Last week was my mother's...uh, 39th...birthday. We threw a surprise party for her in Texas that was an absolute blast, and we were able to stay for a few extra days and spend some time with the family.
During one of the conversations I had with my mom, it came up how fortunate I've been with some of the publicity I've received regarding my voice over business. I said I have been lucky. My mother said luck comes to those who work the hardest.
Have I ever mentioned how brilliant my mom is?
Another brilliant woman in my life is my voice and business coach, Nancy Wolfson.
Last week I booked my first gig with The Big Fish Voice Company. It wasn't a huge part, but was still a blast to record. It was a couple of lines in a Qwest spot as a teenage girl. They wanted to record the commercial via ISDN.
My house is not ISDN capable, but I regularly use a local studio for this purpose called the GroundCrew Studios. Some of the greatest people in Charlotte work in that studio and it is always a joy to visit. While I was there recording for Qwest, I was asked by the GroundCrew to also help them out on a couple of local radio commercials. Obviously, I was happy to oblige.
Afterward, I was e-mailing with Nancy and casually mentioned the situation. With her permission, here was Nancy's response.
"It is so cool that while at the studio they had you do two more commercials - totally what I tell people all the time about how work begets work - not just on a spiritual level, not just on a confidence level that comes thru the reads, but also on a PRACTICAL level, too."
I say it all the time, and I mean it...if we are only as great as those we surround ourselves with, well then I'm pretty phenominal!
Thanks mom, thanks Nancy!
Monday, August 6, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
It Ebbs And It Flows
2007 will be my first full year as a full-time voice actor. I believe it was a wise and wonderful decision for me to take the plunge. I have experienced the joys of being a self-starter and the disappointments of vast competition. There have been chances for me to voice incredible projects and a few not-so exciting vocal moments that at least paid the bills. Times I can't believe how much 'project X' is paying, and times I've had to negotiate for every dollar.
I own my own business...therefore, every success is mine...and every disappointment is mine.
In any business, there are seasonal 'ebbs and flows', certain times when business slows down or speeds up. This will be the year that I figure out when my 'down times' will be. It is vitally important to learn, as it will determine my earning and spending habits for years to come.
July has been my slowest month yet. I have agonized over it, questioning, 'is it me?' Am I not marketing enough, not practicing enough...not- 'sitting at my computer as many hours straight as possible trying to find the next great gig'- enough?
My husband asked me recently, "Why don't you ask some of your friends if they are also experiencing a slow month?" My answer? No one actually admits they aren't working every minute of the day.
This morning I was perusing the message boards of a voice site that recently made some drastic changes. There were a large number of actors worrying about the sudden decrease in jobs and revenue. Most were blaming this particular site for the decrease, but it made me wonder...could this be the average yearly 'ebb' for voice actors?
It certainly makes sense! Most producers / advertisers / agents / etc use the summer months to vacation, July being one of the highest 'travel' months. Even though July is a ratings month for TV stations, it is not looked at as a serious determiner in overall success. Typically, July is the worst month for TV programming, the stations save their best for fall.
Since most of my voice work is for animation, children's programming, TV and radio commercials...it really does make sense that I would experience a major slow down. Even my most regular clients seem to have taken a break! Actors who regularly voice audiobooks or voice messaging may not experience slow months, but for the rest of us it is inevitable.
As a voice actor, I could certainly throw up my hands, go spend my days in the mountains hiking (where I sometimes prefer to spend my weekends) and decide to also take a break. However, I have decided to quit worrying and use this month as a much needed time to work on my business packaging.
Already I have been working on updating my animation demo, as well as adding a radio imaging demo to my repertoire. I have begun working with a graphic designer to re-do my personal website. I have taken time to go over my books and make sure everything is financially in order, and I am continuing my lessons with Nancy Wolfson, trying to become the best voice actor I can.
However, next week I believe I will take a much needed mini-break. At least one day I plan to spend getting my hair trimmed and a getting a therapeutic massage. Hey- it's summer...if everyone else can slow down...then so can I!
It will be interesting to see when the 'flow' of business returns!
[It occurred to me that I have mentioned my updated animation demo twice without posting it...
http://www.karaedwardsvo.com/karaedwards_charactersdemo_2007_2.mp3 Let me know what you think!]
I own my own business...therefore, every success is mine...and every disappointment is mine.
In any business, there are seasonal 'ebbs and flows', certain times when business slows down or speeds up. This will be the year that I figure out when my 'down times' will be. It is vitally important to learn, as it will determine my earning and spending habits for years to come.
July has been my slowest month yet. I have agonized over it, questioning, 'is it me?' Am I not marketing enough, not practicing enough...not- 'sitting at my computer as many hours straight as possible trying to find the next great gig'- enough?
My husband asked me recently, "Why don't you ask some of your friends if they are also experiencing a slow month?" My answer? No one actually admits they aren't working every minute of the day.
This morning I was perusing the message boards of a voice site that recently made some drastic changes. There were a large number of actors worrying about the sudden decrease in jobs and revenue. Most were blaming this particular site for the decrease, but it made me wonder...could this be the average yearly 'ebb' for voice actors?
It certainly makes sense! Most producers / advertisers / agents / etc use the summer months to vacation, July being one of the highest 'travel' months. Even though July is a ratings month for TV stations, it is not looked at as a serious determiner in overall success. Typically, July is the worst month for TV programming, the stations save their best for fall.
