Chuck wrote in and asked,
“I’m a voice actor looking for direction on pursuing this full time and just starting out.”
Mike and I both have made six-figures from our VO careers for almost the entire time we left radio. I say that only to let you know…this advice comes from what has worked for us.
I also preface these tips by saying that we both built our VO careers for years while in radio before we went full-time.
1| Have a STRONG VO foundation
There are no shortcuts. You have to build a great home studio, train to obtain the right performance skills, and learn the business side (know the industry standard rates, like the GVAA rate guide). You could jump in but without that foundation, it will either take way longer or you will not be able to sustain a full-time career.
2| Diversify Opportunities
This industry is very competitive. You can be talented but still not be able to go full-time due to the sheer volume of talent. You need to maximize the number of audition opportunities coming in. If most national casting directors receive 1,400 auditions, you can imagine your odds of booking even 1 of those in a year. This is why we recommend getting representation with agents, using reputable online casting sites, joining studio rosters and direct marketing. Once you have a stream of audition opportunities, I recommend training in different VO genres (throughout your career). For some reason, I always book audiobooks in June or July. This has been great because commercial VO is typically slower in those months, filling in the gaps of the slow season.
3| Operate Like a Gardener
I wish we could throw out seeds and always have fruits/vegetables year after year. Gardening doesn’t work like that and neither does VO. The reason I’ve been able to have a six-figure VO career every year is because I never stop planting and tending to my business. When I have space, I direct market, attend networking events, reach out on LinkedIn, etc. I also touch base with past clients. I try to stay top of mind. If you get into that habit, it becomes second nature. The best part is getting surprise emails out of the blue from people who want to book you for jobs or ask your agent specifically for you.
The biggest misconception about voiceover is that it’s easy money. The talent who view it as a small business are the ones who create a full-time, sustainable income. It’s not easy. I’m still constantly trying to learn how to do my business better but that excites me. I don’t want to be in a job where I’m on auto-pilot.
Regarding getting started – jump into a workshop and classes. It doesn’t even have to be with Atlanta Voiceover Studio but that’s where you start.
Thanks so much, Chuck!
