Leesha S

It’s About Worth Not Cost

August 10, 2022 by Leesha S

Person Looking to trust and know their worth — Know your worth and trust your view.

We want our business to be successful. And voiceactors wish to be appreciated as talents and exemplary business people. As such, voice actors must be careful not to take it too personally when people try to use our emotions during negotiations. No matter your profession, knowing your worth will help you set fair business practices that will eventually grow your company and grow your self-satisfaction.

Recently, my brother brought a great revelation to my attention. I shared with him a story of how I was trying to get a job with an organization I greatly admired. As such, the producer offered me a rate for a project that was significantly lower than my normal rate for similar projects. Since I believed in the organization’s overall message, I decided to take the offered rate. But then, the producer returned to me with additional requirements and directions without offering additional funds for my extra work. So, I tried to develop the best re-audition I could for my go-ahead to start the job per all the specifications. Later, I mentally waited for hours and then days for what I hoped would be the final approval to begin the work.

When I shared this story with my brother, I assumed he wouldn’t understand my predicament because, after all, he’s not a voiceover talent. But, almost cutting me off in telling my story, my brother nicely scolded me pointing out that I was not being truthful the producer. It started with the me dropping my voiceover rates and then accepting other musts. For a moment, I stopped and thought, was I so concerned about working for the organization that I had compromised myself as a businessperson? Then, as my brother pointed out, being a voice talent doesn’t mean you don’t need to eat. I had forgotten my worth. Ouch!

Well, I came to my senses and thought, I have an intelligent brother. But also, accepting low rates from potential clients does not serve me as a voice actor or businessperson.

Negotiation is Everything

M.J., a famous female Black American voice talent, told me years ago that negotiation is everything. M.J. pointed out it’s okay to ask for what your business needs to provide the best projects for clients. However, accepting low-ball rates only sets you up for a continuous cycle of lower prices that, in most cases, can hurt your business and keep you from growing your voiceover career.
Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Be Reasonable

While working with the client, I think I should have let them know the rate and requirements were outside of my business tenants. That way, the client could have moved on and searched for another voiceactor. Sometimes, it’s better to cut one’s losses and move on.

Moreover, being too reasonable can translate into being seen by others as of a low quality or not very talented. If one only accepts low rates, a potential client may think a voiceover actor is cheap and must not be any good. As a voice talent, I invest in my training, studio upgrades, and the like to continue providing my clients with the best products. Without charging reasonable rates, my business cannot grow, nor can I grow as a talent. The quality of what I provide would suffer, and my business could go under.

It’s about Business

My story reminds me that while I enjoy voiceacting, I must run my business like a business. Compromising the fundamental canons of my company does not help my current or future clients. This incident reminded me of how important it is to work with budgets to help my clients, including negotiating the best rates and benefits for all involved. Keeping these basic tenets will lead to developing successful projects and relationships.

Self-Satisfaction from Self-Respect

Walking away from a job that is not a good fit is not giving up. On the contrary, the act of walking away is affirming one’s standards and best practices. We feel the most validated and affirmed when we stand our ground, trust ourselves, and our standards. Acts of courage feed into our spirit and are a setup for even better projects and successes in the future.

Now, go and break that lip!

Six Ways Voiceactors Can Skip the Scam Forest

July 22, 2022 by Leesha S

Getting through the forest of scams to the Kingdom

It’s true. There is good business out there for new and established voice talent. As a seasoned professional voice actor, I pride myself on giving clients fast, courteous service at a fair price. Therefore, like any other small businessperson, I enjoy meeting and collaborating with new people and expanding my list of potential voiceover contacts. However, with so many interactions strictly over the Internet, marketing to and attracting good new clients and contacts can sometimes feel like walking through a mysterious forest looking for the right path to the Kingdom. The last thing anyone wants is to lose time and money being hurt or robbed by a scammer. To that end, below are six ways to lessen your chances of being scammed in the voiceover business.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Most of us have heard of the emails (usually with poor spelling) or the messages that we have won $1M and need to send an unknown person our bank account information. Or you have heard the one about the long-lost uncle or aunt who has just died somewhere overseas, and you are the only one inheriting his or her entire fortune. When is the last time you heard of someone leaving a hefty sum of money to a “relative” they didn’t know or had ever met? I think in these cases, eccentrics like that die and leave their money to their cat. So, we figure out pretty quickly it’s a fraud. Common sense is our first line of defense when weeding out scams.

