VC Radio
Voice Coaches Radio Episode 705 “Starting Over”
John: [00:00:00] All right. It's Voice Coaches Radio. I am John.
Tina: And I'm Tina.
John: And we are here to talk today about if we were starting from Ground zero as voice actors.
Tina: Okay.
John: How would we do it? And that is an awful name for an episode. So what could it be? It could be, uh,
Tina: starting over. No. Yeah. If
John: we were
Tina: to start over,
John: if we were, if we were to start over as voice actors, how would we do it?
All
Tina: right. Right. Be first.
John: Okay. So first off, yes. Just like I tell everyone, number one, I would get some kind of voiceover coaching for sure. Mm-hmm. Um, so, and again, listen, I, I'm just, I keep saying this. Come to my webinar and you will,
Tina: yes.
John: You'll get an idea of this. We, you know, that, that's educational as well as an intro to voiceover.
Mm-hmm. I think that's a great first step. So I probably [00:01:00] would've done that first to get my feet wet, just to see, hey, is this something for me? Um, and my webinar, super honest, you know, I'm, I'm, I'm, you know, I don't, I don't use words like, break into the industry Yeah. Or. Get rich quick. I don't use any of those terms because they're not real.
Tina: It's not true.
John: There are other people. Mm-hmm. There are other people that are talking about that. And there adds to their voiceover webinars, I guess, and they're just trying to sell you tickets. I don't do that. Yeah. Because I want you to know how you actually pursue voiceovers. Mm-hmm. So I would go to my webinar specifically if there's another version of me.
Uh, no, but you know, I, I do, you know, I get my feet wet, go to a webinar. See, see. Uh, and again, I'm assuming that me starting over would be at this time mm-hmm. Not back when I was doing, 'cause things were different back then. And, and then I would get. And then I would get into a voiceover program, you know, um, I would guess a voiceover coaching because you need it.
Tina: Yes.
John: And, um, so that's the first thing I would do. Um, I would make sure that I, I work with someone who can gimme a network [00:02:00] quality demo, something that is mm-hmm. And again, I, you know, keep in mind the demo you do today
Tina: mm-hmm.
John: Will not be the demo you do tomorrow.
Tina: No. You
John: know, you're gonna get better as time goes on, but I would do the best demo I can right now.
And then this is the part that would be very, that I, that would be very different. 'cause these are things I did do. So I, so I would start over the same way. I, I pretty much did it before, but here's the thing I would do differently because I wasn't, when I started in voiceovers, it, it was 30 years ago.
More than 30 years ago. Yeah. And. There wasn't really, social media wasn't really around.
Tina: Um, I don't think it was around at all.
John: No. Yeah, so, so I kind of, so this is completely different for me because I, you know, I'm on social media now. I have an Instagram mm-hmm. And that sort of thing, and, but because I, it wasn't around when I started, I'm not.
It's hard to say. I'm not branded, I would say correctly. You know, in other words, okay. I, my, I don't, I don't have a, I try, but I don't have a complete continuity between mm-hmm. Like, for example, [00:03:00] my website with my demo. Okay. And then my Instagram, it's not,
Tina: yeah.
John: They're not all, uh, branded the same. Mm-hmm.
Because I just wasn't around then. So that's something I would, I would focus on too, is, uh, I would brand everything across the board exactly the same. Mm-hmm. So that, you know, again, everything is your brand, you know? Yeah. And so that's something I, I would do starting right from the beginning. Um, and, and so I encourage people to, to do that.
Mm-hmm. You know, I know, and unfortunately, I think, I don't wanna say this unfortunately, but unfortunately, or. By happenstance, some people will get into voiceovers, you know, already have,
Tina: yeah.
John: All their social media. Mm-hmm. So I, so if that was me now mm-hmm. And I already had an Instagram, I would probably start, it's hard because you probably, you have a bunch of followers, right?
Yeah,
Tina: yeah, yeah.
