Personal VO Views Archives - The Compassionate Voice

Gracefully Maturing as a Voice Actor

Personal VO Views, VO Business Tips, voiceover, Voiceover Bussiness Tips

Since the late 60s, our society has idolized youthfulness by discarding the old and driving to the new. While such thinking grabs Media headlines and Social Media likes, meeting daily challenges in business and life can be more complicated. I’ve recently celebrated a birthday and still like what I see in the mirror. However, as a voice talent, learning to continue to like what you see in the mirror as you age and your performance as an actor can be a constantly moving target. So, looking back on my life, 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 like.

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.

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 revisions and breaking that lip!

Communication-A Voice For Everyone

Business Tips, Personal VO Views, VO Business Tips

He and She Communicators — **“Do you get ME?” “Do YOU get me?”**

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.

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” George Bernard Shaw

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

Personal VO Views, VO Business Tips, voiceover

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

Personal VO Views, voiceover, Voiceover Bussiness Tips

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.

In Voiceovers Challenges are Opportunities in Disguise

Personal VO Views, VO Business Tips, Voice over Training, voiceover

If you’re like me, your years on this Earth have brought you many opportunities and challenges. Opportunities can help us grow. Challenges can bring growth or failure in the end. In this COVID-19 para existence, opportunities and challenges abound. So instead of complaining about what’s next or challenging in the voice-over industry, why not expand and look for ways to make voiceover lead you to new paths of opportunities.

Elephant in the Room

I recently went to a voice-over event and had my feelings hurt. The person was not trying to injure me, but her constructive criticism felt like she had hit me with a two-by-four over my head. The criticism was related to some recent work and a demo of which I was so proud. Her point was I needed to make changes to improve my marketability. Well, all I heard were dollar signs!

After a few weeks, it occurred to me that I should thank my critic, embrace her comments, and make the changes necessary to maintain my marketability. Her words were somewhat of a shock because I had been walking around my elephant. Once I faced it, I embraced my truth and planned a better future as a voice-over professional.

Those with a grateful mindset tend to see the message in the mess. And even though life may knock them down, the grateful find reasons, if even small ones, to get up.”

Steve Maraboli

Turn Challenge into Opportunity

Do you need to update your voiceover demos? Is your sound dating you? Are you making more excuses than cold calls these days? This list can go on, but my point is it’s time to face your truths or the elephant in the room. Turn these challenges into new opportunities for improving your voiceover success.

Check your Bio

We, as voice actors, tend to only focus on voiceovers even while at rest. But most of us have talents and skills that reach across many areas of business. We should never forget what we can do and can bring to a table. Our skills may have become a little rusty, which means it may be time for a refresher. Dormant skills or talents (once updated) may make excellent complements to a voice-over business. Writing, editing, marketing, drawing, painting, accounting, and other skill areas can be excellent additional income sources.

We, as voice talent, should always leave room for another source or stream of income. Review what else you do well and make sure it brings in the “bacon” too.

Make It Work

We all have seasons of plenty and want. The trick is to make the seasons work for you. With the elephant under control and a fresh appreciation for your non voice over-related skills, make sure you manage your livelihood. That may mean redoing your work or play schedule. Make changes often in your recording and living space to help keep your thinking fresh. Determine what goes and what stays. Lastly, make your changes now, don’t put it off.

We get one shot at the Life wheel, so it’s okay to slow it down sometimes but don’t let it stop. Be it an opportunity or challenge, make it work, and let your love of being a voice over professional never take the back seat.

You can and are the best at what you do. So voice on and break that lip!

In Voiceovers-Just Be You

Personal VO Views, Voice over Training, voiceover

I’ve just returned from a lovely voiceover conference. It was my first real jaunt since the COVID-19 lock downs, so I was looking forward to the time away from my city. To my surprise, I learned something unexpected at the conference. Nothing new was added to my knowledge, but more of a reminder of the importance of being myself. It’s essential to keep in mind our specialness and worth. I believe you’ll agree that the real you is your best performance at whatever you do in life.

