Finding potential clients can happen through various channels, both online and offline, depending on your business niche and target audience. Here are some common avenues where you might find potential clients:
Social Media: Platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram can be excellent places to connect with potential clients. Join relevant groups, participate in discussions, and share valuable content to attract attention.
Networking Events: Attend industry conferences, trade shows, seminars, and workshops where you can meet potential clients face-to-face. Don’t forget to exchange business cards and follow up afterward.
Referrals: Word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied clients or professional contacts can be a powerful way to find new clients. Encourage your existing clients to refer you to others.
Online Forums and Communities: Participate in online forums, discussion boards, and community groups related to your industry. Answer questions, provide valuable insights, and establish yourself as an authority in your field.
Content Marketing: Create high-quality content such as blog posts, articles, videos, podcasts, or infographics that address the pain points and challenges of your target audience. Share this content on your website, social media, and other relevant platforms to attract potential clients.
Cold Outreach: Reach out directly to potential clients via email, phone calls, or direct messages on social media. Personalize your messages and clearly communicate how your products or services can solve their problems or meet their needs.
Partnerships and Collaborations: Partner with complementary businesses or professionals who serve the same target audience but offer different products or services. This can help you tap into their client base and vice versa.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Optimize your website and content for search engines to improve your visibility and attract organic traffic from people searching for solutions related to your business.
Paid Advertising: Invest in online advertising through platforms like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, LinkedIn Ads, or sponsored content placements on relevant websites to reach your target audience directly.
Professional Associations: Join industry-specific professional associations or chambers of commerce where you can network with other professionals and potential clients in your field.
Remember to continuously analyze and adapt your client acquisition strategies based on what works best for your business and your target audience.
When successful voice talents find themselves without scheduled projects and have some free time, they often engage in activities that help them maintain and improve their skills, as well as enhance their career prospects. Here are some things they might do:
Practice and Warm-Up: Voice talents typically practice vocal exercises and warm-ups to keep their voice in optimal condition. This can include scales, breathing exercises, and articulation drills.
Review Scripts and Audition Materials: They might spend time reviewing scripts, audition sides, or upcoming project details. This helps them stay prepared for future opportunities.
Work on Character Development: Developing and refining character voices is crucial for voice actors. They might spend time experimenting with different accents, tones, and emotions.
Networking and Marketing: Building and maintaining relationships within the industry is important. They might use their free time to network, update their portfolios, or work on marketing themselves through social media or their website.
Continuous Learning: Successful voice talents understand the importance of ongoing learning. They might listen to other voice actors, attend workshops, or take online courses to improve their skills or learn new techniques. This is also the perfect time to work with your coach.
Record and Update Demos: Voice actors frequently update their demo reels to showcase their latest work and abilities. They might use their free time to record new demos or refine existing ones. This is also a great time to break demos into categories so as to focus on specific genres to send to clients.
Personal Development: Some voice talents use their free time for personal development, which can include reading books, watching films, or attending live performances to draw inspiration and expand their creative horizons.
Relaxation and Self-Care: Rest is crucial for maintaining vocal health, so successful voice talents might also use their free time to relax, rest their voice, and engage in activities that reduce stress. Obviously, a good time to spend quality time with your family too.
By staying proactive and dedicated to their craft even during downtime, successful voice talents ensure they are ready to deliver their best performances when the next project comes along.
Auditioning for voice jobs requires a blend of talent, technique, strategy and a little luck. Sometimes I’ll go through 100 auditions, before I get a valid job. The other 99 are not wasted opportunities, but great practice for our kraft. To excel in this competitive arena, aspiring voice actors must cultivate a multifaceted skill set and understand the nuances of the auditioning process. Here are a few secrets that can elevate your performance and increase your chances of securing coveted voice roles.