John: This was hard. So, but I would probably start in Instagram. Uh, a TikTok, [00:04:00] whatever social media you're gonna use mm-hmm. That would reflect. Uh, my voiceover career, I guess
Tina: like a whole dedicated, whole dedicated social media just for Yeah. Your voice acting.
John: Yeah.
Tina: Yeah. You could still have your personal page.
Yeah. You know, and then your voice acting.
John: Yeah.
Tina: Yeah,
John: because that's the, that's the struggle I have now. I, you know, I do have a, I do have a dedicated kind of voiceover. And producer. Mm-hmm. Page. And I just don't have a lot of followers, but my, my personal account is a lot of followers. Yeah. So I try to leverage that, but mm-hmm.
Listen, people, yeah. I found that people, once they follow you on one, they're just not gonna follow you on another one. Yeah,
Tina: that's true.
John: So it's tough. So for me, I'm like always kind of talking about some voiceover stuff mm-hmm. But also my personal life and it's, you know, as far as like personal posts, you know?
Yeah. On the vacation or whatever. So, um. Yeah, that's, that's the struggle I find. But if I was just starting out, I think I could kind of get it all together.
Tina: Yeah. You know what I mean? I think so. I think now is definitely completely different than when you started when I, when I started, I'm like 18 years [00:05:00] now, so that I, I would the biggest is the educational part of it, because just as we were, you know, telling you, I, I do get a lot of students who after they've gone through the classes and we're about to do their demo, and they're just like, oh.
Wow. I really thought it was just reading. If they did not get these educational classes, they would've not known and you know, they would still, in their mind think it's just reading. Yeah. That's the same with me not saying that. And I, I, you know, went through the educational classes, but they weren't as. I think organized as we are.
Yeah. And not just to say that because we, we do it, but I, because I've gone through a educational program that was different from ours and I realized, wow, you know, so it's the, a company that just like ours, we do go through, um, these classes and each class is different. Um, and I just wish that I had that more organized.
Approach to this. I think that's, that's the biggest thing. And I would ask those [00:06:00] questions. I would go talk to, you know, say, okay, this is what I'm interested in, but what do you have to offer? How are, you know, take me through the whole program and I wish I did that and I didn't. You know? Yeah. So I think that's something that, so knowing exactly
John: what you're
Tina: getting
John: sort of, right.
Yeah.
Tina: Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So that's what I think. Cool. Make sure, you know, ask those questions. That's the biggest thing. And I wish I did ask those questions. Take me through the whole thing, you know? Yep. Um, so I think that's the biggest thing. But you're right. Now, if you are just starting out, I think that social media is a big thing, you know, it's just.
Having your own, you know, page devoted for soc for your voice acting, I think is a good idea. And, and cross promote. You know, just you're on your regular page, your personal page and say, Hey, uh, would you follow, would you mind following me? Most people will do that. They will, your friends will say, say, I'm having
John: a tough time with that.
Yeah.
Tina: Oh, really? You had true friends then. I'm sorry.
John: Oh, yeah, yeah. No, you know, it's funny, I, I made a, yeah, I did, I made a voiceover in production [00:07:00] kind of page and, and, uh. And then I, I kind of. Try to focus it on voiceovers, but I had people just, uh, I don't know, they just kind of like stay. They're like, ah, we're, you know, no one says anything.
No one goes, I'm not following you. They just, uh, know I've got a few.
Tina: But
John: you know,
Tina: I think because people already know you Yeah. And they probably already know what you're doing. Yeah. So they just know that. So, and
John: I do, and I am at this point posting like my voiceovers of on both.
Tina: On both. '
John: cause I'm
Okay.
Tina: Well, so yes. So they're,
John: so they're getting it anyway, so that's probably why I'm probably damaging myself
Tina: Yeah.
John: By doing it. I
Tina: know,
John: but you know, I don't know, whatever. But, but yeah, so I, you know, I think the key is, like you said. Um, starting over is all about Ed. You know, I would definitely get educated, you know?
Yes. Such the industry is, especially these days, is evolved. Mm-hmm. And you're really, the people in this industry are, are all real voice actors. Mm-hmm. You know, who make money. Yes. People who make money consistently in this industry are real voice actors who know what they're doing. And you wanna be that person too.
