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voiceover talent

4 Keys Successful Voice Artists Use to Unlock The Perfect Delivery

Voice

As a voice over artist, what do you do with a script when you get one? Other than just read it cold into your microphone. Do you analyze it for meaning? For nuance? What about its message? The writer of your script definitely spent much more than a few minutes putting it together, so you as the performer must spend more than a few minutes analyzing it. Discovering the perfect delivery for any script separates the professional from the amateur in our business.  I’m going to discuss four keys successful voice artists use to unlock it.

No matter the genre – commercial, narration, promo, game, etc. – dozens of hours go into the script before it ever gets to your studio to voice.  Clients hire a creative team – copywriter or script writer, creative director, producer – or they go to an advertising agency, elearning company, explainer video shop, etc. who then provide the directives and all together they sit down and discuss end goals.  They dream up a concept, stories they intend to tell, messages they want included to resonate with their intended audience. The writers then pack all those nuggets into an engaging, intriguing script. Your job is to unpack that.

Step One: Read the Script For Flow

It may sound obvious that you will need to read the script.  But this means giving it more than a cursory glance. You need to read the script for flow, to start to absorb what is being said, why and how. Read it multiple times.  Like eight or ten. While you’re doing that, think about how the script might be said aloud. Then think about multiple ways it might be read.  Ask yourself what the script is about. If you’re having trouble figuring that out, try this: if you had to sum it all up into one or two words, what would they be? Does the story have a problem/solution structure? Does the narration build slowly or move quickly between points? What is the environment where the story takes place? A kitchen table? A grocery store? A science lab? A forest?

How does the actual language flow? Does changing emphasis assist in the voicing of the script? There is a great exercise for quickly seeing how emphasis can enhance story telling. Take the sentence “I am going to buy shoes”.  Read through the sentence 6 times, each time with the emphasis on a different word, i.e. “I AM going to buy shoes” or “I am going to buy SHOES”. Where you place the emphasis can expose the subtext of the script and improve your delivery.

Step Two: Understand What the Script Is Saying and Why

If you are not clear on why you are saying something, do you understand the language? What is the deeper meaning behind it? If it’s uncomfortable, how would you say it? You can’t change Shakespeare. You have to find ways to understand what the script is saying and why.

In a workshop on unpacking the Bard I took several years ago, the instructor had us paraphrase lines in Hamlet in our own vernacular. This helped those who hadn’t grasped the meaning really isolate why they were saying what Will had written. So “To be or not to be, that is the question” became something like “Do I keep on living with this pain or should I just kill myself? That’s what it comes down to.” Once you’ve put it in your own words and it’s comfortable, switch it back to the existing script. ‘Cause you can’t rewrite Shakespeare, neither can you rewrite the Whole Foods ad you’re about to record.

Step Three: Sort Your “Who’s”

Part of understanding the what and the why is understanding the WHO.  Every script has at least one character and you need to sort your “who’s” – Who’s talking? Who’s listening? 

For example –  let’s say you’re voicing a commercial for Skippy peanut butter.  Who are you? Are you the company that makes and sells it explaining its nutritional value to consumers? A mom thankful for a food her kid likes who is sharing this discovery with another mom? Or are you a kid who tells her friend she can’t wait to have lunch because it’s a peanut butter sandwich?  These three characters are going to have vastly different perspectives about Skippy. And that perspective is going to then influence what they say, how they say it and why. You can’t find the right delivery without knowing what character you are portraying.

Or another example – now you are providing narration for an explainer video discussing 5 steps to help flatten the curve of coronavirus outbreak.  Who are you now? A doctor? An authority such as a mayor or a governor? A concerned family member or friend? Are you speaking to a patient who is worried about catching it? Or to a city or state who needs to understand the risks or new rules? Are you hoping to help those you love stay calm and do what’s necessary.  Again, a serious subject, but who you are will guide you to why and how you are saying what is in the script.

