Like any other career, voice acting comes with its peaks and valleys of work flow.
Sometimes, you have days, weeks, months, even years of consistent work on a project. Other times, you haven’t had a new booking in what seems like ages! You’re auditioning with no end in sight. In either situation, it can be hard to stay productive when the work starts to feel repetitive. If you’re feeling unmotivated or burnt out and need help getting back on track, reading this blog post is the perfect place to start!
I’ve been working with the same audio drama company for three years now. They produce long form, fictional stories so that they’re listeners constantly have new content to indulge in about their favorite characters. It’s awesome work that I love to do, but if I can be honest? Sometimes, by chapter 629, narrating the same story for nearly a year at a time can get pretty boring. When the work starts to get really repetitive, the best thing I can do for myself is set new goals and rewards in place.
Maybe a giant checklist on the wall is just what you need! …or, maybe use some of Hannah’s more practical tips.
The most common goals I set up for myself are either:
1. I want to make X dollars this day/week/month on my audiobooks
2. I want to record X many hours of work per day/week/month
3. I want to be done with my work each day at X time
Typically, I’ll reward each goal (respectively) by:
1. Allowing myself to buy a little treat once the goal is hit
2. Allowing myself to bask in the extra freetime, maybe by playing a video game or reading a book (to myself rather than out loud!)
3. A combination of both – such as buying a fancy latte and taking a walk to the beach if I finish recording before noon that day. These are my favorite days!
You can use these or come up with your own, but think about new ways to push yourself to finish your work! In addition to a goal and reward system, sometimes it helps me break out of a slump just to start recording each day at 9am instead of 12pm, or vice versa. A switch up in environment or schedule can create some novelty when the work itself is repetitive. Any sort of small change you can add to your day can make a big difference in how you feel about your work.
Of course, we’ve all been on the other side of the productivity issue, too. I’ve got nothing to do except audition, audition, audition! I’m patiently awaiting the next gig, but right now it feels like an endless slog.
In this situation, you may also want to set some auditioning goals for yourself like I mentioned above. But there is a lot more we can be doing to better ourselves and move forward in our career outside of just simply auditioning! If auditioning is becoming a drag, but you still want to be professionally productive, here are a few ideas for you:
- Update your social media accounts and your website
- Find new VO classes to attend, either in person or online
- Practice new skills, like singing, broadening your vocal range, tongue twisters, speed talking, etc.!
- Scour the internet for new auditioning websites to join, especially if what you’re using now is feeling dried up
- Update your profiles or create new online profiles on casting sites and social media accounts you aren’t currently using
- Update your resume! Have you made a resume for VO yet? It might also benefit you to keep a spreadsheet of all the work you have booked in the past. Include things like the client’s name, the scope of the project, your role, and a link to the finished product if possible.
- Apply to local or online VO agencies
- Reach out via email or LinkedIn to potential clients with information about what you can provide for them!
Sometimes, taking a step away from auditioning to do some other housekeeping items is the best thing you can do for your voice-over career. Of course, don’t stop auditioning altogether! But don’t forget that becoming a successful actor also requires some of these things as well. And hopefully the change up in work will allow you to get motivated once more!
In either case, if you’re feeling unproductive, sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is take a break. If all of this advice feels too daunting right now, that is okay! Maybe what you really need is just a bit of rest. Take it! Taking care of our bodies, minds, and especially our voices is just as key to a successful career as everything else discussed here. So have fun, get creative, and be well – I know you can do it!
Check out our free PDF with pro-tips from real working voice-over actors here!
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