You can be a beginner. Listen, we hire beginners all the time here. Mm-hmm. But we hire educated [00:08:00] beginners, people who actually. You know? Yes. Not a conversation to read, not how a voice act. Mm-hmm. No studio etiquette. They know everything.
Tina: Yeah.
John: I always compare it to uh, you know, like, 'cause I have people who will say things like, well, but I only wanna do this part-time.
And I say, okay, cool. Yeah. If I was to hire an electrician to come to my house, I don't care if when that electrician gets there, they say, I'm a part-time electrician.
Tina: Yeah.
John: You know what? I still need them to be.
Tina: As an electrician.
An
John: electrician,
Tina: yes, exactly.
John: I'm not gonna stand next to them and show them how to do their job.
Tina: Yeah.
John: Mm-hmm. So same thing here. You know, you wanna be a voice actor. Become a voice actor. That's the key.
Tina: Yeah.
John: So, so, yeah. Building your career from ground zero.
Tina: Mm-hmm.
John: I think it's cool. This is a good time to, a great time to do it.
Tina: I think so. I think so. And, and you know, you know, is there, is there enough jobs out there?
Yes.
John: Yeah. I know. Yes. Is up. So last year was 4.4 $0.4 billion worth of voiceover work annually. In January it jumped to 4.8.
Tina: I didn't know that. Wow.
John: $4.8 billion worth the voice of work available [00:09:00] to voice actors annually.
Tina: They're, the jobs are there, but you've got to be trained and educated on how to do this.
John: Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. I feel, and I feel bad for the people who mm-hmm. Who don't, I don't feel, you know, I, I, I, I know voice actors who, who don't, I know some voice actors who think, well, that's what they get. I feel bad for those people. Yeah. 'cause they get discouraged.
Tina: Yes. You
John: know, and, and they're, mm-hmm.
The reason is you're not. You're not really a voice actor. You can't just pretend you're one. Mm-hmm. You can to your friends.
Tina: Yeah. Yep. But
John: once you start to try to go out and get work
Tina: mm-hmm.
John: The worst thing that can happen is you somehow trick your way into a job.
Tina: Yeah.
John: Because they realize pretty quickly you're not the person they thought you were.
And that can damage your, your budding, voiceover career. Yeah. So get, yeah, get first step, get, get some voice coaching for sure.
Tina: I will tell you that the so broadcasting's my background. 30. Actually I'm coming up on, yeah, 36 years.
John: Congratulations. You have a big party.
Tina: Yeah. Yeah. Like why? Why'd I do this party?
No, but [00:10:00] when I was, and how I got into voice acting was I was in between radio gigs and that's what made me say, I still wanna do this. I wanna be part of broadcasting. So it's funny because I did book a few gigs before I took the classes. But I did those gigs and then realized I need those classes. I need, there's, yes, I've got the background.
'cause I had more than 20 years when I got into Sure. Uh, voice acting, 20 years of broadcasting, radio, broadcasting. I do commercials all the time. Commercial all the time. But I sent, it was not the same.
John: Yeah, it's not
Tina: the same. Definitely
John: different.
Tina: Not the same at all.
So
John: we actually had the opportunity, it was super cool.
Um, I met the entire morning show to, uh, to a radio station of Fort Wayne, Indiana. And the same thing. They, you know, it was, uh, two gentlemen and a lady. Mm-hmm. And, and, uh, they same thing. They said, we want to get into more of the voiceover side of this, all three of them. And we realized it's completely different.
They knew right away. Yeah. And so they, all three of them came through [00:11:00] our voiceover program.
Tina: Oh, that's awesome.
John: Yeah. And uh, yeah. And they're all working. Yeah. As voice actors? Yes. As well. They're still doing the morning show. Mm-hmm. Of course. But that now they're working more as voice actors. They said they were having trouble, they said we, you know, we did voiceovers here.