Work on making the connection between speaker (you) and listener strong and clear.

Step Four: Connect Emotionally With the Script

Finally, give yourself the chance to connect emotionally with the script.  This is another reason why a cursory glance through the words on the page before recording really won’t help you nail the voice over delivery. What emotions come up for you when you read the script? What emotions is the client looking for? Was the script funny? Did it make you tear up? Did you want to shout “hell yeah!” when you got to the end?  Note how you’re feeling.

Now, see how that aligns with what you understand to be the creatives’ intention. What is the obvious emotion or intention being invoked? Is it happiness? Does the spot fuel outrage (like in political spots)? And what is the subtext –  the unspoken or less obvious meaning or message?  

Why are you opening your mouth to say anything at all in this?  Aka – What do you want to share?

If script analysis is new to you, work on this a lot until it becomes second nature. Practice makes the process quicker, but it also makes you better at analysis which makes your performance better too.

Filed Under: Voice Tagged With: voice actor, voice artist, voice over, voice over artist, voiceover talent

Top 10 Voiceover Blogs to Follow – David Tyler

blogs

Learning from others who are doing well in the the voice arts is a great way to learn more and stay abreast of what works and what doesn’t. I regularly check out blogs of some of the cream of the crop in our industry. Now anyone can talk can blog, but not everyone creates insightful content worthy of my (or your) time. Earlier this year,  I began my Top Ten Voiceover Blogs to Follow list and released interviews with people on the list.

Released in alphabetical order, we’ve so far heard from J Michael Collins, Dave Courvoisier, Bill DeWees, Anne Ganguzza, Debbie Grattan, Paul Strikwerda, Laura Schreiber and Marc Scott. Next on my list is David Tyler. The voice of CTV, thousands of commercials and a voiceover artist I’ve had the pleasure of knowing well for most of our voiceover careers, David is personable and extremely bright. He thinks outside the box and this comes through not only in his insightful blogs, but in his coaching, in the stories he tells and the connections with people he makes.

 

Voice Over Artist David Tyler

 

David Tyler voice over
Voiceover Artist David Tyler

David, why do you blog about voice over?

 

I blog at davidtyler.com first, to help my clients do their jobs better and second, to help prospects get to know, like and trust me. I rarely post about voice over on my blog, instead I focus on finding ways to help people who might hire me as a voice talent. My blog is called “The Art of Communicating Ideas” and is geared toward the needs and interests of my clients. They don’t want to learn about voice over but want to know for example how to properly setup speakers in their editing/mixing suite so I write about that.

 

Do you have a theme to your blogs or do you wait for inspiration to strike?

Generally, I wait until inspiration hits or when I discover something or read an interesting article that I can credibly add my own spin that will help achieve my goal of getting readers to know, like and trust me. My client base are TV and radio broadcasters, commercial producers, copywriters, eLearning producers and video content creators, so I’m always looking for things that will interest them and/or help them do their jobs better.

 

What are your favorite kinds of blogs to write about?

I don’t think I have a particular favourite except that every post is geared toward better communication. My core marketing message is helping companies communicate ideas. Anything that falls into that theme is my favourite.

 

What kinds of blogs have you noticed get the most attention or feedback?

In my case blogs that have a “how to…” or teaching theme seem to get the most interest. My blog post “The 5 Truths About Commercial Copy Writing” is a good example of the teaching aspect of what I blog about. For my clients who work in radio and for my small business owner clients this is a post that continues to get hits, and it was written in 2015! You should aim to create posts that can withstand the test of time.

 

Do you have anything else you’d like us to know about your blog in particular or your (philosophy and) approach to the industry?

To be honest, my clients have jobs to do and finding & booking a voice talent is the least of their worries. Write blog posts that 1) help them do their jobs, and 2) build trust with them. If you do that they will hire you and more importantly keep coming back.

