Leah Arscott

Is Voiceover a Good Side Hustle?

February 4, 2023 by Leah Arscott

So you’ve heard about this job or career called “voice over,” and you’re curious to learn more about it. You may know a little already because you know someone who does voiceover as a side hustle, and you’re interested in getting into it yourself. There are more voice actors than ever before. Because of the amount of work available today, producing quality content is essential. Perhaps it’s because we live in a very digital world, and working from home is appealing. More people than ever are getting into the world of VO.

It Starts With Voiceover as a Side Hustle

As a diverse, millennial, and contemporary voice actor, I got started in VO because I heard it was a good side hustle. It was the summer of 2018, and I had already worked at my Canadian government job for nine years. I had good roles at my place of work, but ultimately most of the positions were administrative. It paid the bills, but it wasn’t the most exciting job.

I pushed around papers and made a lot of spreadsheets, and after a while, most of what I was doing became mundane. I had begun to notice that many of my friends were picking up side hustles to make a little extra cash in their spare time. One friend had a side hustle as a model, another made beautiful cakes, another did eyelashes, and another micro-blading for eyebrows.

Before the Side Hustle Job

I was sitting at work one day completely bored and took out a pen and made a long list of potential side hustles. One that was interesting was teaching English to international students. And that was the one I chose. So, for two months in the summer of 2018, I taught English to Japanese students online. It was great. I enjoyed teaching English, and the students I met were very friendly. I even got to teach English to some famous Japanese soccer players. Although I enjoyed what I did, the money could have been better. After two months, I realized I’d rather be outside in the summer than sit in front of my computer.

So back to the drawing board! The following week I was at work again, sitting at my desk, downtrodden about my failed side hustle, and my phone beeped. A message had come in. My best friend Natasha Thompson said, “Hey, Girl, I heard of a cool side hustle. It’s voiceover, and you can do it from home. Here’s a website with more information; it’s voices.com.” And that was the text that changed my life – although I didn’t know it then.

“Voice over. Hmm. that does sound interesting.” I thought.

Research, Planning, and Preparation

I stumbled upon a commercial demo of a voice actress on YouTube 1-2 years prior as I was studying for college one day. Listening to her demo, I thought, “Wow, she is so talented. How could I ever do something like that?” But that was just a fleeting thought, and after a few minutes of imagining life as a voice actor, it seemed too overwhelming, and I went back to studying.

After seeing Natasha’s text, I went to the website she mentioned, with hundreds of freelancers highlighting their voiceover skills, and I was instantly intrigued. That evening, I raced home to tell my husband, and he advised me not to rush into anything but to take my time and research, as a job like this requires a commitment of money and time.

Turning Voiceover as a Side Hustle Into a Career

And he was right. Every year I was always getting into something new that would cost money and time. So between July and November of 2018, I took my time and learned everything I could about the voiceover industry. I researched how to get started, how much it would cost, what goals to set, and whether I should try this as a side hustle or a full-time gig.

By the fall of 2018, I was still very interested in voiceover and did some planning. We decided to wait until Black Friday to purchase equipment. We went to the music store for a microphone, music stand, and a pre-amp. I also ordered studio foam and a moving blanket on Amazon for sound insulation. I had also contacted voices.com to purchase their annual Premium membership, which was on sale.

We went home, set up the equipment (well, my husband did; I am not techy at all), and I tried my hand at my first audition. I had no idea what I was doing, but where there’s a will, there’s a way. I’ve mentioned before that if I could make my career all over again, I would have gotten coaching before jumping in head first auditioning. Instead, I explored how far I could take this with zero experience.

Eventually, it worked out for me, and I booked my first job one week later for a great company, and slowly but surely, things picked up.

Are You Interested in Voiceover as a Side Hustle?

Voice Over can be a great side hustle, but some factors must be met to succeed. Voiceover today is highly competitive, with many experienced actors booking regular work. They are skilled, have a coach, and incredible state-of-the-art studios. They have professional demos, direct marketing in place with optimized websites, and long lists of clients who are very happy with their work. So, the opportunities are there, but you only get what you put in.