Of course we part of the
Tina: job. Yeah. That's the common job. Yep.
John: But we just couldn't, all three of 'em. So we just can't seem to transition into getting professional voiceover. Mm-hmm. So it is different and it is
Tina: different.
John: It's different. So, and I think most. Radio people know that, but some don't. Some, some people, like, I do radio and I'm gonna do voiceover.
I'm like,
Tina: no. I still get people I talk to, you know, that's, that's their background is radio and they're just like, yeah, I kind of sense there might be something. Yeah, it's, it's different.
John: Yeah.
Tina: Completely different. So,
John: so I think that's, I mean, that, that's kind of it. I mean, you know, it's not super complicated.
It's not the hardest thing in the world. This isn't becoming a doctor, but there is something to it. So, you know, I would say education. Get that network quality demo and then start developing clients.
Tina: Mm-hmm.
John: You know? Yes. Uh, that's the key, you know, really developing a clientele. Mm-hmm. And so I, I [00:12:00] think that's really, it is really how you build it and, and, you know, um, the thing I will encourage everyone to do as well, before you start any of it here, something I guess we didn't mention, and I, and I, and I do think this is important.
Mm-hmm. Um, write down all your goals. Once you write something, something down, it becomes real. Mm-hmm. You know what I mean? So write down all of your goals, okay. Like mm-hmm. And leave a lot of space. Write down a goal, a bunch of space, write down another goal, bunch of space, and now write down in, be underneath it.
Mm-hmm. How are you getting there?
Tina: That's a good idea. Mm-hmm. Yeah.
John: That's
Tina: really good.
John: Yeah. Because once you do that, it becomes real. Mm-hmm. It's one thing to say, you know, I wanna get into voiceover. Yeah. There's another thing to have it in front of you and go Okay. And, and be specific. Don't just say, I wanna be a voice actor, say mm-hmm.
Um, I wanna get into voiceovers and I want to book my first job within
Tina: mm-hmm.
John: A year.
Tina: Yeah.
John: I want to make X amount of money. Next goal I wanna make, I wanna get, you know, say you, you know, you start off with another form of income, obviously. Yep. This should be, do you know when you start off as a voice actor, you should do this on the side.
Tina: Yep. [00:13:00]
John: You know, and it's flexible enough to do that. Local and regional work is very flexible, so you can definitely do that. It's, yeah. And then say, okay, I want to make $30,000 a year. As a part-time voice actor. Mm-hmm. By. 2028 or whatever it is. Yeah. You, you pick that and then, okay, how am I getting there?
Right. Write those things down. Okay. And, and when you give voiceover, uh, coaching, that can help you too. Yes. Because some of it you might not know, Hey, what's realistic? Mm-hmm. You know, and, and a voiceover coach or coming through a voiceover program like ours, we can guide you with that too, you say, okay.
Realistically, Hey, let's make some realistic goals here.
Tina: Yes.
John: And, and, and then here's how you get to those, you know, we, our program is very comprehensive and it really does teach you how to become a professional voice actor. Yes. Who makes an income doing this. Mm-hmm. So, uh, uh, you know, I think, uh, we could certainly help you with that, but Awesome.
Anything else to add? No, that's
Tina: it.
John: Alright, well, I, you know what, uh, there you go. I think I want to thank everybody very much for listening and, and again, by the way, I did, I, I, you know, I kind of cheated [00:14:00] on that one, on that, on that episode because I did get that from a, uh, a listener question.
Tina: Oh, okay.
John: Yeah, I, we just did, you know, I could say that 'cause I know the person's gonna hear this and go, that was me.
Tina: Yeah.
John: I was the one. Uh, and by the way, it was, I think it was Brad. Good question. Brad. Brad. Brad. I don't gotta say your last name. Uh, so I did kind of, you know, 'cause I'm always looking for, and I said this, if you have ideas for episodes
Tina: Oh yeah.
John: Let us,
Tina: let us know. Um, yeah.