Somewhere between December 2020 and August 2021, the voiceover industry’s preferred style changed yet again. The calming voice of season individuals between the ages of 35-55 is now passé. Instead, the current (as of this writing) industry norm has changed (back) to the younger, hipper, conversational tone. The announcer tone that has been a mainstay for decades in media is again seen as unthinkable.

Change is a regular part of the voice-acting industry. Voice seekers are looking for something that stands out from the rest of the crowd, which is a great point. But, unfortunately, our industry has been so saturated with styles and deliveries, it’s becoming harder and harder to have a sound that has never been heard or felt somewhere in the audio world.

A voice talent can get pretty insecure trying to keep up with all the changes and may feel like their style is still not enough to impress the most understanding of voice seekers. Yes, it can be a daunting task, but perhaps the focus needs an adjustment.

Be You Anyway

Most people can learn to act and portray characters or types of voiceover delivery. However, if the most popular style changes with each cycle of the moon, it can be challenging to keep with “what’s in.” Perhaps the answer is trying not to fully fit in. The best advice I keep hearing from others is to “just be you.” Becoming comfortable in being oneself can be a lifelong task. However, if we master being ourselves, we may reach our own voiceover nirvana.

“This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. ― William Shakespeare, Hamlet

Know the Great One – You

Becoming “you real,” starts with a review and study of how you talk and deliver words and emotions. Recording yourself in different situations like while talking to a friend, a client, or someone you care for, can help you learn your authentic sound. Once you’ve studied the true actor in you, you can shape your voiceover deliveries to reflect your sound. That original “you” voice sound is conversational and authentic. Once you’ve studied and mastered you, your sound will never go out of style. There is an audience for your realness as you use that talent to connect and deliver your scripts.

As I’ve blogged before, change in life is a constant, but no one or thing should force you to switch from being who you really are. As voice talents, let’s remember that our best performance is when we are genuinely ourselves and free to give our best performance.

Brake that lip!

5 Types Of Voice-over Enthusiasts

Personal, Personal VO Views, VO Business Tips, Voice over Training, Voice talent renewal

Boy shouting into microphone — Photo credit: Yingnan Lu from Pixabay

Do you ever wonder what makes a quality voiceactor or narrator? There is no sure-fire predictor. Quality is forged in fire and effort, and top voice talents are no different. Let’s look at five of the most popular types of voiceover or VO enthusiasts that could lead to great voice talents.

Curiosity Seekers

The seekers have become aware of voiceacting and think it’s great. Perhaps they are into gaming or elearning and have become curious about voice acting. They may know someone or have seen an advertisement about voiceover and believe they can have a good shot at being a top in the industry. They think with some information and an agent, they can start working as a voiceover practically overnight.

Professional VO Students

These students have taken class after class and have a good handle on the voiceover basics. They may have had instruction in Improv and or acting plus have an idea of their best niche. But, year after year, they have still not invested in a good demo or actively pursued any voiceover jobs. They may feel they need a little more time or need to become better situated in their day job before looking for VO work. It will be soon for them, but not today. They feel they’re not quite ready.

VO Sales Pitch Buyers

These poor souls may have attended a class at their local community college or participated in an online advertised voice-over presentation, and as a result, invested money in a voice-over demo. Unfortunately, they recorded their demo before they had the basic skills necessary as an actor and business owner. They may have paid out thousands of dollars (sometimes from credit cards or needed savings). While they have tried to make sound business and marketing gains, the work is just not coming in. They have or are starting to become discouraged about voice acting altogether.

“Where’s My Money” Talents

These folks had a few good jobs at the start of their voice-acting career. It looked like they were headed towards great success. Yet, after that great start, the work came to an abrupt halt. They are puzzled as to what is wrong since they booked some great jobs at the start of their career. They are beginning to lose confidence and wonder if the system is rigged.