Before I create any content (blog post, social post or video) I look through my rotating ‘Be8′ list to decide on my angle: Be Useful, Be Generous, Be Entertaining, Be Timely, Be Human, Be Promotional, Be Controversial, Be Engaging. Pick one of these 8 things on a rotating, regular basis and you’ll be on your way to building connection with your audience.

 

Do you have any fav VO bloggers to recommend?

…aside from KimHandysidesVoiceOver.com ??? 😉 My favourite VO blogger is Nethervoice. Paul is the greatest! Love those shoes…

Filed Under: blogs Tagged With: commercial producers, communicate ideas, copywriters, radio broadcasters, storytelling, video content creators, voice over actor, voice over artist, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover blog, voiceover bloggers, voiceover talent

Top 10 Voiceover Blogs to Follow – Marc Scott

blogs

Voiceover is an incredibly fun, but labor intensive profession. People who think it’s easy to “get in” and easy to build a business as a voice over artist are misinformed. But, learning from others who are doing well in the the voice arts is a great way to learn more and stay abreast of what works and what doesn’t. I regularly check out blogs of some of the cream of the crop in our industry. Now anyone can talk can blog, but not everyone creates insightful content worthy of my (or your) time. Earlier this year,  I began my Top Ten Voiceover Blogs to Follow list and released interviews with people on the list.

Released in alphabetical order, we’ve so far heard from J Michael Collins, Dave Courvoisier, Bill DeWees, Anne Ganguzza, Debbie Grattan, Paul Strikwerda and Laura Schreiber. Next on my list is Marc Scott. A terrific guy (he’s a volunteer firefighter, people – truly Marc is salt of the earth), an inveterate marketing man and a solid voiceover talent, Marc is a busy guy who blogs, vlogs and podcasts now too. Chock full of tips on how to handle the business end of your solopreneurship, Marc is also a coach and a source of inspiration for a good work-life balance.

 

Voice Over Artist Marc Scott

 

Voiceover Artist Marc Scott

Marc, why do you blog about voice over?

 

I started blogging simply to share the lessons I was learning as I was trying to figure out how to grow a sustainable, full-time business. I figured if I was already making all the mistakes and learning all the solutions, maybe the blog would help someone else do the same.

 

Do you have a theme to your blogs or do you wait for inspiration to strike?

In the beginning, it was all about lessons learned. Eventually the theme became business and marketing, and that’s where I’ve continued to focus my coaching.

 

What are your favorite kinds of blogs to write about?

It’s got to offer something practical. I want people to walkaway with someone tangible. An action they can take. Something that will produce results.

 

What kinds of blogs have you noticed get the most attention or feedback?

When I was giving advice that made a difference in a business practice, people always responded to those. People want information that they can use.

 

(Do you have anything (else) you’d like us to know about your blog in particular or your (philosophy and) approach to the industry?

As I’ve evolved and the world has evolved, I’ve actually moved away from traditional blogging and more into the podcast realm. I noticed a shift in my blog about a year ago. People were spending a lot less time reading my blogs and a lot more time watching the video content I shared. It was easier. That turned into a decision to focus efforts towards a podcast which is content that can be consumed nearly anywhere… from the office to the gym to the commute home from work. The numbers on my podcast far outweigh the numbers I was seeing on my blog last year.

 

Filed Under: blogs Tagged With: actor, narrator, podcast, voice arts, voiceover blogs, voiceover marketing, voiceover talent

Top Ten Voice Over Blogs – Debbie Grattan

blogs

There are a lot of balls to juggle in running your own business as a voice over artist. Staying on top of industry trends and learning from others who are doing well in the the voice arts is one of those spheres. I regularly check out blogs (and podcasts & vlogs) of some of the cream of the crop in our industry. Now anyone can talk can blog, but not everyone creates insightful content worthy of my (or your time). Earlier this year,  I began my To Ten Voice Over Blogs to Follow list and released interviews with people on the list.

