Have you ever felt frustrated about getting started in voice overs because you’ve heard the same people get all the work?
That’s the word on a lot of the voice over bulletin boards and social media and I want to put a stop to this right now.
It’s a myth and may even be a ploy by some mean spirited people looking to keep newcomers away. And if they’re not mean spirited, they’re just plain ignorant
I mean think about it.
There are over 10,000 commercial radio stations in the United States, each of them running about 5-20 minutes of commercials every hour. Do the math. That’s tens of thousands of commercials running on radio every day.
And that’s just radio!
There’s audio books, e-learning, video games, telephony. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Looking at a successful person, it might seem as if they are blessed by good fortune, connections or a special talent but what you aren’t seeing is how much they do behind the scenes to get the success they enjoy.
They say “success leaves tracks” and that’s the topic of this week’s Inside Voice Over video training blog.
Watch It Here Now
After you watch the video, I want to know your thoughts. Was this helpful? Write to me in the comments box. I want to learn what’s on your mind so I can support you and share your best practices.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments box. I want to read about what’s on your mind so I can support you and share your best practices.
To your voice over success,
Susan Berkley,
Founder, The Great Voice Company
P.S. Spend three days I the recording studio with me and my team to jump-start your voice over career! Our next Voice Over Bootcamp Recording Studio Immersion Experience in NYC is October 8-10 and it’s the last Bootcamp we’ll be doing this year. Get details here https://greatvoice.com/voice-over-events or call 800-333-8108.
Here are some comments from people who attended our April Bootcamp:
Real Coaching, Real Direction
“Susan’s program is phenomenal! Real coaching, real direction, and showing you how to stretch your natural gift of voice over. More importantly, sharing the mindset and what it takes to build the business. Thank you Susan and GVC!” Eddie Martinez, Manlius NY
Awesome People and Support
“The support received at the Boot camp was second to none! Susan and Adriana took all of their experience, wrapped it up into a fun and understandable package and gifted it to us! After working with them, I have the confidence to move forward and take the steps necessary to own my own life. I can’t say Thank you enough for what they provided me!” Julianne Thornton, Warwick, RI
An Action-Packed Blueprint!
“I found the Voice Over Immersion over this past weekend a remarkable, action packed blueprint for marketing my Voice Over business and deepening my understanding of the creative work for voice talent. As an actor, I was humbled by the process and inspired by the growth. The entire Great Voice Company team each brought a vital piece to imparting these gems!” Beth Kucharczyk, Garden City, NY
Susan, thank you for thinking of me. I was awake waiting for your email. Itjust so happens i was at a reception talking to an over the hill agent. You know the guy who was in the business but got out? He was talk that stuff. I was getting bored so i told him, you know, there is loads of VO work to do but everybody is in the same line for popular jobs. I told him if people got into different lines for jobs there would be enough work. Then we were interrupted by someone who wanted to show how cute they looked. I am making new business cards like my woman told me.
Go for it EP. Thanks for writing! Susan
Susan,
Thanks so much for the encouragement. Head down, keep running, eyes on the prize, correct the course and the results will come.
My best to you,
Stephen
Exactly Stephen. We all love to talk so less talking, more doing! Thanks for writing- Susan
Very helpful – the voice of encouragement! a “get up and do it” piece.
Glad I inspired you, Tina. Thanks for writing Susan
Thanks Susan!
Yes, I can see how folks get caught up in that type of myth, but I think once you book a spot, and then another and another, that feeling fades away.
It takes a lot of hard work and as you mentioned persistence, and eventually you book that spot that is just for YOU. I booked a spot in Feb, then another in March and so that was great. But you have to keep at it ALL the time. Preparation, Preparation, Preparation.
Thanks for your words of encouragement.
Hi Saundi- Thats great news! Congrats on your bookings. Thanks for letting me know and keep up the great work- Susan
It’s great getting info from you. I have been bedridden for 78 days after breaking both my feet in a 25 ft. fall off a ladder trimming palm trees. I have plenty of time on my hands. Anything to look at or read is great ! Hope you are all having a great day ! Sincerely Ken Brown
Oh no, Ken!! I’m so sorry to hear that. Wishing you a speedy recovery and glad I can keep you company-
Susan
Susan, thank you for this video training blog and all other videos preceding it – they are always immensely helpful and I feel, generous on your part to share such valuable knowledge.
This is a good one especially because you made me aware of something going on in the industry that I wasn’t aware of. I agree that there is always room for new talent in any industry, so thank you for taking the fear out of something that might scare a lot of people.
As a freelance publicist, I always told my clients who asked with concern, “Why would the Today Show want another at-home-entertaining-expert when they feature so many?” My response was usually exactly for that reason – because you are YOU and not the person the Today Show had on last month and you bring something new to the table. Look at the music industry – always room there for a newbie who has talent. You just have to find your niche – your piece of the pie because it’s there for the taking if you look for it. You may not (or….maybe!) the voice of a Disney cartoon, but you can make really good money once you find your niche and hone it perfectly.
Thank you again Susan!
-Georgianna
Thanks for writing Georgianna,,,yes, the search for the right niche can take some persistence, but the journey is so much fun! Susan
Thank you for simplifying the perspective of 80/20. I needed that as I know I’m a hard worker but aggressive so even I can do this Voice Over work. Points me in to being more focused and to go for it.
Gary F. Restall
Massachusetts
Happy to hear that, Gary. Glad I inspired you! Susan
Dear Great Voice Over Company,
I am a graduate of a GVOC bootcamp (about 8-9 years ago) and subsequently have spent some time and money getting private instruction in Manhattan. It seems through these experiences that I’m always “getting ready to get ready”. Where’s the end game?
Like many I have a gift form God and I hate hearing from people just how great I sound, especially from people I meet for the first time. So lately I just say thank you and I thank God and move on. I wish I had the finacial means to study full time but…
My voice grows deeper as I age and I take care to live a very healthy lifestyle, but I’m not getting any younger.
Thanks for taking a min. to read this, would love some feedback. Kind Regards, Frank
Hi Frank- good to hear from you again. I get it- sometimes it feels more comfortable to keep honing our skills rather than making the leap into something as challenging as marketing –but that’s what separates the winners from the losers in voice over. I’d hate to see you give up and would like to encourage you to make the effort to learn the new skills of the business of voiceover and put it into practice. Good luck with it and if we can help, just let us know. Dig out that Bootcamp workbook…there’s a great roadmap in there to follow- Susan
thank you for the encouragement!!!
Hi Susan,
…Getting caught up after a busy 3 weeks.
I was part of the great Bootcamp a couple years ago. Anyone that hasn’t attended this? You’re missing out on a great opportunity.
Susan, can you remind me of a few software options for tracking customer activity? Some of the big names in sales tracking seem to be bigger and more involved than what I need.
Can you share an idea or two? Anything new out there?
Thanks for everything!
Brad Hyland