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Archives for December 2018

Is Social Media Your Soapbox?

Personal, Personal VO Views, VO Business Tips, voiceover

You’ve had it. Everybody is disrespecting you or your opinion and you’ve had enough. Is it time for you to lash out on Facebook or Twitter? After all, you have a right to express yourself and your opinion. But is social media the platform for your personal views?  Will you change society by sounding off?  Posts can have repercussions, so you may want to give care in social media expressions.

In this politically charged time in America (again), headlines and opinions are being shared everywhere. From billboards to talk shows, everybody has an opinion…and wants to be heard. I’m sure you have seen a running stream of comments on many sites with all manner of retorts. You may be wondering if you need to let others know your thoughts via social media.

Guard Your Business Soapbox

Throughout the 20th century and long before the Internet, men and women would seek to reach the masses by speaking on street corners atop soapboxes.  Answers.com says, “In order to be seen and heard, the speaker would carry with him (or her) a light wooden box, called a soapbox from its previous purpose, to stand on.”  These little boxes allowed folks to stand above crowds and spout causes, thoughts, and sermons.

A Soapbox

We all have feelings. As a voiceover talent, you are probably a passionate and insightful actor. Moreover, you most likely use social media as an intricate part of your voiceover business as with other companies.  However, unless your business is directly related to sharing your opinions, consider the consequences of posting your personal beliefs via social media (your soapbox).  Only post items related to controversial topics when you believe your opinions will be viewed as positive influences for online conversations and causes.  If not, consider the long-term effects of your actions.

This advice may save your business and career. I have heard of people losing out on jobs and even relationships because of online postings. If you recall an event some years ago, a voiceover talent lost a major character voice contract because he posted a personal opinion on Twitter.  The list goes on.

You would think that personal opinions posted online would not affect a person’s business. Hey, welcome to the digital age. Our society is more connected via the Web than through personal relationships. Often, hiring decisions start with online searches.  Some even do extensive checks into posting histories to decide upon new clients and even marriage partners. What you say online does matter.

Maintain A Positive Online Presence

In business, most prefer and choose to do business with people they like and with whom it is easy to work. Any negative or adverse comments posted by you may be seen as controversial or a sign of trouble. You don’t want to give potential clients the wrong impression of your business because of your online postings. As a voice talent, you may be expected to demonstrate warm emotion through voice acting. If you are perceived as divisive or contentious, you may not be considered for certain jobs in specific categories or with some organizations. That big long-term voice gig client may keep searching for talent after reading your postings.

Be Business Smart

Valuing others is what makes us human.  If your values appear to be strong in one direction or another, you may lose potential voiceover clients with debatable postings. It’s best not to reveal your positions on some subjects. This is not being phony or fake, it’s being business smart.  You are not required to reveal your deepest views and personal affiliations via the Internet. If warranted, let potential clients address you directly and not use your social media profiles to gain insight into your personal preferences.

Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.” Lyndon B. Johnson

Keep it Light; Keep Getting Paid

You want to continue in business and keep your friends regardless of the times.  So, make a mental note to hold back on posting your personal politics online. With that said, if you are a political figure, strategist, religious leader, commentator, or the like, your personal views should be shared. But as a voiceover talent, keep the politics light and keep getting paid.

It says in Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Act 1, Scene 3, “This above all to thine own self be true… .” Great advice, but not the best for social media platforms.

Be you, be smart, and stay wise.  What’s that thing you do, break a lip.

Motivate Your Life

Voice talent renewal

I like the enthusiasm and excitement generated when I hear the rags to riches stories of motivational speakers. The rousing narratives spark hope and a belief in one’s possible future success. Still, with all the motivational streaming videos, books, podcasts, conventions, audiobooks, and the like, the listener is still left with the real work, and that is to DO the job. Become your motivator while reaching your life goals every day.

Get ready to work…hard. Listening to motivational speakers will not change your behavior. You are responsible for your actions. No one will do your marketing or other voiceover (VO) related work. There’s no magic fairy to pay for your demo, find you scripts, work your business, or improve your life. You must actively choose and take the actions that can lead to reaching all your goals personally and professionally.

Determine who you are right now. Take time to silence the world around you and think about who you are and what you want. You may want to free flow your thoughts into a file on your phone or another device. Remember this is for you, so get it out.