Released in alphabetical order, we’ve so far heard from J Michael Collins, Dave Courvoisier, Bill DeWees and Anne Ganguzza. As well as following our next blogger for some time, I recently had the pleasure of working with Debbie Grattan on a national commercial, and as well as being inspired with her talent and skill set was impressed with her kindness and professionalism on set. Without further ado, here is number five from my list of the top ten voice over blogs to follow.

Voice Over Artist Debbie Grattan

voiceover industry artist
Voiceover Artist Debbie Grattan

Debbie, why do you blog about voice over?

SEO is the primary we reason we have a blog. But sharing information and writing articles that show my level of experience, professionalism and knowledge also helps in general marketing. Whether it’s sharing articles on social media or among my clients in an email newsletter, having content to put out is a big advantage when you’re trying to get peoples’ attention and have them check out your demos.

 

Do you have a theme to your blogs?

We have a couple main categories that are voice over related. Posts are written either for an audience of other voice over talent, or for an audience of people who hire voice over talent. Generally, we prefer to write content that appeals to the latter group, since that is what will most likely generate business. We also like to write about challenges we face and observations we make as small business owners and entrepreneurs. Much of our success in this business comes from maintaining a clear, consistent state of mind, a positive attitude when facing adversity and the ability to improvise when necessary. So we like to write about those topics as well.

 

Do you plan it out or wait for inspiration to strike?

We do a little of both… We have a planned number of blog posts we intend to publish per month, and we do what we have to do to stay on that schedule. Sometimes we want to highlight a certain topic, for example a specific genre of voice over, and we will write a series of articles on that topic.  Other times we just go with whatever topic idea we like, and find ways to skew it in the direction of voice over.

 

What are your favorite kinds of blogs to write about?

My husband and business partner worked for many years as a personal coach and he often contributes ideas that go in the direction of personal development, success strategies and just noticing what works and what doesn’t. So we like those types of articles, however, the most important topics to cover are those that appeal to the audience of voice talent seekers.

 

What kinds of blogs have you noticed get the most attention or feedback?

The post that has the most number of comments by far, is a post that my husband initially proposed about annoying speech patterns. Just type in “annoying speech patterns” in google and you should see it at the top of the list. He had been listening to NPR while driving the kids to school in the mornings and was on a rant about how these supposedly professional radio people used some very annoying speech patterns. So, that post started as a rant basically, and we seem to have tapped into something judging by how many people read and comment on the post still to this day.

We’ve also seen a lot of traffic on posts that address “male versus female voice talent.” And another hot one at the time it was written was a post on “Is your website mobile friendly?” That got huge traffic back when Google was updating their algorithms to favor sites that were compatible with smartphones. That is an even more important topic now that Google is using the compatibility metric in search results to an even greater extent.

 

Do you have anything else you’d like us to know about your blog in particular?

I recommend anyone who wants to get into voice over or improve as a voice over talent, do a lot of reading of blogs written by successful, experienced voice talent. There is a lot of wisdom out there. But keep in mind that everyone’s path is different and what works for one person may not work for the next person. I am not a voice over coach, yet I get contacted several times per week by people looking for guidance on how to be a voice talent. I always refer them to my blog and then suggest they look for reputable coaches and/or do some workshops. I’ve tried to put my “secrets of success” into my writing, so it’s all there for people to read. But, obviously, just reading it won’t make it happen. It takes consistent right action applied over a very long time period.

 

Filed Under: blogs Tagged With: blog topics, female voice over, NPR, seo, small business, voice over blogger, voice talent, voice talent seeker, voiceover, voiceover blog, voiceover talent

Top 10 Voice Over Blogs

Voiceover Business

Blogs can be the most insightful and rich source of free information in the Googlesphere. But there are a lot of them out there. In fact, Google told me today that there were 505 million blogs in the world in 2018. Within that daunting figure, voice over blogs are a narrow niche. For voice over seekers some blog posts answer questions about our industry. For voice artists, following blogs are a convenient way to gain insight into voice over craft, marketing and technology of our industry. VO blogs rich in content can save you time and money, improve your workflow and performance.

