Hello Everyone,
Just wanted to use this day as kind of a diary to show people what I do.
Today, I got into my studio at around 12pm and here's the list
12pm-1:30pm Did 9 Voice123 Auditions and 17 Voices.com Auditions
1:30-2pm Break
2-3:30pm 3 Voices.com Auditions, 1 Paid Job Redo, Finished 2 Voices.com Jobs
3:30-4pm Breaked and Blogged right now
I plan on form 4-5:30pm working on a larger job that I also got from Voices that involved around 75 pages of work for a bible application.
NOTE: my audition numbers went up a LOT but only when I added middle-aged to my voice ability. I have gotten a few jobs that were labeled as middle aged. If you have the time to get probably 2 times as many auditions and you are sure you won't feel too overwhelmed, then I would recommend extending the age range a little. If you're pulling well in your age range or you get bogged down with auditions then stick with your guns. As for me, getting a few jobs is worth the extra auditioning.
Just got notification of 2 more jobs from voices, I'll try and combine them with the recording session for the bible app. I'm gonna try and finish by 5:30pm to head to my musical improv show at the Magnet Theatre at 7pm.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Voiceover Tip: Character Voice Creation
Hey All,
Sometimes we get video game auditions or cartoon auditions and we all kind of fall into that same old voice. First off, there's nothing wrong with something that works, but there is also something to be said about doing the same thing in YOUR voice.
With your voice, you have more free range, you have more emotion and you have lived in that voice more.
When you are faced with an audition that leaves you puzzled for voices, here's a few tips.
1) Change you FACE and hold that face during the entirety of the audition.
2) Change you MOUTH position throughout the audition.
3) Start with an emotion and EMOTE that to the point where you show it on your face.
4) Do an impression of a celebrity that you have no idea how to impersonate.
5) Improvise
6) Make noises in between sentences.
The first 4 will give you a distinctly YOU idea that will set you apart from people doing Simpsons voices. The last two will show people that you aren't just playing a character, you ARE a character and if you are living in a script, you can play within that script.
Hope this helps you all,
Happy hunting!
Sometimes we get video game auditions or cartoon auditions and we all kind of fall into that same old voice. First off, there's nothing wrong with something that works, but there is also something to be said about doing the same thing in YOUR voice.
With your voice, you have more free range, you have more emotion and you have lived in that voice more.
When you are faced with an audition that leaves you puzzled for voices, here's a few tips.
1) Change you FACE and hold that face during the entirety of the audition.
2) Change you MOUTH position throughout the audition.
3) Start with an emotion and EMOTE that to the point where you show it on your face.
4) Do an impression of a celebrity that you have no idea how to impersonate.
5) Improvise
6) Make noises in between sentences.
The first 4 will give you a distinctly YOU idea that will set you apart from people doing Simpsons voices. The last two will show people that you aren't just playing a character, you ARE a character and if you are living in a script, you can play within that script.
Hope this helps you all,
Happy hunting!
Monday, June 6, 2016
Audio Tips: Fun Strats for auditions
Hey Everyone,
I know it's been a while. I ended up recording an audition and wanted to use it as a tutorial for some people.
Here's a link. Enjoy
I know it's been a while. I ended up recording an audition and wanted to use it as a tutorial for some people.
Here's a link. Enjoy
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Simple Rules to Get and Keep New Clients
Hey All,
I wanted to give a few key rules to live by to keep those new clients.
Quick reminder, these are clients you WANT to keep. Sometimes as non-union vo artists we give people really good deals or maybe go below our paygrade to get a client. If you have one of those, it's best to really make sure they know your pay scale for future projects.
These rules are for those good clients, who pay your rate or more and don't ask for a bajillion retakes.
1) Get the job done ASAP.
Speed is one of the key factors that separate us from union actors. Most union jobs are done in studio and take days or weeks to complete. As a non-union actor, you have the ability to get things done quickly. Don't dilly dally around.
2) Make sure they know they get a round (or two) or pickups.
Saying something like, "If you need pickups, just message me." will go a long way to keeping the client on your side. It's tough to ask for something, especially if it's a client who has never worked with a vo actor. In the same way we hope not to be asked for a million retakes, they hope we won't charge them for every little thing. Make it clear that the job gets done when you're satisfied.
3) Be okay with pay AFTER the job.
A good client pays. I've had a 99.9% pay rate for all jobs. That .01% that didn't pay, I ended up chasing him down for it and he forgot because all my emails went to spam. Ugh. You will get paid, so being okay with the pay AFTER will go a long way to de-stress you.
4) Thank them before and after.
A good Vo artist is also a grateful vo artist. You want to have amazing customer service and that means excitement, fun, and gratefulness.
5) Keep in touch!
