Unfortunately, it’s not all hearts and rainbows and recording sessions in the voice-over world. You will, of course, have seasons of drought. Times when projects fall through, timelines stall, and the work just isn’t coming in like you wish it would.
During these times, it’s important to stay positive, not give up hope, and get down in the trenches to do what’s necessary, albeit rarely pleasant. And that, my friend, is what’s known as The Grunt Work.
These are the tasks that you rarely have time for when you’re busy because a) they’re not too exciting and b) they’re not urgent. But they are necessary when running a business and building a career over time. Additionally, there’s no set list of these tasks, but here are some of my go-to’s that can get you started when you’re stumped.
1. Update Website
Let’s be honest, when was the last time you updated your website? You can’t remember? Yeah, then it’s probably time to spruce it up and dust off the cobwebs. Are your demos up to date? Do you have testimonials from past clients? Is your pricing current? A well-curated website is a MUST in attracting clients. So when new contracts aren’t rolling in, see how you roll out the welcome mat for when they arrive.
2. Submit Auditions
Auditioning is part of our job. If we’re not booking, it may be because we need to sharpen our audition skills. If you’re an audiobook narrator, hit up ACX, if you’re on a pay-to-play site, submit more auditions, scroll through your favorite Facebook forums, dive deep into your most trusted platforms and find some auditions that interest you. Sen
d five. Take a break. Send five more. Pat yourself on the back and do it again tomorrow.
3. Reach Out
Message former clients and see if they have any upcoming projects. This reminds them of the past work you’ve collaborated on and keeps you top of mind when something comes up. And you never know, they might have something ready to work on!
Good luck. Don’t give up. And keep on building that career you want. Perseverance is half the battle!
Caroline Cole is a writer, voice-over artist, yogi and coach. Learn more at her website or follow her on social media @carolinecolestories on IG and @ccolestories on Twitter.