Master Your Craft: Voice acting demands proficiency in various aspects of performance, including diction, projection, emotional range, and character portrayal. Invest time honing your skills through vocal exercises, acting classes, and workshops tailored to voiceover work. Understanding vocal dynamics, breath control, and articulation will enhance your delivery and versatility. My mother was always on me to enunciate my words. She really drove it home how important it was to speak clearly. Boy was she right. Great inspiration!
Develop Your Signature Voice: While versatility is crucial, developing a distinct voice or style can set you apart in auditions. Experiment with different vocal tones, accents, and characterizations to discover your unique voice persona. Whether it’s a warm, authoritative narration or quirky character voices, owning your signature style can leave a lasting impression on casting directors. Let them hear your versatility without forcing it on them. Trying another read with one of those quirky tones can set you apart for sure.
Understand the Script: Before auditioning, thoroughly analyze the script to grasp the character’s motivations, emotions, and context. Understanding the character’s backstory and the tone of the project allows you to tailor your performance accordingly. Injecting authenticity and depth into your delivery can captivate listeners and showcase your interpretative skills. What was the writer trying to say? Your analyzation of the script can start from the end and work your way back to the beginning of the script. Sometimes it’s easier to understand what the copywriter sees as, “The Ending” and where you can see what had developed his hunger for the conclusion and thus, the sale! A secret method I’ve used; when an audition has several paragraphs, don’t start at the beginning. Start on the next paragraph if you know this will not break any rules with the recipient of your audition. Imagine them listening to one audition after another. They hear the same thing over and over. If you’re starting with the next paragraph – they certainly will notice. It will break their rhythm of listening to all the auditions, while yours will sound different. Be sure yours is better than the rest!
Embrace Directing: During auditions, be receptive to direction and adaptable to changes in performance. Directors may provide specific instructions or preferences, such as adjusting pacing, tone, or emphasis. Embrace feedback as an opportunity to demonstrate your versatility and collaborative spirit. Flexibility and the ability to take direction are highly valued traits in voice actors. Learn how to mark your copy by marking emphasis where it belongs. Find the anchors in the script. Listen carefully to the director and the engineer. They are steering this boat. Plus, remember, it’s their boat.
Create a Dynamic Demo Reel: Your demo reel serves as your calling card in the voiceover industry, showcasing your vocal range and versatility. Craft a compelling reel that highlights your strengths across different genres, characters, and styles. Tailor your demo to target specific niches or industries, such as animation, commercials, video games, or audiobooks. Keep it concise yet impactful, make it sound current and you should lead with your strongest performances to grab attention from the outset. You most likely have from 3-7 seconds to grab the attention of the client listening to a multitude of other VO talents.
Professionalism Matters: Approach auditions with professionalism and preparedness. Submit audition files with pristine audio quality, free of background noise or distractions. Meet deadlines punctually and adhere to submission guidelines meticulously. Cultivating a reputation for reliability, professionalism, and a positive attitude can foster trust and rapport with casting directors and clients. Develop a rapport with the powers that be. Your agent, your contact, whomever will perhaps be a determining factor of whether you get the gig or not.
Network and Market Yourself: Building relationships within the voiceover community and networking with industry professionals can open doors to opportunities. Attend industry events, workshops, and conferences, such as WoVOCon, OneVoice, VOAtlanta and others to connect with fellow voice actors, agents, and casting directors. Utilize online platforms and social media to showcase your work, engage with peers, and stay informed about industry trends and casting calls.
In the wide world of voiceover work, continual self-improvement, adaptability, and perseverance are paramount. By mastering your craft, embracing feedback, and cultivating a strong professional presence, you can navigate auditions with confidence and unlock the door to a rewarding career in voice acting. LISTEN, so you can VOICE!
Always remember this: I can play basketball, but do not have the talent to compete in the NBA. I can throw a football but have no chance in the NFL. Do you? Just because you have a voice, so does everyone else. Can you read better than the average guy or gal? I think you can. But there is just SO MUCH MORE to learn. It’s NOT as easy as many will tell you. (They probably want your money)
I used to get anywhere from 1-18 auditions daily from Voice 123. I prefer to choose ONLY those that I think I can NAIL. You only have one chance to make a first impression, so you must be ready when you start sending in auditions. The client or agent will form an opinion of you the first time they hear you. If you’re not ready, you screw yourself for subsequent future auditions. Eventually they will forget about you and then you can send them in again with a “clean slate” – but do you really want to smudge your reputation by chance that you may be branded as “not being ready” the first time around?