John: Brad didn't really say it was an idea for an episode as a question, but I thought, Hey, we can do an episode on that. It's a good one. Yeah. Starting from ground zero. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Right. I think that's how he said it, but I was thinking that's not a great, uh, I don't know how to, I'm trying to make it, yeah.
I think your idea is better. Which is, what did you say?
Tina: I don't know.
John: We're gonna call it. If we were to start from the beginning, how would we build our voiceover career?
Tina: Yeah. Yeah. Something like that. Something like that, yeah.
John: All right. Well, I'll figure it out when I, when I type it out. Yeah. Into the episode.
Whatever the episode name is. Alright, well thank you very much for attending. Everyone again. Attending.
Tina: Yeah. Thanks.
John: No, was here. Thanks guys. Thank everyone. Nice
Tina: to see you.
John: Thank you very much for listening. [00:15:00] Attending,
Tina: watching,
John: watching too. Yeah. If you're watching, we apologize, but for listening, I thank you.
And uh, so yeah. Again, John [email protected]
Tina: and [email protected].
John: We out.
Tina: And I'm Tina.
John: And we are here to talk today about if we were starting from Ground zero as voice actors.
Tina: Okay.
John: How would we do it? And that is an awful name for an episode. So what could it be? It could be, uh,
Tina: starting over. No. Yeah. If
John: we were
Tina: to start over,
John: if we were, if we were to start over as voice actors, how would we do it?
All
Tina: right. Right. Be first.
John: Okay. So first off, yes. Just like I tell everyone, number one, I would get some kind of voiceover coaching for sure. Mm-hmm. Um, so, and again, listen, I, I'm just, I keep saying this. Come to my webinar and you will,
Tina: yes.
John: You'll get an idea of this. We, you know, that, that's educational as well as an intro to voiceover.
Mm-hmm. I think that's a great first step. So I probably [00:01:00] would've done that first to get my feet wet, just to see, hey, is this something for me? Um, and my webinar, super honest, you know, I'm, I'm, I'm, you know, I don't, I don't use words like, break into the industry Yeah. Or. Get rich quick. I don't use any of those terms because they're not real.
Tina: It's not true.
John: There are other people. Mm-hmm. There are other people that are talking about that. And there adds to their voiceover webinars, I guess, and they're just trying to sell you tickets. I don't do that. Yeah. Because I want you to know how you actually pursue voiceovers. Mm-hmm. So I would go to my webinar specifically if there's another version of me.
Uh, no, but you know, I, I do, you know, I get my feet wet, go to a webinar. See, see. Uh, and again, I'm assuming that me starting over would be at this time mm-hmm. Not back when I was doing, 'cause things were different back then. And, and then I would get. And then I would get into a voiceover program, you know, um, I would guess a voiceover coaching because you need it.
Tina: Yes.
John: And, um, so that's the first thing I would do. Um, I would make sure that I, I work with someone who can gimme a network [00:02:00] quality demo, something that is mm-hmm. And again, I, you know, keep in mind the demo you do today
Tina: mm-hmm.
John: Will not be the demo you do tomorrow.
Tina: No. You
John: know, you're gonna get better as time goes on, but I would do the best demo I can right now.
And then this is the part that would be very, that I, that would be very different. 'cause these are things I did do. So I, so I would start over the same way. I, I pretty much did it before, but here's the thing I would do differently because I wasn't, when I started in voiceovers, it, it was 30 years ago.
More than 30 years ago. Yeah. And. There wasn't really, social media wasn't really around.
Tina: Um, I don't think it was around at all.
John: No. Yeah, so, so I kind of, so this is completely different for me because I, you know, I'm on social media now. I have an Instagram mm-hmm. And that sort of thing, and, but because I, it wasn't around when I started, I'm not.
It's hard to say. I'm not branded, I would say correctly. You know, in other words, okay. I, my, I don't, I don't have a, I try, but I don't have a complete continuity between mm-hmm. Like, for example, [00:03:00] my website with my demo. Okay. And then my Instagram, it's not,
Tina: yeah.
John: They're not all, uh, branded the same. Mm-hmm.
