Personal VO Views

Things To Consider For Staying With Voiceacting (Even When Swimming Against The Current)

July 17, 2024 by Leesha S

Pacific salmon are reported to swim upstream against fierce currents annually. As a natural inclination of the species, the swim is dangerous and filled with predators like hungry bears. Still, the salmon are not deterred and fight to reach the place where they must spawn. Unlike Pacific salmon, most people entering the voiceover business will turn back or close their recording studios for good within the first couple of years. Most of us will not develop the drive of salmon. So, here are some things to consider with voiceacting or any business when you have to continue against the drift or alone.

The Honeymoon Will End

Honeymooners know about the euphoria of those first few days into a new marriage. And like a new marriage, setting up that microphone, social media pages, and so on for a new voiceover business can be fun and exciting. The thought of hearing one’s voice over a streaming service or other media is a wonderful goal. But, when the opportunities don’t come quickly, it’s easy to become discouraged. Moreover, with the initial cost of websites, demos, and proper home studio furnishings, the voiceover honeymoon can end abruptly.

This first lesson is not to give up. Focusing on your goals can keep you moving forward. It’s not just the destination but the journey. The journey is the preparation for reaching the destination.

Watch for Fair-weather Supporters

In the beginning, you will have many supporters and maybe a few business partners. But as the road to success becomes filled with setbacks, obstacles, rejections, and financial challenges, those inexperienced in the voice-over business may only be with you for a while.

Stay Focused During The Fall Away

If you think you can make it in voiceovers, you probably can. So, you must make sure you are focused on what you want and why it’s important to you. No one else can give you purpose and meaning for any pursuit. Review why you got into this business and keep going.

Forgive Often Especially Yourself

As a creative, there will be times when you may feel discouraged, lonely, and even depressed about your lack of success. Having high standards is good, but sometimes we don’t make our own targets. Likewise, there may be times when you feel rejected, misunderstood, or disrespected by others. Strong negative feelings can be dream killers. Remember to forgive often, especially yourself.

Don’t Let Others Tell You When To Quit

You are the only one who can close your doors. Finances and training are the most important parts of your business. When it comes to advice, think about the advice you are receiving and why. It’s good to get business training and mentoring, but make sure the advice is not just a shot to the heart of your dream.

Don’t Compare Yourself To Others (or them to you)

We’ve all seen our colleagues on Facebook and Instagram post about the big jobs they received. Many voice talents post about their awarded big and high-visibility jobs on social media. Seeing someone else’s success while you’re struggling to keep the lights on in your voice-over studio can be a little discouraging.

One of the good things about the voiceover business is the uniqueness each of us brings to the industry. As you continue to market and look for jobs, you will find your niche and where your voice is the most marketable. So don’t worry if you (for now) are not achieving the success of your colleagues. Sticking to a good business plan is a better strategy than being jealous of those who constantly post their success on social media and never their real-life failures or defeats.

Pivot If Necessary, But Don’t Give Up

With the ever advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI), we, as voice actors, are challenged to remain marketable and viable to clients. Let’s face it: AI is a real threat, but it doesn’t have to kill your dream. Continue to search for the right genre that is best for your voice. Keep marketing. If you love voice acting, look for non-conventional opportunities like Podcasting and other areas that need the acting that only comes from a human soul.

“Independent will is our capacity to act. It gives us the power to transcend our paradigms, to swim upstream, to rewrite our scripts, to act based on principle rather than reacting based on emotion or circumstance.”

Stephen R. Covey

Be Prepared To Walk Alone

As time goes by, you will undoubtedly face many challenges to your dream. Some will tell you to give up, close down, or suggest you were not cut out for voice acting. Don’t let anyone steal your dream. Failure is not a crime. However, allowing someone to talk you out of pursuing your dream and you then living with that nagging thought of “if only I hadn’t given up,” will not make matters better.

Be prepared to walk alone, but with a good attitude and hope of reaching your desired success. Success can be elusive, but that’s true of many things in our life’s walk. Keep trying; what can it hurt? You may not spawn, but you may hear your voice a time or two over a streaming service or other media. There’s nothing like it.

Break that lip!

