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My Inspirations in Voice-Over

May 23, 2023 by wadmin

If you had told me six years ago that I would be a full-time voice actor I would have never believed you.

I have worked in the corporate world for over 20 years, and throughout that time I was taught that the more secondary education you had the more successful you will become. With that mindset, I aimed to work for the largest companies, the most professional and took as many courses as possible I could get my hands on in order to stay diverse and competitive in my respected industries.

Although these positions did provide stable income, there was always a creative side that I craved so badly within these positions. I tried very hard to think of different and interesting ways to make my job more exciting and creative. Whether than came from purchasing bright highlighters to make my work notes look more appealing, using different colours in my spreadsheets, or thinking of new and interesting ways to engage with my staff or to lead meetings, I was always searching for something.

Enter Voice-over! A good friend of mine told me about voice over, and for four months I researched everything I could about the industry before jumping in. Throughout my career thus far, there have been certain individuals that have helped me personally with my trajectory in voice-over and some that I admired from afar. Today I will speak a little more about my influences that have helped me become the diverse, contemporary and millennial voice actor that I strive to be.

Joan Baker

Joan Baker is a legend in the VO world. She is known as one of New York’s premier voice actors. She has won countless awards as a voice actor, on-camera host and producer. Joan also plays a pivotal role helping to host the SOVAS awards which is likened to the Oscars in the VO world. She and her husband work tirelessly at promoting voice over, recognizing talent in their credited fields and is a integral influencer in our industry. Although, I have never personally met Joan in person. I view Joan as the Diana Ross meets Beyonce of the VO world. Following her line of work has motivated me personally as a BIPOC woman #slay! Joan’s accolades are encouraging and inspiring to me as an ethnic and diverse woman.

https://sovas.org/joan-baker/

J. Michael Collins

J. Michael Collins is the OG of the VO World. With over 25 years of experience, JMC (as he is more commonly known to those in the biz) has worked with countless #1 brands, sports teams and organizations on the planet.

JMC brings a subject matter expert essence to the voice over industry speaking as a main point of resource for all things pertaining to voice over industry trends and statistics. I have heard JMC speak at voice over conferences and when he presents, all actors are left hanging on his every word as he speaks with incredible credibility and trustworthiness.

I have worked with JMC twice in my career thus far. He and his counterpart AJ McKay, as I refer to as the Lennon/McCartney of the Voice-over world work tirelessly at producing the most awarded demos in the industry. They wrote my Commercial and In-Show Narration demo scripts as well as directed and produced both demos. I was grateful to have received an award for the Commercial demo, which was recorded in a record-breaking 23 minutes from start to finish. That’s what a great director can do!

This suit-wearing, lobster-eating phenom recently has taken on the enormous task of producing VO Atlanta, the industry’s longest-running voice-over conference. There’s nothing JMC can’t do and I’m here to see just what he will accomplish next.

https://www.jmcvoiceover.com/

Marc Scott

Marc Scott is my opinion is the Joe Rogan of the Voice-Over world. Listening to this podcast is an integral part of my voice-over business and without his words and wisdom and “keeping it real” I would never have stuck it out this long in the VO world.

Marc is a full-time professional voice actor based in South-Eastern Ontario, Canada and gives a unique, guy-next-door, down-to-earth approach to the voice over business. He is an expert in business. Marc is synonymous with BBQ, drinking Dr. Pepper and wearing his favourite colour which is orange. His branding is spot-on, and we can all learn something from his marketing approach.

Each episode of his podcast Everyday VOpreneur is chalk-full of resources, tips and ideas to get your business where you want it. And if you’re ever having a down day, his advice will always fill your preverbal “VO cup”. Don’t forget to check out his courses on LinkedIn Marketing, Nimble and the VO Marketing Playbook, a coveted guide in how to market yourself in voice over.

https://www.marcscottvoiceover.com/

Elle-Ray Hennessy

Elle-Ray is a prodigy in the voice over world. She is Canadian voiceover royalty and has worked in the business of acting and voice acting for over 40 years performing in over 300 theatrical roles. Elle-Ray lives, breathes and emits drama. When you meet her, you will never forget it!

