Not too long ago, I made a drive to my client’s studio. This trip was special because it took almost an hour by car (especially with East Coast traffic) to reach the location for the two-minute narration. Because the client is a new voiceover contact, I accepted the offer to visit their studio to help build a new relationship. While I could have easily recorded the short script in my professional home studio, going into the client’s studio gave me an opportunity to meet the team and to lay the foundation for our working relationship. Yes, voiceover success includes building relationships.
As a voice talent, the business is more than just auditioning. The voice actor needs to reach out and touch those they work with and for. Placing a face with a name can help you make a long-term connection and friend. In my case, the numerous home repairs in my community provided an excellent opportunity to get away from my voiceover studio and take time to understand the needs of a first-time client personally.
Relationships within the voiceover community are essential. Moreover, developing relationships, in general, is good because it’s the human thing to do. Voice talents are the audio ambassadors for their clients’ thoughts, products, and purpose. Through good working relationships, you as a voice actor can let your clients know that his or her projects are in good hands (and voice).
Don’t forget the relationship building side of the business. Little things like following up with thank you cards and remembering your clients during holidays and special anniversaries not only keep you in other’s mind but can also keep you in their heart. Most folks do business with those whom they like. Look for opportunities to do and be nice because it’s the kind thing to do.
In a culture that is becoming more and more polarized, developing your human side as a voice talent and a person is usually unexpected yet welcomed. If your client or clients are near, take the time to visit the studio if possible. Bring some cookies or something else to encourage the friendship. Who knows, you may return more often than expected.
My voiceover career has been one of the most exciting times of my life. For talents like me, voice acting is an expression of the innermost creative self. But, no matter how much we love our chosen profession, a day will come when we’ll have to move on. As a voiceover professional, you don’t want to suddenly fall off the radar screen. No matter the state of your career, give consideration and plan your voiceover endgame.
Life springs from our human soul. From that soul, we as voiceover talent bring the written word to life. But when we find that compassion has emptied and seeped away from us, our creativity weans. No matter how talented you are or how long you have been in the voiceover business, creativity is not guaranteed nor is it nurtured by the world surrounding most of us. Here are some approaches to recharging your creativity.
A voiceover talent has a unique responsibility in establishing a reputation for excellence. In such a competitive field, excellence has a way of narrowing down the number of talents who rise to the top and are constantly working. The best way to stand out from other voiceover talents is to establish and maintain excellence always.
Voice actors in business provide a service. The Internet and social media are key places for hanging one’s shingle and open for business signs. In turn, offers for voice jobs can come from many sources. But what happens when you must turn down a gig? We all want to be liked (and get paid), so saying “no” may seem like a business killer. Sometimes, giving bad news is a part of life, but knowing why, when, and how to turn down business can make all the difference in your future. Here’re my why, when, and how for saying “No” to a voiceover job.
Voiceovers is a great way to express your creative side. If you take your acting to the next level, voiceovers as a business can be challenging as well as rewarding. For any company, adding related services can help meet more client needs. Let your voice acting business be a launch pad for developing a creative suite of services.
Voice acting can be a wonderfully fulfilling career field. Most self-employed voice actors work alone and have to manage all aspects of their business. For those first starting their own business, transitioning from employee to employer can be a bit of a challenge. Without a boss or supervisor tying a salary and raises to performance, one may not be as driven to work as structured in a self-employed venue. But with a little hindsight, many employee job practices can be applied as sole-entrepreneur business practices. For long-term success, apply employee work practices as a self-employed talent to keep your business on track. Below are 8 best-practices for full-time employees that perfectly fit the independent voice-over talent.
We all have areas of curiosity in our search for the career that fits our personality and will give back to our pocket. The voice acting business is a creative way of self-expression and to help clients connect with their audiences. Running any business involves keeping a watchful eye on its structure and progress. If you find you’re not getting the results you’d hoped for as a voiceover artist, it may be time to move on and seek another creative pursuit.
Business professionals know the importance of maintaining good relationships. Voiceover pros also understand that building and retaining contacts can lead to good client relationships. In this current environment of constant social and political reporting, it’s important to stay focused on your business goals and use communication wisely to maintain good interpersonal relationships. As a voice talent, maintaining good bonds with your clients and associates keeps your business growing.