voiceover

What now in Voiceovers? Thoughts on Coping with Change

August 18, 2021 by Leesha S

How many times have you said in the last year, ‘What now?’ It’s incredible to me all the stuﬀ I have to adjust to every week. As a voice talent and business owner, it seems that I’m constantly questioning the latest things. So how do you handle the constant daily changes in your voiceover business and life in general? What do you do when you feel you can’t take another new thing? Here are some thoughts on how to get a grip on ever-present changes in voiceovers.

Don’t panic. Take it slow.

While I genuinely believe I am incredible, sometimes I have to read or hear something a few times before I get it. New social media sites or home appliances can take a moment or two to understand and learn how to operate correctly. If I get stuck in my understanding, I’ll seek expert help. Depending upon the situation, a good YouTube video can be a great source of information, reducing my anxiety and helping me get up to speed on a matter.

In voiceovers, taking direction is essential to success. One key focus of any good talent is to learn to take direction. Taking direction means correctly hearing or receiving feedback and then making the appropriate changes for the next performance. Being directed can be stressful and may seem like a lot. So, it’s essential to calm the mind and then focus on the critical points of the direction. If there is still a disconnection, repeat to the director what is wanted or ask for clarification. It’s better to ask for help than to deliver something completely different or unwanted by the producer.

Accept the Change (That’s life)

News flash. We are all getting older with every passing second. While this reality may not matter to a young adult, anyone over 35 acutely feels the aging process, especially in today’s youth fixated society. We should see change as an opportunity to grow and become more than we are at the present moment. Whether it’s a new technology, a road, app, or business style, there’s usually a simple explanation available to help us through.

The rise in automated voices or Automated Intelligence (AI) software has many voice actors panicking. Voice professionals wonder if the AI will make it hard to make a living or work in an industry they love and enjoy.

When it comes to change, don’t forget ChatGPT. What about ChatGPT? The folks at ZDNET provide a good overview. Their short answer is “ChatGPT is a natural language processing tool driven by AI technology that allows you to have human-like conversations and much more with the chatbot.”

Voiceovers is like any other business. Change happens. A good approach would be to research and fully understand the new variations happening in the business. With understanding can come a since of where one can fit into the AI industry. It’s better to face change head-on and find a way to make it your friend, not your foe.

“He was swimming in a sea of other people’s expectations. Men had drowned in seas like that.” Robert Jordan

Don’t Become Overwhelmed.

Of late, I’ve noticed that keeping up with the social media world can be a little challenging. Finding something to post that is stunning and gets a lot of net traction can be like throwing paint on a wall and hoping it sticks.

Seemingly, there is a new app, program, social media platform, or computer thing every week! I’m not sure if humans were built for our technology roller-coaster ride. Many of us are just hanging on or faking it. Some are about to get thrown oﬀ at the next curve! So instead of barely making it, choose what to add to your business platform or home studio and what to just put on hold.

In Mark Schaefer’s article, Keeping Up with the Furious Pace of Social Media Change, he recommends avoiding Fear of Missing Out or FOMO. Mr. Schaefer comments, ” As you build your social media tribe and the conversations multiply, you have to adjust and come to grips with the fact that you have a life beyond social media. Some thing(s) are going to slip through the cracks. Allow that to be OK.”

Your life and time are precious, so take on what you can do well and do them consistently. Learn what you must in voiceovers and pick up the rest down the road. It’s better to do a few things well than a lot of things poorly. You’ll sleep better too.

Break that lip!

5 Types Of Voice-over Enthusiasts

July 27, 2021 by Leesha S

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.

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” Walt Disney

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

June 7, 2021 by Leesha S

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

April 14, 2021 by Leesha S

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!