Enthusiasts Turned Professionals

These budding professionals may have started voice acting career as anyone of the first four. They may have been told they have a nice voice and should consider voice acting. As a result, they invested money in the field, but, initially, were unable to maintain a business or find VO jobs. Some may have procrastinated because they dreaded marketing or rejections from lost auditions. Yet, while the times were tough, these folks did not quit. They made changes to keep their VO business dream alive.

“Unfortunately, … ‘Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.’”
Rita Mae Brown, mystery novelist, in her 1983 book “Sudden Death”

The enthusiast turned professional did something about their situation. They understood fictional character Jane Fulton’s quote in Rita Mae Brown’s novel. Instead of doing the same, they found their path to growing their success. Perhaps they worked more hours at their day job to pay for good voice-over training. They may have attended Improv and other training to improve their creativity. Some may have sought professional help to set up their home studio equipment properly and learned how to edit their recordings. Some may have also partnered with others, joined mastermind-type groups to learn how to set up and run their business. They learned about marketing their business according to their particular personality type and style.

The professionals don’t take audition rejections personally and taking care of themselves and others to ward off burnout or arrogance with their success. Unlike the other four types, these up-and-coming talents realized that it doesn’t matter how you get into voice acting. What matters is knowing and deciding if voiceover is right for you. The professionals learned that following a dream is a decision that leads to a commitment to do what it takes to become a quality working voice talent.

Being in voiceovers is not easy, but it can be very rewarding for talents and buyers. Helping clients develop great products can be so gratifying. But it takes work and devotion to becoming the best voice talent one can and reaching one’s goal for success.

Keep breaking that lip!

A Hike to Remember

Personal VO Views, Voice talent renewal

The pre-hike briefing — **Getting ready to walk**

I don’t know about you, but I’ve learned that many changes and challenges have similar lessons. If you participate in sports, you know full well how sports can relate to business, even the voiceover business. With that, I’d like to tell you about my first adventure hiking. Hiking and voice acting are alike; you have to go with the flow and don’t quit.

The Adventure Begins

Recently, I went on my first real hike. Before the trek started, our leader asked us not to talk too much as we walked and focus our thoughts on nature. So, I was expecting a nice calming walk through gentle backwoods near Northwest Washington, DC’s old and historic neighborhoods. Instead, I experienced rough milled trails through wooded areas and dirt corridors compacted with sharp rocks, small and round boulders, hard stones, and bulging tree roots. Small streams were also in our path that ran under full, leaf-laden trees that shaded our two-and-one-half-hour walk.

The tree cover was fine, especially when a summer shower passed over us. But then, there were the steep inclines and descents. Someone (the U.S. Park Service, I presume) nicely positioned long wooden planks, like the ones you see on railroad tracks, as steps along the steep inclines. We walked up and down the vertical passageways over the planks with some protruding because erosion had washed away some of the dirt and sand that initially surrounded the wooden stepladders.

After about an hour, the hike was no longer fun for me. But, not wanting to show my unease about the terrain, I followed my group of hikers with a smile and kept moving. The leader, a well-seasoned hiker, strolled over the stone and dirt almost gliding as she took every step in a carefree manner. She seems to glance down only occasionally at the changing surfaces under our feet.

On the other hand, I had to carefully watch my every step to not trip over a stone or tree branch and break my neck! (No Uber here.) I was so happy for the occasional stop for a quick drink of water, but we were soon up and at it again.

I know we were supposed to be enjoying nature. But my primary thoughts were not to fall and keep moving. Each time I saw another steep climb or questionable ascent, I just told myself to keep going. Complaining was not going to get me out of this hike any sooner or stop the slight pain in my toes from wearing hiking boots that were just a little too snug. I tried to adjust my toes in my shoes the best I could and kept walking…and walking…and walking until the walk was finished.