Another Season of What Ifs

May 8, 2024 by Leesha S

Woman facing choices. (Image by Tumisu from Pixabay)

As we mature (a favorite euphemism of mine), we consider what could have happened if we had taken another road or course of action in many of life’s decisions. Life presents us daily with a countless number of choices and alternatives. Some of these choices are small, while others can be life-changing. Sometimes, decision-making can become easier as we become familiar with our resources and what makes us tick. No matter the season, it’s all about managing what I call the “What Ifs.”

One Of My What Ifs

If you’ve been reading my blogs, you know that last January, I got extremely sick three days before traveling to what I believed would be a fabulous winter vacation. I had been planning my vacation for more than six months. During the months prior, I would think of my upcoming trip each time I had to press my way through a complex challenge or difficult task. The mere thought of my winter escape would make me smile as hope entered my heart. But just days before my travel, I was exposed to too much cold air in my lungs while outside and became ill.

For weeks after, I wondered, what If I had not spent that ill-fated time outside in the cold? What if I boarded that Boeing jet bound for my vacation spot and snowy mountains of fun? Perhaps, had I taken better care of myself, I would have made my trip with little or no complications. Regrettably, one poor choice caused my illness, the subsequent loss of my journey, and my time away.

You, too, probably have several stories of poor choices or making the wrong decision and simply not knowing it. Entertainers and talents are always looking to meet the right people and make the right connections to become successful personally and professionally. But our choices, even those made with good intentions, have consequences. Our job is to review the outcome and plan for celebration or recovery.

“If all of our sins, bad habits, and poor choices were permanently inked into our skin like tattoos, we would all dress quite modestly.” Richelle E. Goodrich, Slaying Dragons

Always Time for A Change

As voiceover talents, we have to make choices that affect our careers. Decisions related to marketing to potential clients, hiring help, working overtime, setting rates, and updating demos are just a few of our recurring choices. As we grow in our understanding of the business and the changing environments we all face, we have to be ready to pivot—sometimes at a moment’s notice.

It’s fine to reflect on our past and what has worked and what has not. However, too much reflection on past failures can also skew our view of the future. See What Ifs as training grounds for your current and future choices. Make time to consider how to make better future decisions in your business and life. One of the most significant benefits as human beings is our ability to adapt and make changes.

What Ifs In Voiceover

In the voiceover world, the what-ifs can be endless, which is a good thing. There are so many resources available such as coaches, podcasts, classes, and training to help any hardworking voice talent make wise choices. While managing the What-Ifs in voiceacting is no magic bullet for success, it can help make for softer landings from failure and shorter leaps to victory.

The What Ifs To Come

As you might surmise, I’m a little more careful playing in cold weather, and I always purchase trip insurance. While I had insurance, my lost trip experience taught me that having a good policy can really help with the unforeseen circumstances that come from the unexpected. Stuff happens, so when it does, work it out.

It’s your time now to manage your season of What-Ifs. Don’t let your past or missed opportunities keep you from pushing toward your best life. Life happens, so manage it (keep buying insurance) and #breakthatlip.

Unexpected Experiences Can Enrich You In Unexpected Ways

February 27, 2024 by Leesha S

If you’ve been in your profession for some time, you probably think you have cornered the market in knowing all about your vocation. For example, voice actors with decades of experience are willing to share their knowledge through VO coaching and teaching. But sometimes, you must step back from your smarts and be open to learning new things and embracing new encounters. It’s no drama. Being open to unexpected experiences can enrich you in beneficial and marvelous ways.

We Know What We Know

In December 2023, I participated in a Christmas musical. When I was chosen for the cast, I planned to become the voice or announcer for the upcoming performances in commercials and perhaps do a little singing. Well, that plan quickly went out of the window. I never even got the chance to inquire about becoming the voiceover for the commercials. The production hit the ground running by teaching the entire cast of about 70 people all the dance routines.

Wait. Dancing was outside of my plan. I had no intention of becoming a Triple Threat. I was just looking for a voice-over gig. The game was changing.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were sure you would be the teacher but quickly learned you would be more of a student? This was my turn. I know about voice acting, but I never envisioned myself as a dancer in a musical (especially at this age). You would think that I would have considered the possibility; after all, it was a musical. I was so sure of my knowledge and talent as a voice actor, I immediately limited myself to a certain level of participation. In my mind, my part was to help with the commercials and other public information.