When you receive a request for voiceover services, ask the person how they heard about you. Voice talents often refer business to other trusted colleagues for voice services outside their particular genre or field. Also, this helps you verify the person is a legitimate business contact. Get as much information as you can without acting too much like Sherlock Holmes.

“Your silence will not protect you.” — Audre Lorde

Don’t be afraid to speak directly to a potential client.

As voice talent, we often collaborate with clients from all over the world. If possible, try to arrange a short introductory call to hear the person’s voice and give them a mini-speech on how you can meet their voiceover needs. This practice allows both of you to get a feel for each other.

PowerHomeBiz.com recommendations the following:
When trying to determine if your new client is a scammer, it’s important to speak with them on the phone. As most criminals use the internet to hide their true identities, most will shy away from getting on the phone. However, there are a few things to consider when on the phone with a potential client.
When speaking with new clients, use software that protects your identity and sensitive information. With the help of tools like a conference call bridge, you’ll also be able to use secure conference calling to verify the identification of new callers. Additionally, you can use screen sharing for further confirmation that you’re speaking to the person you believe you are talking to.

Beware of fast turnaround request from strangers.

While most of the work in the voiceover industry is fast, that is no reason to drop your guard. Beware of those who contact you for a quick turnaround job and not mention rates, usage, or how you can be compensated. You don’t want to rush out and do a job and never receive a dime. This can easily happen to new voice actors desiring to build their client base. Also, a promise of paying you after a job is completed is no real guarantee. Make sure the client provides you with at least a down payment before the delivery of any voice work.

PowerHomeBiz.com says, “Whether it’s a new client with a “rush order” or someone looking to hire you immediately, having incredibly tight deadlines is often a red flag of a scam. Scammers use pressure and urgency to force their victims into making the wrong decision. While there are often clients that need quick turnarounds, having a stranger demand work immediately is cause for pause.”

Market to and work locally.

You can skip the shaky contacts if your roster is full of good clients. Seek to build relationships with local companies that need your voice-over services. It’s always a good idea to review a company’s business profile online and check with the Better Business Bureau for an idea of the company and the experiences of the current and former clients. In addition, your local Chambers of Commerce may have a listing of companies you’re looking to work with, so you can verify if the company is on the up and up.

Connect with caution on Social Media.

In BBB, 10 Steps to Avoid Scams, it’s suggested, “Consider only connecting with people (or companies) you already know. Check the privacy settings on all social media and online accounts. Imposters often get information about their targets from their online interactions, and can make themselves sound like a friend or family member because they know so much about you.”

Protect your money.

Consider wisely who you share your online cash sharing credential with. Most low-cost or no-fee cash apps carry little protection if your account is hacked. While it’s good business to provide accessible payment services to clients, you want to ensure you are not opening yourself to a scam. Never share your cash app information with a company you are unsure of and not confident of the relationship. In addition, most cash apps have no provision for recovering lost or stolen money; therefore, you are responsible for what goes out of your Cash app account.

Safeguard your accounts by signing up for Voice Verification or Push Notifications for your mobile banking transactions—signup for email notifications of any transactions on your business accounts. Monitoring your accounts is the best way to catch fraud before it becomes an unrecoverable situation.

A wise voice actor takes care of business, so he or she is free to take care of the clients. So go you, break that lip.

Gracefully Maturing as a Voice Actor

May 27, 2022 by Leesha S

The entertainment and business industry loves youthfulness. Discarding the old and bringing in the new is the way most Americans see life. The push for youthfulness in sound and appearance are standards for achieving Media headlines and Social Media likes. But let’s face it: we are all aging. As a voice talent, starting or pursuing your passion as a performer can be a constantly moving target. So, I’d like to share what I think can help you mature gracefully as a voice actor and continue to perform at your best for as long as you want.

Know why you do what you do

Regularly review your voiceover goals. Your goals will focus your motivation and methods for the following. If you don’t know why you’re in the business, you won’t last long in the business.

It’s okay to lose…sometimes

As voice actors, we do a ton of auditions. But, for most of us, we lose more auditions than we book. No one wants to lose a good-paying voice job. Yet, if you’re sending out quality auditions on time, you will sometimes not get the job you thought you were the best fit. So, remember to pat yourself on the back for doing your best for the audition/client and move on to the next opportunity.

