As always, it’s too long between entries. This one will jump back a year because the end of 2015 marks one full year working in the voice over industry. At the end of 2014 I had enough money in the bank to last me a good 6 months. I know that many people would need much more than that in order to justify a “leap of faith” but it was now or never for me. Things had been going in a steady upwards pace for over 2 years and I didn’t see it slowing down! So leap I did, carrying the momentum I started to feel. I have to tell you, it was a scary, freeing experience that first month. But signs that I did the right thing were popping up everywhere. My new demo sounded amazing, I landed my wonderful Agency, SBV, 3 months later I booked my first big union job with McDonalds, and I started to become so busy that after the 5th month I started to think to myself.. This better keep working because I no longer have time for a second job!
Perhaps you wonder, “Well, how do you know you’re ready to quit the day job?” To be honest.. I don’t think anyone really “knows” they are ready. It’s more of a feeling. I had spent 3 years learning, coaching, networking, and upgrading my equipment. 3 years building a base of clients that needed voice work from me at least once a month. 3 years of learning how to find new work and clients when weeks were running dry. And 3 years simply getting better at what I could do. There was nothing left that I needed to spend money on other than coaching and classes (and food and rent and bills) So I took the leap.
Yes there were points in that year that I began to get nervous. There were two very dry months where perhaps I spent a bit too much on coaching or splurged on a workshop or two too many. And maybe it was faith in “the world will provide” or the "Luck of the Irish" but I managed to pull through with a last minute booking every time, or a repeat client saving my butt. You can’t take a leap of faith in your career without the confidence that you are good enough to succeed. And you definitely can’t stop working your ass off every single day, switching up your routine, finding new ways to get people to hear your voice, auditioning smarter and better and at times, more often!
Here’s a list of things to keep in mind if and when you decide to take your VO career to the next level.
Turn the time you spent working the “other job” into more time spent working on Voice Over. This means adding the 20 - 30 hours a week from the job you just quit, to more auditions, workshops, classes, self marketing, and networking.
- After a long day of auditions or recording, and a few hours of marketing. STILL GO OUT. You will start to get tired and you will be tempted to choose “Netflix and Chill” instead of hanging out with your friends or going to an event that could further your career.
- When money starts to dwindle and make you nervous. Work harder, go out more often, pre-occupy your brain with the NOW, and not the future. Never appear like you NEED work, and don't let the lack of cash stop you from following your routine. (This one is hard, I know)
- Don’t bore yourself with a routine. Switch up your plan of attack from month to month. Getting stuck marketing the same way, or only taking a workshop on a Wednesday and only with one teacher or place can run the risk of boring you and making you lazy. Seek out new teachers, new classes, new friends. There are wonderful people all around you, find them.
- Try not to automate your social media. Not everyone is cut out for social media marketing. Do your darnedest to not allow a “bot” to run your social media for you. It is spotted very easily, and makes you look impersonal and at times fake. (If you don’t know what a “bot” is, or have no idea what this means… GOOD)
- Find a way to give back to the community that gives to you. Don’t always go to networking events to make a connection or to meet someone that can help you. Sometimes.. go and help someone else. You will find that it is just as fun and (sometimes surprisingly beneficial) to make it your sole purpose to help others at networking events. It’s pretty easy to spot who needs help actually, just look for a reflection of you from a few years ago.
That should be enough to keep you going strong as you keep kicking ass out there. I’m coming up on my 5th year of pursuit into the Voice Over industry, and I couldn’t be more excited for 2016!! I’ve spent the majority of 2015 coaching with Jeff Howell, Dave Walsh and the occasional amazing workshop with Jodi Gottlieb in order to prepare myself for the world of Promo and In-Show narration. I am very confident that I’ve gotten to a place where I can cut the new demo’s so that my agents can get my style and sound into the right ears! I’ve decided to go with Chuck Duran again for these upcoming demo’s. I just love the personal touches he ads and the care he takes in making sure my signature voice shines through each spot. I can’t wait to share them with you all, and see where I land in a few months from now.
Until then, let’s focus on the present, and make each day worth waking up for.
Happy New Year friends!
~Jay