I regularly post myself and peruse the content of some of my confreres. To find out what’s new and what’s hot. To join in on great conversations.  If you’re an industry veteran, I don’t need to harp on the value of staying current in the voiceover industry and taking part in discussions about issues of import. You get it. Whether you’re deep in, or on the fringes of the industry, treat yourself. Pick one or two, or all ten of these bloggers and check them out. Dive into their back blogs.

(source:Ed Casas)

Here is my list of Top 10 voice over blogs (alphabetical). I’m going to post two a day this week, otherwise the blog post would be WAY to hefty and would take forever to get through, so check back in. This way, 2 of the VO Top Bloggers a day, it’s a bite-sized snack of getting to know some of the best writers of voice work in the biz. Click the hyper links in their answers to check out samples of their blogs.

Based on my sources of inspiration with a few recommendations thrown in from my inner circle, I asked these bloggers the same questions and their answers are wide and varied. I loved hearing the contrast & compare & the insight into the people behind the blogs. At the end of this Top 10 reveal, if I’ve missed someone you have found to be particularly useful, please let me know in the Comments below.

 

Voice Over Artist J. Michael Collins

 

voice over artist
Voice Over Artist J Michael Collins

J. Michael Collins is one of the beloved, trusted names in our business. A talented voice over artist, successful businessman, consummate professional and generous soul, when J. Michael speaks, people listen.

 

J. Michael, why do you blog about voice over?

I blog because I believe there are issues in the voice over industry that affect all of us, and that by discussing them we can help rose together as a community.

 

Do you have a theme to your blogs or do you wait for inspiration to strike?

I wait for inspiration to strike. Most of my articles are conceived and written in less than an hour based upon industry happenings.

 

What are your favorite kinds of blogs to write about?

Uplifting topics, reminding talent that while things aren’t perfect, they are a lot better than the doomsayers would have you believe.

 

voice over artist website landing page
J Michael’s website

What kinds of blogs have you noticed get the most attention or feedback?

You might think it would be the controversial ones, but I find I get the most attention and feedback from inspirational blogs that take a practical but positive look at the industry. This gives me hope.

 

Do you have anything (else) you’d like them to know about your blog in particular or your (philosophy and) approach to the industry?

My blog and my personal approach reflect a perspective of abundance in the voice over business. Too often today we hear from those who advocate a perspective of scarcity…..scarcity of jobs, of pay, of ethics. We all have to be vigilant against the dangers and predators that confront our industry, but we should never lose sight of the fact that there is more work than ever before, and there are just as many parts of VO where pay is rising as where it is falling or stagnating. If it seems like the sky is falling where you are, stand somewhere else.

Other blogs I recommend? Marc Scott, Paul Strikwerda, Laura Schreiber, and of course Kim Handysides – Thanks, JMC 🙂

 

Voice Over Artist Dave Courvoisier

 

voice over artist Dave Courvoisier
Voice Over Artist Dave Courvoisier

Longtime voice over artist, newly retired from a fabulous television news anchor career in Vegas, co-founder and one of the big force majeures behind WOVO, Dave Courvoisier is a down-to-earth wealth of insight and info into VO.

 

Dave, why do you blog about voice over?

What inspired me back in 2007 was simply looking for a way to journal online about my growing voiceover business.  That way I’d know where to go if I wanted to remember this helpful site, or that useful tip.  Now, I blog because I enjoy it, I have subscribers who depend on me (I think), and it helps me build a bank of goodwill within the community.

 

Do you have a theme to your blogs or do you wait for inspiration to strike?

The direction is to provide helpful information the everyday voice actor can use in his/her business.  The theme is to provide relevant information that helps voice actors of all levels of proficiency to be better voice actors and freelance businesspeople.  I occasionally get inspiration, or see and share a new piece of information that has not yet appeared in online forums.  But overall, my mind is working in the background all during my waking hours in a constant awareness of ideas that could be adapted to help voice actors.  Often, I’ll get clues from other freelance professionals (writers, photographers, graphic artists, etc.) on topics they’ve written for their community.  I’ve rarely struggled to find ideas to create 3-4 fresh blogs every week.

