The VO Life

Paul Schmidt is a guy who tells it... and isn't afraid to face questions.  His You Tube channel covers a variety of topics that inspire, teach and make you want to be a better VO.  Sort of reminds me of church.  If you get your toes stepped on, maybe the sermon is for you. I always liked those preachers who made me look within deeper and want to know more... and Paul may be just that... the VO Eva...

Lots of interviews coming on The VO Life... a sneak peak into who and when. Plus as I said in 2022 I wanted that PRO DEMO and I will be recording them NEXT WEEK!  (Them?) YES... them!

Today I am joined by SUPERMAN! Super Voiceover, Coach and all around good guy Josh Alexander.  We talk about the business of VO, his methods, his journey into VO from Wedding Videograpgy and how Squeaky and Raspy may be the new Ren and Stimpy! 

Negativity.   The demise of everything.  Recently "Sabrina Farrows" has re-appeared and started in on someone who has been in the biz for nearly 30 years... but why? Some people just thrive on personally attacking a successful person in a genre they failed in.   It gives them "relief" of some sort to attack, harass and belittle someone who is actually "making it". They use examples that make you w...

Workshops, coaching, training, advice,consulting... what is what and why can't I be quiet???

A second mock audition with ONE WINNER and a runner up.  Hear all the first lines the casting director would have heard, then hear the winners and cool compilation using the winners and the read I did on the same spot and booked it.

How we crossed paths I cannot recall but VERY HAPPY to know and get to talk to Jenna this week.  Not only an award winning VO, she is also a producer of thousands of spots a year giving more perspective onto the business.  Commercial, automotive, imaging... she does it all and with style!!

What a casting director does EVERYDAY? My respect for wht they do had gone WAY UP... thinking I was giving some fo the group a fun shot at a "real audition" I think I ended up learning the most.  Listen in hear what I thought about how HARD it is to not only pick someone but also to get things submitted properly and by the directions.

Sometimes you just need to think ahead and plan ahead... sometimes you need to be patients. Sometimes you end up giving up anyway.  Being good at customer service to me means remembering two things.  

Social Media.  The dreaded blackhole of Tik Tok. Can I really get any business from posting? Let's scratch the surface of a deep area of VO wonderences with a short about where and what (and what not) to post.

There are a million ways to get to where you want to go.  They are all right! The bottom line is you have to choose the path that works for you.  YOU decide what gear to buy, YOU decide what platforms to be on, YOU decide what work to do and not do...YOU DO YOU!  Then decide if you want to talk about it or just keep your head down and do it.  Today I am admitting there is still some work I take th...

You can't let me go that long again between recording podcasts ... I couldn't stay on track OR stop talking! There will be shorts coming but I ramble on about Genres, Year End, Mission Statements, and finding your niche AFTER the market shows you what it is....

Association. It is one of the overlooked things in VO for those just getting in because you don't know what you don't know. Who's real, who's a scammer? Who just got a GOLDEN TICKET and what is happening??? I feel smart association pays off... I have watched it happen over the past year and tried to learn what I need to do and make sure I am not seen the WRONG WAY!

I get it. You just can't spend that money right now.  What else you can do and let's just talk about what works...

Agent work is the best but it is a SMALL part of my take.  I am upping the game to land more but HOW DID I EVEN GET THE FIRST ONE? The answer may surprise you... it was NOT through my own doing.....

P2P is a great place to get leveled up in VO and land some "better" jobs.  Not to say you can't otherwise, but... when and how to jump in DOES matter.  Don't use it for a practice field....

Time to talk with David Piper from the VO Life Group! David has been in VO a few years and has really lit a path for many to follow with a fast climb in the FIverr world, and he explains how he applied his brand of customer service and over delivering to build a strong repeat business core.  David also moved to Brazil during this transition and talks about life there and more in this episode!

You WILL need that pro demo one day.  When? Why? Listen and learn...

VO is a unique one person business and you may need a business coach to help drive you in the right direction. 

Coaches are there to get your performance where it needs to be.  Past that, you need a mentor.  Someone who has "been there done that" and is willing to share with you.  Is it an absolute? Maybe not... but it is a HUGE help....

Peer feedback is truly essential and can garner you some great advice... but remember who runs YOUR business!

Be yourself.  100%  But be smart enough to see successful VO's and learn HOW they got there.

#1 of 10 shorts release every few days up to THANKSGIVING!  In this one its all about giving thanks...

Is it just "today" or has it been bulilding up?  Do you need an hour or a week?  Let's talk about VO  burn out and how I handle it daily and how I am now dedicated to more time away.   

From college radio to VoiceOver, hear all about Christi's journey and how she recently came to start up the Tennessee Voice Over Studio and build a strong Nashville community for VO that is also available virtually to all!  And learn about the THREE STARS!