After what seemed like hours, we ended our walk, which was just over two hours. We each reflected on our experience and what we thought of the walk. My comments were brief, but my primary thinking was I just had to keep moving and I would be all right.

Hiking and Voice Acting

You’re probably wondering what does hiking have to do with voice acting? Two words: keep moving. The path to voice acting success is never a straight, smooth path. Granted, some people find success quickly and consistently, but I don’t believe that is the case for most of us dedicated to finding our voice acting success. After the walk, someone said that we bump and hit our way through finding our right path to success. Sometimes, the trail is impassable and we have to try again or we find that our timing is off. So, we stop for a while, regroup, and start again. It can take years to find the right niche for our business. And it may take years for us to partner with stable clients with whom we can enjoy working regularly. So, it sounds like voice acting is a lot like hiking.

Life is a Mirror of Itself

Life takes us on many fantastic journeys if we allow it to teach us along the way. Our goals may point us to what we want, but our paths are usually never straight or smooth. We have to take each day as it comes and keep our most important things on top of mind. Today we may do our best and accomplish much or perhaps not. Either way, we must courageously walk these paths if we expect to carve out a life that we can look back on, and with assurance, know that we did our best and learned from the tests.

Keep breaking that lip.

Five Ways to Confront the Redefining Voice-acting Industry

Personal VO Views, VO Business Tips

The voiceover industry is truly on a roller coaster ride. There is an incredible uptick in those seeking to get into voiceovers. There is the pressure to have a “studio quality” in-home recording space (competition), more online and at-home upgrades, and all of us need to up our game, again. The typical talent may feel like she or he is in a whirlwind. The COVID-19 concerns of 2020-2021 are just a portion of what should be front of mind for the typical voice talent. What’s more, there is an ever-increasing number of apps and software programs threatening to replace the whole voiceover industry practically overnight. The year 2021 has more challenges than can be listed in any one blog. Now, I’d like to focus on some ways to challenge back. Here are five ways to confront the changing business and voiceacting landscape.

Stick with your Basics

Influential business people know the importance of staying on top of their game. Becoming stagnant will do nothing for your business, so keep working with coaches, reviewing your social media plans, and always be open to thinking outside the box when marketing your business. If you can’t afford something, barter for that skill or service. Do what you need to do to grow your business smartly.

Keep in mind that popularity rarely leads to lasting success. Once you are successful, your favor will follow. Please don’t get it mixed up. You’re in business to meet your clients’ needs, not to have the most Instagram followers or Facebook friends.

Listen and Learn

I like to organize and run things in a particular order. It gives me the illusion of control. But that’s not a good policy for growing a voiceover business. We need to remember to expose our minds to new ideas and be open to new learning and communities of thought. Being anchored in your own values will help you critically listen to others without losing yourself yet still gleaming from other viewpoints. Set time to learn how others are dealing with changes, the issues faced by potential clients, current and future competition, as well as changes in the industry. Know what’s hot and what is not. The only way to really grow is to learn.

Steven Spring gives six tips to becoming more open to new ideas in Keeping an Open Mind: How to Embrace New Ideas. Spring wrights, “Avoid closing yourself off. Welcome new situations that are different from those you’re familiar with. When you’re exposed to differing opinions, look at them as learning experiences.”

Receive the New

Many voice talents acutely listen to commercials and other audio messages to stay current. This simple exercise can help a voice actor keep up with the changes in the industry. Listen and know what styles are taking hold. The tools of business constantly change. I remember a time when it was “all the rage” to complete one’s own taxes. Now I hear a lot of small and big businesses stand by having their taxes professionally prepared. The American tax laws can change without notice and often within the same filing year. Hence, it makes sense to pay a professional who is just as proficient as a tax preparer as you should be as a business professional. Receive and apply the new; it’s there for you.