I’ve been with them since 2003 and only have received about 24 jobs out of hundreds and hundreds from one Pay-To-Play site. Granted, I am very picky and may go 3 weeks before I have time to do an audition, due to my regular load. Money makers always come first. But I also know a voice talent gal that gets a job almost every other day and has done 120+ jobs in the last year. She’s a go getter and one who auditions as soon as they come through. BTW…about 60% of the client I have done work for through those specific auditions, I have retained the client as a regular with my biz.
There are many P2P sites out there. Some are ok, some are good, and some are great! Besides Voice 123, there is Bodalgo, Voice Planet, Voice Realm, VOquent and many more that you may find while searching the Net. I’m purposely not listing some due to experiences I’m had and what others have shared with me. Note: Your mileage may vary.
Do not start to audition until you are ready. Do you have a studio setup? (runs 500.00 – 2000.00 minimum) I spent 25,000 on my first studio in 1993 and have kept it up to date pretty much since. Have you trained with a qualified coach to find out what you do know…if you are doing it right…and can you improve? I attended Faffcon, a voiceover “unconference” annually until they stopped in 2018. Additionally, I have attended WoVOCon – the World Voices Organization conference since 2012 and continue with the latest ones scheduled. By the way, Faffcon originator, Amy Snively, has graciously agreed with the WoVO Executive Board, to allow them to use her format she developed years ago, which has proven to be a very successful format.
Get your priorities in line. Decide how much you plan to commit to this. Yes, there are VO Talents that do this part-time and make some good money. BUT…today the winners are the ones who have both feet in and live and breathe our biz.
Which one will you be? Appreciate your questions and interest.
Finding potential clients can happen through various channels, both online and offline, depending on your business niche and target audience. Here are some common avenues where you might find potential clients:
Social Media: Platforms like LinkedIn, X,Facebook, and Instagram can be excellent places to connect with potential clients. Join relevant groups, participate in discussions, and share valuable content to attract attention.
Networking Events: Attend industry conferences, trade shows, seminars, and workshops where you can meet potential clients face-to-face. Don’t forget to exchange business cards and follow up afterward.
Referrals: Word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied clients or professional contacts can be a powerful way to find new clients. Encourage your existing clients to refer you to others.
Online Forums and Communities: Participate in online forums, discussion boards, and community groups related to your industry. Answer questions, provide valuable insights, and establish yourself as an authority in your field.
Content Marketing: Create high-quality content such as blog posts, articles, videos, podcasts, or infographics that address the pain points and challenges of your target audience. Share this content on your website, social media, and other relevant platforms to attract potential clients.
Cold Outreach: Reach out directly to potential clients via email, phone calls, (yes, many still do this) or direct messages on social media. Personalize your messages and clearly communicate how your products or services can solve their problems or meet their needs.
Partnerships and Collaborations: Partner with complementary businesses or professionals who serve the same target audience but offer different products or services. This can help you tap into their client base and vice versa.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Optimize your website and content for search engines to improve your visibility and attract organic traffic from people searching for solutions related to your business.
Paid Advertising: Invest in online advertising through platforms like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, LinkedIn Ads, or sponsored content placements on relevant websites to reach your target audience directly.
Professional Associations: Join industry-specific professional associations or chambers of commerce where you can network with other professionals and potential clients in your field. There are many to choose from: World Voices Organization – WoVO,National Association of Voice Actors – NAVA, to just name a couple.
Remember to continuously analyze and adapt your client acquisition strategies based on what works best for your business and your target audience. And don’t be fooled by those that say, “Got a Voice, got a mic, no experience needed…..”
