Great advice! I had a chat with someone recently who was a little crestfallen when I said there's a lot of hard work involved and an I'm not an expert at it myself (yet). I think that everyone starting out needs to see this!
Full-time voice actor here and literally everything said in this video is 100% accurate! There is no easy path, no easy road but man, is it worth it when it pays off. Great video!
Went full time with VO for the past year and a bit, and yeah... It's certainly a struggle. I've done a handful of audiobooks, but importantly said books have netted me guarenteed work for the future- Three trilogies across two different authors. Granted, it's mostly been Royalty Share deals so far but because I've been dedicated to keeping deadlines and frankly, going beyond what's probably required of me (I basically became an editor for one book because the editing was shocking, despite the underlying prose and meaning being solid) I've built up a good reputation so far. My one regret so far was not jumping on auditioning/networking sites earlier such as Mandy but that was probably due to having cold feet, not wanting to put in such an upfront cost so soon when I was starting from nothing, professionally speaking.
I am ok with laying the ground work doing the "part time model" because I'm a late bloomer to VA, on the older side of things, and im 7 years away from being able to retire and then focus 100%. I do see how people can become frustrated though. Great info as always, keep up the great work.
I've been doing voice over for over a year now. I've made more money than I thought I would already, but nowhere near what I want it to be. Which this sucks due to circumstance of having a family that is not wealthy whatsoever, so I HAVE to have a job at the moment just to float. This ties into trying to make my own demo's, struggling to find coaches/teachers, and overall materials due to lack of capital. It causes me to feel burnt out all the time and want to quit. But I've slowly had to accept & make peace with the fact my journey will be slower than the rest, and hopefully I get there at some point. But it's definitely not for awhile unfortunately. As usual, great video Neil. I always look forward to learning more from you!
Good advice, as all are your videos. I'm in that exact position, working full time while doing voice as a side gig, with a goal of making this a steady income stream when I stop working. Constantly hustling for jobs and fitting them in amongst everything else going on. Like any other self-employed or freelance gig, marketing yourself and finding the work is a huge percentage of your time.
I am glad you made this video explaining the challenges of voiceover. People assume getting work is easy when there is a lot of work. The question is "are you qualified to the client? " I knew starting out it'd be more than just voicing scripts. Marketing and communication is the key to getting any opportunity (other than voiceover).
Someone asked me if I have a day job or I'm full time voice over. I realized that the answer is yes to both questions. I actually spend more time building my VO career than I do at my 9-5. Yeah. I'm a full time voice over talent.
I'm hoping it pays off eventually. I'm getting into it a bit older, and hopefully a bit wiser and with a deal more patience than some younger folks. It may never work out to be a full-time job for me, as much as I'd like it to. But I've let enough dreams sail past me in the name of expedience or of necessity, or by way of indecision, so I'll be damned if I'm not going to make a go of this one before I shuffle off this mortal coil.
I started voice acting in 2019 and thus far I've learned there's three rules. #1 - Connections are the most important thing ever. If you don't have friends, then you're already screwed. I know several people who have bare-bones little to no setup, audio engineering experience, none of it, basically sound like they're recording out of a tin can and they get paid a lot of money to work on huge named projects just because their much more popular friend suggested them by name. #2 - Double standards exist, you're going to have to endure those if you want to go forward. People will ignore you, pass you over or otherwise disregard you for a number of reasons, you need to get used to that. #3 - If you work for scraps, at least you get work. I know a guy who works for the bare minimum, makes six figures a year now because he'll do 8 hours of work just recording for TH-cam channels and anime gigs for pennies. Sure he busts his ass and he's talented beyond words, but the point is - he's the one getting hired because directors can rely on him and pay him the bare minimum. The only time you can "stand up for your pay" is if you have an "asset" you can deliver to the directors.. Without that, you're basically fucked if you ask for more than $20 for a ten minute recording. TL;DR - The industry is very tainted behind closed doors. The biggest way to grow is simply having connections, which... some of us just don't have. Would I love to grow? Absolutely! I want to shine bright as a voice actor and narrator. I want to help others grow once I'm grown in the industry too! But will it happen without connections? I'm starting to believe not.
Another good video! I look forward to listening each week. Quick question. Is the Discord channel still available? I was watching a video from a while back but the link given there is expired.