When I started in VO, I was only on one pay and play platform; voices.com. I auditioned about 15-20 times a day and booked about 5-6 jobs a month for approximately $1000 USD. Those were my statistics. I had no professional demos or coaching, but I did fully complete a profile on voices.com so clients could find me quickly on their platforms. I would come home for lunch each day, do 5-6 auditions, and then do more after work. The additional income helped with the bills and funded the vacations we had lined up throughout the year.

The Jump to Full-Time Voiceover Talent

Deciding to make voiceover a full-time gig is what changed my business. I was laid off from work during COVID, and I had no choice but to make it work. That was when I had to put the pedal to the metal and dig deep to proceed with all the tactics at my disposal. I hired a professional coach, acquired a commercial demo, built a website, and created a marketing plan. The same month I received my commercial demo, everything changed monumentally. I saw a significant difference in my income within four weeks. I couldn’t believe it. That demo changed everything. It told my potential customers that I am a “committed professional voice actor,” Finally, potential clients took me seriously.

The Reality of a Side Hustle

I went from part-time to full-time millennial voice actor in a year and a half. That is a relatively quick trajectory from what I understand from other voice actors, but I trusted the process and believed it would work. Many successful voice actors only do it part-time and still hold a day job as a lawyer, doctor, or government official. They may want to keep voiceover as a side hustle so they can play and be creative without the pressure of earning.

It’s your choice. I started it intentionally as a side hustle with no desire to take it full-time until I had no choice. Plus, I enjoyed what I was doing and found it addictive. There’s always another opportunity coming your way: a new audition or a new client. If you don’t get this job, no problem, be consistent with your efforts, and another opportunity will come to your inbox soon. It’s always a fantastic feeling when you book a job!

How to Jump Start Your Voiceover Career

If you want to be successful, I recommend researching and planning with maximum effort. Otherwise, you’ll be wasting your time and money. Here are the items you’ll need to get set up!

Set up your studio to sound as professional as possible
Get professional coaching
Have a professional demo made with a reputable producer
Sign up on pay-to-play websites
Get a website (voiceactorwebsites are the best loaded with SEO)
Participate in direct marketing
Audition, Audition, Audition for diverse jobs

This list can be daunting for most. Each month I have inquiries from friends or family on how to get started in voiceover. I tell them what to do and remind them to set small goals, and success will come. Your ability to be diverse will get you where you want to be.

Voiceover can be an outstanding side hustle if you do it right. Just take your time to get set up, trust in the process, and you can do it!

My Dream Voice Over Jobs

January 26, 2023 by Leah Arscott

Many voice actors want to get into the business for various reasons. For some, it’s the idea of having a sustainable business where you only answer to yourself and make your own schedule. While all actors love that benefit, many also have a dream voice over job they would love to snag.

Many voice actors were introduced to the field by various Saturday morning cartoons. They were mesmerized by incredibly dynamic characters who perfected their voices each year and couldn’t imagine their lives without these crazy personalities. This was the case for accomplished Canadian voice actor Eric Bauza. His obsession with all things Loony Toons led him to perfect the voicing of each character which eventually got him hired by top-tier Toronto and Los Angeles agents. He became the official voice of Bugs Bunny and later scored himself an Emmy award! What a career!

Goals Lead to Success

Not every voice actor had Eric’s luck, but we work year after year to achieve the slightest amount of success. Regardless of our trajectory in the voice over world, we can all agree it’s vital to have goals! Setting annual goals allows us to achieve success and have fun in the process (see the last blog about how to goal set). Now that we understand what we want to achieve, we must have specific projects we want to accomplish in our business.

If you’re a casting director, perhaps one dream job would be to cast on a project nominated for an Emmy or Oscar. If you’re a Film Director, maybe a goal would be to work on a project with top-tier actors or in an exotic destination.

Be Transparent About Your Aspirations

Many voice-over coaches and mentors have advised us to consider which dream projects we would love to work on. Visualization and manifestation are significant factors in accomplishing your goals. It took me quite a while to identify my dream voice over roles or projects. Let’s outline them in detail and see if any of them come true in years to come.

Dream Job #1 Commercial Voiceover

My first dream job is to book a national television commercial! Any voice actor knows that the bread and butter of the industry are television commercials. Typically, they pay the most for the least amount of work. Any voice actor getting started gets coached in the commercial genre before any others. The commercial demo is the equivalent of earning your MBA. With that demo in hand, you can perform auditions for big commercial projects. This demo is usually required to book a top-tier agent in New York or Los Angeles.

