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Speak your Truth as a Voiceactor 

Personal VO Views, VO Business Tips, Voice over Training, Voiceover Bussiness Tips

Should your individual opinions affect your choices in voiceover projects? I recently read a blog related to truth, or should I say, statements reported as news in the American news media. The post was about how some people shrewdly use social and news media platforms to develop messages. These messages may contain misleading or belief-based information to sway receivers to a particular point of view. If accepted, the persuasive message may convince receivers that an opinion-based report is a fact.

I wondered how voice actors cope with questionable information they must communicate through scripts and projects. For example, how do you deal with voicing projects where you believe the information is askew? It’s one thing to listen to the news and read social media, but what if you’re voicing a message that is contrary to your values? The wrong answer can affect one’s finances. As a talent, define your standards of truth as a voice of integrity.

Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.”   Oscar Wilde

Set The Standards

To run a successful business, you must have standards within that business. Those standards govern what you can and should do to please a customer. So, first, become clear on what you prefer to voice as an actor; the rest is follow through. For example, I know actors specific on the types of reads they record and only voice those types. The actors are not biased in any way; they have simply decided what kinds of projects they will perform.

Times and thinking have changed a lot in the past five or even two years.  Your standards should be top of mind throughout your daily business life.  In Focusing on Your Core Values as a Small Business, Matt Wilson says, “And if you started your company a week ago or 10 years ago, I urge you to spend a bit of time considering just who you want your company to be and make sure that it is living up to your standards.”

Live With The Choices

When a voice actor hangs out the “For Hire” sign, they tell the world they are available for almost any project. But before a voiceactor is ready to work, they must be clear as to the tone of the business. Producers may not just judge you on your demo, but your previous projects and affiliations posted online may also be reviewed. You don’t have to pen a statement of values per se, but if you note on your public profiles the types of projects you enjoy and the work you want to voice, it’s a subtle way of letting others know your choices.

You also show your choices through social media followers, posts, and support. It’s a given today that someone will review your social media pages to see what you’re really about. So, make sure your post and support align with your principles.

Distance yourself from causes and pages that can give a bad and incorrect view of your business and who you are as a voice actor. Sometimes, it’s best not to participate in publicly bashing elected officials or celebrities. While you can have your point of view, making political statements as a voice actor and offending potential future clients may not be suitable for business.

Voice Your Integrity

You are the most intuitive as a voiceactor when you participate in projects you can agree with or believe in the message. Don’t take any job because money is slow. Your voice recording could be heard indefinitely, and you may become the talent that supports a particular position. In addition, if you believe in what you’re saying or selling, your read will go much better because you can connect with the message and why it’s important to others. Moreover, if you want to connect with a message, know what you want the listeners to feel, and that will come through in your voice.

I’m not saying you have to love aftershave cream or hard tack screws, but if the message is one you can believe in, such as the importance of aftershave cream and hard tack screws, you can voice the script with meaning and conviction.

Know What Fits For You

I know from experience that sometimes we get asked to do projects that don’t align our values even though the position is popular in the media. Going against the social media influencers or the messages in the news may seem like walking into a windstorm headfirst. But you cannot compromise yourself and still be an effective, emotive voiceactor.

Seek projects that you can proudly stand behind and would not be embarrassed if your parents or children recognized your voice. It may seem hard, and that’s because it is. You may have to walk away from some big-dollar jobs, but in the end, you’ll have done what’s right for your future.

Speak your truth at a voiceactor, and you’ll never have to lie about who you are or how you feel. Your feeling matter as a voice actor. No do what you do best as you break 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.

 

Holding Up In 2020: Have It Your Way

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

Looking hands from Image by Gerd Altmann from PixabayAs I hope you know, the world is in the midst of the Covid-19 onslaught on our society and our way of life.  As such, we have to make drastic changes in our daily lives to stay healthy. Countless news programs, commentaries, podcasts, preachers, and scientists give us their daily take on how to adjust to the ever-changing “new normal.” But I’ve come to understand that changing during this unprecedented time in world history can only go so far. Each of us must decide how to make it through these strange days.

