BEGINNER
One of the biggest hurdles beginner voice actors face is saying NO to low paying jobs. You’re happy with whatever you can get at the beginning, and it feels SO good to have paying gigs. However, as your business grows, you have less time. You can’t make more time but you CAN make more money by charging more.
Moving from low paying clients to higher paying clients will help you get to that six figure mark faster. Your workflow will be better too. “You get what you pay for” also relates to the other side. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I’ve discounted my rate for a client, it’s been such a hassle. The job always takes twice as long, there are twice as many issues, and it also makes me work twice as hard.
ADVANCED
Let’s break it down.
GOAL = $100,000/year
52 weeks in a year, minus time off/holidays, let’s say 47 official work weeks
$100,000 divided by 47 weeks = $2,127.65
This means you’d need to bring in $2,127.65 each week. Let’s break it down even further.
$2,127.65 divided by 5 days = $425.53 each day
The goal would be to book a VO job each day worth at least $425.53. Seems a little more realistic, huh?
Now figure out your personal booking ratio. How many VO jobs do you book out of how many VO opportunities?
Finally, determine how many VO opportunities you’d need to have PER DAY so that your booking ratio is equal to about $425.53 per day?
If this part got too complicated for you, don’t worry. This part doesn’t have to be precise. Even an estimated number is fine.
THIS is where the action comes in, though!
You determine you need to have 20 VO audition opportunities per day to book enough jobs for that average of $425.53 per day. Right now, you’re only getting 10 opportunities per day. What action can you take to increase the number of opportunities?
Do you feel like your math teacher just gave you a problem to solve?! I know it’s a lot of math but it helps you to create a specific goal that you are in control of! You can’t control whether a creative director will choose your voice for a project but you can control what you do for your VO career every day.
I know this works because it changed my career a long time ago. My voice has never been one of those “IN” voices or one “WITHOUT COMPETITION.” My career has not magically happened. It’s been hard work and dedication every day. I tell you that to encourage you that it’s possible for you too!