Have you ever taken of her world-renown animation classes? Drop everything and book one! You will leave a different human. Elle-Ray takes voice over to a spiritual level. Her uniqueness (and that’s a massive understatement) and eccentric coaching style pulls countless characters and emotions out that you never thought you had, and I guarantee that.

Elle-Ray beats to her own drum and that’s why we love her so much, also she loves the colour pink – my favourite colour!

https://www.elleyray.com/

Christy Fabbri

Christy Fabbri is the Gayle to my Oprah. Christy is a fellow voice actor from Canada that I met at the VO conference back in 2018. I recognized her from a popular play and play voice over audition website to which I yelled out “You’re Christy Fabbri from such and such website! You’re #1 on the website”. I think I must have embarrassed her in the moment, but that’s just Christy. She is the most humble and genuine person you’ll meet. She is a busy mom of three and kills it in the VO world. We exchanged numbers back in 2018 and not a week goes by without us talking about all things from VO to the industry as a whole, life, reality TV and all things in between. Coming into the VO world is a very solo endeavor but having a resource like Christy to answer all my VO questions has been a fundamental part of my business. I am proud of all the work she has accomplished and stay-tuned for an incredible podcast she and her husband are working on with award-winning actress Jessica Biel!

https://christyfabbri.com/

Dalal Sabra

Look-out world introducing Dalal Sabra. This fierce and ferocious French-Canadian voice talent is about to take the voice over industry by storm and I am here for the ride. Dalal and I also met at VO North back in 2018. I didn’t know anybody at the conference, but I saw this “punk looking” girl with one side of her head shaved and the other side with red hair and I thought “Ok. I got to sit next to her!” By the end of the weekend Dalal and I were attached at the hip bouncing business ideas off each other after every panel session. Dalal is a fierce animation goddess. There literally isn’t anything she can’t do. Animation is her passion and I know soon enough she will be living her dream of working on some big projects. She is an incredible actor, loves the craft and she inspires me every time we talk. She is the kind of person who is in this business for the right reasons.

https://www.dalalvoiceover.com/

Jodi Krangle

Jodi Krangle in my opinion is the workhorse of VO. She just gets things done! Jodi has been a voice actor for about 17 years and her accolades could put anybody to shame. There isn’t anybody who doesn’t want to work with Jodi.

I first heard of Jodi when we were on the same roster of a popular Toronto talent agent. I then realized we lived in the same small town and was so thrilled that someone so credible in the VO world lived so close to me. I have had the luxury of meeting up with Jodi and meeting at conferences and she is light years ahead in the VO world and always provides reliable advice that I appreciate so dearly.

Jodi is at the forefront of what’s new in the VO world. She is also the host of an award-nominated Voiceover podcast where she focuses on Sound in the marketing industry, very cool! Her marketing and branding are direct, clear and so consistent it puts most of us to shame.

https://voiceoversandvocals.com/

There are so many other inspiring voice actors and coaches, agents that I wish I could include but please know that each and every one of you in the business help to make this industry one of the most unique and enjoyable industries to be a part of. Thank you!

What to Do When Voiceover Work is Slow

April 7, 2023 by wadmin

When working every day, there can be busy times and slow times. The odd day of no voiceover work can feel amazing, allowing you to relax and rest. But when the days and weeks pass with little to no work, it can leave you anxious, bored, or unproductive. Recently, there have been drastic changes in the economy, which can affect most areas of business. Hence, it’s essential to have a plan of attack when it occurs.

When work is slow for an extended period, sitting back and waiting for things to pick up can be very tempting. However, this can be a missed opportunity to improve your skills and work on essential tasks you need time for. As a diverse, millennial, and contemporary voice actor, there are weeks where it is so busy I can barely keep up and weeks where nothing seems to be coming in. Here are some tips on what to do when work is slow.

