Voice talent renewal Archives - The Compassionate Voice

Don’t Beware January and June, Renew!

In the voiceover world, they say, “Beware January and June.” So, if your June is not what your other colleagues may be experiencing business-wise, you need to come up with ways to regroup. Regrouping should lead to more jobs, better auditions, and more revenue doing what you love. Unconventional methods of regrouping can lead to better creativity and a renewed focus for business success.

Regrouping does not have to be boring. The more exceptional your activities, the better. Use this slow time for decisive actions that can keep you going through the slump and emerge as a powerful voiceover talent. Below are some ideas on how to regroup to keep you going and working your daily voiceover business tasks:

When it comes to renewing, think out of the box. Voiceovers should not be arduous, although sometimes it can feel that way. There is no downer as marketing for work and not getting the results you want and need. So use these times to change your thinking and regroup your world.

Need more? Trent Hamm’s “The Frugal Introvert: Fifty Ways to Have Fun By Yourself on the Cheap,” gives ideas for having the fun solo.

Now go out there and be like other folks for a while. Come out of your vocal booth and use this (unplanned) little break in June for a mini-renew time. It will refresh your spirit more than you can imagine.

Have fun!

Motivate Your Life

Voice talent renewal

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

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

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

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

Motivate you to maximize your life. Now is the time to develop your plan. Using your recordings, take the time to review your “truth” and develop a plan to reach your goals. Review who you are now and what changes and practices you will need to reach your goals. For help in developing voiceover career goals, see “10 Steps to Improve Your Voiceover Career Opportunities” by Gravy for the Brain. The point is to make sure you’re working on your goals and not those of your parents, spouse, children, bosses, or anyone else outside of your skin.

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

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

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

Getting to Know the Stranger Who is You

Voice over Training, Voice talent renewal

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

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

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

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

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

Your Strong 2017 Voice-over Finish

VO Business Tips, Voice talent renewal

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

Review your Position, Now

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

Seek Outside Advice

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

Review your Social Media Strategy

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

Evolve and Reset

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

Recharging Your VO Creativity

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

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.

It’s not New, but the Change Starts with You

Creativity is in short supply. The findings in a major study using the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking, led by Dr. Kyung-Hee Kim, Associate Professor of Creativity and Innovation at The College of William and Mary, found that since 1990, while IQ scores have increased, creativity scores have been in a significant decline.

Prior to Dr. Kim’s study, a 1968 government-sponsored study by George Land and Beth Jarman (educators) had similar results. Some 1,600 children were tested and retested on creativity over a period of years. The study revealed that the children’s creativity decreased over time with the most creativity expressed at age 5 of 98 percent to a decreased creativity at age15 of only 12 percent. When only adults were tested for creativity, the result was at 2 percent.

The time is now to reclaim your inventiveness. Barnet Bain writes in “Reclaiming Your Creative Self, The key to finding resilience, courage, and wonder in a changing world,” that “The tension we feel—the chronic stress and weariness experienced individually and collectively—comes from attempting to meet life’s challenges with limited resources.”

Find a Creative Outlet or Inlet

In the infographic, “40 Little Things You Can Do to Break Your Creative Block” by Kate England, creative inspiration can include daydreaming, journaling, and even doodling. England writes, “Take up doodling as a daily practice. Brilliant ideas often start as a scribble on a cocktail napkin or envelope.”

Take a Recess

Never underestimate the power of play. Let your mind run free while you walk, exercise, or watch a funny movie. Give your mind a break from your voiceover routine. You can meditate, sing a song, take a voiceover sick day. The point is to find what feeds your creative spirit to rekindle itself, so you feel fresh and able to put a new spin on all your VO projects.

Touch Base with a Friend

Having friends in voiceovers is not a marketing ploy. I highly encourage friendships in the industry. Friends can help you think out loud and sort out your feelings. You, in turn, can help another and give advice or listen. Take time to listen and give a friend time to speak and express how he or she feels. Connecting with others will also allow you to explore empathy and compassion for others, which can fuel the spirit.

There are many more ways to recharge your voice acting creativity, but most center around getting out of your drying creativity well by pouring yourself into life and the world around you outside of your booth.

Don’t be a statistic. Creativity is how voice talents effectively serve clients, so always strive to be the most creative you can always be.

Ageless Voiceacting

Business Tips, Personal, Personal VO Views, Voice talent renewal, voiceover

If you’ve worked in various fields and now you find yourself exploring voiceovers in your 50s or older, you may be wondering are you too old to be a voice talent. That’s the farthest thing from the truth. However, success in voiceovers may mean that you have to work a little differently than those under 50 to keep relevant. Getting and being competitive as a voice talent involves preparation and smart work…and is not age based.

Recently, I was listening to one of my favorite podcast, and one of the co-hosts mentioned that new voice talent often asks her how old is too old to be a voice talent. Hearing the question, I had an immediate response. You see, I spent over 20 years working in communication, and in the later years of my career, noticed a change in the way employees over 50 were perceived by younger workers and employers. Many times, I witnessed older workers being labeled as out of touch, over the hill, or archaic in their careers. The funny thing is that most of these same workers were performing at peak or better in their jobs. The assumption of one being obsolete was made strictly based on age. So, I understand why new talent over 50 would question whether there is an age maximum as a voiceover performer.

I’m here to say voice acting has NO age requirement. It’s all about effectively sounding and emoting a particular age group.

Realize that Age is Just a Number: Do you remember “Rocky the Squirrel”? June Foray was the iconic voice of Rocky from “The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.” June worked many years over her 50th birthday and had a total career span of 85 years. Now that’s what I call staying relevant.

What about the voice of the first Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer? Voice actor Billie Mae Richards performed Rudolph and other voices and was a working talent in 2004 at the age of 82, just six years before her death.