Keep a positive attitude

Time changes us physically and mentally and usually does not give us a heads up. Still, your attitude continues to play a major role in your abilities at any age. Make it a practice to encourage yourself and count your victories.

You must control your mindset and subsequently your attitude. The Indeed Career Guide’s, 9 Effective Ways To Keep a Positive Attitude (Plus Benefits), list some importing advantages of a positive mental attitude. The ways include practicing gratitude, surrounding yourself with positive people, and meditating daily.

“The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected.” ― Robert Frost

You can’t do everything

Sometimes, we get overwhelmed by the business of voice acting. Make sure you’re not wearing too many hats. Social media, website management, marketing, and more can be done using software or hiring help. Even if you have been doing everything yourself, you may find some tasks can become a heavier lift as you age or as your personal life requires more attention. Look into what needs to be farmed out to keep you from losing your love for the business.

Practice, get coached, practice

We know things change, and things change twice as fast in voiceacting. While the fear of the Artificial Intelligence takeover in all voiceovers may be subsiding, that does not mean read styles stop evolving. Continue collaborating with a good coach and also record yourself and make sure your sound is current and marketable within your genre.

Check your speed and articulation

As we age, we tend to slow down. Others can hear the speed change in our delivery before we may notice the difference ourselves. Continue to practice your regular articulation exercises to keep your diction on point. Moreover, listen to your auditions to make sure you’re not speaking too slowly or losing momentum in long-form narrations. With a little review, you can keep your voiceover game up to speed.

Keep up with the changes in the industry

As we accumulate years in business, we may get slack in keeping up with changes in the voiceover industry. Moreover, changes in technology, payment methods, communication, and the like directly affect the voiceacting industry. So, make a point to set aside time each week to engage with forms, webinars, online sessions, and blogs to keep an eye on industry changes.

There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” Sophia Loren

Know your changing voice/style of delivery

You may have been good at sounding like a teenager a couple of years ago, but today you may not be so good at that. Or your auditions for commercials may not be getting you the jobs. No worries, it may be time to add the middle-aged or senior voice to your repartee or change your voiceover niche. Be open to your coach’s recommendation about your sound and other voiceover genres that you may have become vocally qualified.

As we age, it’s important to take safe care of our voice. In the article, “Does Your Voice Get Deeper as You Age?,” WebMD Editorial Contributors provide some useful tips to prevent or slow vocal issues and significant vocal changes.

Have Fun in business and life

While we all love getting those big-ticket voiceover jobs, make sure you are still having fun working your business and enjoying your life. Each of us has finite time on this Earth. We should never work to live. Whatever your beliefs about the afterlife, if you’re reading this, your last day of life will come.

With age, you can get better, so keep making those changes and #breakthatlip.

Communication-A Voice For Everyone

March 18, 2022 by Leesha S

Communication is a funny thing. For example, I recently went to Costco for gas, and before I could turn into the pump area, one of the attendants yelled something about a “back pump.” While I heard the words, I didn’t get their meaning. Finally, after unsuccessfully trying to get gas from a pump that was trickling fuel into my car, I got clarification from another attendant. He told me the pumps as you pull up to the area are considered the back pumps, and they were not working. Therefore, I had to fill up at a pump near the far end (or the front).

Something so small almost caused me not to get gas, and these days a 40 cents saving is a big deal. While the pump information was first communicated, I didn’t understand and relate the information to make the best use of it or my time. Had the first attendant been a little more informative (or placed tape around the broken pumps), I may have better understood and had no problem getting my gas.

This is just an example of the importance of communication. Today we are faced with information overload and Fake News. As a voice talent, I know that the first rule of an audition is to follow the instructions. Unfortunately, many audio producers often receive auditions that show the talent did not read the specs or follow the instructions. Your voice is your tool for communication. Always make an effort to be clear and understood.

Communication, which includes instructions, cannot be overlooked or taken for granted. It’s how we as people live and interact with others, whether at work or play. However, the responsibility for good messaging is placed on the person doing the communicating or the sender. Here are some tips to help increase the chances of getting what you want from your communication.

Know What You Want To Communicate

We live in a busy, fast world. So, whether you are ordering pizza or developing a business proposal, start with clarifying what you want to communicate and what you expect from the receiver. In voiceovers, this means having a good idea of the basic message of a script and its purpose.