Dream Job #2 is Brand Voiceover

My second dream job would be cast as the official voice of a brand. Companies like Allstate, Geico, Kia, and Tangerine all choose brand voices that are unique, recognizable, and consistent. The voice of a brand doesn’t necessarily mean guaranteed work indefinitely, but it can last for six months to three years on average.

Having one voice for your brand establishes a recognizable identity, creates consistency, and helps you to stand out. There is a ton of information and statistics about why a brand voice is valuable to a business, and it’s a worthy goal for a professional. Performing as the band voice of a non-profit would be ideal, or anywhere my voice can help to make a difference.

Documentary Narration is Voice Over Dream Job #3

My third dream job would be to narrate a documentary on a major station. I have always been a fan of documentaries. I’m not an avid reader, but when I do, I reach for a non-fiction book over a fiction one. I have always enjoyed learning about a topic or a period in history; a documentary is a great way to do that.

Media like the History Channel, PBS, Netflix, and Amazon are all good options for channels that contain hundreds of documentary topics. Next time you watch a documentary listen to the voice and notice how it never takes over the message but perfectly balances it with the intrigue of storytelling.

Reality TV is Voice Over Dream Job #4

My fourth choice is similar to number three; to narrate a reality TV show. HGTV and the Discovery Channel are great examples of TV narration. I have been a fan of shows like Caribbean Life and Beachfront Bargain Hunters for many years, and the voice over style helps add intrigue and excitement to the show. Other reality tv shows, such as American Idol, The Voice, or Love Island, also use an actor to help narrate the story.

Voice Over Dream Job #5 is Character & Animation

I would love to work on more character projects. Some of my favorite projects were animation or character jobs, with other voice actors joining in the session. Playing characters is so much fun, and the creativity level is through the roof. If the other actors are there with you, the energy is unmatched. Listening to other voices is a dose of inspiration that can last for weeks.

Experiencing Big-City Collaboration is Dream Job #6

Lastly, I would like to travel to a big city like New York or Los Angeles and be in-studio for a great voice over project. From 2020 and beyond, working from home is practical, yet getting out of my space and into a studio is an exciting idea. This business can be very technical, and most of my communication is digital. But good old-fashioned meeting in person, human-to-human contact is vitally important for creating genuine connections. Making real connections with other voice actors and clients is vital to a happy and sustainable business for me.

What’s Your Ideal Voice Over Gig?

Reflecting and reviewing what you want is an excellent way to stay motivated and engaged and keep you on track to achieve your goals. So, this week, sit down, think about what you want to work on, and let me know. We’re more likely to achieve our goals when we share them, so let me know!

Setting Your Voiceover Goals

January 10, 2023 by Leah Arscott

We just entered a new year! Many find the start of a new year a good time to set voiceover goals. If you fall into this group, there’s no better time to start. With 365 days to make a difference, now is the time to start. Although setting annual goals are exciting, you also need commitment. The sad reality is 43% of people who start their plan in January expect to fail by the beginning of February. Almost one in four give up within the first week, and only 9% complete their annual goals.

Why is this so? Why are so many people failing at their goals? One reason could be that people lack confidence and have a poor perception of themselves. It also could be because the goals they set are unrealistic. Perhaps they fear negative thinking, failure, or a lack of patience. As a diverse millennial voice actor, I have to set goals in my business each year to achieve any success. Let’s discuss some of the strategies I’ve used and detail goal setting and how to get results.

What is Goal Setting?

Goal setting is the process of identifying something unique that you want to achieve. Goals can cover various areas of life, with personal, financial, career, and health being some of the most popular categories.

Many go through life without goals and need a clear direction or purpose. They may base their decisions on their heart, head, or gut, and nothing is wrong with making decisions based on these feelings. However, studies have proven that setting goals leads to higher performance and is healthy for one’s psyche as it gives one direction, purpose, and personal fulfillment, which can lead to a happy, contented life.

You can often tell the people who have set clear goals versus those who have not. The years can go by quickly, and without setting goals, you can become lost, depressed, and resentful for not making better decisions when you had your time, energy, and youth. That being said, even if you don’t have that advantage, everyone can create clear goals at any stage to help them succeed in their desired path.