My advice here is to never limit yourself to what you know. Opportunities to gain experience and growth can occur when you least expect it. Never limit yourself to what is currently in your wheelhouse. New involvements can enhance what you already know and give your vocation an expected refresh.

Learn From the Young And Young at Heart

As I started trudging along in rehearsal after rehearsal for months with folks of all ages, I often thought about quitting. Some of the cast members were young enough to be my grandchildren. There I was, trying to learn routines, jumps, and turns by endless repetition. Conversely, many of my younger cast mates were picking up the dance moves with only a few examples. Talk about depressing.

Then one day during rehearsal, a young woman from the cast came over and complimented me on my dancing. (My dancing?) At first, I thought she was kidding, but she was sincere. The young woman mentioned she admired how hard I was trying to learn the steps in the routines. She told me that even though I was not a young troupe member, I was dancing and trying just as hard as the others. From then on, I opened myself up to learn from the young and young at heart.

“Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination.” Oscar Wilde

Enjoy The Simple Lessons

Even though the dance routines became progressively challenging, I started to see myself as a part of the something more than a group of performers. Now, I was listening to others and noticing their struggles as well as what made them laugh and what frustrated them. We were experiencing the same things. Many cast members had my same intention of only acting, singing, or dancing in the play. Many wanted the opportunity to work with the Grammy award-winning actors who joined in the final performances, and some just wanted to be a part of a Christian event. No matter the reason, we all seemed very much committed to doing our best and not giving up.

Not giving up meant there was a price to be paid. A number of the younger cast members were in school and made great sacrifices juggling homework, class time, and two-hour rehearsals three times a week. Still, few left the production. At almost every practice, a cast member would have to talk another cast member out of leaving the production. We all regularly shared tears of joy and frustration between the young and old. We were no longer a cast. By showtime, we were a family.

Directors Anthony Brown and Joshua Jenkins, Jr., with our Golden Ladies skit cast.

The simple lessons we learned involved empathy, caring, hard work, and developing an optimistic view of what was beyond the horizon. As a result, the play was a huge success.

There were a few speaking roles in the musical, and I was chosen for a part. I was so proud to see my name on the Playbill; it was my first. Moreover, I learned simple lessons about people that I would not have learned had I not been in the production.

Hopefully, you can participate in something that may be farther away from your wheelhouse than you thought. And perhaps you, too, can have unexpected experiences that enrich your life and vocation in beneficial and marvelous ways. #Breakthatlip on purpose.

The Myth Of The Round Tuit

February 19, 2024 by Leesha S

As of September, I had met many of my 2024 business goals. So, I was feeling pretty good about being an actor. (I stopped calling myself a voice actor; now, I see myself as an actor.) Being cast in June for an on-camera role with one of the sweetest four-year-old actors I’ve ever met was one of the highlights of my summer. At the same time, certain essential items were left out of my business plan. I thought about my neglected marketing and other tasks when, the other night, a friend remarked that she would go hiking and walking with me when she could “get around to it.”

It occurred to me that my well-meaning friend would probably never exercise with me. It’s funny how we can get into the habit of saying we will do a thing or make a change yet never make any real effort toward that thing or change. Time moves fast, and we must ensure we are not letting our days slip away without monitoring our goings-on. So, Let’s review the myth of the Round Tuit and start making 2024 great.

What’s Standing In Your Way

While I loved the Christmas play I performed in at the end of December 2023, its now well into another year. Coming off a bout with pneumonia in late January 2024, I’d found it really hard to get back to my regular grove. Granted, I liked my momentum of voice-over work and business. But lately, I’ve let excuses keep me in an “I’ll get around to it” mode. Are you experiencing the same thing? Are you keeping up with those admirable plans you made for 2024? It’s time to identify what’s standing in the way.

The Myth Of The “Round Tuit”

Several years ago (during a different career), I attended a conference exhibit show. One of the vendors had small round disks available for the table’s visitors. The words “Round Tuit” in big, bold white letters were imprinted on each round red disk. The table manager invited me to take one of the red disks so I would no longer have to wait to accomplish something. What a reminder that if you want to achieve something, you’ve got to stop putting off the effort. The Round Tuit is just a plastic, inanimate disk. The only thing it does is remind you of what you haven’t done today and probably won’t do tomorrow.