Great channel mate! So Ive just created a profile for ACX as a narrator. Im essentially a newbie however I have played a small part in a local movie, done voice overs for it and I’ve been a lead vocalist for a hard rock band. I’d just like to get my voice out there. My main talent is being able to impersonate and do a range of voices and accents. My drawback if you could call it that is I work offshore. Do you think I realistically could make money with that kind of life schedule? Also I own an ipad pro, pop shield and SM58 mic. Should I use a different mic? I would appreciate your feedback! Cheers, Pete
Sorry for the late response. I’d say the best mic you can use is the one you have. Provided your audio sounds clean and you can edit etc. then go for it
The scary thing for someone like me is that I have a family to support and I'm the only one working. Balancing a full-time job and trying to go full-time in VO AND still have time with the family is...tough 😔. My full-time job is dangerous (police officer) and I'm risking my health every day I go. I'm trying to go full-time in VO as quickly as possible, but is that even a realistic expectation for me?
Honestly you have an uphill climb, no sugar coating that. I would def say your best bet to focus on rather than auditions is getting a good bunch of demos - a website - a marketing plan & and as many agents as you can get your hands on nationally and internationally. Get that lined up first and then do your audition as and when. Once you get people coming to you, you will find the audition process less of a grind
@@CrownStagVoiceover Not sure who to trust any more...sigh...do you normally put watermark on the auditions you submit on Covoco? After a couple of scammers, I am pretty paranoid now. 🙄
Not usually on covoco but I haven’t really used that platform for a while. I water mark main when people as for samples or test reads of something that is a complete script
I just don’t believe that voice over can be a part time job, *successfully*. Such a competitive industry DEMANDS full focus. 95% focus, at the *least*.
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Great advice! I had a chat with someone recently who was a little crestfallen when I said there's a lot of hard work involved and an I'm not an expert at it myself (yet).
I think that everyone starting out needs to see this!
Thank you
Thanks for the reality check and encouragement. Best wishes. BB
Full-time voice actor here and literally everything said in this video is 100% accurate! There is no easy path, no easy road but man, is it worth it when it pays off. Great video!
Thank you
Went full time with VO for the past year and a bit, and yeah... It's certainly a struggle. I've done a handful of audiobooks, but importantly said books have netted me guarenteed work for the future- Three trilogies across two different authors. Granted, it's mostly been Royalty Share deals so far but because I've been dedicated to keeping deadlines and frankly, going beyond what's probably required of me (I basically became an editor for one book because the editing was shocking, despite the underlying prose and meaning being solid) I've built up a good reputation so far.
My one regret so far was not jumping on auditioning/networking sites earlier such as Mandy but that was probably due to having cold feet, not wanting to put in such an upfront cost so soon when I was starting from nothing, professionally speaking.
There is no one way to start. If you have good income from the audiobooks and they are selling - that is a good thing
I am ok with laying the ground work doing the "part time model" because I'm a late bloomer to VA, on the older side of things, and im 7 years away from being able to retire and then focus 100%. I do see how people can become frustrated though. Great info as always, keep up the great work.
Thank fella, as long as it works and it’s ground work then you are golden
I've been doing voice over for over a year now. I've made more money than I thought I would already, but nowhere near what I want it to be. Which this sucks due to circumstance of having a family that is not wealthy whatsoever, so I HAVE to have a job at the moment just to float. This ties into trying to make my own demo's, struggling to find coaches/teachers, and overall materials due to lack of capital. It causes me to feel burnt out all the time and want to quit. But I've slowly had to accept & make peace with the fact my journey will be slower than the rest, and hopefully I get there at some point. But it's definitely not for awhile unfortunately.
As usual, great video Neil. I always look forward to learning more from you!
Thank you fella, as long as you do as much as you can when you can without burning out. It’s a marathon not a sprint
Good advice, as all are your videos. I'm in that exact position, working full time while doing voice as a side gig, with a goal of making this a steady income stream when I stop working. Constantly hustling for jobs and fitting them in amongst everything else going on. Like any other self-employed or freelance gig, marketing yourself and finding the work is a huge percentage of your time.
It takes time and balance but get it right and you will get there
I am glad you made this video explaining the challenges of voiceover. People assume getting work is easy when there is a lot of work. The question is "are you qualified to the client? " I knew starting out it'd be more than just voicing scripts. Marketing and communication is the key to getting any opportunity (other than voiceover).
That is essentially what your agent is doing for you. All that marketing - if you are independent you need to do it yourself too
Thank you for this. I've always been interested in VO, ever since I saw a cartoon behind-the-scenes. Really appreciate you sharing your experiences.
My pleasure
snowball. :) Thanks for the heads up and advice again.