Because I just wasn't around then. So that's something I would, I would focus on too, is, uh, I would brand everything across the board exactly the same. Mm-hmm. So that, you know, again, everything is your brand, you know? Yeah. And so that's something I, I would do starting right from the beginning. Um, and, and so I encourage people to, to do that.
Mm-hmm. You know, I know, and unfortunately, I think, I don't wanna say this unfortunately, but unfortunately, or. By happenstance, some people will get into voiceovers, you know, already have,
Tina: yeah.
John: All their social media. Mm-hmm. So I, so if that was me now mm-hmm. And I already had an Instagram, I would probably start, it's hard because you probably, you have a bunch of followers, right?
Yeah,
Tina: yeah, yeah.
John: This was hard. So, but I would probably start in Instagram. Uh, a TikTok, [00:04:00] whatever social media you're gonna use mm-hmm. That would reflect. Uh, my voiceover career, I guess
Tina: like a whole dedicated, whole dedicated social media just for Yeah. Your voice acting.
John: Yeah.
Tina: Yeah. You could still have your personal page.
Yeah. You know, and then your voice acting.
John: Yeah.
Tina: Yeah,
John: because that's the, that's the struggle I have now. I, you know, I do have a, I do have a dedicated kind of voiceover. And producer. Mm-hmm. Page. And I just don't have a lot of followers, but my, my personal account is a lot of followers. Yeah. So I try to leverage that, but mm-hmm.
Listen, people, yeah. I found that people, once they follow you on one, they're just not gonna follow you on another one. Yeah,
Tina: that's true.
John: So it's tough. So for me, I'm like always kind of talking about some voiceover stuff mm-hmm. But also my personal life and it's, you know, as far as like personal posts, you know?
Yeah. On the vacation or whatever. So, um. Yeah, that's, that's the struggle I find. But if I was just starting out, I think I could kind of get it all together.
Tina: Yeah. You know what I mean? I think so. I think now is definitely completely different than when you started when I, when I started, I'm like 18 years [00:05:00] now, so that I, I would the biggest is the educational part of it, because just as we were, you know, telling you, I, I do get a lot of students who after they've gone through the classes and we're about to do their demo, and they're just like, oh.
Wow. I really thought it was just reading. If they did not get these educational classes, they would've not known and you know, they would still, in their mind think it's just reading. Yeah. That's the same with me not saying that. And I, I, you know, went through the educational classes, but they weren't as. I think organized as we are.
Yeah. And not just to say that because we, we do it, but I, because I've gone through a educational program that was different from ours and I realized, wow, you know, so it's the, a company that just like ours, we do go through, um, these classes and each class is different. Um, and I just wish that I had that more organized.
Approach to this. I think that's, that's the biggest thing. And I would ask those [00:06:00] questions. I would go talk to, you know, say, okay, this is what I'm interested in, but what do you have to offer? How are, you know, take me through the whole program and I wish I did that and I didn't. You know? Yeah. So I think that's something that, so knowing exactly
John: what you're
Tina: getting
John: sort of, right.
Yeah.
Tina: Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So that's what I think. Cool. Make sure, you know, ask those questions. That's the biggest thing. And I wish I did ask those questions. Take me through the whole thing, you know? Yep. Um, so I think that's the biggest thing. But you're right. Now, if you are just starting out, I think that social media is a big thing, you know, it's just.
Having your own, you know, page devoted for soc for your voice acting, I think is a good idea. And, and cross promote. You know, just you're on your regular page, your personal page and say, Hey, uh, would you follow, would you mind following me? Most people will do that. They will, your friends will say, say, I'm having
John: a tough time with that.
Yeah.
Tina: Oh, really? You had true friends then. I'm sorry.
John: Oh, yeah, yeah. No, you know, it's funny, I, I made a, yeah, I did, I made a voiceover in production [00:07:00] kind of page and, and, uh. And then I, I kind of. Try to focus it on voiceovers, but I had people just, uh, I don't know, they just kind of like stay. They're like, ah, we're, you know, no one says anything.