Let’s Move On

Now that I’ve unpacked the myth of the Round Tuit, I’m off to review my 2024 list of potential voiceover and acting undertakings. My career this year will include more on-camera acting, singing, and of course, voiceacting. Voice-over is my first love in the business. No matter the project, I feel honored with each selection. To have a producer or the like indicate that of all the voices they have considered for a project, I’m the one they want gives me a feeling of being unique.

“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” Charles Dickens (David Copperfield)

None of us are getting any younger, and most will not get a Round Tuit by our next birthday. For me, I’ve decided to dig out my Round Tuit and place it near my vocal booth to remind me to get back to doing what allows me to bring joy to others.

You may not have a Round Tuit, so I suggest you make yourself one to remind you of the importance of your time. Make time to do the essential things in your life and business.

Remember, a Round Tuit is just a plastic, inanimate disk. You are a marvelous human on an incredible life journey. Don’t stop doing what makes you great. Go ahead and #breakthatlip.

Give up Yearly Resolutions for Timely Personal Goals

January 11, 2024 by Leesha S

Planning For Another Year — What’s The Plan Now?!

Again, it’s the first few weeks of a new year. The buzz from social media to print media is about setting yearly resolutions or goals. Every year, most of us plan to do better in our business (in my case, voiceovers), our weight, and, of course, our finances. Really? I can’t tell you how often I made grand plans to take the voice-acting world by storm with more marketing, blogging, and social media posts. While I commend my efforts, it has occurred to me that people put too much into this idea of setting goals at the first of the year. So, I’m gonna blog from my perspective and suggest you not follow the crowd and give up the traditional yearly goal setting practice. Set what you want when you want.

It’s All About You

Entering into a new year has its share of excitement and trepidation. Planning for 12 months within a few days for most feels overwhelming. Think of it: you’ve lived your whole last year. Remember all the unexpected things that happened in your professional and personal life last year? Remember how your health may have changed? Did you have friends or loved ones suffer sickness or even death? What about the challenges you faced that changed your life for good or bad forever?

That said, we can plan all we want but don’t know our future. Our best efforts can still end in ruin. So, before you set grandiose plans for success and prosperity, I suggest refocusing on where you are now. Focus on what you can and what could challenge you in the days, months, and years. It’s not just about following the goals crowd. It’s about your life and making the best of it year after year.

Review Your Success And Letdowns

If you set voiceover or other goals in the past year, how did you do? Take time to assess where you are now and if setting new goals are worth it. If you already have objectives, why not keep them or expand them? If you constantly don’t meet your goals, setting new ones won’t help.

There is no rule that you have to set challenging goals at the beginning of each year. Following the lead of others in any industry can be awkward because you can’t predict the behavior of others. So, before you (if you) set goals for the year, make sure you are ready to move on to new aims or rid yourself of lofty aims you just don’t care about anymore.

Social Media Is Not A Standard

Our society is saturated with people who depend on social media and its influencers to tell them how to live, think, and plan their lives. This phenomenon was not always so. In the last 20 to 25 years, with the launch of so many media platforms and the human need to accepted by others, social media has become perceived as alarmingly important to our lives and businesses. We try hard to do all the right things to be noticed, keep up with our respective industries, and ride the waves of building success. But we often come up short.

Social media should be seen as a collection of suggestions. Our business and industry goals should be well thought out and tailored to our likes, strengths, and hopes. Yearly goals set to the standard of social media and its influencers will keep you ever-changing, guessing, and always seeking status with the elusive In Crowd.

Contributor Angela Chan notes the advice from Lydia Fenet in “Building Confidence And Achieving Goals In 2024: Insights From Lydia Fenet.” In her article, Chan gives Fenet’s statements, “She (Fenet) warns against spending unnecessary time on social media. If you spend hours watching someone’s vacation reel whom you have never met, it’s best to turn off your phone, walk outside, and focus on what you are grateful for in your life,” says Fenet.

There is strange comfort in knowing that no matter what happens today, the Sun will rise again tomorrow.” Aaron Lauritsen (100 Days Drive: The Great North American Road)

Make Room For A Beautiful Life

In truth, goals help us navigate our lives. But aims should not feel like shackles around our future. Sometimes, less is more. If you must set goals, start with the big picture. My big goals would be voiceover auditions, audiobook recordings, and other aims. When you go from big to small, you let the details fill in as you go. You do this when you set aside time to think about your aim and allow your mind to focus on the goal and how to reach it. Then follow your thinking and jot down the steps and processes for achieving that aim. The point is to take out the requirements of demanding goals. Your goals should be like a fluid map that can change, correct, and adapt as you change, grow, and adapt.