 

What are your favorite kinds of blogs to write about?

New products, new online tools, services for freelancers, and interviews.  I like to work on articles that inspire and encourage.  I like sharing new information from my constantly trolling the internet for new ideas.  I regularly write opinion pieces about trends I see damaging our community’s professional status or compensation rates.  Coming from a perspective of experience, and (frankly) age, I have assumed a role of marketplace critic/commentator that I believe benefits especially newer VO professionals who need to be aware that they have a responsibility to uphold our shared community standards; something that has grown into being a founder of World-Voices Organization (with 3 others) to advocate for the voiceover profession.

 

website landing page of voice over artist
Dave’s website

What kinds of blogs have you noticed get the most attention or feedback?

Articles that reveal secrets of marketing, job-finding, client-relations, and freelance common-sense.  Also popular are “list” articles for voice over. My most-read blogs include an interview with a Craigslist expert, a list of royalty-free music and sound-effects sites, and admissions of bare-faced personal honesty and transparency.  There’s a lot of “success posing” among professionals.  Voice actors love it when someone speaks authentically and openly about their trials and failures.

 

Do you have anything (else) you’d like us to know about your blog in particular?

It’s constant.  Several fresh articles/week.  I enjoy the discipline of writing, and often an article is fairly short (catering to attention spans).  People tell me they read my blog with coffee every morning.  I like sharing new stuff I find on the internet that others haven’t yet seen.  I try to make the blog visually appealing, and easy to reach.  Most of all, I really work to make it VO-specific as a helpful tool for others voice actors.

Who would I recommend?

Paul Strikwerda, who is a fellow journalist, friend, and astute thought-influencer for our business. Kim Handysides who always has helpful insights. (Thanks Dave!)

 

Circle on back tomorrow for Pt 2 of my Top 10 Voice Over blogs to follow. Can you guess who’s next?

Filed Under: Voiceover Business Tagged With: actor, freelance professional, VO professionals, voice actor, voice over, voice over blog, voice over craft, voice over industry, voiceover business, voiceover industry, voiceover talent, World-Voices Organization

Bridging the VO Gap – International Voice Work with Shelley Avellino

Voiceover Coach

head shot of Shelley Avellino Bridging the VO Gap
Shelley Avellino

I don’t know what percentage of VO work is done internationally in the current market, but it’s a lot. Personally, 80% of my voice work is for clients outside my home and native land, eh? Whether you’re an expat working for the US market back home, or live on here but are accessing work abroad, bridging the gap between home and away takes finesse. Shelley Avellino knows that more than most. A Brit from Wales who’s been living abroad (in the US and Hong Kong) most of her adult life, she’s just launched a new service to voice over artists helping us navigate customs and costing and clients, oh my.

A casting director for Sweetrush, and director and performance coach at Melissa Moats’ Voice Over Studio in Las Vegas and a terrific talent herself, Shells was on her way from Vegas to London today for the One Voice conference, but I caught her for a few minutes to shed light on her new site and service.

Kim: What led you to create Bridging the VO Gap and offering the service you do?

Shelley: I’d been thinking about doing it for a very long time. I actually have to thank Tom Test for this because six years ago at my very first FaffCon, he was doing a talk on International voice work and said “Hey Shell, you’re foreign, why don’t you be part of my talk and tell people what you do?” And I did and after a lot of people approached me saying, “I didn’t even think about looking abroad for work.” To me it was normal and I thought everybody was doing it, but of course they weren’t. So, I began writing all the information I had and have been gathering for the last six years or so properly and put it together to be able to help other voice actors realize that they don’t have to just stick to their own back yard. There’s so much work out there, but they may not know exactly where to start. SO Bridging the VO Gap is a great way for people to know there’s somebody out there who’s been there, done that, got the T-Shirt, learned sometimes the hard way and can give people guidance on what mistakes to avoid.