Every client you get, especially repeat clients. Put them into a database and maybe check back in once every 6-8 months. Say hello, talk about the big jobs you did and thank them for their business.
The best thing to do is be your own customer service representative. There will be times where you'll be lazy and get the jobs done later and later. It's okay, this happens. Sometimes we get overwhelmed. Just take a deep breath and realize you're doing something you love. Get the job done fast and move on to the next one.
Smile, breathe, and live your dream.
Take care everyone!
I wanted to give a few key rules to live by to keep those new clients.
Quick reminder, these are clients you WANT to keep. Sometimes as non-union vo artists we give people really good deals or maybe go below our paygrade to get a client. If you have one of those, it's best to really make sure they know your pay scale for future projects.
These rules are for those good clients, who pay your rate or more and don't ask for a bajillion retakes.
1) Get the job done ASAP.
Speed is one of the key factors that separate us from union actors. Most union jobs are done in studio and take days or weeks to complete. As a non-union actor, you have the ability to get things done quickly. Don't dilly dally around.
2) Make sure they know they get a round (or two) or pickups.
Saying something like, "If you need pickups, just message me." will go a long way to keeping the client on your side. It's tough to ask for something, especially if it's a client who has never worked with a vo actor. In the same way we hope not to be asked for a million retakes, they hope we won't charge them for every little thing. Make it clear that the job gets done when you're satisfied.
3) Be okay with pay AFTER the job.
A good client pays. I've had a 99.9% pay rate for all jobs. That .01% that didn't pay, I ended up chasing him down for it and he forgot because all my emails went to spam. Ugh. You will get paid, so being okay with the pay AFTER will go a long way to de-stress you.
4) Thank them before and after.
A good Vo artist is also a grateful vo artist. You want to have amazing customer service and that means excitement, fun, and gratefulness.
5) Keep in touch!
Every client you get, especially repeat clients. Put them into a database and maybe check back in once every 6-8 months. Say hello, talk about the big jobs you did and thank them for their business.
The best thing to do is be your own customer service representative. There will be times where you'll be lazy and get the jobs done later and later. It's okay, this happens. Sometimes we get overwhelmed. Just take a deep breath and realize you're doing something you love. Get the job done fast and move on to the next one.
Smile, breathe, and live your dream.
Take care everyone!
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
The Stats of Me 4%
Hey Everyone,
I consider myself a pretty decent voice over actor. I make my living through voice over. I, as of now, audition through v123 and voices.com. I get the occasional audition through my agent. I also get repeat business from older clients.
I checked my stats today on voices.com. I have AUDITIONED for 6800 jobs! Crazy right. I have gotten around 300 jobs. That is a whopping 4%.
I know what you're thinking, that's pretty bad. But, think about it. If i get about 15-20 auditions from voices a day. So, that calculates out to maybe 1-2 jobs from voices a week. That also doesn't have to be $100 jobs, those could be larger. I only have to work three weeks to get the yearly membership paid for.
If you add in V123, I may get 1 job every 2 weeks.
If you do that for say a year, you've got clients that may really like what you do and repeatedly use you.
So, as time goes on, I get more and more repeat jobs on top of the auditioned jobs and on top of the v123 auditioned jobs.
My point is, if you've done a hundred auditions and you haven't pulled. Keep trying. Get better at VO, take an acting class, try different directions, but keep DOING IT!
I'm pretty should that first 1000 of jobs were probably ones during that first two years.
Get that first job and CELEBRATE. Check your percentages and see if you're on track. 4% pays my rent, food, and improv. It takes time. You got this.
I consider myself a pretty decent voice over actor. I make my living through voice over. I, as of now, audition through v123 and voices.com. I get the occasional audition through my agent. I also get repeat business from older clients.
I checked my stats today on voices.com. I have AUDITIONED for 6800 jobs! Crazy right. I have gotten around 300 jobs. That is a whopping 4%.
I know what you're thinking, that's pretty bad. But, think about it. If i get about 15-20 auditions from voices a day. So, that calculates out to maybe 1-2 jobs from voices a week. That also doesn't have to be $100 jobs, those could be larger. I only have to work three weeks to get the yearly membership paid for.
If you add in V123, I may get 1 job every 2 weeks.
If you do that for say a year, you've got clients that may really like what you do and repeatedly use you.
So, as time goes on, I get more and more repeat jobs on top of the auditioned jobs and on top of the v123 auditioned jobs.
My point is, if you've done a hundred auditions and you haven't pulled. Keep trying. Get better at VO, take an acting class, try different directions, but keep DOING IT!
I'm pretty should that first 1000 of jobs were probably ones during that first two years.
Get that first job and CELEBRATE. Check your percentages and see if you're on track. 4% pays my rent, food, and improv. It takes time. You got this.
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