How to Set Voiceover Goals

There are many different ways to set goals. Most will say they want to exercise more, make more money or spend extra time with family and friends. These goals are great, but details need to outline how to achieve them and when. The most researched and successful way to set your goals is to use the SMARTER method. The SMARTER approach stands for:

S – Specific
M – Measurable
A – Achievable
R – Relevant
T – Time Bound
E – Evaluate
R – Reward

Below you’ll see the categories in more detail and how to use them in your goal setting.

S – Be Specific. Outline what you want to achieve. The more detail, the better. If your goal is health-related, try, “I want to have toned abs” or “I want to improve my cardiovascular ability.”

M – Measurable. Ensure your goal can be measured. How will you track progress and know once it has been achieved? If your goal is to write content for your website, instead of saying, “I want to write more content this year,” try, “I want to write two articles per month for my website this year.” If your goal is for work, instead of writing, “I want to be better at planning my work week.” Try writing, “I will spend 1 hour a day planning my business.”

A – Achievable. Ensure your goal is attainable. It would be wonderful to make a goal to go to outer space. But without the right education, ability, and resources, that goal would not be attainable for most people. Running a 42 km marathon would also be a dream goal, but without the physical ability, time and resources, it is merely a pipe dream. If your goal is to increase sales, an attainable goal could be “I have worked in sales now for three years with little to no experience, I know the basics, and I want to increase my knowledge by taking courses.”

R – Relevant. The likelihood of reaching your goal can be attained if you want to make this goal happen. The R stands for Relevant. Do you truly desire this goal? What’s the point of making a goal if you don’t want it? It will be harder to reach a goal if your heart isn’t in it. Make surer this goal is relevant to your job function or personal desires. Before setting your SMARTER goals, understand if this goal will help you overall. If so, go ahead and start setting it.

T – Time-Bound. Your goals can be attained if you set a time frame attached to them. How long will it take me to achieve this goal, and when can I accomplish it? Be specific on a time frame and state when it will be completed. If you are a creative director and you have a new goal for this year, instead of writing, “I want to manage the creative process for my projects from concept to completion.” You can try writing, “ I want to manage the creative process for my projects from concept to completion within four weeks.”

E – Evaluate. The older method of making smarter goals never included the E and R. It was just SMART goals. The new iteration includes EVALUATE and REWARD. Why? Because the idea of evaluating and rewarding yourself makes a more holistic approach to goal setting, leading to greater success. Evaluation is to check in on your progress frequently. Evaluate how you performed. What can you learn? Evaluate your progress to achieve better success.

R – Reward. At last. You’ve made it to the end of the SMARTER goal lesson. This section is the best part of goal setting. R stands for reward. You did it! You’ve met your goal. Recognize your effort, your collaboration, and the milestones. The steps you have taken deserve recognition. Companies find value in recognizing employees for their hard work. They know it helps maintain morale, keeps employees happy, and motivates them to achieve more future goals.

Keep Your Focus on the Results of Your Voiceover Goals

Think about when and how you will celebrate! Rewards help you to build sustainable habits. By reviewing SMARTER voiceover goals and implementing them in your goal setting this year, I am confident you will make carefully thought-out goals and have a much higher chance of achieving them by year-end.

Happy goal setting!!

How Previous Work Experience Has Helped My VO Business

September 26, 2022 by Leah Arscott

Many factors go into choosing a voiceover talent for your next project. You can evaluate them based on their experience, skills, education, rates, location, studio, voice, and what they offer as part of their business package. As a diverse millennial voice actor, I may have a particular set of skills (channeling my inner Liam Neeson voice here) that may be beneficial for your next project. I have worked full-time for 20 years ( I feel old saying that) and in many different and exciting industries. Looking back at my work experience and voiceover in detail, it’s easy to see how they have led me to my current career.

Business Experience by Working in Insurance

I worked for four years in the field of Insurance for a large well-known company. My two roles were Accounting Clerk and Risk Management Coordinator. I gained knowledge and experience by balancing books, handling checks, making daily deposits, and analyzing policies. Within risk management, I edited the rate books, worked with underwriters, and did some HTML edits on the rates on the company website.

