A lot has changed over the last two years – notably, working from remote locations and home offices. As a voice artist who has worked from home for over a decade, it can sometimes be challenging to maintain daily structure while working from a home studio. There are a lot of moving parts to run your own voiceover business. And while it may seem challenging to keep your focus engaged and attention grounded in this new norm, I’ve built up a ten-point daily structure guide (based on how I’ve managed – more or less – to keep my focus and build my business) for voice artists who work from home.
- Move: When you first roll out of bed and have that blank canvas of a day staring right at you, you need to move. It’s essential to get your energy going the first chance you get. Go to the gym, go for a walk, do that cardio. Get your blood pumping and start the day with a small physical win. Then channel that energy into the day ahead. It doesn’t matter what you do. Just move instead of slumping into a chair and waiting for the coffee to kick in.
- Communications & To-Do’s: Once you’ve got some energy flowing, check your emails. Were there any messages from potential clients or loose ends you need to tie up? If you work internationally, take care of your communications before starting anything else. Once your initial comms are cleared, go to your to-do list and set yourself up for the day.
- Warm-Up: Vocal muscles are just that – muscles. So why not warm them up? You wouldn’t go for a long run without stretching first, and voice acting is no different. I have a 10-minute daily practice that I’ve been doing for decades. In it, I combine technical and performance goals. Design and get into your warm-up ritual. And treat each morning as if you’re about to audition for your dream job – who knows, you might just be.
- Troubleshoot List: Before I begin my recording work for the morning, I go through my social platforms, website, scripts, and equipment. I always double-check my home studio and make sure that everything I need for the day is ready to go. Unexpected interruptions and technical issues won’t just push your schedule back but can cost your work and make you look unprofessional.
- Recording Work: Now that you know everything is up and running, it’s time to get into the nitty-gritty. Dedicate the next chunk of your day to working through your current voice acting gigs, and give yourself a couple of different options to work with later when it comes time to edit. Once you’ve finished a solid day’s worth of voice over work, you can rest a little easier knowing that your existing clients are happy and taken care of.
- Auditioning: Get yourself out there and audition for more voice over work. I always hit my agent and roster auditions first – these come from people who have actively sought me out, so I have a better chance of booking the gig. They get priority. Depending on how busy I am, I have a sliding scale minimum of other auditions I’ll go for daily/weekly and keep an eye on hitting those goals too. The moment you get too comfortable is when you may lose out on potential opportunities. It’s essential to be out there.
- Editing: Remember what I said earlier about giving yourself options to work with? It’s time to explore them. When editing and QAing your files, listen to them with fresh ears. Edit your recordings until they’re polished gems and ready to be sent off to your clients. When you become busy, consider hiring out your editing. I’ve subcontracted my editing for years, leaving me more time to audition and record. Win-win.
- Marketing: Marketing yourself to potential clients is just as crucial as auditioning for a new role – if not more so. Keep your website up-to-date and engage with followers and existing clients. Even if advertising isn’t in your budget, sort out your marketing strategy. I’m a big fan of inbound marketing. Maintaining a regular posting schedule for your blog and socials can get you noticed, adding credibility to future clients. With the right marketing strategy, like SEO-oriented blog posts or a solid social media presence, you can have potential jobs come directly to you.
- WorkLife Balance: As voice artists working from home, it’s easy to get lost in the grind of your day-to-day schedule. Draw boundaries – keep your home and work lives separate and strike a balance. I treat each workday as if you’re going into the office for a nine-to-five job, and once the clock strikes 5, it’s time to go home. Use the rest of the day to pursue your creature comforts or spend time with your family and friends – whatever you need to recharge that work-life balance.
- Inspiration: A voice over artist is at their heart, an artist. You need to stay inspired. Find what drives your craft, muses and guides you, and lean into it. There’s a reason you became a voice artist, so embrace it.