Evaluate your voiceover career. Make a new file and record thoughts in a tone as speaking to your best friend. You should be your best friend. You don’t need another critic (we all have them in life). Be caring and honest with your thoughts. If you don’t like your career, business choice, or something else, that’s fine. Note what you want for your life. Don’t forget to include fun goals too.

Motivate you to maximize your life.  Now is the time to develop your plan. Using your recordings, take the time to review your “truth” and develop a plan to reach your voice-over goals. Review who you are now and what changes and practices you will need to reach your goals.  For help in developing your voiceover career, see “How To Find Voice Over Work” by Gravy for the Brain. Make sure you cover the essentials to grow your business.

Get support and accountability.  Support and accountability are the essential points of your new or revised life plan. You can always let yourself off the hook for not working toward your daily goals, but your partner should not. Moreover, look for accountability partners that you can trust and who are undergoing the same process. Motivational messages can also help fuel your daily actions toward success.

Celebrate the paths to your VO goals.  Celebrate the steps, victories, and lessons along the tracks to your goals. If you apply these steps, you will reach many of your realistic goals. Your overall goal is to have a fulfilling life. No matter what you achieve in life when it’s over, it’s over. Use each day to seek your goals; be thankful for and celebrate your progress.

Reaching for your goals every day may or may not lead to great riches, but you will be at peace with yourself as you live your best life breaking a lip!

 

Getting to Know the Stranger Who is You

Voice over Training, Voice talent renewal

One of the things that still intrigues me is the stranger inside. You may think, “How can one be a stranger to one’s self?” I’ll give you an example. Have you ever encountered an unexpected event or emergency and you reacted in a way that you didn’t expect? Your behavior was not a surprise to your subconscious just to your conscious mind. As a voice talent, you need to get to know the personalities lurking in your subconscious and put them to work in your voiceover (VO) performances.

We all have the ability to win Audie Awards and other VO accolades. I say that because I think the best actors know themselves so well, that can shape their emotions, experiences, likes, dislikes, dark thoughts, and positive thoughts into effective acting. Getting to know all these things and more about you is also your key to effective voice acting.

I recently listened to a podcast interview of a famous African-American female VO talent. She mentioned that she was shy and had to always work through her shyness to pursue her VO goals. Since I also personally know the lady, I believe she is not overly shy, just reserved and quiet when meeting new people. Around her VO colleagues, she seems friendly, upbeat, and encouraging. My point is she has learned to use parts of her personality to be what she needs to be at the right time and place. The proof is in her VO success.

If you want to find out more about your personality, the Internet has a plethora of personality test tools to help you along the way. Also, the Johari Window is an excellent tool to get to know you on a deeper level. The site Businessballs.com defines the Johari Window model as “… a simple and useful tool for illustrating and improving self-awareness, and mutual understanding between individuals within a group.”

Don’t restrict yourself; get to know you and the way you think. Then shape all of the aspects of thoughts and traits into an effective voiceover actor. Find your profound, authentic, personal sides and use these sides of your subconscious and conscious mind to cut your spirit free as your best VO talent.

Encouragement: You Need Some

VO Business Tips

Encouragement is something we all need. I have written on this subject in the past, but it amazes me how much we need encouragement on a daily bias. If you have found something that you love to do, you probably need little encouragement to regularly practice or participate in your favorite activity. However, if you’re like me and working on perfecting your voiceover (VO) business and performance, encouragement becomes essential to current and continued success. Here are my tips to maintaining your VO support.

Network: It Works

You may be the only person in your circle that is a VO talent. Members of the VO community live virtually all over the world. But it’s common to feel a sense of isolation in the trials and successes of the business. Spending hours upon hours working in a booth or your home recording area can lead you to wonder if anyone is out there. When that happens, it’s time to get connected.

One of the quickest ways to get connected is via the Web. Make it a point to check social media sites daily. Read quality articles or watch YouTube videos from members of the VO community. Once you start reading and viewing the many comments on social media, you’ll realize that you are not alone. Many talents have experienced the same performance frustrations, little or no pay gigs, insecurity issues, and other VO challenges. Remember, it can take years to reach your performance goals. All the great ones have been where you are and have lived to tell their story.

Think Well

Don’t spend too much of your time micro-analyzing your challenges. Encourage yourself by noting your positive strives like practicing, auditioning, goal setting, and other steps you’ve made toward your VO success. Recall and recount your accomplishments often. You are in a business that I relate to becoming a brain surgeon; you’re becoming a VO professional!

