VO STRATEGY

Every Job Feeds Into the Next

I was recently interviewed for a college survey project about my career as a voice actor. This is the first time I’ve given an interview because of my VO work. Throughout the interview, I noticed most of my answers had a bent toward marketing and advertising. I hope I didn’t bore my interviewer too much by making the magical world of VO sound like a business 101 lecture. But there was one point I happened to make to that I wanted to explore.

Before Voice Over

I haven’t been a voice actor for very long (I went “full-time” back in October). Before, I was a wedding DJ, maintenance, audio engineer, server, bartender, HUD appraisal manager, IT tech, and graphic artist. As you may imagine, none of these industries have a ton of crossover. But, I’ve taken the skills and tricks I’ve learned from each of these jobs and applied them to my current endeavors.

This is what constructs my unique business approach: You may have sat down to a Pro Tools session in a studio, but have you ever replaced the carpet and tiles in that room? Have you been the delivery guy who brought you lunch? You’ve been a wedding guest, but have you been the valet, server, maitre’d, bartender, and/or DJ? While this may not seem relevant to voiceover, these experiences have shaped my outlook and informed how I approach challenges. I’ve sold myself as a DJ to brides for years, which taught me all the ropes as far as selling yourself goes. Improv skills help in that realm just as much as behind the mic, by the way.

Your Experiences Make You Who You Are

I couldn’t have built my own home studio without having learned construction on-the-job. I wouldn’t have appreciated the freedom and empowerment running my own business is without having sat in many offices on many boring days. Those memories are the catalyst for building a successful business. And let me tell you, it’s a hell of a good one.

Just Get Up Every Day and Do It

As I progress in my business, now every job feeds into the next by way of word of mouth or repeat business. Even my side hustles align: I’m performing a school assembly, acting in a short film, and producing Meanwhile, at the Skullbase. In five years, who knows? Maybe I’ll be discerning between audiobook work and IVR. A guy can dream.

Rex

Review: Voices.com One Month Subscription

PAY TO PLAYS, VOICE OVER REVIEWS

I did a fair amount of research into to Pay-to-play type sites available out there and VDC consistently came out atop its competitors. There is quite a lot of trepidation about the P2P model in general, and I can totally understand why. The idea of paying for leads, basically for the privilege of contacting clients, can feel a little unfair at first glance. However, I’ve come around on my thinking of the model and decided that it is worth the cost of admission.

Speed Up The Auditioning Process

Over the last three weeks, I’ve adjusted my approach significantly. When my account first activated, I spent hours auditioning, cutting each one together and sending them off one at a time. About ten hours later, I had auditioned for about fifteen different jobs. A couple days in I decided to filter by deadlines, take the ones that were ending that day, and record/edit all the auditions in one go and then send out the auditions. At this point I’d already drafted a cover letter template that I have barely altered since. This cut down the amount of time I spent auditioning dramatically.

Try, Learn, Repeat

After doing some more research, I changed my approach. I turned email alerts back on and auditioned for jobs as soon as they came out. This has definitely improved my ‘listen’ and ‘like’ rate. I’m now sitting at 93 jobs answered, 91 demo listens, 10 likes, and four jobs complete with a fifth one in process. While the money is still firmly in part-time territory, this means I’d earned enough in one month to pay for a yearlong subscription, which includes increased visibility on the site. I also have enough fodder to start cutting together demos specifically geared toward different types of jobs (internet, video games, business, etc). Once I have all of those in place, that should improve to book gigs without having to produce a custom demo for each job.

What is Your Voice Over Strategy?

Worth the price of admission? Well, that’s up to you.

While I was pessimistic about the chances of Voices.com working out originally, it has proven itself to be a great tool for finding VO gigs. I’ve been fortunate enough to garner the attention of a few clients within my wheelhouse, which, turns out, is video games. I’ve already had repeat clients, which is pretty mind-blowing considering I’ve been at this a little longer than three weeks. If you’re able to put the time in and quickly produce quality demos, Voices can absolutely work for you. Just know that it takes a flexible schedule (it is essential that you respond to jobs as quickly as possible, because they fill up fast) and a fair amount of work making auditions. The good news is, after making all those auditions, you can turn around and improve your hard marketing system whether they get you the job or not.

I never thought I could start my VO career with this much momentum. While VDC hasn’t been my only source for work (aiming for 35 different, consistent sources by next winter), it’s certainly been the biggest. It certainly seems like there’s room for growth with this model and I am looking forward to a fruitful year with them.

Rex

What Motivates You?

VOICE OVER ADVICE

I recently had a discussion with my wife about our respective places we find ourselves in our burgeoning new careers. We talked about everything from our fears and hesitations about the future to why we’re pursuing what we’re pursuing. Yes, there are things like bills and debt and years of schooling that have led to these decisions, but beyond the immediate needs a career (hopefully) provides for, there’s a desire inside us that, at least I’ve, never felt for an occupation before. Since starting my career in voice acting, I’ve discovered this little feeling in my stomach when I sit down to an audition recording session.

I was actually looking forward to what I was about to do.

I actually, gulp, liked my job! Yes, it’s very part time, it’s not really paying the bills, but it is generating income and it is the thing I’m most likely to associate with my name. Even though I’m a wedding DJ, an assistant to DC Magician Max Major, and a IT associate, voice acting is my trade. Instead of rattling off a half mumbled explanation of what I’m doing and what I really want to do, I get to introduce myself as a voice actor. ‘Nuff said.

Let Discipline Fill the Gaps Motivation Leaves

As a freelancer, your motivation will be the difference between flirting with a new concept and making it into your lifestyle. And yes, being a freelancer is a life choice, not just a career. Why do I sit in my basement all day, microphone in front of me, sending audition after audition after audition, then switching to networking and researching new markets while planning out new ways to get my name out in the world? It’s a ton of work and the benefits are not immediately felt. There’s plenty of room for depression to creep in when the phone doesn’t ring and the inbox remains empty for days, weeks, or even heaven forbid months on end. How do I stick through the bad times to get to the good, assuming the good days are out there?

The Company You Keep Makes You Who You Are

I was playing video games with a good friend and bandmate of mine the other day when he told me how inspirational my decision to become a voiceover talent was to him. It stopped me in my tracks. I get so caught in the day to day grind, the constantly evolving marketing strategies, the hunt for connections and friends of friends and potential clients that I rarely sit back and even listen to what work I have finished and put out into the world. It didn’t even really occur that what I do would even be recognized. When my wife told me the same thing later that night, I felt compelled to carry on if not for myself, than to be a positive example in my circle of friends.

Then there’s the love of the medium. I’ve been a huge fan of video games and cartoons since I was old enough to form memories. I was hooked on Atari since I was two years old. The first movie I ever saw in theaters was The Land Before Time. I guess I secretly always wanted to be a part of that world, even if that wasn’t obvious to me until fairly recently. And now that I am aware of that desire in myself, I’m hard pressed to think of something I’d feel prouder of than a great character in a great piece of work.

Love You You Do…

One final thought: during my office days, I used to be fond of saying ’40 hours a week is an awful lot of time to waste on something you hate doing’. Just a little matter-of-factly negativity to cement my poor attitude, but it’s true. And, at the very least, I don’t feel that way about my career anymore. Even when it’s more like 80 hours a week than 40. At the end of the day, I still get to call myself a voice actor.

-Rex

443.692.7260

voice@rexanderson.com

REX ANDERSON