Review Your Voiceover Work Calendar and Prioritize Tasks

The first thing you should do when work is slow is to review your current workload and prioritize your tasks. This will help you determine which tasks are the most important and which can be put on hold. You may not have been using your time wisely. Could you delegate some of the work to a friend or hire a virtual assistant? Many creatives use these methods to assist in lead generation. By prioritizing your workload, you can focus on what needs to be done and ensure you are not wasting time on low-priority tasks.

Take the Opportunity to Learn New Skills

It is an excellent opportunity to learn new skills to help you in your job or career. You can take online courses, attend webinars, or read books to improve your marketing, project management, and communication skills. LinkedIn and Skillshare are two popular platforms hosting hundreds of courses relevant to your industry.

Because voiceover is a creative industry, having other interests outside of your line of work is critical. Learning other creative hobbies can allow you to think outside the box and indirectly benefit your own industry. Not only will this help you become a more valuable employee or entrepreneur, but it can also make you more attractive to potential employers.

Organize Your Voiceover Work Area

A slow period can be a great time to organize your workspace and eliminate clutter. When things are busy at work, cleanliness can fall to the waste side. A clean and organized workspace can help you stay focused and be more productive when work picks up again. You can also take the time to make sure all of your files and documents are properly labeled and stored, making it easier to find what you need when you need it. In my business, the times of the year when I usually find it slower are during the summer months and the last two weeks of the year during the holidays. These are times when I typically clean out and reorganize my office.

Network With Colleagues and Clients

It is also a good idea to network with your colleagues and clients during slow periods. You can set up coffee meetings or lunches to catch up and discuss potential projects or opportunities. This can help you build stronger relationships and potentially lead to new business or projects in the future. As previously mentioned, the last two weeks of the year tend to be slow, and many take time off during the holidays. This is a great time to write a card to your clients thanking them for their business during the last year or even drop them an email or a LinkedIn Message.

During the summer months, I aim to call my clients on the phone and have a personal conversation that can be very beneficial to keeping that personal contact. Every touch point with a client is a chance to help them remember you and your talent.

Develop New Ideas and Strategies

Another productive way to spend time during a slow period is to develop new ideas and strategies for your business or department. You can brainstorm new products or services, think of ways to improve current processes or develop marketing or sales strategies. This can help you be more prepared when work picks up again and ensure your business is always moving forward.

I do this again during the winter break to consider my business goals for the upcoming year. I also brainstorm with other voice actor friends in my industry as well. Sharing your goals with others can help you think out of the box, and you may devise a new plan you never thought of.

When voiceover gigs are few, it is important to use time wisely and make the most of it. By prioritizing your workload, learning new skills, organizing your workspace, networking with colleagues and clients, and developing new ideas and strategies, you can ensure that you are staying productive and setting yourself up for success when work picks up again.

Why Hire a Professional Voice Actor

March 13, 2023 by wadmin

Congratulations! You have been commissioned by your place of employment to acquire a voice talent for your team’s latest project. This shouldn’t be too difficult of a task. If you are in this position, you may think, “What steps will I take to complete this assignment, and most importantly, whose voice will I use?” As a diverse, contemporary, millennial voice actor, I’m familiar with the options to hire a professional voice actor for their next work project.

The In-House Staff Option

The easiest way to find a voice for your work project would be to use someone in your office. That shouldn’t cost much, and management should be happy to save some money. How about Bob from H.R. Bob has a good voice, doesn’t he? He speaks with a low clear tenor voice that I think would sound great over a corporate explainer video.

This is the popular choice for many companies – usually small companies. They often don’t see the value in hiring a professional voice or don’t have the budget to do so. They may use whoever can quickly read a script and record it on low-budget software.

Sure, Bob may have a nice speaking voice, but does he know how to use it correctly for voice-over purposes? Customers and clients are smarter than you think and can catch on very quickly if the voice they are listening to is unprofessional, which may leave a negative impression on your company.