Balance You

Take time to exercise and take a walk. Visit friends and new places; participate in other activities that connect you with others. Interactions with the right people, via phone or in person, will fuel your spirit and hope as you return to your VO business refreshed and renewed. No man is an island, so don’t try to be the first VO one.

Feel free let me know how you keep going through encouragement and how you encourage others.  Now go “break a lip.”

Taking Voiceover Direction not Giving Attitude

VO Business Tips, Voice over Training

It’s all about being easy to work with in business. Good communication is a part of every successful voiceover (VO) business. Successful voice actors know the importance of clear communication. Knowing how to take and apply VO directions will lead to satisfied, repeat clients.

Start with an open attitude. Taking direction starts with thinking well of the staff developing the voiceover project. Often these folks are developing the scripts and studying the thinking behind the project. If you think of them as the experts for the subject project, you’ll tend to accept directions with a receptive attitude.

Don’t judge the direction.  You might want to steer clear of giving feedback unless you are asked. If you have to give VO feedback, use language that suggests an idea not demanding a change or demeaning the writing.  Use discretion in giving any unsolicited comments or advice; less is more.

Agree to disagree (in silence). Our society encourages us to hold ground regarding expressing our points or views. But unless you are the producer of a VO project, this hard-line thinking can make you appear hard to work with it or can lead to an early release because you just lost your current VO job.

Repeat the direction in your mind. If needed, repeat given direction out loud just as you think you’ve heard it. You can only apply what you understand. If you are unclear, don’t hesitate to parrot the direction back. There’s no shame in noting the direction to make sure you’ve got it right.

If you make a mistake, don’t sweat it. Listen again and go forward. An open and receptive demeanor invites camaraderie and can make you the go-to person for your clients. People consistently work with people they like.

Keep happy thoughts and move on. Don’t use your time later to badmouth the VO producers or directors. Complaining will build a mental barrier to future directions. As with the first point, your attitude sets the tone for your thinking.

Voice Actor and Coach Terry Daniel writes in Listen: Pay Attention To Directors’ Instructions… Or They’ll Stop Paying Attention To You (9/15/15) “Focus on finding effective ways to please your customers. Make sure they are able to come directly to you to get exactly what they need without any headaches, complications or exceptions.”

Whether you’re being directed in your VO booth or a professional studio, taking direction will lead to win-wins.

Natural Voice, Natural Specialty

Voice over Training

Where did you grow up? Do you naturally sound like the members of your home community or have a natural bent to your voice? You may. What is your background, or do you have an accent? Do you herald from a particular region or country? Depending upon the market, your “natural” voice can be your big money voice.

When I first started in the business, I worked hard on lessening my Mid-Atlantic sound. I was told that the most sought after (United States) English accent was a Mid-western accent. While I’ve flown over the Midwest many times, the experience did not cause me to pick up the inflection by osmosis. So, I worked hard to change my accent.

Then, one day, I ran across a lady who specializes in an urban-female voice, which is very close to my natural voice or way of speaking. This caught my attention because the lady is Caucasian and grew up in a major mid-Atlantic city. Still, she very successfully portrays urban female voice types. She even has a separate web page just for her urban voiceover demos.

This got me thinking; I can do urban (dah) since I too was raised in a similar locality. While my background is more rooted in the middle class, I can easily mimic the urban city way of speaking and acting.

Your Natural Voice
Examine your background. Do you have a specialty sound? Are you fluent in more than one language? Do you have a background in science, math, or other educational pursuits that would give you a unique and compelling bent on particular voiceover work?

Take time to determine your natural bent and try to market it. Look for jobs that need your specialty and become not just the best voiceover talent, but also the go to voice talent for that genre.

Articulate to Communicate
Having a specialty sound or area does not negate the need for proper articulation and pronunciation. You must be understood to effectively communicate, but you don’t have to give up the natural part of your delivery. Tongue twisters are a good tool to help improve articulation and speaking form.

Remember, you don’t have to be a jack of all voice over trades if you can master the right one.

Break a lip.

Your Strong 2017 Voice-over Finish

VO Business Tips, Voice talent renewal

The summer has been a little slow for many in the voiceover business.  Recent changes in the industry have taken many voice talent a back and have caused concern for many small business owners.  You may be wondering about your next step?  With more than half of 2017 in our rear-view mirror, (along with the historical total US Eclipse), it’s time to up your game.  Below are some ideas on how to finish 2017 strong (and in the black).

