Happy Valentine’s Day month! I’m a big believer in celebrating as much as possible, and some very interesting science supports the benefit of stopping to celebrate even the tiniest wins: it seems to create a cascade of goodies for our body’s feel-awesome chemicals, our brains, and our desire to keep chugging along!
If you’re reading/hearing this, you’ve embarked on the wild and wacky adventure known as a voice-over career (or you’re pondering…I see you!). Congratulations are due all around. This gorgeous and satisfying artistic pathway is a rollercoaster ride of auditions, gigs, learning, fellowship, and occasional existential crises, full of exhilarating highs and less-fun dips.
The allure of bringing words and characters to life through the power of voice is what brought you here, and that reality often comes with unique challenges. Keeping your heart happily fluttering about voice-over can be a test of resilience. Fear not, dear voice-over enthusiast, for I’m here to sprinkle a little humor on your brain and offer some tips on how to stay head over heels in crush-mode with your chosen profession, despite its quirks. With the right mindset, it’s possible to nourish that joy for the journey through thick and thin.
Embrace the Journey
To start, it’s a game-changer to remember that a voice-over career is a journey, not just a destination. Every audition, gig, and seeming-setback is an opportunity for growth and learning. Embrace the process, celebrate your wins (not kidding here – do a happy dance, have your fave cuppa, share a win with an accountability buddy!), and acknowledge your failures as stepping stones toward improvement…or, as many of you know I like to call them, fertilizer.
Truly, there are no failures on this path – only fertilizer to make your VO garden flourish. Understand that success in voice-over often comes with perseverance and a willingness to adapt to the ever-evolving industry landscape. Be kind to yourself. Have patience. No rockstar voice-over careers were ever created overnight.
Cultivate a Support System
In the voice-over realm, having a support system is as crucial as having a decent pair of headphones. Surround yourself with fellow actors, mentors, and friends who understand the unique challenges of the profession. Whether it’s sharing audition experiences or offering words of encouragement during tough times, having a safe, supportive community can help you navigate the ups and downs with grace and resilience. (This, by the way, is one heck of a fabulous place to find/grow that village for yourself.)
Invest in Continuous Learning
Voice-over is a dynamic arena that requires dedicated honing of skills and mindful connection to industry trends. Translation: things seem to change in this career almost daily! New tech, new trends, new interesting developments (looking at you, AI). If you’re not already doing so, consider investing in workshops that call you, classes to keep your muscles strong, and coaching sessions to enhance your craft. The investment here also does NOT have to be in dollars, it can be in your own time in your own studio. For instance: it’s fantastic to get out of your comfort zone and try a piece copy in a category that scares you a bit. Prepare as if it’s a real audition for a real casting director, and see how that feels! The journey of voice-over learning is life-long, and each new skill acquired adds depth and versatility to your voice-over portfolio.
Celebrate Your Unique Voice
I say this a lot when I teach: there is no one, in all of time and space, in any galaxy, in any timeline or any multiverse, who could read a piece of copy with exactly the energy and essence that you bring. You are a wildly unique voice-over snowflake. Take the time to ponder and claim what exactly sets you apart as a voice actor – anything from tone or delivery to the ability to connect with characters on a deeper level to your special life experiences that informs your reads. Make a list of those things, even, so you can glance at it often. Embrace your authenticity (this means celebrate!) and know that you cannot help but let your true voice shine through in every audition and recording session.
Toast Tiny Triumphs
In a world where landing a big gig feels like winning the voice-over lottery, don’t overlook the small victories that sprinkle joy like confetti. Celebrate the time you nailed that quirky character voice or managed to read a tongue-twister without tripping over your own vowels. It’s really easy to get caught up in the pursuit of big breaks. I like to say (to myself and you!) that a “grain of sand” or “drop of water in the ocean” type of action or forward movement deserves a, “Yay, you!” Every achievement is a testament to your talent and dedication. Take the time to acknowledge and appreciate your progress, no matter how incremental it may seem.
Practice Self-Care
Radical Self-Care is something I practice daily and teach often in the vo world. The demands of a career in voice-over require a more up-leveled self-care toolkit. Take breaks when needed (I recommend setting a timer for every 45 minutes or so if you’re sitting or standing for long stretches in your studio), nourish your body with healthy food, drink some tightly-capped-hydration, exercise regularly (do a mini warm-up before recording!), and make time for activities that bring you joy and relaxation. Anything you do in your world that brings you peace, joy, happiness, relaxation, gratitude? That energy feeds your voice-over life, and flows into your future reads. Burnout is real in the VO world, and I want us all to be thriving voice-over humans.
Stay Inspired
Last but not least, never lose sight of what inspired you to say, “YES!” to the voice-over path, and join the VO world in the first place. I’m thinking what drew you was something in the realm of a crush, a calling, a strong intuition. Whether you can trace it to a childhood love for cartoons, passion for creating characters, or the thrill of connecting with audiences via your voice, holding onto that spark of inspiration is a powerful mindset and career booster. Bathe yourself with art, music, literature, and experiences that ignite your creativity, and that will also feed and fuel your passion for voice-over.
A (funny!) client once shared with me that being a voice-over actor felt like riding a unicycle on a tightrope while juggling flaming pineapples – equal parts exhilarating and terrifying. Embrace the magnificent, magical madness, cherish your fellow voice-over comrades, never stop honing your craft, cheer your unique voice, celebrate the teeny victories, and prioritize self-care. All of these things are meant to keep your crush on the voice-over world burning bright.
Above all, recall the mighty feeling that first called you to this amazing world. And when in doubt, add more karaoke (solo or with other humans). It solves everything. Happy VO Crush-ing (and crushing it)!
Check out our free PDF with pro-tips from real working voice-over actors here!
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