Can Artificial Intelligence Pass for a Professional Voice Actor?

We live in the 2020s, and over the last 25-30 years, we have seen more technological advances than ever before. Most of these innovations have made a great impression on our lives, so much so we cannot imagine living without them. Computers, tablets, smartphones, and electric vehicles have changed our lives. These devices can save time and money and lessen your carbon footprint by monitoring and saving energy. Yet, with the influx of robots and computers today overtaking our society, it can also have a negative impact. When was the last time you made a phone call to a company and got a real live human on the line to hear your concerns regarding an issue? Do you like to scan and bag all your own groceries?

Since the early 2000s, the voice over industry has been talking about the threat of artificial intelligence taking over. Each year at conferences, there is usually a live panel discussion on AI. And each year, we feel nervous and afraid that robots will destroy our business. As you read, there is a new host of AI voices popping up as advertisements on YouTube. In my opinion, and I think you’d agree, they still sound robotic and quite cold.

Top Reasons to Choose a Professional Voice Actor

Credibility is key, and by using a professional, your company will come across as authentic and trustworthy to your customers. Bob from HR may have a nice speaking voice, but that is only a fraction of what it takes to be a good voice actor. Still, it’s painfully obvious when an AI voice has been used. The robotic voices can’t inflect correctly, use proper grammar, and produce odd pauses in places that don’t seem natural. You only have a fraction of the time to hook a customer, and if you don’t come across as credible, that customer or client may go to the competition.

A Professional Voice Actor Leads to Engagement

Have you ever taken an eLearning course where the instructor’s voice made you want to fall asleep? I have, and that has happened more than once. Listening to a disengaging voice can make or break your ability to finish an eLearning course as well as pass the course. If your staff is not engaged, they may miss important material required to complete it. That could waste time and money for your company.

Get your Message Across With Clarity

Anybody can read, but a professional voice actor can relay your information quickly and bring life to your message. A professional voice can help your clients believe what they are saying. They know how to use techniques like modulation, timing, rhythm, and pitch to make the most out of the words and phrases. They can invigorate the script, so the words jump off the page and into the minds of the listener. The human voice is very powerful, and when used properly, it can instill change in behavior or attitude. It can also spotlight your call to action and draw the listeners toward the goal of the script. It is in your company’s best interest to use a voice that will make a difference.

Save Time and Money with a Professional Voice Actor

Some companies rely on purchasing their own recording hardware and software for creating voiceovers. This can give them a leg up on the quality of the produced voice. However, unless the person knows how to read correctly, edit correctly, and upload the file correctly, it could become more of a headache. When I started in the industry, it took me months to feel comfortable performing and editing my files. I had to learn the software to deliver a quality product.

Most voice actors have their own equipment, such as a home studio, and they can efficiently produce a project for you. With everything you need in one talented professional, it’s a better overall investment. If you’d like to learn more about how a voice actor can help make your projects sound professional, email me anytime!

The Challenges of Being a VO Entrepreneur

February 15, 2023 by wadmin

As a diverse and contemporary voice actor, I appreciate that I can set my schedule and work from anywhere, anytime, with unlimited earning and learning potential. I answer only to myself, and there is no glass ceiling. However, there are some VO entrepreneur challenges you may face.

Time Management

One challenge of being an entrepreneur is managing your time. Many business owners feel they could accomplish a lot more if they didn’t have to wear so many hats. Because of the inability to manage time, it is common for business owners to burn out quickly and become less productive.

VO Entrepreneur Challenges With Budgets

Sole entrepreneurs typically have a smaller budget to work with daily as the money for their business is also for life. Larger companies receive money from wealthy investors, which allows them to have more flexibility with marketing costs, investments, and other business expenditures. That perspective only works when there’s money to play with. To get started in a creative industry such as voice over, you need a fair amount of technology.

