voiceover

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

July 17, 2024 by Leesha S

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

The Honeymoon Will End

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

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

Watch for Fair-weather Supporters

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

Stay Focused During The Fall Away

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

Forgive Often Especially Yourself

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

Don’t Let Others Tell You When To Quit

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

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

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

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

Pivot If Necessary, But Don’t Give Up

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

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

Stephen R. Covey

Be Prepared To Walk Alone

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

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

Break that lip!

Another Season of What Ifs

May 8, 2024 by Leesha S

Woman facing choices. (Image by Tumisu from Pixabay)

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

One Of My What Ifs

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

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

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

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

Always Time for A Change

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

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

What Ifs In Voiceover

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

The What Ifs To Come

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

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

The Myth Of The Round Tuit

February 19, 2024 by Leesha S

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

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

What’s Standing In Your Way

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

The Myth Of The “Round Tuit”

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

Let’s Move On

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

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

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

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

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

Be A Voiceover Problem Solver

September 20, 2023 by Leesha S

Are you a problem solver or a problem to work with? A good voice talent is a problem solver. Recently, I had an experience that showed the right and wrong way to solve a customer’s dilemma. If you want to help, learn what is needed and find a way to solve your client’s problem and not create a no-win situation.

Not long ago, I went to a local chain store looking for house candles. The day’s Weather Reports called for heavy rain and possible widespread power outages. So, I thought it was an excellent time to get some old-school candles in case the lights went out in my home. You see, I lost power for seven hours a few weeks ago. Therefore, preparing for a potential power loss seemed like a good idea.

So, in my efforts to be proactive, I visited a famous store that sold household and grocery items. Unable to find what I needed on my own, I asked a pinafore-clad employee for help. The employee returned a puzzled look in response to my question about the location of household candles. She then made an “educated guess” on where my requested items may be. My other opinion was to ask a different store worker for help. So, I asked another employee. She, too, could not help and admitted the store only carried decorative candles. But I was looking for utility or white candles, usually unscented. Either way, my problem went unsolved.

“If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.”
― Isaac Asimov

But then, I started to rethink my problem. What I really needed was a source of light that did not need an external power source. Then, ‘Bingo.’ I went to the camping supply section and found small lanterns and lights that use batteries. I had solved my problem.

Missed Opportunity

After this incident, I thought about the service I received from the store employees. None of the people I interacted with asked me more questions to understand my problem or provided me with options. They just wanted to get back to stocking the shelves. The employees are still probably restocking stocking shelves.

Take Note for Change

For the voice actor, we should never approach a potential client with an indifferent attitude. When we fail to understand a potential client’s needs or audition specs, we don’t address the problem. Voice talent do more than “stock virtual shelves.” We bring words to life through our unique script interpretation and give messages meaning. It’s a talent’s job not just to provide a product but to solve a problem.

Steps to Being Indispensable

There are many people in and out of the voice-over business daily. Many become discouraged by the changes threatened by technology. But, the focus of every voice actor business should be to solve the client’s problem. Solving problems can be done in four simple steps:

Listen or read to understand the problem or request
Make sure you know why there is a problem
Get or find the right tools, skills, and resources
Make sure you present a final solution (product) and if possible, beyond what is needed

And of course, whenever you have a deadline, you want to be early with your project. If you make it a point to understand the client and uniquely solve the problem, the client usually will seek you out for future help.

To end, always be available to supply a unique experience that will leave your clients impressed and looking to you to solve their VO project problems. That’s how you #breakalip.

For A Voice Talent, The Best Thing To Say Maybe Nothing At All

April 1, 2023 by Leesha S

Recently I returned from a vacation in Canada. After months of saving and preparation, I was finally at the place I had dreamed of for six months. It was a group trip of about 50 of us skiers and non-skiers. Depending on my mood, I can fall into both groups. During the trip, I received some odd comments from one of the ladies traveling with us. She asked whether I had a roommate because that was my preferred mode of travel and where I was sitting on the plane to our destination. When I asked this lady to take a photo of me overlooking a river in Vancouver, she remarked that she took the picture so that I would not be the center of attention. What? Okay!? I’m thinking it’s my phone/camera, so why shouldn’t I be the center of attention? Instead of stewing about the strange comments I was receiving from this almost total stranger, I refocused on what was most important, enjoying my long-planned vacation. I thought when confronted with harmful or contrary information, the best thing to say may be nothing at all.

Comment, Why?

As a voice talent, I read and scroll social media posts on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Often, I just read the comments and don’t lend my two cents. However, if I can comment with something of value and to help the situation, I post and express my thoughts. As a voice talent with a public platform, my comments are not just seen by my followers. So, I try to determine if I can improve the conversation or help solve an issue or problem. If my thoughts lead to negative or not-so-nice stuff, I keep it moving. I don’t need to join an already full choir of those venting about topics like Artificial Intelligence (AI), voiceover industry changes, or the price of home studio equipment. Comments are a good thing, but why?