Confidence From the Fields of Sports and Nutrition

In the past, I have always had an affinity for health and fitness. From the age of 13, I used to work out with my dad lifting weights, and I then was one of the only girls in the weights classroom. I also took high school biology and fitness classes, gaining good marks. That passion for fitness propelled me to become a personal trainer by the time school was finished, but my guidance counselor steered me in another direction. He mentioned there was “no money” in personal training and that I should pursue a business career. I took his advice with a heavy heart, but a few years later, I was still left feeling sad and disappointed.

My local gym at the time was having a 12-week weight loss contest. I entered the contest, and once the 12 weeks were complete, I lost 20 lbs and gained a significant amount of muscle. To my surprise, I won the contest, a 2-year free membership, and prizes. This result encouraged me to try a professional on-stage fitness competition. That was and still is one of the hardest things I have ever done. Waking up at 4:00 a.m., heading to the gym for morning fasted cardio, then back to the gym after work was daunting and exhausting. Nevertheless, the principles I learned from that show and the gym competition have stuck with me and given me a strong work ethic.

Sales and Trade Shows for Marketing Experience

From the fitness experience, I was a Sales Rep working for a well-known nutrition company with over 150 stores and gyms to take care of in the Greater Toronto Area. That was an excellent job where I could connect with fitness enthusiasts around the community at stores, gyms, and trade shows. I tried my hand at one more fitness competition a few years later. It was the official EAS Canada Body For Life 12-Week Challenge. This competition was the most prominent of its kind in Canada. I used the same principles I learned from my first competition a few years back. To my surprise, I won this competition as well! I won a red Audi TT convertible, cash, swag, and free products. From that experience, I was a spokesperson for the company sharing my story at competitions and trade shows.

Benefits of Technology in Work Experience and Voiceover

After selling sports and nutrition products on the road, I was interested in working back in an office environment as I found life on the road exhausting and took a job working for a technology company. I was hired as a Sales Assistant for busy reps who sold computer hardware, software, and professional services. This was a significant role because I got to be the right-hand woman learning about CRMs, Opportunities, Leads, SAAS, and more. I also learned how to run various sales reports, which were crucial to my team’s success. I was also in charge of all the hockey and basketball tickets for our company box at the Air Canada Centre, which is pretty cool!

Practicing Independence Through Government Employment

In 2008 unfortunately, the recession hit, and I was laid off. I spent the next four months traveling Europe, and when I returned in Sept of 2009, I took a job at a local government office. For the next 12 years, I worked here and was able to hone the majority of my business skills. This fostered my entrepreneurial spirit and eventually helped me go out on my own. I started in the Environmental Services Department. I learned much about how our water is used within the community, how it is treated to remove bacteria and viruses, and about the innovative water and wastewater treatment facility that handles these processes.

I then worked in the Community and Health Services Department in the Healthy Living Division. Our division worked on Substance Misuse and Prevention, Sexual Health issues, Senior Services, Elementary and High schools, Healthy Aging, Injury Prevention, Smoking Cessation, and others. I learned much about the efforts to help high-risk populations and witnessed firsthand the daily hard work our 100+ nurses did to better the community. I organized and hosted multiple health conferences with upwards of 500 people.

Community and Human Resources Experience

For about a year, I worked on the Immigration team running the largest immigration conference welcoming newcomers to Canada and getting them work in their desired field as quickly as possible once they’ve arrived. Over the next few years, I worked in the Records Department as a Records Technician, organizing and onboarding the annual summer students. This role taught me about adult education and staff training, and I became familiar with eLearning and the importance of privacy within health records.

Lastly, I worked in the transportation department for five months with various teams, such as HR and Transportation Security. Then the pandemic hit, and they canceled all my current projects and said they would call me when I could return to work.

A Voiceover Career is Launched

This was when I hit the ground running with voice-over, and within months I was on an entirely new career path. Six months later, my work called me back in, and I officially turned them down; the rest, as they say, is history! 🙂

Benefits of Secondary Education to Voiceover Work

Over the years, I have taken many business-related courses that have made a difference in my career, making me more confident and competent in my roles. These courses have included:

Accounting
Marketing
Computers
Public Relations
An honors certificate in Adult Education/Staff Training
Effective Business Writing
Suicide Prevention
Sexual Harassment
WHMIS
Project Mapping

I got experience in eLearning and the exact factors adults need when learning new material. Learning these crucial principles has allowed me to understand the nuances required to succeed in eLearning. I have also sat through a plethora of eLearning courses, some good and some bad, so I know precisely the right voiceover tone to use to help keep employees engaged and compliant.