When I began my career, I made a budget in advance that included all the potential materials I’d need, and I priced out various models to see which would fit my budget. I purchased a Rode NT1 microphone, a Scarlett solo pre-amp, an XLR cable, a microphone stand, studio foam for noise dampening, and voice-over software. I decided to choose a decent beginner microphone that would allow me to grow into my business. I’m thrilled I made that decision because my equipment let me compete from the beginning. My clients, such as creative directors and producers with many years of experience, took me seriously and knew I had quality equipment to give me an edge over beginners.

Finding New Business

Another challenge of being a millennial sole business owner is lead generation. You may feel forced to find new leads and bring in new business. The goal of your business would be to follow the infamous Pareto principle. That is the 80/20 rule which states that 80% of your income comes from 20% of your clients. Once you’ve grown into your business, it is essential to keep your existing clients happy by maintaining those relationships strong. If so, they will continue working with you and assisting in your overall financial success.

VO Entrepreneur Challenges in Delegating Tasks

I perform 90% of all tasks in my voice over business. I understand the benefits of delegating tasks to others, but I’m not quite there yet. Some everyday tasks are lead generation, data entry, bookkeeping, social media marketing, and digital marketing. These are essential tasks that can aid in easing stress from the business owner.

Balancing Tasks

Being forced to do it all can be very difficult for most entrepreneurs. It’s not common for one person to love all the tasks involved in running a business. Different personalities are better suited to various positions, and being a master of all can be challenging. In my example, I love the art of voice over. The creativity element excites me, and I like marketing. I find it enjoyable to know that my next big project or client could be around the corner.

One of my least favorite tasks is collecting money. I worked in collections in a former position, and it was tedious to remind clients to pay, track down the payment, and confirm it was received. In my voiceover business, it remains a laborious task. Pay-and-play platforms make tracking payments easier as they have a Sure Pay system to ensure that the money is in escrow. Yet, having to fund your own business means you need to confirm how and when you will be getting paid, and sometimes it can be awkward to follow up if the client has not paid they’re difficult to locate.

Preparing for VO Entrepreneur Challenges

Being an entrepreneur can be very rewarding yet come with its challenges. Understanding the potential issues, you may face will help you prepare for what may come and make it easier to handle difficult situations. Ultimately if you are up for the challenge of being an entrepreneur, do your research, set a budget, and be prepared for hard work but a great payoff.

Rising Above a Voiceover Creative Slump

February 6, 2023 by wadmin

Do you work in a creative industry and tend to feel pressure to be innovative? Are you an on-camera talent or voice actor having trouble booking work because you are in a creative slump? Well, I have good news for you. We have all been there, so here are some exciting and diverse tactics to get out of your voiceover creative slump.

To have the ability and luxury of working in a creative field is something many people dream of. This may be because they need help finding a creative job that provides financial stability. I never had the luxury of working in a creative industry for the first half of my life, although I tried to be innovative in my administrative jobs. My supervisors knew I had a creative knack and tried their best to accommodate me, but most of my previous jobs have been pushing paper.

Inspiring Change in Your Voiceover Creative Slump

If your job requires creative thinking, consider yourself lucky and grateful. To be creative is a skill that many need to possess. Most of us live a very routine life, generally doing the same tasks daily, and while some are ok with that, some are not. Although many like routine, others prefer to use their five senses to see, hear, smell, taste, or touch new and exciting things. Isn’t that what life is all about?

Trying New Creative Tactics

Although working in a creative industry allows you to enjoy your work by thinking outside the box, sometimes, we can find ourselves in a rut. We may have used our best ideas and cannot think of more. Authors often call this writer’s block. Experiencing a creative block is normal, and there are tactics to use to break this cycle. They can recharge your creative juices and encourage overall happiness and fulfillment in your career.

Get Out of Your Regular Routine

This is the simplest way to get out of a creative slump. It could be as simple as changing the order in which you do your daily routine. Once you’ve changed your brain, you may experience a new and creative thought or idea.