Believe in You

As creatives, voice actors are extremely sensitive. This means we have to know how to recover from rejection and keep on trying. Remember to glance at your goals daily to keep your subconscious mind leading you towards your most significant accomplishments. Don’t let fear and doubt keep you on the sidelines. Keep on trying; believe in you.

Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.”― Roy T. Bennett

Reward Your Hard Stuff Work

Many people find marketing and reaching out to strangers as the hard stuff in growing a business. But without new business, we don’t get to do much of that which gives us purpose and enrichment. Do the hard stuff and then reward yourself for your efforts. While we all would like more money, don’t make every self-reward about money. Complicated things like cold calling, practicing, and the like need more substantial rewards. Find what really touches your soul and reward your most minor efforts to get through the hard stuff. If we continue to press through enough hard stuff, we will reach our success plaque.

That’s all from me for now folks. Keep on breaking that lip!

Voice-over Goals are Doable in 2021

Business Renewal, Personal, Personal VO Views

Last year, my view of yearly goals was a little different. This time, I’m considering a happy medium between just thinking up stuff in one’s head to written items in a plan. So, put on your thinking brain and consider these thoughts for making your voiceover and life goals for 2021.

My thinking about goals is being influenced by, of course, the pandemic. The pandemic has affected how we all think about the world and ourselves. We need to be more on point about what we want professionally and personally. I’m not talking about throwing away your mask. I’m talking about being clear in what you want, the actions (and precautions) you will take, and what you are willing to do for your continued viability.

In How to set goals for 2021 when everything feels uncertain, Elizabeth Grace Saunders writes, “Despite the unknowns of 2021, setting goals still has great value. Having goals gives you a sense of self-determination that you have the autonomy to make choices for your life and the competence to achieve them. This is a key component of mental and emotional health.”

A goal is not always meant to be reached; it often serves simply as something to aim at.”

Bruce Lee

**Set it and don’t forget it**

Goals are needed now more than ever. The Lockdowns have limited our ability to interact as we have in the past, so we need to find new ways of keeping our lives moving toward a promising future. We will undoubtedly have challenges. That’s why we plan for the best and meet the other stuff as it comes.

Be SMART

Setting SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, or time-bound) goals will provide steps and processes for reaching one’s objectives. The 21 Goal Ideas to Set and Achieve for a Better 2021 says, “… research shows that 80% of new year’s resolutions are forgotten by February 15th. So, if you’re planning on losing weight, saving money, or learning a new skill, you better have a plan.”

Set the right priorities

Continue your voice-over priorities – it’s your business, it’s your life. Consider what worked in 2020, what was derailed, and what you can do to get back on track. It’s not the good times that define us. The difficult times expose our strengths and weakness. Make sure you are keeping your priorities in placed to meet your goals even throught life’s challenges.

Joan Michelson in Think About 2021 Goal-Setting Differently, suggest you start “… your 2021 goal-setting by first listing all your accomplishments in 2020 – and I do mean ALL of them, in every area of your life, as I outlined in my previous Forbes piece – and see where they are leading you. Looking at the throughlines or patterns and commonalities in these accomplishments will reveal where they are leading you.”

Stay woke

The pandemic has brought a lot of hidden realities to light. Being “woke” is not a bad thing but an opportunity to expand your thinking about the world around you. Our lives are moving along in the current of time. You can go with the flow or pull out your goal setting oar and paddle in the direction you’d like to travel. The best way to impact your direction is by writing down your goals covering specific areas of your life.

Write them and they will (or may) come

Your goals’ list does not to be long but should include specific items. Dave Ramsey’s article, How to Set Goals for 2021, recommends goals cover seven life areas: spiritual, fitness, educational, family, career, social, and financial.

Today is the best day to get started. We all want 2021 to be a lot better than in 2020. I hope my tips and reminders stir you to take action to do some planning for your future. Setting goals is no guaranteed that you will meet each objective, but aiming at nothing will always get you that result.

Now keep on breaking that lip.

Voice Overs