When I took all these courses, I had not yet considered voice-over a career, but I am sure happy I took them all because the education has helped me in my business. I feel more confident when given scripts regarding the various industries I have worked in. Often, I am familiar with the industry, vocabulary, and goal of the script and feel that I can familiarly relate the information and makes clients happy. By working in many industries, I’ve learned the many acronyms and each one’s everyday speech that the average person may not understand. Because I have a wide range of experience, I can repeat the titles, acronyms, or phrases quickly with confidence.

Biggest Project That Used Work Experience and VO

My most significant project to date has been a Nutrition-based eLearning project of about 50,000 words. The segments were quite technical and mentioned phrases such as oligosaccharides, pantothenic acid, ergogenic acids, carotenoids, and other challenging words. I would have suffered tremendously with this project if I had never worked in the sports nutrition industry. It would have taken me twice the time to read, record and edit because I had to look up each word and understand the meaning. I was grateful I was familiar with the words and phrases, as it made the whole project much easier to complete.

Work History and Voiceover Equals Success

Each day I am still learning how to be a great voice actor and business person. It is no easy task, but I can say that I am grateful for those 18+ years that I have worked in various industries. Now I enjoy learning more about this incredible industry of voice over every day.

A VO North Conference Experience

September 23, 2022 by Leah Arscott

MY WEEKEND AT THE VO NORTH CONFERENCE IN TORONTO

This past weekend I attended the VO North Conference in Toronto. VO North is a one-of-a-kind voice-over conference. It brings hundreds of international voice actors to Canada’s largest city for a weekend of learning, prizes, and fellowship.

This was the last VO North conference in Canada, and it was one for the record books. Hosts Tanya Buchanan and Dervla Trainor worked tirelessly over the past year, and all weekend, to make sure everyone felt welcome, learned great information, and spent quality time with other voice-over colleagues.

This year’s conference took place at the historic Pantages Hotel in downtown Toronto. The weekend kicked off with an opening ceremony from the hosts. Attendees could choose from over 35 panel discussions. Industry professionals led these sessions, covering everything from business fundamentals to cutting-edge voice over topics.

PANEL DISCUSSIONS THAT STOOD OUT

I attended a handful of panel discussions and found them genuinely informative. The first was “Show Me the Money! Understanding Rates and the Nuances of Quoting Properly,” led by David Toback, Petra O’Toole, and Tanya Buchanan. It was fascinating and practical. They taught us how to quote appropriately using the GVAA Rate Guide and other industry-leading rate guides.

I then joined a Speed Networking breakout session. It was a great way to meet other voice actors. Voice-over work can feel like such a solo gig, so it felt good to shake hands, fist bump, embrace fellow voice actors, and hear about their journeys into this industry.

HOW MY GOALS CHANGED SINCE MY LAST VISIT

When I attended the VO North conference in 2019, I filled endless pages of notes. I was so new to the industry back then. I came looking for a commercial voice over coach, a demo producer, and marketing advice. I had specific, clear goals, and I narrowed down my prospects by the end of the weekend.

This time, my goal looked different. I wanted to network, meet other voice actors, and connect in person with people I’d coached with or followed on social media. Honestly, I didn’t fill endless pages of notes this time. I credit that to knowing more now than I did then. Still, I had open, honest conversations with fellow voice actors on all kinds of subjects, and that carried its own kind of weight over the weekend.

I attended a panel on The Art of Marketing, CRM, and Branding on Saturday afternoon with Dani States, Marc Scott, and Matt Fogarty. I’m a big fan of Marc Scott, and I purchased his Marketing Playbook earlier this year. His program is excellent, and I was glad to sit in on this session. All three speakers shared strong recommendations and practical tips. I walked away with easy action items that motivated me to keep marketing daily.