Stop Grinding Away in a Voiceover Creative Slump

You won’t have the luxury of completely walking away from your current position; that isn’t what we mean here. Sometimes you need to step away from a situation temporality, even for just a few minutes, to see things differently. You could turn off your computer for an hour, go for lunch, take a walk, or chat with a co-worker. This could be all you need for your creativity to return.

Brainstorm & Collaborate

Trying various forms of brainstorming is an excellent way to get out of a creative slump. Different methods include mind mapping, star bursting, rapid ideation, role-storming, or word association. There are many ways to release new brainstorming techniques, which could lead to creative thinking. My favorite method of brainstorming is to do so with other peers, as they could pull out various ideas and thoughts that could lead your team down a beautiful road of creative thinking.

Rest and Rejuvenate

Similar to point two, get some rest. Rest will allow the brain to be in default mode. In this restful state, your brain becomes more flexible and novel. Experts think this is then when the creative lightbulb moments occur. It helps to switch on your divergent thinking. Meditation is also an excellent way to open the brain to think more creatively. Connecting to nature is a beautiful way to truly rest, which helps the brain come to a sense of calmness, allowing for more innovative thinking.

Travel or Review Past Trips

Travel is a beautiful way to get out of a creative slump. The world is diverse and full of various people, ages, cultures, and attitudes. Many ideas will occur once you leave your town, city, country, or continent. For example, many of us enjoy eating chicken. How many ways can we prepare chicken, three or four if we like to cook? If you were to vacation to another country, you would no doubt learn another 3-4 ways to prepare the same chicken. I have traveled to 29 countries to date, and during my younger days, I spent quite a bit traveling throughout Europe and the Caribbean.

I saw many exciting cultures, tasted many interesting foods, learned amazing dances, and met the most incredible people. I didn’t realize it then, but I was able to tap into so many resources that would help me later in my voiceover career. I picked up on different accents, which enabled me to audition. I can connect with my clients regarding their country and culture when interacting with them. I can think of creative ways to ad-lib in my auditions because I understand the target market of their country. I also know their culture’s business etiquette because I’ve interacted with their residents. These skills are invaluable, and I didn’t realize it then. I can’t speak enough about how important those years of travel were to my voiceover business.

Get Some Fresh Air & Exercise

Exercising is a wonderful way to boost creativity. Scientists believe that exercising can help boost endorphins which increase blood flow and can help to produce a happiness boost which helps fuel original or abstract thoughts. When I audition 20-30x a day, I repeat my methods, and my energy starts to fade. When this occurs, I turn off my computer, put on my shoes, and head for a 20-30 min walk. Upon arriving home, I feel awake and happier, with a sense of accomplishment. I jump back in my booth feeling confident, which always leads to a better, more realistic performance.

Do Something Inspirational to Rise Above a Voiceover Creative Slump

This one may seem obvious but try your hand at a creative activity. As a voice actor, I take coaching sessions with a class to hear other voice actors’ skills. You could take up painting, dancing, photography, cooking, singing, creative writing, gardening, or interior design; the list is endless. There are so many diverse activities one can do that will no doubt spark some creative synapsis in the brain.

It’s completely normal to fall into a creative slump at times, especially if we regularly work in a field that requires new and exciting ideas. If you fall into one of those modes, refer to the list above to help break the cycle and get you back to your unique, authentic creative self!

Benefits of Being a Voiceover Entrepreneur

February 4, 2023 by wadmin

Have you dreamed of starting your own business but need to know how to start it? Are you afraid of all the pitfalls that may come from getting started? Let’s discuss why it’s great to own a business and be a voiceover entrepreneur.

Searching for Opportunities

If you were to tell me ten years ago that I would be a business owner and an entrepreneur, I would have never believed you. Being a small business owner was never my life plan, and the idea seemed overwhelming, confusing, and scary. I have always worked with reputable companies such as Sears, Guess, Allstate, Oracle, and the Canadian Government.