If you’re running a business (like voice acting), there is a fair amount of adjustment needed for dealing with things as a creative and entrepreneur.  I’ve come up with a few thoughts to consider for adjusting to the new normal your way.

Don’t Get Overwhelmed

While voice actors should keep abreast of the types of voice delivery popular in media and entertainment, we need to dial back the doses of bad news. To be clear, communication that leads to feelings of depression, sadness, hopelessness, and fear are bad news. Keeping informed of the latest health developments and strategies for staying safe is a good idea.  But you may have noticed by now that too much of a perceived ”good thing” may not be so good after all.

Limit daily news and media time. If it’s breaking news, you’ll probably get a Tweet or Instagram post about it. Review several sources of news to help you determine a balanced view of the information. You must think critically about what you are seeing and hearing to decide what’s best for you.

In, What to Do When You Get Unexpected Bad News, Suzanne Kane writes “Go straight to the source to eliminate bias or watered-down information that may be more opinion and hearsay than factual.  To properly deal with unexpected negative news, you need to arm yourself with the facts.”

Maintain your Daily Wellness

Hopefully, you have some idea of what a thriving daily routine looks like for you. Keep your physical health in check, and make sure you are also watching your dental health. (Ever since I learned that many of the ancient Egyptians died of gum disease, I’ve become a big supporter of good dental health.) Likewise, watch your weight by getting in regular exercise and healthy relaxation. I find cycling helps me to stay mentally and physically healthy.

Practice Caution until the Cure

Many of us are finally getting opportunities to do more outside our homes than grocery shop. We can now visit museums, shops, beaches, churches, restaurants, and friends! But there is still a need for extra caution in society. Have your fun and do as much as you need to maintain good relationships. Of course, make sure you’re practicing the official guidelines for venturing out in public and around others.

Stretch your Creativity to the (legal) Max

It will take most of us a lifetime to understand and reveal our true selves. Use this time of adjustment to continue to see what is in you and express it creatively. For example, you don’t have to be a voice actor to invest in training in voice or acting. Get in on virtual learning and artistic pursuits to see what comes from within you. Let yourself laugh at life and dream of how the world would be if everyone were just like you. If you’re a voice talent, never stop investigating the possibilities of advancing your creativity to that which lies within you. Continue to harness your creative “gold mine,” your mind.

Nurture your People

Your new normal should not be void of people. Again, voiceover people know and understand the importance of human interactions. We know that you cannot relate and reach others without understanding them. We need our families, friends, neighbors, and even some of our enemies. People teach us to succeed, fail, fight, love, grow, and adapt. Spending all your time behind physical or virtual walls does not lead to good relationships or mental health.

The worst solitude is to have no real friendships.” Francis Bacon

Use the virtual tools available to connect with others. Moreover, meet others in safely distanced setting to talk, laugh, and just be yourself. You need your people and they need you. Don’t deprive them of you.  Nurture others and you will find your spirit is a little lighter every time you interact with people. Find a way to make it work your way.

Your survival is now in your hands. You are too special to lose, we need you. Take the advice on being safe, but don’t let being safe strip away your life. You can make it through 2020 and beyond. I’ll be listening for you breaking a lip.

5 Things Voice Actors Can Do Now to Stay Noticeable

Business Renewal, Business Tips, Voiceover Bussiness Tips, Voiceover Clients

Be Noticed-We All MatterNo matter your background, language, or location, life for you has changed.  The COVID-19 incident has changed the present and is yet to reveal its whole effect on our future.  But as an optimist, I believe life is still worth living. As a creative, living is not just consuming food or having fun; it means being able to create, share, and give to others. This is a great time to find new and emerging opportunities for helping others through the expression of one’s creative talents.  But, with the ongoing readjustments facing our society, you may be wondering how to adapt to the fluctuating “new normal.”  Here are five ideas on how to re-evaluate where you stand in the voiceover market and stay noticeable to current and potential customers.