Nobody likes A Faultfinder

In this life’s journey, we all are exposed to good and bad challenges. Those who show and express an appreciation for their success attract others to them because they have realized that showing off only gets you fake friends. I’m not sure why the lady on my trip was so concerned about my room accommodations or my seat on the plane, but I decided to keep a good attitude and not return the same probing questions. This person knew nothing about me and the journey I’ve taken as a voice-over talent or somebody in general. Seeing someone enjoying a nice trip is not a license to make assumptions about the person’s life or character. Therefore, I decided to take the events in strive and come home safe to my voiceover business.

Keep it Moving

As a voiceover talent, I know we encounter many unsolicited opinions and remarks. Directors who think we need to go back to school, harsh criticism of our new demos, beliefs based upon our appearance, and backlash of our social media posts are just a few examples of blow backs. On the other hand, many directors and voice-over professionals encourage each other, share what they have learned, and are generally a joy to work with and around as top talents.

“Great things happen to those who don’t stop believing, trying, learning, and being grateful.” Roy T. Bennett

When you encounter folks who may not have good things to say or write, try to look past the harsh responses. Working voice actors have to endure a lot of rejection, so try not to take the rejection personally. Sometimes it’s best to say nothing and count your blessings because you’re in the best profession in the world. You’re a voice actor! Go ahead, #breakthatlip

Breaking In or Breaking Through In Voiceovers

February 23, 2023 by Leesha S

February is celebrated in America as Black History Month. As a Black person, I’ve been studying history, including Black American History, for most of my life. Many of the programs and movies showing on streaming services highlight the lives and journeys of famous Afro-American actors and writers. Most of the programs also have commentators who tell their stories and how they identify with the famed person of color. These are feel-good stories of sorts. I thought about how in my family, the children were encouraged to break in and breakthrough. You see, if my parents or relatives accomplished a goal or some remarkable feat, those coming up behind them were expected to take what others had done to the next level. Not too much time was spent reflecting on what had been done, but more time was spent thinking of what one could do more significantly than what had already been done. Voiceovers are a lot like that. Don’t just break in, breakthrough as a voice talent.

In this changing society, new and improving voice actors should focus on breaking into and breaking through the business. It’s more than just making money; it’s making one’s own unique space in the voice-over industry. Becoming an authentic, sought-after talent is breaking through as a voice actor.

Reflect On The Past But Aim For The Future

Many of us have heard of Don LaFontaine, Mel Blanc, and Jean Vander Pyl. These voices are only a few of the many talents who have blazed trails in the voice-acting business over the decades. The names of many famous talents, who broke the voice-acting mold, will never graze our lips in casual conversation.

Voice actors should study the efforts and strides of talents of all races and backgrounds and then use that information to help shape their breakthrough journey. “Breaking in” stops you at the door. “Breaking through” leads you up the steps and paths of new challenges for greater success.

Voice talents are expected to do a good job no matter their level of experience. As a talent, you should always do your best and look for new leads and opportunities for voice work. Ace a style that you may be perfect for in a particular genre. See what talents and skills lie within you and find out how you can become the best at being you.

Breaking Through Is Hard

Don’t let words like “can’t, no, too hard, too old, not talented enough, or don’t know,” hold you back. Breaking through is about learning what one needs to learn and going for the job or assignment. What works for one voice talent may not work for another. So, find what works for you and do the hard work. Don’t let procrastination or fear rob you of your breakthrough moments.

In one of my first directed sessions, a comment made by a couple of the producers changed the timbre of the session for me. They remarked about how another voice actor was so easy to work with and took almost no time when being directed. As a talent in my second session, hearing producers sing the praises of another talent was not encouraging. In fact, the comments made me feel insecure, and the session did not go well for me. Later, I realized I can’t control comments made by producers, but I could control my behavior. I learned from this experience. Now when I’m in a directed session, I remind myself that I am working in my studio and on my time. I think to myself, “I am enough for THIS job.” It’s up to me if I want to do this job or not. Taking control of the session helps me break through and unleash my talent and success.

“Every success is built on the ability to do better than good enough.”
Zig Ziglar

No End To Real Breakthrough

Many famous people don’t achieve all their dreams and goals. If you were to interview history makers in entertainment at the end of their careers, many would say they have not achieved the success they wanted. Still, breakthrough people keep going forth and don’t spend too much time counting their former success. Part of that is why they are successful.

As a voice talent, it’s your job to become better than your last job. So, continue your learning and growing with the industry. Keep your chops, knowledge, and equipment ready to keep you competitive. Yes, acknowledge your success, but don’t stop growing. Keep moving forward as a voice actor, meeting the challenges, and growing your success. If you’ve reached your business goals, great. Now go make new ones.

Learn to review and appreciate the past achievements of others. But more importantly, learn from the break-in talent and push to make your breakthrough success.

Go ahead and break that lip! #breakthatlip