I tried to seek jobs at larger companies because they had paid training, paid time off, benefits, pensions, etc. Although working with a large company has its perks, life has an exciting way of shaking things up. I always appreciated working for a large company and loved the camaraderie with my co-workers, the paid vacation time, and the stability. I never considered running my own business, but now that I am on the flip side, I see some great benefits to working for myself.

At one of my previous places of employment, a co-worker decided to quit her stable job and move to another company. My co-workers were shocked and awed that she would ever consider leaving, and there was quite a bit of chatter behind the scenes about her decision. Even I got caught up wondering why she would leave such a stable job. During that time, my friend at work said, “Leah, you know there is life outside these walls, right?” Many people who don’t work here lead very normal, happy, successful lives. This may not be the best place to work.” Those words fell on deaf ears back then but ring true now.

Becoming a Serious Voiceover Entrepreneur

When I started in voiceover, it was just a side hustle for me with no real intention of turning it into a full-time gig. To my surprise, after a lot of hard work, it has turned into a very stable career. As someone who loves financial stability, betting on myself was scary, and I mean terrifying. I was laid off from my job during the Covid 19 pandemic, and my best option was to make voiceover work. After trusting the process, all worked out very well, and I have come to have a whole new appreciation for being my own boss.

In my previous work life, I would wake up early and didn’t get the recommended hours of sleep each night. I often found myself stressed with the week’s priorities, always watching the clock to ensure I arrived on time, took breaks and lunches, and never left early. My weekly 1:1’s were full of anxiety, not to mention all the office politics. The staff was friendly, and it was mostly a positive work environment.

The Benefits of Being a Voiceover Entrepreneur

The benefits of being a voiceover entrepreneur have been incredible. Although nothing in life is perfect, being an entrepreneur is worth the challenges. My favorite things about working for myself include the following:

Making my own schedule: This is my favorite thing about working for myself. You absolutely can NOT put a price on time, and making my schedule brings me joy daily. I don’t take this for granted. I can wake up when I want, work when I want, take days off when I want, and plan a vacation anytime. I don’t feel guilty when I want to sleep in. I listen to my body and perform better because I am rested and ready to do my best.

Work from anywhere, anytime: The beauty of voiceover in the digital age is that most artists can work from home. How amazing is that? In the golden age of voiceover, you had to live near a large urban city and travel to the studio to audition and record work. We need a professional home studio and good WIFI, and we can work from anywhere. I recently heard a success story of a voice actor who retro-fitted her van and works from all over the continental US. How amazing is that? One of my dreams would be to spend winters in Aruba. I’d have a studio in my home in Canada and a studio there. I’ll have to manifest that one.

Unlimited earning and learning potential: Working for myself has taught me much about business and other fantastic life skills. I only learned what was tailored to my role in other jobs, but now I am competent in the following:

Accounting
Collections
Forecasting
Marketing
Search engine optimization (SEO)
Lead generation
Customer service
Audio editing and recording
Acting
Improv
On-camera auditions
eLearning
IVR
Commercial acting
Leadership
Problem-solving
Communication
Media production
Social media marketing
And much more!

It would not be easy to learn all those skills in one position. I’m only five years into my business, and I can’t wait to see what other skills I will add as my voiceover business grows.

Answering only to myself: At my old jobs, I had to ask permission and get approval for days off, vacation time, or even taking a break. Now, I am the boss and accountable, and there is a lot of freedom in that.

Creative freedom: I can be as creative as I wish in my voiceover roles. In my line of work, creativity is vital and encouraged. I try to be as diverse as possible with the jobs I audition for daily. There is always room to play, laugh, have fun, and give as much energy as possible.

No glass ceiling: Working for myself, my opportunity to earn an income is up to me. It is directly related to how much time and effort I put into this. A significant amount of time in the audio booth is required to be successful at voiceover, so if I want to succeed, I have to work hard daily.

Start Your Journey as a Voiceover Entrepreneur

If you’re interested in learning more about working for yourself and being an entrepreneur, ask any of your friends or family about their experience. LinkedIn has some great courses to give you the encouragement you need to get started.