1. Let Others Know You’re Available

The current business environment presents a great time to send friendly contact messages to customers.  Let your current voice over clients know that you care about them and are here to help if needed.  You don’t have to ask for work but offer something meaningful to your client.  If you have other skills, talents, or related contacts, let others know you can be a part of their solutions to adjusting to the new challenges of today’s business world.

When reaching out to potential voice-over clients, use the same approach.  You want to see where people are and how you can help them with their needs.  Show your heart as a creative and someone that brings value and service to society.

Most people don’t like change. They revolt against it unless they can clearly see the advantage it brings.”   John C. Maxwell  (Pastor & Motivational Speaker)

2. Get Really Good at Social Media

Social Media is the preferred method of daily communication. Usage over many platforms continues to escalate. Review your social media analytics and what others are drawn to in your postings or blogs.  Note what is working for your sites or not working.  Review other voice-actor sites and see what posts are getting the most attention plus look into incorporating similar methods into your platforms.  Learn to communicate in the language of current and potential customers.  Oberlo notes that “If you cater your content toward the audience of the social media platform, you’ll be successful.”  Direct your strategy for meeting the right market at the right time.  Make your presence about willing to meet the needs of others.

3. Develop Partnerships

You don’t have to limit new partnerships to just voice talents.  Most of your outreach should be to those who can use your services or who you can help reach their business goals. Follow various businesses on social media or in virtual meetings to get an understanding of other industries.  When possible, make meaningful contributions to postings and conversations. Look for connections related to shared interests, activities, and future goals.

Inc.com says, “Such partnerships are just as beneficial for businesses of all sizes, provided each partner knows how to build, cultivate, and make the most out of the partnership. Once you’ve found your partner, work together to build something that will benefit you both for years to come.”

Look for companies that are doing something that would benefit both of you and help seek to develop mutually beneficial partnerships.  And always interact with respect and in a positive, bipartisan way.

4. Renew your Mailers

Contact via mail is making a comeback.  This is a good time to use postcards or other printed material to reach out to local businesses.  Develop a timely message and let your community know you are here and how to make contact.

5. Keep a Virtual Eye on the Industries

With the current pandemic, there has been an explosion of virtual video meetings.  Diligently watch the virtual meetings and industry leaders’ presentations.  With such a wide variety of virtual experiences, don’t limit yourself to voice over sites.  You can find potential clients across the board and in many genres.  Increase your personal knowledge about new topics or take up new skills.  Open yourself up to the winds of opportunities and skills you may not have considered in the past.

It’s a new day and time. Don’t limit yourself.  Keep yourself marketable and viable through the crisis of 2020.

Break a lip!

Foundations of the Working Voiceactor

Business Tips, Personal VO Views, VO Business Tips

Voiceover is still a hot topic with people moving in and out of the industry daily. The rise in audiobook sales and gaming platforms has piqued the interest of the younger generation as many vie for an opportunity to become one of the favorite gaming voices or narrators. But some things about voice acting are timeless and a vital part of the makeup of the working voice artist. Integrity and hard work are still the foundations for success as a voiceover artist.

Why integrity?

Voiceactors quickly learn that unlike other professions, the best parts of your mind and spirit are open to the world to examine, critique, and even criticize. Voice acting comes from the soul of the truly gifted artist. Each performance is an imparting of the spirit of the artist as he or she brings a piece of text to life. This practice of pulling from one’s inner being to perform before the world is not always well received or accepted. For that reason, rejection in the form of losing a job or not being selected for a project can be especially hard on the voice actor. Losing a voiceover job oe client can be seen as a professional rejection as well as a personal one.

Integrity plays a big part in supporting the soul of the voice talent. It’s in one’s nature to desire appreciation when one has done their best. Knowing that you have done your best with integrity or the “personal quality of fairness” helps when you face rejection and can fuel your pursuit of future success. Giving your best as a voice actor and business owner, plus returning the same respect and kindness as one wants from others, builds the integrity foundation that supports the working voice actor’s professional life. Showing integrity by treating others fairly, learning to accept rejection, and keeping an even keel can lead to eventual success. Your integrity shows up in the way you approach new prospects, learn from your teachers, run your business, manage your finances, help others, and most assuredly in your voiceover performances.

