MY BIGGEST BLUNDERS AND HOW I FIXED THEM

I don’t know about you, but summer is usually a slower time for me in terms of work and I really like that. Sometimes we get so much caught up in our work that we almost neglect our business. What do I mean by that?

Well, doing the work a voice actor does, recording script after script after script, is only a small part of running a business. Especially if you’re new to voice overs this may surprise you. Aren’t voice actors supposed to be in the studio all day long, recording audiobooks and eLearning materials?

Well, do you think opera singers spend most of their time on stage? No, most of the time they get ready to be on stage. They have to stay in shape, physically and mentally, they have to prepare for their roles, they spend a lot of time traveling, they have costume fittings, rehearsals, meetings with the press, they have to keep their fans on social media happy… while trying to have a private life with family and friends.

All of that and more comes with the job. We as voice actors are lucky. Our home studio is our stage, we don’t have to memorize our lines or wear any fancy costumes. There’s almost no travel involved, but that doesn’t mean we’re not busy.

When I’m not recording I’m recruiting. I’m recruiting clients and students who want to work with me. I do that by marketing myself as best as I can. How do I do that? Well, I’ll tell you what I don’t do first.

I don’t ask people to hire me by pointing at all my magnificent accomplishments. Has there ever been a time when you’ve seen me on social media asking you to buy my coaching sessions, my book, or to hire me as “the voice of choice”?

People like to buy, but hate to be sold. Instead, I want people to get to know me through short videos and blog posts. When they watch these videos they can see me and hear me. They get a sense of my experience (hopefully), and my personality. I think that beats sending a monthly email newsletter or making cold calls. Who likes being spammed or interrupted?

So, in the summer I take some time to look at all the aspects of my business that don’t involve a microphone. I read up on the books that are new on my shelf, and I will take an online class or two.

I also use my time to teach.

When you go to livotakeover.com, the first thing you’ll see is my big noggin. LIVO is a group of professional voice actors who are bringing education to any level of talent. They have lots of interesting speakers and fun and affordable classes, and I am happy to be one of their teachers.

On Thursday, July 13th, I am going to do something silly for LIVO. Lots of speakers like to talk about “amazing success secrets that will help you get a leg up as a voice over.” That’s all very interesting, but I believe that we usually learn more from the things that don’t go so well, instead of from the things we’re already good at.

I started my career as an intern at Dutch national youth radio when I was 17. I’m almost 60 now, so, in over 40 years I’ve made a lot of mistakes and I have found many ways to correct those mistakes. So, on July 13th from 7 to 9 EST, I will talk about the biggest blunders of my career.

I have to tell you though, they may not be what you think they are… like eating too much Taco Bell before sharing a small booth with 5 other voice overs to record a PSA. I’m also not going to talk about the time I badmouthed the product I was promoting, thinking the engineer had closed the mic, while the client in the back could hear every word I said.

No, the mistakes I am going to share have everything to do with what’s going on between the ears. My biggest mistakes were my ideas about how I thought the VO industry worked. Ideas I’d picked up from more experienced colleagues who were trying to be helpful.

One of those ideas is that “the cream will always rise to the top.” If that were the case, why am I seeing so much crap around me? Why are clients hiring mediocre talent instead of the best in the business? Why do they launch a big product promotion with the help of an AI-generated voice?

If you believe the cream will always rise to the top, you’ve never seen a floating turd!

Anyway, consider this a personal invitation to join me on Thursday July 13th from 7 – 9 PM, EST. You can get tickets at livotakeover.com and on the day of the presentation you’ll get a Zoom link to join me… and my biggest blunders.

What if you can’t make it on the 13th? No worries! Anyone who has signed up will receive a link to the presentation about a week after it aired. That way you’ll have me on tap forever and ever!

See you soon!