Why You Should Go International with Your Voice Over

Kim: There are a few moving parts to going international with your voice over work? What are they?

Shelley: Exactly. It’s just like when you market yourself here. You may have an agent, may belong to a Union, and get a lot of work that way and don’t do a lot of self-marketing and that’s great. But for those who don’t have that or rely on Pay2Play sites, again you’re limited, you may get jobs from P2Ps, but not clients. Clients are a little more hard to come by. So, for those who are not Union and not relying on P2Ps, international marketing is a great way to start, and the first “moving part” is where. Where do I even start looking? ‘Cause the world’s big, right? It can be quite scary to know what to do, where to begin. So, I help people break it down. Where do I look, where are the good resources, search engines, how do I get around that. And then we move on to how do I contact these clients. People speak different languages and have different customs, so you have to navigate that moving part. And then once you’ve booked a job in say, Italy, it’s what voice over rate do I charge, do they do usage, how do they do business, how do they talk to their clients, what’s the best way to contact them? So it’s all those moving parts, knowing different currencies, different time zones, all that kind of stuff.

Site homepage from Bridging the VO GapKim: Theses are one-on-one lessons over Skype or Zoom, right? Without revealing the info you give away in your sessions, what can participants expect to get, in a nutshell?

Shelley: Yes, Skype or zoom and the reason I’m doing them one-on-one is that everybody’s journey is different and I want to be able to tailor it to best fit each person’s needs. What I do covers so much, some people might only want info in one area, they might already be marketing abroad, but they want to expand and they don’t know how to find rate cards for certain countries, or other aspects they want me to cover with them. Or it might be they’ve got a live directed session with someone in another country and they’re not sure of themselves. I do performance coaching as well, which is something I love to do and I always give a little bit of insight into customs of say live sessions in France, or China, or Singapore, or India, because it is very different. They deal with clients and business in different ways. I can go quite in-depth depending on what someone’s needs are, or I can give a broad outline. It really depends, it’s kind of bespoke.

Diving into International Voice Over Rates and Customs

Kim: The world is wide and there is so much cultural diversity. You dive into voice over international rates and customs in your course. You must have put a lot of research into the various markets. How did that happen?

Shelley: That was a bit of a task. It’s all right getting voice over rates from production companies and Unions in specific countries, but if there’s a South African client, for instance, how am I going to get rates for that country? I decided the best way to get an indication of rates in various countries was to reach out to the voice over talent themselves. So, I spent a long time over many years building this info and getting input from more than one VO actor in each region and building up my rate sheets that way.

Kim: Who do you think will best benefit from working with you?

Shelley: I think somebody who’s been in the craft for maybe a couple of years and just wants to branch out to get new clients. People new to the industry can get an overview of what’s out there, so really most people can get something out of Bridging the VO Gap. Even those who’ve been at it for years and years, because guess what? They may have a couple of areas they work at outside of where they live, but they may not know about certain directories or certain places to go for usage rates, or sweet little websites to be aware of. So, I’d say probably everyone could find something of value.

 

Kim: Is a one-hour session sufficient? Or if voiceover artists want to really take on the world, do they need more time with you?

Shelley: I’ve done a bit of both with people. Again, it depends on what they need. Some people may only need an hour, and some may come back to me and say, ok, I’ve got a handle on this, now I’d like more insight into listing on certain websites, currency or payment issues. An hour is good to get the basics or work on something specific. And if someone wants to work with me on voice over performance afterwards, I’m totally down for that.

Filed Under: Voiceover Coach Tagged With: Bridging the VO Gap, coaching, international voice over rates, international voice work, Shelley Avellino, voice actor, voice artist, voice over, voice over coaching, voice over rates, voiceover talent

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