Consider Your Audience

I don’t like the phrase, “It’s common sense.” I think it is very condescending. We all have had different life experiences and make judgments and decisions based upon our practices and knowledge. We should never assume that others share all our judgments, philosophies, or views on the world.

Good voice actors and communicators, in general, think about their audience and shape their messages accordingly. Never assume that the other person or receiver will understand your terms. Be clear in the words you use and the shared meaning of them. It’s okay to supply detailed instructions if it helps the communication. Sometimes, more is better.
“You don’t realize how language actually interferes with communication until you don’t have it, how it gets in the way like an over-dominant sense.” Lily King

Choose the Best Method

Sometimes a simple conversation will do the trick, or you may have to write or find another way to get your message across. Depending upon what you want to say, make sure you use the best method to be effective and suitable in getting your message delivered.

To apply methods to voiceacting, this may include voice and emotions. Using the right emotions at the right point in a delivery can have a powerful impact on listeners. Carefully crafted emotions are powerful tools used by the best voice artists.

Keep It Simple

Your crafted, audience-based message can be simple and still contain the right words needed to convey the meaning. Of course, we do this every day to the people in our regular circles. Still, if you are speaking to a stranger, new work associate, or the like, you may need to make quick judgments about how to communicate well in a non-condescending way, but still be successful. This can take time but putting a little thought into how we speak to and share with others is a necessary skill set we should practice daily.

Follow up and Get Feedback

The sender in communication should look for evidence from the receiver that they have understood the message. Your receiver may or may not respond verbally, but their actions should give you feedback.

Some receivers may repeat back what has been said. This is an excellent technique because it allows the receiver to ask questions. Moreover, the sender becomes the receiver and can critique if their message was successfully conveyed.

The bottom line is to consider your listener or receiver when interacting and how they can best understand your message. If you keep others in mind as you communicate, many things will fall inline.

There will be communication failures, but that’s when we take a breath and start all over again. So, yes, sometimes we get a do-over—simple stuff.

If you’d like more on improving your communication in business, see Entrepreneur’s 14 Proven Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills. Good stuff.

Be a great communicator, it’s your voice. Break that lip!

Find a New Love for the Way You Do Voiceovers

March 4, 2022 by Leesha S

Image of lady voice talent by Andre Santana from Pixabay — This lady has the right idea (BTW, this is not me).

Have you ever been at an impasse? It can be hard to choose how to continue doing what you love the way you want. Crowd thinking can change like the wind, and you may not always agree with the thought. These types of challenges can lead to several hard choices. We all want to be accepted and admired by our peers. But what about when the road our peers take is not the road we want to travel? I know these are challenging questions. I’m not immune to social changes and influences as a voiceover talent.

On the contrary, voice talent must know the flow and timber of public audio and stay in step with the best groups to further one’s business. This added pressure may cause one to take a step back to see what’s going on. As I resurrect my blogging, I want to share what’s been going on with me. I’m sharing how I believe you can get back to doing what you love in a way it may love you back.

Redefining the Love of Voiceover (or whatever gets you going)

We all have our joy triggers. Voiceacting gives me a creative outlet and a sense of accomplishment. But I’m not limited to voiceovers. Biking, traveling, writing, hiking, and drawing also give me pride. It’s essential to figure out what gets one moving and what’s fallen off the list. For me, I’ve begun to notice more of what moves me now as opposed to what moved me ten years ago, five years ago, or even one year ago.

Change with Age

Things tend to fall off our must-have and must-do lists as we age. Hopefully, most people learn to put their drive for money in check while managing the need for necessities, which will never go away. But the rushing to the next new things, faster friends, or being in the “in crowd” should eventually drop off to the things we used to do.

Redefining what is working can help whittle down the list of musts. It has taken me some time to revise my must-have list, and I’m happy to report that voice acting remains a must!

Remembering the Great Ones

It’s pretty clear that I’m a minority, but I don’t limit myself as a woman of color. For me, I’m most proud of being a part of my family. My relatives have made outstanding strides in their lives, and several with little education. For example, my great-grandma worked hard as a wash woman and saved up enough money to purchase several tiny wooden row houses (in her then small North Carolina town) to rent out the rooms. My great-grandma then when on to buy even more real estate and helped her children with college and even financed the opening of a daughter’s hair salon in Washington, DC.