Review your Position, Now

Are you meeting your financial goals? Are you maintaining your weekly work schedule?  Have you scheduled what you need to keep your business on track to perform like a business and not a hobby?  Honestly look at where you are and what is needed to reach your 2017 VO business goals.

Seek Outside Advice

Reach out to others in the VO business like a different coach or social media manager. Let someone you don’t usually work with give you his or her opinion on your demos, social media presence, and website.  Advice from new sources may point out areas and items you may not have considered before and lead to a some needed action.

Review your Social Media Strategy

Social media is still a critical area for any business.  The VO industry is not an exception.  More and more websites display voice acting jobs from eLearning to gaming.  You want to remain fresh, relevant, and ready.  Make sure your platforms are working for and not against your VO business success.   Gravy for the Brain’s blog on Social Media for Voiceovers lists ideas on improving VO social media presence.

Evolve and Reset

Changes occur. Don’t let discouragement steal your future success.  Voice-over Xtra blogger and Voiceover talent manager Celia Siegel’s comments on recent VO industry changes can be applied to your business. Reset and prepare to face the rest of 2017 with optimism and to reach your success goals.  It’s your time to make and finish strong.

Put On a Happy VO Pace

Uncategorized

And as professional voice actors, we want to be on top of our game and get every auditioned job.  However, you may feel pressure to be the best right out of the starting gate or feel stress if you are not getting the jobs and bookings at the rate of your VO colleagues. With all this desire for success, you may feel pressure not just from competing in the industry but also from yourself.  For lasting success, learn to pace yourself throughout the year and see your progress grow over time.

Be realistic about where you are. As we start 2018, this is a perfect time to assess where you are as a voice actor.  Did you meet your 2017 goals? Great. If not, where can you improve in 2018? Do you need training, practice, …or a vacation?!  Start out right by asking the hard questions and taking time to appreciate how far you have come and what you need to get to your next level in the voiceover field. In his book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey says, “Put first things first.” Decide on what’s most important by priority and then act.

Give you a break, it will happen.  There are many talented and not so talented working voice actors all around us.  Don’t compare your performance as a VO actor to others.  Give you a break and grow at your own pace.  Continue developing your skills in performing, marketing, web presenting, and audio editing.  Work systematically and pace your time to build in each area of your voiceover career and business.  Remember…

“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live
the life he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours.”
Henry David Thoreau

Have fun. Voiceover and voice acting can be a fun career. If you find that all your efforts are not garnering you any enjoyment, you may want to think if voiceover work is your calling.  Life is short, and voiceover success takes a lot of time and effort.  If you enjoy the profession, pace yourself so you will not burn out at any point. Voice actor Bill DeWees’ has some great tips in his YouTube video, “Set YOUR pace in 2018.”

Break a lip!

VO Client Sleuthing: It’s All In The Web Search

VO Business Tips

There are searchers and there searches.  Searching and finding the right voiceover VO leads on the Web is more of a careful combination of creativity and skill.  When you want to find companies, you must think of possible combinations that can lead you to your goal.  As a voice talent, marketing to the right leads is key to your business success. But first, you must find your preferred VO clients. Careful web sleuthing can target those voiceover prospects needing your specific skills and talents.

Start your VO client search with the below tips:

Decide on your Preferred Voiceover Clients.  Audio production comes in many forms and it a broad net. Narrow down your search to the type of clients you want to assist in voice production.  Do you have names or companies’ URL?  Do you know of a business but don’t have a way of contacting the right office?  Start looking for the URL using the name and city if you have it.

Brainstorm by Location

Come up with a list of possible words associated with audio, voiceover, and voice acting, etc.  List as many words that you can think of and use the list to start your search for potential clients.  You may also want to search locally, nationally, and internationally.  This type of search will give you a micro view, but you can narrow your findings as you review each search result.

Narrow the Field

Review each of the possible companies in your search results. Make sure you are looking at several pages of your search. Your ideal client may not show up on the first page or two.  Review and see if any of your results are potential voice clients in your niche.  This first search can take time, so you want to narrow your companies to 10, so you can do a more detailed review of each company.

