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.