Since most of my voice work is for animation, children's programming, TV and radio commercials...it really does make sense that I would experience a major slow down. Even my most regular clients seem to have taken a break! Actors who regularly voice audiobooks or voice messaging may not experience slow months, but for the rest of us it is inevitable.
As a voice actor, I could certainly throw up my hands, go spend my days in the mountains hiking (where I sometimes prefer to spend my weekends) and decide to also take a break. However, I have decided to quit worrying and use this month as a much needed time to work on my business packaging.
Already I have been working on updating my animation demo, as well as adding a radio imaging demo to my repertoire. I have begun working with a graphic designer to re-do my personal website. I have taken time to go over my books and make sure everything is financially in order, and I am continuing my lessons with Nancy Wolfson, trying to become the best voice actor I can.
However, next week I believe I will take a much needed mini-break. At least one day I plan to spend getting my hair trimmed and a getting a therapeutic massage. Hey- it's summer...if everyone else can slow down...then so can I!
It will be interesting to see when the 'flow' of business returns!
[It occurred to me that I have mentioned my updated animation demo twice without posting it...
http://www.karaedwardsvo.com/karaedwards_charactersdemo_2007_2.mp3 Let me know what you think!]
Monday, July 16, 2007
A Special Thank You
As I went to log into this site to type a new blog...a news flash jumped onto my screen...Jessica Simpson now has a swimsuit collection. It occurred to me, I hope one day I am successful enough in my job that I can randomly choose other careers to dapple in just because it seems fun.
But I digress...
I've had a flurry of excitement the past 2 days. No, I haven't been cast in any new great shows, and I haven't been hired for some huge commercial gig. Yet, I have been quite busy.
Forgive me for the lack of details with this story, I hope you will bear with me through this. A friend of mine, that I have not known very long, contacted me last week. It seems she had dinner with a voice acting idol of mine at a charity event recently. Someone associated with my idol will be in town this evening and my friend wanted to pass along one of my demo CD's.
Now, I have several people in this business I look up to. Many I stand in awe of on a regular basis. However, only 3 actually drop me to my knees in hope that I will one day be half as great. This person is one of them.
Last night as I went to burn my demos to CD- nothing was good enough! I recently hired a graphic designer to create a new website and demo package for me, but that is weeks from being completed. I know it doesn't really matter, this person only needs a voice sample and will understand my lack of pizazz...and yet...I was suddenly so nervous!
My character demo wasn't good enough. Sure, it's been good enough to get me agents and jobs...but it wasn't good enough for the small possibility that my voice acting idol just might hear it.
So, I set out to recreate...and recreate...and recreate. I very literally worked on this demo up to the minute I had to burn it to disc and pass it along. I am happy with what I did, but still envision many changes down the road. I want to compete with the best. I want my demos to sound as good as the demos on the 'Big Agency' sites.
As I look around me, there are DVD's of past shows and CD's of past work scattered around the room. I ripped audio I had recorded until I could rip no more.
Honestly, there is no real point to this post, only an opportunity to thank the 3 people who were and are willing to listen to my work and offer honest feedback. Brian Haymond, Bob Souer, and DB Cooper. I respect you each immensely, and thank you for your friendship, time, willingness, and wise words.
My advice to other voice actors? Find great people you trust to offer professional and honest opinions. Listen to demos from other actors making the big bucks and try to be competitive...and finally, take any chance (no matter how small) to be heard by the best.
But I digress...
I've had a flurry of excitement the past 2 days. No, I haven't been cast in any new great shows, and I haven't been hired for some huge commercial gig. Yet, I have been quite busy.
Forgive me for the lack of details with this story, I hope you will bear with me through this. A friend of mine, that I have not known very long, contacted me last week. It seems she had dinner with a voice acting idol of mine at a charity event recently. Someone associated with my idol will be in town this evening and my friend wanted to pass along one of my demo CD's.
Now, I have several people in this business I look up to. Many I stand in awe of on a regular basis. However, only 3 actually drop me to my knees in hope that I will one day be half as great. This person is one of them.
Last night as I went to burn my demos to CD- nothing was good enough! I recently hired a graphic designer to create a new website and demo package for me, but that is weeks from being completed. I know it doesn't really matter, this person only needs a voice sample and will understand my lack of pizazz...and yet...I was suddenly so nervous!
My character demo wasn't good enough. Sure, it's been good enough to get me agents and jobs...but it wasn't good enough for the small possibility that my voice acting idol just might hear it.
So, I set out to recreate...and recreate...and recreate. I very literally worked on this demo up to the minute I had to burn it to disc and pass it along. I am happy with what I did, but still envision many changes down the road. I want to compete with the best. I want my demos to sound as good as the demos on the 'Big Agency' sites.
As I look around me, there are DVD's of past shows and CD's of past work scattered around the room. I ripped audio I had recorded until I could rip no more.
Honestly, there is no real point to this post, only an opportunity to thank the 3 people who were and are willing to listen to my work and offer honest feedback. Brian Haymond, Bob Souer, and DB Cooper. I respect you each immensely, and thank you for your friendship, time, willingness, and wise words.
My advice to other voice actors? Find great people you trust to offer professional and honest opinions. Listen to demos from other actors making the big bucks and try to be competitive...and finally, take any chance (no matter how small) to be heard by the best.
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