Close Up Review
Using your top 10 list, review the sites to see if you’ve come across a possible match.  Review voice projects produced, recent projects, awards, company members, and the personnel.  I like to know how diverse the company is and the quality of their productions arm.  Determine if they produce their audio in-house and if not, who does their audio production.  You may want to add their partners to your list as potential clients, you never know.

Reach Out

Once you’ve developed your list of 10 excellent potential clients, email or call to see if the company is accepting new talent or other opening questions to begin establishing a relationship.  There are no shortcuts to finding and maintain good voice over clients.  It’s a good practice in the VO business, and the time you are spend searching for the right fit and reaching out to potential new clients (and friends) will garner many rewards in the future.

Reward and Repeat

You may have to repeat this process a time or two, so carve out a specific time to develop your marketing list.  Take a break and even reward yourself for sticking to it then repeat the process.  Your goal is to find those voiceover clients needing your specific skills and talents. You’re looking to provide a service with the best fits for you both. Your efforts are well worth it.

Break a lip! 

Voiceover Success: Your Mouth Matters!

Voice over Training, Voice talent renewal

The Smile is the CenterAs many enter the voiceover and voice acting arena, there is an area not usually addressed in blogs, at conferences, or during training sessions.  The mouth and vocal cords play an essential role in the success of anyone who speaks for a living.  Moreover, dental and vocal care can affect how a voice talent speaks, breaths, and feels. Your teeth, breathing, and the way you form and express words are so crucial that such items can break or make your voiceover career.  Here’s how you can practice healthy vocal and dental care for voiceover success.

Your Pearly Whites

Human teeth nicknamed “Pearly Whites” are the first item of note in our mouth matters.  The Mayo Clinics’ Healthy Lifestyle, Adult health article provides steps to promote oral health.  Consider these brushing basics from the American Dental Association:

  • Brush your teeth twice a day. When you brush, don’t rush. Take time to do a thorough job.
  • Use the proper equipment. Use a fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush that fits your mouth comfortably. Consider using an electric or battery-operated toothbrush, which can reduce plaque and a mild form of gum disease (gingivitis) more than does manual brushing. These devices are also helpful if you have arthritis or other problems that make it difficult to brush effectively.
  •  Practice good technique. Hold your toothbrush at a slight angle — aiming the bristles toward the area where your tooth meets your gum. Gently brush with short back-and-forth motions. Remember to brush the outside, inside and chewing surfaces of your teeth, as well as your tongue.
  • Keep your equipment clean. Always rinse your toothbrush with water after brushing. Store your toothbrush in an upright position and allow it to air-dry until using it again. Try to keep it separate from other toothbrushes in the same holder to prevent cross-contamination. Don’t routinely cover toothbrushes or store them in closed containers, which can encourage the growth of bacteria, mold, and yeast.
  •  Know when to replace your toothbrush. Invest in a new toothbrush or a replacement head for your electric or battery-operated toothbrush every three to four months — or sooner if the bristles become irregular or frayed.

Choppers and the Voice

Good mouth care also includes monitoring the voice. Overuse of the voice can negatively affect the healthiest mouth. The National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) provides information on protecting your voice.

  • Try not to overuse your voice. Avoid speaking or singing when your voice is hoarse or tired.
  • Rest your voice when you are sick. Illness puts extra stress on your voice.
  • Avoid using the extremes of your vocal range, such as screaming or whispering. Talking too loudly and too softly can both stress your voice.
  • Practice good breathing techniques when singing or talking. Support your voice with deep breaths from the chest, and don’t rely on your throat alone. Singers and speakers are often taught exercises that improve this kind of breath control. Talking from the throat, without supporting breath, puts a great strain on the voice.
  • Avoid cradling the phone when talking. Cradling the phone between the head and shoulder for extended periods of time can cause muscle tension in the neck.
  • Consider using a microphone when appropriate (and correct placement for the voiceover). In relatively static environments such as exhibit areas, classrooms, or exercise rooms, a lightweight microphone and an amplifier-speaker system can be of great help.
  • Avoid talking in noisy places. Trying to talk above noise causes strain on the voice.
  • Consider voice therapy. A speech-language pathologist who is experienced in treating voice problems can teach you how to use your voice in a healthy way.

A little care and attention to the mouth can lead to a long and successful voiceover career. You always want to keep your vocal health on the side of your voiceover success.  Now go and break that lip!