Solomon Hersh (best known as Paul) Frees started his acting career in 1942 and remained active for over forty years. Frees worked for major animation production companies including Walt Disney Studios, Walter Lantz Studios, UPA, Hanna-Barbera, MGM Studios, and Rankin/Bass. Paul worked well into his sixties. These actors worked into what some would call retirement years, but I call their best years.

Review your Bridges, Keep Some – Burn Some: It may be wise to decide which bridges to keep and which to burn. If you worked in a career or field for several years, some of these earlier associations could lead to future voiceover work. For instance, if you’ve worked in engineering or the medical field, you probably understand specific specializations not known to the average person. That knowledge and experience gives you a leg up as the perfect voice talent for jobs in your former career field. Let your colleagues know that you are a voice talent and available for related projects.

Use Old Profiles to Showcase Your New Business: Instead of combining your old social media professional profiles into your voiceover sites, consider rewording the information. Show how your former work makes you a perfect choice for similar voice projects. Let your voiceover profile stand alone, and let your old profiles link to your new information. This way you keep the same connections and alert them of your unique skill sets.

Embrace Technology (or hire your kids): Most working voice artists have professional home studios. Voice talents must learn about recording software and hardware, acoustics, and other related skills. Every day brings new technology into our mist, so this is indeed not an age thing. Learn what you have to through online classes, YouTube videos, LinkedIn or private coaching. It’s a necessary step, and you can do it. Just take it slow and master one new item at a time. Don’t try to learn everything at once. Master the majors like home recording (a software), editing, etc., and move on to other skills. If you have children or know of others with audio, web, or social media skills, ask them to help you or even hire them to do some of the work. You can also contract out the editing until you are comfortable with your new skill sets. Don’t let not knowing something keep you from getting what you need for running your business.

Embrace a Young Attitude: When you’re home behind a microphone, no one can see or care about how old you are, it’s all in the attitude. This is where your field work comes in. Look for opportunities to hang around younger people and listen and interact with them. Listen to the thoughts and ideas of young adults, Millennials, and Gen Xers. Note their tone, inflections, patterns, and attitude. Look for ways to add what you’ve heard and observed into your voiceover delivery. Experiment with speaking like someone much younger (or older) than yourself and review your performance. By noting the way people talk, how they expressed themselves and incorporated these attributes into your performance, you can keep current and sound almost any age you want. My cousin, who is at least 14 years older than me, has a youthful tone that reminds me of a 22-year-old and not her actual age of 60+ years.

Keep it Healthy and Moving: As we age our body and mind needs to keep engaged and healthy. Make sure to monitor your health. As we get older, sometimes we have to deal with mouth noises or diction problems. Make sure that you are taking time to go to the doctor and keeping up with proper dental care. Lastly, daily phonetic warmups can help with diction and word pronunciation.

Staying home is lovely, but it is even more critical for you to get out and move your body. Keeping it moving is whatever gets you moving. Walking is a great exercise. Don’t forget about weekend getaways. A change of scenery is also a great way to keep it moving and recharge your mind. Don’t take the fun out of your life, add a little voice acting to it.

Remember, as you age be timeless not timed. Break that lip!

Failure-Groundwork for Success

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

Social media is a great way to communicate what you want the World to see and know about you. We have the luxury of being whoever we want and as perfect as we want others to believe. But we all know no one is perfect, so don’t let human failure be the end of your strive and desire for success. Learn to keep moving after a failure; it’s just a sign that you’re human.

As a member of several professional communities on the Web, I love to read about my colleagues’ new jobs, big clients, and other great voiceover successes. However, I rarely see postings about the lost jobs, voiceover communication that didn’t go well, or the missed goals. Life happens, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of, but we need to keep failure in the proper perspective. I don’t recommend you note every loss on your voiceover website, but you can appropriately share how you dealt with your loss and how you keep moving toward your success.

Pick up from Failures

No matter how hard we try, mistakes, missteps, and failures will happen. Voiceover has its own unique set of challenges. The business is very competitive and can feel like jumping off a diving board into 12 feet of water after only a hand full of swimming classes. When we are on the other side of what we know was a failed voiceover audition or the loss of a big job, we may feel the loss personally. Moreover, if the event is the result of our mistake or wrong business decision, there’s no way to feel right about it. After a debacle, new talent often question the purpose of their business efforts. A seasoned talent may also think that years of experience can insulate him or her from flops. A major loss may cause them to question their ability as a voiceover performer.

Failure is not usually fatal. The best thing to do is to remind yourself that you are doing your best and sometimes you will miss the mark. Examine your efforts and see what you can learn from the experience. Be a little nice to yourself and keep the loss in perspective. In life, we make many mistakes from the time we first learn to walk through our Social Security years. It’s a part of life not a determiner of life.

Reboot Failure – Success Groundwork

Okay, now that I’ve covered the low point, let’s look at the power of your comeback. A voice actor is like a traveling salesman. We spend time and effort training and getting to know the craft (our voice product), but we can still experience many closed doors (lost auditions or opportunities). Many letdowns may lead to procrastination. We may not fully focus our marketing and auditioning efforts.

But you must continue. Reboot failure by examining the failure and learning lessons from it. Moreover, by sharing your failures and lessons learned with others, you make the failure a part of your success journey. Once again, I don’t believe posting all your faults on social media is wise, but you can tactfully phrase your learned lessons to others as you share your experiences in the voiceover business.

Make your voiceover business fiascos into stepping stone and not brick walls. Remember your most admired voiceover talent and other mentors have made many, many mistakes. Failure can help with the climb to eventual success. Keep moving toward your voiceover goals, especially after unexpected glitches. It’s a good sign that you’re learning, growing, and moving toward your personal development and potential long-term success.

You know…break a lip!

Leesha

Voice Overs