Revise the Journey Ahead

Remembering my great-grandma’s life and others and reflecting on how they met extreme challenges still fuels me. Taking the whole of who I am and where I came from fuels me to look to the future with optimism. I don’t need social movements to tell me who I am or wake me to American history (especially since I’ve been an American and World History buff since my teens). Appreciating my foundations and knowing that I can still carry out my goals, even the new ones, helps me remember who I am and imagine what I’m yet to be.

Keeping in mind who I am, who I’ve helped, and what I’ve done helps me grow personally and professionally. My voiceover business is essential to me. As such, I strive to treat each client with respect and as if they were paying me many thousands of dollars for every job. This means being authentic to what I can and cannot do, how I present myself to the public, and how I take care of my voice-over clients and myself. The lady in my graphic (BTW, not me) has the right attitude.

Over time, I’m learning it’s okay to pull back on being a part of the hot groups and hot VO events. Not everyone in the business is a friend, but that doesn’t mean I cannot friend others. Supporting others, learning the things I need to know, and focusing on finding the right people needing my help are what continue to be my keys to performing as a compassionate, caring voice talent.
Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” Ashley Smith

That’s my Spiel

How about you? With the COVID pandemic, along with other social matters, I know you, too, have had to do some soul searching. I hope you’ve had a chance to give some thought to my journey and make sure you’re still doing what you love your way. Then what you love may love you back.

Break that lip!

Voice Actors, Don’t Get A Dog

November 26, 2021 by Leesha S

The Dog You Love — Dog with Paw-He Cares

We love our pets, but like getting a new pet or going into voiceacting, we sometimes buy without considering the overall cost to maintain our new furry friends or a new business. If you’re a voice talent like me, we have to think about the long term. Will voiceacting return the love we put in it? Who can say? It’s kinda of like getting a new pet. Allow me to draw a few parallels in my story about investing in a pet, in this case a dog, and pursuing a voice-over career.

When New Things become New Headaches

I have a friend who was down in the dumps because his beloved new dog needed surgery. He adopted the dog from an animal shelter at the beginning of the COVID-19 shutdowns. My friend and the dog really hit it off. The pup was only a few years old and seemed to bring the companionship feeling that my friend longed. But, the animal had a few hidden health issues that have recently surfaced. So, my friend is struggling to keep his little canine healthy and happy.

Many voice actors have a great start and a honeymoon relationship with their career for the first couple of years or good jobs. Then, as it usually happens, the jobs start to become less and less as delivery styles change. As a result, the talent may struggle to stay sustainable in the voice-over industry. Now time and what little money is made may be spent on the wrong items. A person may start to feel hopeless and concerned that the pursuit of voiceovers was only a pipe dream.

How to keep New Things Feeling New

When it comes to pets, my friend does have some options. He is considering purchasing insurance for future bills or delaying the surgery for as long as he safely can for his pet. He enjoys his new dog and does not want to lose his new friend. My friend is also working a little overtime to help bring down the impending veterinarian debt. While finances are tight, he wants to keep his new four-legged companion.

Voice acting is incredibly rewarding and can allow a person to experience so much personal fulfillment. So, while voice actors are faced with challenges like automation and Artificial Intelligence voices, actors may still want to stay in business and find ways to adapt and evolve with the industry.

When It’s Time to Call It Quits

My friend is lucky because he wants to keep his dog, but he has admitted if his beloved pet suffers another financially burdening illness, he may need to give him up. Pets can be a lot of fun to have, but paying big bills and prolonged hospital stay costs may not be within the owners’ budget.

You do not write your life with words…You write it with actions. What you think is not important. It is only important what you do.” Patrick Ness, A Monster Calls

In voice-overs, when running a business becomes more of a burden than a job, or when it’s no longer fun, a voice actor must consider his future. While there is more work than ever, competition is more fierce that ever! Keeping up with the industry can seem like a foot race. Voice talent must stay in contact with their peer groups and industry leaders to keep up with what is happening as well as continue to train and adapt to industry changes.

So, the lesson of this little anecdote is to consider the cost of every choice, whether it’s a new pet or a new career. Like getting a furry new pet, the first few days or months after making a significant choice or decision may seem like a honeymoon, but only at first. Voice acting is a fun, fulfilling career, but it’s a lot of challenging work. Training is necessary. Good demos are necessary, and finding customers is a must.
We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” ― Joseph Campbell
Think about your choices beyond the new, fun stage and into the long term of living with the selections you’ve made.

Keep breaking that lip.