Set Your Year

Make your new goals and aims when you want. Don’t be held down to the first of any year. For example, your birth date could be the beginning of your new year. It’s your life.

Free yourself from the standards around you and make plans that will work and cultivate your life, time, and business. I challenge you to follow a different template of goal setting. Set your course the way you want to live. After all, it’s your life and time.

You know what to do, #breakthatlip.

How to Choose When to Give Your Talent

December 4, 2023 by Leesha S

Hurry Up and Wait at Your Cost! Image by Elisa Way from Pixabay

Many call the Christmas season The Season of Giving. It’s the time when people purchase and exchange gifts with family and friends. That generosity can also extend to neighbors, clients, and work associates, well, you get the idea. But giving as a seasonal gesture of kindness and giving your skills to others for free is not the same. While the choice may seem in the spirit of benevolence, working for free can be at a cost to the giver, so choose wisely. Know your cost before you give your talents to others.

Budding performing artists like voice-over talents, actors, and singers in the early stages of their careers dream of success. So, it’s a no-brainer to accept a few free jobs. Getting exposure and building an impressive resume takes time and work, so if the paying projects are not coming in fast enough, a few free gigs should work just as well. The following points can help you think about your decision to hand out freebies to others.

Your Talent and Time Are Valuable

As a talent, you know or will soon become aware of the cost of getting good voice coaches, attending acting classes, developing an impressive website, and other essentials of working professionals. All the trappings of running a business take time and money; this is a fact. Investing your time and talent can be extensive in your professional career. Each day can only be lived once, so it’s gone once you’ve given it away.

You Are Paying Your Bills

When you work for free, you pay all your costs in the hopes of receiving future, un-guaranteed compensation. Moreover, if you are injured in some way or lose out on a paying gig while working for free, you are losing your investment of time and money many times over. Likewise, if travel, food, clothing, and other expenditures are passed on to you, your shell-out may be more than you bargained for.

How You Feel is Important

If you are giving away something precious to you, like your time and talent, you may feel like you’re being used or not valued once you’ve gotten over the honeymoon stage. Unless you are fully committed to your not-for-profit work, you may feel some resentment or regret. Deal quickly with any regrets so you can complete what you’ve started. Always be a person of integrity, and learn from each experience.

Potential Reason for Freebee Work

Let’s end on a positive note. Donated voiceover and acting work can be gratifying and lead to great things for your business and you personally. Think about these things when considering going forward.

“Be nice to people on your way up because you’ll meet them on your way down.” Wilson Mizner

Build Important Relationships

Wilson Mizner, American playwright, raconteur, and entrepreneur, famously said, “Be nice to people on your way up because you’ll meet them on your way down.” No matter where you are in your business, developing relationships with industry pros and the like can change your life. Successful people in the industry often produce pilot projects or new pro bono undertakings. Moreover, participating in projects with other voice actors, directors, or local businesses is a great way to get your name out there. Working in new areas can be your cue to great opportunities. A new relationship and learning experience can be on the horizon.

For example, acting in plays or small films are a great way of learning about the on-camera world. Voice acting is acting. Therefore, the more opportunities you get to know about character development, acting, or being on a movie set, the more it can help you grow as a talent.

Giving to Worthy Causes

Amy Morin, in There Are Only 4 Times You Should Agree To Work For Free, says, “When there’s an opportunity to get involved in a cause you believe in, it may make sense to focus on what you can give, rather than what you will gain.” If donating your time and talent to a project or cause is fulfilling, by all means, fulfill that need.

Many organizations work with undeserved communities and those first entering the job market who could not excel without skilled volunteers. But there is a difference between honorably submitting yourself through volunteering and becoming an injured party by supporting someone else’s vision. Don’t let the dreams of others and their ambitions keep you from respecting your dream.

As a creative voice talent, I love the voiceover business. My experiences have helped me learn and grow as a person. Wanting to give back is a part of showing compassion for others. My above recommendations hopefully can help you make wise choices when choosing to work for free. Make the choices that will benefit you and others. Now, go out there and break that lip—# breakthatlip.