At Such A Voice, we believe success in the voice over profession resembles the same patterns of success that exist in most vocations. Simply put, the people who focus more, take action, and develop constructive habits achieve the highest levels of success. Surprisingly, this often has little to do with actual vocal qualities. Instead, the habits of the voice over artist are the driving factors of the voice actor’s business achievements.
The good news is success leaves clues. Emulating the habits of successful voice over professionals is the surest way to achieve success yourself. So how do typical high performing voice over experts run their days?
1. Consistent recording of their voice even when it’s not for a paying voice over gig. At Such A Voice we teach our students to practice reinventing commercials they’ve heard, record themselves reading books, record the scripts of other voice over pros they aspire to emulate, and even generate their own content for the creation of personalized projects.
The purpose of this habit is obvious. One is that practice makes perfect. The more they record themselves, edit the recordings, and work out the kinks in their performance, the more effective they are in real auditions and on paying projects. The other benefit is that they simply enjoy it.
2. Well laid out business plan. Effective business planning include daily activities and weekly, monthly, and quarterly goals. At Suchavoice.com we train our students to follow a regimented set of activities. Such A Voice coaches offer a complimentary business planning session for the purpose of outlining a daily set of activities that can be accomplished with a commitment of only one hour per day. Email us at service@suchavoice.com or dial 802-275-0154 for more information about that.
3. Market themselves with super disciplined regularity. In fact, for the top professionals who are regularly hired for gigs, the gigs themselves offer marketing of their own. This is one of the coolest aspects of the voice over business. A voice over artist who has voiced a commercial or an audiobook has many thousands of people listening to their voice regularly. Some of those listeners are the very decision makers in the business that the voice over pro wants to connect with. As a voice over expert does more and more work, getting more work becomes easier as a result of this exposure.
4. Regular networking is a fourth habit of highly successful voice over experts. Social media networks like Twitter, Facebook, and Linked In, create enormous opportunities for voice over pros to connect with referral sources, peers, and opportunities. Conferences and events create many other opportunities too, and top voice over pro’s take advantage of all of these.
5. Daily learning. The voice over profession is a rapidly changing industry. New innovations emerge daily. New technologies and companies create new tools and resources for voice over professionals. Top voice over pro’s are constantly learning about the products, technologies, and shifts in the market place that directly effect how and where they can acquire work.
6. Daily research. The voice over artist who proactively seek out the companies, products, and opportunities are the ones who find themselves in the front of the line when the need for a voice over occurs. Google searches for new companies that build apps, make video games, and develop intellectual property emerge daily.
7. Regular contribution. This is where voice over pro’s give back to the industry that has given so much to them. This can take the form of mentoring, blog creation, coaching, nurturing genuine relationships with their clients and peers, or even just conducting interviews to share their stories and provide advice.
The voice over profession is a large and rapidly expanding field, and the opportunities for everyone connected to this industry are profound. A generous disposition will return profound dividends.
Lonny Hogan is a marketing and business development expert, working directly with Such A Voice to grow the brand.