I ended Saturday with an improv class led by the incomparable Elle-Ray Hennessey. Elle opened with an inspiring poem, reminding us of our responsibility as actors to stay honest and authentic in auditions. She reminded us how to play, have fun, and make people feel something when they listen to us. She helped us tap into our inner child. Every time I take a class with Elle-Ray, I ride the high for weeks afterward. I came into the weekend looking for inspiration, and I left with a full cup after her session.

Day one ended, but the party continued into the night at the industry mixer at Taco Taco in Kensington Market. I couldn’t make it, but friends told me it was packed with voice actors and industry professionals, and a great time was had by all.

ANOTHER FULL DAY OF VOICE OVER LEARNING

Sunday brought another full day of sessions. I attended “Why Them and Not Me? Demystifying the Casting Process,” featuring Alexa Magneto, Kaliopi Kuzyk, Alex Nursall, and Sam Ufret. Voice actors packed this session, eager to learn casting directors’ secrets and anything that might give them an edge over other actors.

I slipped out near the end and joined “Breaking into Animation: How to Get Started,” with Elle-Ray Hennessey, Susan Hart, Ellen Dubin, and Michael Daingerfield. Animation panels are always my favorite. You can see attendees sitting on the edge of their seats, hungry to learn everything they can about an industry so many people feel passionate about.

The last session I attended was “To Infinity and Beyond! Reaching New Heights in Your Animation VO Career,” with David Kaye, Eric Bauza, Kim Huron, and Joe Motiki. This session inspired me more than any other all weekend. The talent on this panel was staggering. Between them, these actors have voiced countless unforgettable characters, including Optimus Prime, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig.

CLOSING OUT THE VO NORTH WEEKEND

I came into the weekend hoping to feel re-inspired heading into the last quarter of 2022, and this session delivered exactly that. I should also mention: on Saturday, in the elevator on my way back from lunch, I met Eric Bauza, the famous Canadian voice talent currently voicing Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. It was a brief meeting, but we crossed paths twice more that weekend. He was warm and genuine, and we talked about how he got his start in the business. I added him on LinkedIn and Instagram, and he sent me a kind message offering advice anytime I needed it.

These are exactly the kinds of conversations you hope for at a conference. You meet people further along in their careers. You make real connections. You pick up inspiring nuggets that push you in the right direction and help you stand out from the competition. I had to leave the conference early on Sunday, but it was a great weekend, and I’m glad I attended. I met new people, reconnected with online friends in person, and even met a few celebrities along the way.

Other voice-over conferences exist too, and the next one I’d love to attend is VO Atlanta, the largest international voice-over conference, held every March in Atlanta, Georgia.

For now, I want to thank Tanya and Dervla for all their blood, sweat, and tears running this conference. As a voice actor, I learned so much, and I deeply appreciate the hard work they put into building this wonderful community.

A Day In the Life of a Voice Actor

September 5, 2022 by Leah Arscott

As a diverse millennial voice actor for almost four years, I often get asked by friends, family, creative directors, and producers about a typical day. Do I work around the clock? Do I voice animation? Is it exhausting? I’m happy to share a typical day in the life of a voice actor.

Creating Good Voice-Over Habits

Each day starts differently depending on priorities. A typical work day starts with waking up and checking my phone for urgent emails. After sifting through the requests, I get up, wash and brush my teeth, and I like to splash my face with cold water. After getting dressed, I start my day with a glass of warm water with lemon. Sometimes I will add 1 tsp of baking soda or have a glass of warm water with Apple Cider Vinegar. I find that brushing my teeth leaves my mouth sort of dry, which translates to mouth clicks and sticky sounds that resonate in the microphone. This concoction alleviates the feeling of stickiness. These three drinks are suitable for general health, immunity, cleansing your liver, and eliminating mucous in your throat.

Next, I’ll have another glass of warm water and add 2 tbsp of flax meal. This drink is loaded with nutrients to start my day, rich in fiber, and high in omega-3 to aid in concentration. It helps reduce high blood pressure and stabilizes blood sugar. Both drinks give me a great start to my day, which helps me to wake up! Next, I will make myself a green or black tea with a bit of caffeine to wake me and my voice up. I notice that my voice is at its best around 10:00 a.m., so I try not to schedule directed sessions until that time. Fortunately, many casting directors, video producers, and agents are on Central Standard Time or Pacific Standard Time, and I am based in Eastern Time.