No one goes, I'm not following you. They just, uh, know I've got a few.
Tina: But
John: you know,
Tina: I think because people already know you Yeah. And they probably already know what you're doing. Yeah. So they just know that. So, and
John: I do, and I am at this point posting like my voiceovers of on both.
Tina: On both. '
John: cause I'm
Okay.
Tina: Well, so yes. So they're,
John: so they're getting it anyway, so that's probably why I'm probably damaging myself
Tina: Yeah.
John: By doing it. I
Tina: know,
John: but you know, I don't know, whatever. But, but yeah, so I, you know, I think the key is, like you said. Um, starting over is all about Ed. You know, I would definitely get educated, you know?
Yes. Such the industry is, especially these days, is evolved. Mm-hmm. And you're really, the people in this industry are, are all real voice actors. Mm-hmm. You know, who make money. Yes. People who make money consistently in this industry are real voice actors who know what they're doing. And you wanna be that person too.
You can be a beginner. Listen, we hire beginners all the time here. Mm-hmm. But we hire educated [00:08:00] beginners, people who actually. You know? Yes. Not a conversation to read, not how a voice act. Mm-hmm. No studio etiquette. They know everything.
Tina: Yeah.
John: I always compare it to uh, you know, like, 'cause I have people who will say things like, well, but I only wanna do this part-time.
And I say, okay, cool. Yeah. If I was to hire an electrician to come to my house, I don't care if when that electrician gets there, they say, I'm a part-time electrician.
Tina: Yeah.
John: You know what? I still need them to be.
Tina: As an electrician.
An
John: electrician,
Tina: yes, exactly.
John: I'm not gonna stand next to them and show them how to do their job.
Tina: Yeah.
John: Mm-hmm. So same thing here. You know, you wanna be a voice actor. Become a voice actor. That's the key.
Tina: Yeah.
John: So, so, yeah. Building your career from ground zero.
Tina: Mm-hmm.
John: I think it's cool. This is a good time to, a great time to do it.
Tina: I think so. I think so. And, and you know, you know, is there, is there enough jobs out there?
Yes.
John: Yeah. I know. Yes. Is up. So last year was 4.4 $0.4 billion worth of voiceover work annually. In January it jumped to 4.8.
Tina: I didn't know that. Wow.
John: $4.8 billion worth the voice of work available [00:09:00] to voice actors annually.
Tina: They're, the jobs are there, but you've got to be trained and educated on how to do this.
John: Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. I feel, and I feel bad for the people who mm-hmm. Who don't, I don't feel, you know, I, I, I, I know voice actors who, who don't, I know some voice actors who think, well, that's what they get. I feel bad for those people. Yeah. 'cause they get discouraged.
Tina: Yes. You
John: know, and, and they're, mm-hmm.
The reason is you're not. You're not really a voice actor. You can't just pretend you're one. Mm-hmm. You can to your friends.
Tina: Yeah. Yep. But
John: once you start to try to go out and get work
Tina: mm-hmm.
John: The worst thing that can happen is you somehow trick your way into a job.
Tina: Yeah.
John: Because they realize pretty quickly you're not the person they thought you were.
And that can damage your, your budding, voiceover career. Yeah. So get, yeah, get first step, get, get some voice coaching for sure.
Tina: I will tell you that the so broadcasting's my background. 30. Actually I'm coming up on, yeah, 36 years.
John: Congratulations. You have a big party.
Tina: Yeah. Yeah. Like why? Why'd I do this party?
No, but [00:10:00] when I was, and how I got into voice acting was I was in between radio gigs and that's what made me say, I still wanna do this. I wanna be part of broadcasting. So it's funny because I did book a few gigs before I took the classes. But I did those gigs and then realized I need those classes. I need, there's, yes, I've got the background.
'cause I had more than 20 years when I got into Sure. Uh, voice acting, 20 years of broadcasting, radio, broadcasting. I do commercials all the time. Commercial all the time. But I sent, it was not the same.
John: Yeah, it's not
Tina: the same. Definitely
John: different.
