from my own personal toolbox, but the other two come from my mentor Richard Horvitz, and the other comes from a conversation I had with Bryce Pinkham at the beginning of 2024.
The first is to have standards. I covered this already, but it’s important to have an ear for what works and what doesn’t, and that goes for all mediums. You have to be willing to look at something you’re proud of and find ways where it can be improved. I have a rule I followed when I first started, it’s gotten me quite far and it’s something I tell a lot of struggling artists to do. Whenever you make anything, make sure it is 100% your best, and once you send it off, immediately begin analyzing it once again and find at least five ways you could’ve made it better. There’s always at least five ways, as good art is perspective and nothing is perfect, you will always find room to grow and a hill to climb. Once you find those five points, bring that into the next project or audition you work on and make sure you apply those ideas. If you do this consistently for a month, or even a year, you will see massive improvements.
The second quality comes from Richard Horvitz and is both life advice and advice for artists. Our job is to “play pretend and play pretend fully” and allow our inner child to express itself and find the fun. When we were children, we were fearless, we had no problem exploring and trying new things, but as we got older, society had a way of making us less willing to be open because of peer pressure or the fear of being judged. By allowing ourselves to be the kids we were on the playground, we live much more freely and every moment becomes something that can be special and fun. As an artist, that’s what it’s all about right? Have fun! Let your inner child out!
The third quality was quite recent actually, and it came from meeting Bryce Pinkham at the beginning of 2024. Bryce gave me a quote, that ever since I’ve had on my phone wallpaper, of “Always play faster than your worry and louder than your critic!” After giving this to me, he went on to explain the effects of our inner critic and the fear that comes with it. We have to learn how to silence the voice in our head that tells us it’s not “good enough” or not “right” and we have to be able to play and have fun so much that by the time we are thinking about our worries, the thing we were worried about is already long passed. “Fear is excitement without breath.”
To end this off, I do have advice for newer creatives. Never stop learning. Learning is the most important aspect of any career you will ever pursue. Learning sprouts creativity, and creativity sprouts the feeling of fulfillment. The moment you stop learning, you will slowly lose everything you were working for and there will be doors you miss entirely. Don’t underestimate what a good book, course, or mentor can give you in your life.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
The current obstacle I am facing is that I am getting prepared to move to Dallas, Texas and I want to be sure that I am financially secure, and have made enough of an impact in my field to have sustainable work when I get there.
This year is all about me making as many clients and relations as I can and also getting to know other creatives in Dallas that I can both befriend and learn from when I arrive. For the financial side, I am saving every penny that I can! I know I’m financially well off, but I prefer to always have as large of a safety net as I can.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dakotafarnsworthvo.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarquin_irusa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dakota.farnsworth.9
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dakota-farnsworth-201b11149/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tarquin_IrusaVA
Image Credits
-Nicole & Scotty -Audrey O’Bryon -Nifast Greentail -Dakota Farnsworth