Knew it was one of them lol
Someone asked me if I have a day job or I'm full time voice over. I realized that the answer is yes to both questions. I actually spend more time building my VO career than I do at my 9-5. Yeah. I'm a full time voice over talent.
Yeah it is hard to run two or three jobs at the same time. Automating my processes is a massive part of my success
I'm hoping it pays off eventually. I'm getting into it a bit older, and hopefully a bit wiser and with a deal more patience than some younger folks. It may never work out to be a full-time job for me, as much as I'd like it to. But I've let enough dreams sail past me in the name of expedience or of necessity, or by way of indecision, so I'll be damned if I'm not going to make a go of this one before I shuffle off this mortal coil.
I started voice acting in 2019 and thus far I've learned there's three rules.
#1 - Connections are the most important thing ever. If you don't have friends, then you're already screwed. I know several people who have bare-bones little to no setup, audio engineering experience, none of it, basically sound like they're recording out of a tin can and they get paid a lot of money to work on huge named projects just because their much more popular friend suggested them by name.
#2 - Double standards exist, you're going to have to endure those if you want to go forward. People will ignore you, pass you over or otherwise disregard you for a number of reasons, you need to get used to that.
#3 - If you work for scraps, at least you get work. I know a guy who works for the bare minimum, makes six figures a year now because he'll do 8 hours of work just recording for TH-cam channels and anime gigs for pennies. Sure he busts his ass and he's talented beyond words, but the point is - he's the one getting hired because directors can rely on him and pay him the bare minimum. The only time you can "stand up for your pay" is if you have an "asset" you can deliver to the directors.. Without that, you're basically fucked if you ask for more than $20 for a ten minute recording.
TL;DR - The industry is very tainted behind closed doors. The biggest way to grow is simply having connections, which... some of us just don't have. Would I love to grow? Absolutely! I want to shine bright as a voice actor and narrator. I want to help others grow once I'm grown in the industry too! But will it happen without connections? I'm starting to believe not.
Yeah it’s a good point, volume over anything else can make a real difference
Another good video! I look forward to listening each week. Quick question. Is the Discord channel still available? I was watching a video from a while back but the link given there is expired.
It is, to be honest I have been to busy to be active on it. I’ll post a new link
Great channel mate! So Ive just created a profile for ACX as a narrator. Im essentially a newbie however I have played a small part in a local movie, done voice overs for it and I’ve been a lead vocalist for a hard rock band. I’d just like to get my voice out there. My main talent is being able to impersonate and do a range of voices and accents. My drawback if you could call it that is I work offshore. Do you think I realistically could make money with that kind of life schedule? Also I own an ipad pro, pop shield and SM58 mic. Should I use a different mic? I would appreciate your feedback! Cheers, Pete
Sorry for the late response. I’d say the best mic you can use is the one you have. Provided your audio sounds clean and you can edit etc. then go for it
Great advice again. 👍
I try, thank you.
WHAT!?!? It’s NOT get rich fast and no work? Just kidding! Very good video about the realties of VO. Thank you, Neil!
If only
The scary thing for someone like me is that I have a family to support and I'm the only one working. Balancing a full-time job and trying to go full-time in VO AND still have time with the family is...tough 😔. My full-time job is dangerous (police officer) and I'm risking my health every day I go. I'm trying to go full-time in VO as quickly as possible, but is that even a realistic expectation for me?
Honestly you have an uphill climb, no sugar coating that. I would def say your best bet to focus on rather than auditions is getting a good bunch of demos - a website - a marketing plan & and as many agents as you can get your hands on nationally and internationally. Get that lined up first and then do your audition as and when. Once you get people coming to you, you will find the audition process less of a grind
Why is the volume so low?
Do you always have to put watermark on every audition you send over? Cause some of them are very short.
Only on the auditions I suspect may be used as final product with a new client etc.
@@CrownStagVoiceover Not sure who to trust any more...sigh...do you normally put watermark on the auditions you submit on Covoco? After a couple of scammers, I am pretty paranoid now. 🙄
Not usually on covoco but I haven’t really used that platform for a while. I water mark main when people as for samples or test reads of something that is a complete script
@@CrownStagVoiceover Got it. Thanks for getting back to me! I can do both Chinese and English voice over, do you think it's a advantage though?
Provided you are clear and fluent in both then absolutely
I just don’t believe that voice over can be a part time job, *successfully*. Such a competitive industry DEMANDS full focus. 95% focus, at the *least*.
There is a lot of work that goes into working “Part time”