Let’s Hit Those Voice Over Emails

I then head to my office to review my earlier emails. If clients are looking for a response, I get back to them immediately. If a client or agent is looking for an audition, I put those at the top of my to-do list. Once I have addressed the crucial emails, I log into my online casting sites. Currently, I am registered on voices123 and voices.com. I will check both accounts to see if I have any messages from clients looking for an audition, a pick-up, or a general inquiry. Then I review the auditions on the platform and prioritize them by budget, time frame, or deadline.

Warm-Up-Time is Vital in the Life of a Voice Actor

Once my emails are out of the way, I warm up my voice. Usually, I give myself 5 minutes to warm up. It can be a combination of voice exercises, blowing through a straw, singing or even doing push-ups, stretching, or going for a quick morning walk. Anything to move around those muscles to ease any stiffness that may have occurred during the night.

Online Auditions for Casting Sites

Once I’m warmed up and feeling limber, I start to audition! I usually try to knock out 10-30 auditions a day, depending on my schedule but I find auditioning a good warm-up for any jobs I have to record later that day. I then go into my voice-over booth and record 7-8 auditions. I will say the name of the job in the microphone and let the recorder run so that later when I split the files and edit, I know which audition I have recorded. After I’ve recorded the files, I will sit back at my desk and begin editing. It takes about 10 minutes or so to edit 7-8 files.

Voice-Over Agent Auditions

I will review my agent auditions again and spend time dissecting those scripts. Agent auditions are incredibly competitive, so it requires total concentration for auditions. Agent auditions take a little longer to record, as you want to get it right, so I will record a few takes and try to sound perfect and unique. I also add a slate at the beginning or end, then one second of silence, then the take. If two takes are requested, I’ll leave a second of silence in between each take. I try to create two takes that sound distinct from each other to demonstrate range. Once I am happy, I submit it.

Essential Break Time

After an hour or so of auditioning, I will have breakfast, take a short break and head back to my office. I will review again if there are any auditions to do urgently. If not, I will begin recording any jobs I have for the day. I used to leave recording jobs at the end of the day but felt my energy was low, and it was difficult to give it my effort, so I found recording jobs around 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. the best for my attention and energy.

Voice Over Auditions Genre Breakdown

There are different patterns, flows, and rhythms for performing each genre. Voice over coaching has taught me to switch rhythms like a musician to provide a professional recording. I have gone from a crazy character in one breath to a corporate voicemail recording in the next. Most of the auditions I do daily are for:

Scheduling Marketing into the Life of a Voice Actor

Once I have completed my auditions and jobs for the day, it’s around 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. I am continually checking email for anything urgent, so it’s time to do it again. Then I start working on market projects while eating my lunch. I review my CRM for clients I need to reach out to and check my Linkedin and Facebook to accept connection requests.

This is the time of day when I feel I can relax a bit. I put on some music to help me relax, concentrate, or get pumped up if I’m tired. I am such an oxymoron with my music range. I will play Binaural Beats, Classic or Coffee-Shop Jazz, Chill House, R&B, and LoFi-hip hop if I’m in a chill/concentration mood. Or Deep House, ’90’s-2000s mix, Tropical House, Summer Mix, The Beatles, Soul Music, or Elvis if I’m looking for a pick-me-up.

After an hour or two of marketing, my brain is exhausted. I will finish by heading outside if the weather is nice and relaxing on my hammock in the backyard. Sometimes I listen to a voice-over, business, or health podcast to relax my mind. In the winter, I may relax by watching TV or doing a workout.

Variations on a Day in the Life of a Voice Actor

Some days instead of email marketing, I will focus on other tasks such as social media engagement, collecting payments, bookkeeping, and writing blogs for my website. I recheck my email in the evening, around 9-10:00. I review my online casting sites once more to see if anything else urgent, such as a private audition or an agent audition, has come in. If I have enough energy, I will quickly jump into my booth and record the audition.

Then I shut off the computer and don’t think about VO until the next day! I hope this small glimpse into a day in the life of a voice actor accurately and interestingly demonstrates my job as a professional, diverse millennial voice actor. What does a typical day look like for you?