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”

Henry David Thoreau

Why hard work?

The nicest voice actor around must still run his or her voiceover business like a business. There is no substitute for a regular regime of marketing, learning, training, and auditioning to remain viable. The voiceover industry has very few shortcuts. The industry evolves as society evolves in the way it communicates and interconnects. Working voice talent keep an eye on changing industry trends and how the human voice is most effective across the various voiceover genres. Also, a successful voice talent must maintain focus on the technologies related to home studio innovations. Lastly, a voiceover talent must know his or her transforming personal style, learning curve, ability, knowledge, etc. Regularly reviewing and embracing all aspects of the voiceover industry and continuing to reach toward voiceover success can be a daunting task, but not impossible.

Working hard also means working smart. Recent industry changes have some talents rethinking their commitment to voice acting. Some are finding that changes in the industry’s accepted rates and the overall feel may differ from their personal aims. Moreover, some may feel that it takes too much work to make a decent living as a voiceactor.

Voiceacting is like any other profession; one must learn to “roll with the punches” to make it. If working hard is still not getting the results you need for success, know when it’s time to refocus your efforts or find another professional pursuit.

Starting with the basics of deciding how to perform all aspects of one’s business with integrity and through hard, is the sound foundation of the working voice talent.

Whether its gaming, commercials, or eLearning, voiceacting is a lot of fun and can be very rewarding. But, without the fundamentals and a good foundation, success eluded and only be an unfunded dream.

Work hard with integrity as you break that lip.

Kindness: Shared, Remembered, Returned

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

I recently vacationed in Idaho and stayed at a resort hotel. Late in my stay week, I left my hotel room early one morning for breakfast. When I returned later that day, I found a note from the housekeepers thanking me for my stay. While the note could have been an indirect reminder of the gratuity, I’d like to think the note was just a sincere appreciation. Each time I encountered the cleaning staff, I made a point to greet them pleasantly and compliment them on their services. I was so moved by the note, that I left a “nice” gratuity in response. Never underestimate the power of kindness.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “kindness” as the quality or state of being kind, treating people with kindness and respect. Kindness, such as in the case mentioned above, prompted me to increase the amount of gratuity I planned for the cleaning staff. It also gave me a good feeling that I was appreciated as a guest.

Likewise, I had a different episode just a few weeks before my vacation. A neighbor in business has shown me little kindness over the past few weeks. While she has not said anything overly offensive, her short emails written in bold, capital letters and her curt responses to my emails regarding community matters, gave me the feeling that she has a low personal regard for me.

Now, this is not entirely a rant; it’s more of me pointing out a lost opportunity. I believe the services my neighbor offers could be enhanced through narrations, targeted voice marketing prompts, and information videos on her website. Moreover, I support her vision and applaud her as a successful entrepreneur. However, due to our interactions, I believe our working together would not be beneficial. Alas, the experience is a missed opportunity due to the lack of kindness.

Kindness Matters

Speaker and author Bob Burg once said, “All things being equal, people will do business with, and refer business to, those people they know, like, and trust.” Do people trust you? Do people like you (and do you care)? Are you genuinely kind to others? We all have good and bad days, but do you try to maintain an attitude of openness and kindness? Small acts of kindness can determine your business’s future, primarily as a working voiceover artist.

Don’t Miss Your Opportunity

Working voice talents interact with many potential clients throughout the day. The person that serves us in the restaurant may be the owner. The Uber driver may be part of a small company burgeoning on video success. Your neighbor, whose child has just visited your door requesting a small donation to his or her high school band’s field trip, may be in need of your business services.  Voice actors are like passion ambassadors.

We have fantastic opportunities to touch the world through our human voice. The art of vocally communicating emotions that compel others to act can best be performed by a voice actor and second to no other mode of communication. It all starts with the behavior of kindness.

Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”

Princess Diana

Never overlook kindness in building new friendships. Who knows, you may need the favor returned sooner than you think.  Lastly, you may further be surprised as how being kind to others helps you stand out from the pack in all areas of your life.

Be kind as you break a lip.