Tina: Not the same at all.
So
John: we actually had the opportunity, it was super cool.
Um, I met the entire morning show to, uh, to a radio station of Fort Wayne, Indiana. And the same thing. They, you know, it was, uh, two gentlemen and a lady. Mm-hmm. And, and, uh, they same thing. They said, we want to get into more of the voiceover side of this, all three of them. And we realized it's completely different.
They knew right away. Yeah. And so they, all three of them came through [00:11:00] our voiceover program.
Tina: Oh, that's awesome.
John: Yeah. And uh, yeah. And they're all working. Yeah. As voice actors? Yes. As well. They're still doing the morning show. Mm-hmm. Of course. But that now they're working more as voice actors. They said they were having trouble, they said we, you know, we did voiceovers here.
Of course we part of the
Tina: job. Yeah. That's the common job. Yep.
John: But we just couldn't, all three of 'em. So we just can't seem to transition into getting professional voiceover. Mm-hmm. So it is different and it is
Tina: different.
John: It's different. So, and I think most. Radio people know that, but some don't. Some, some people, like, I do radio and I'm gonna do voiceover.
I'm like,
Tina: no. I still get people I talk to, you know, that's, that's their background is radio and they're just like, yeah, I kind of sense there might be something. Yeah, it's, it's different.
John: Yeah.
Tina: Completely different. So,
John: so I think that's, I mean, that, that's kind of it. I mean, you know, it's not super complicated.
It's not the hardest thing in the world. This isn't becoming a doctor, but there is something to it. So, you know, I would say education. Get that network quality demo and then start developing clients.
Tina: Mm-hmm.
John: You know? Yes. Uh, that's the key, you know, really developing a clientele. Mm-hmm. And so I, I [00:12:00] think that's really, it is really how you build it and, and, you know, um, the thing I will encourage everyone to do as well, before you start any of it here, something I guess we didn't mention, and I, and I, and I do think this is important.
Mm-hmm. Um, write down all your goals. Once you write something, something down, it becomes real. Mm-hmm. You know what I mean? So write down all of your goals, okay. Like mm-hmm. And leave a lot of space. Write down a goal, a bunch of space, write down another goal, bunch of space, and now write down in, be underneath it.
Mm-hmm. How are you getting there?
Tina: That's a good idea. Mm-hmm. Yeah.
John: That's
Tina: really good.
John: Yeah. Because once you do that, it becomes real. Mm-hmm. It's one thing to say, you know, I wanna get into voiceover. Yeah. There's another thing to have it in front of you and go Okay. And, and be specific. Don't just say, I wanna be a voice actor, say mm-hmm.
Um, I wanna get into voiceovers and I want to book my first job within
Tina: mm-hmm.
John: A year.
Tina: Yeah.
John: I want to make X amount of money. Next goal I wanna make, I wanna get, you know, say you, you know, you start off with another form of income, obviously. Yep. This should be, do you know when you start off as a voice actor, you should do this on the side.
Tina: Yep. [00:13:00]
John: You know, and it's flexible enough to do that. Local and regional work is very flexible, so you can definitely do that. It's, yeah. And then say, okay, I want to make $30,000 a year. As a part-time voice actor. Mm-hmm. By. 2028 or whatever it is. Yeah. You, you pick that and then, okay, how am I getting there?
Right. Write those things down. Okay. And, and when you give voiceover, uh, coaching, that can help you too. Yes. Because some of it you might not know, Hey, what's realistic? Mm-hmm. You know, and, and a voiceover coach or coming through a voiceover program like ours, we can guide you with that too, you say, okay.
Realistically, Hey, let's make some realistic goals here.
Tina: Yes.
John: And, and, and then here's how you get to those, you know, we, our program is very comprehensive and it really does teach you how to become a professional voice actor. Yes. Who makes an income doing this. Mm-hmm. So, uh, uh, you know, I think, uh, we could certainly help you with that, but Awesome.
Anything else to add? No, that's
Tina: it.
John: Alright, well, I, you know what, uh, there you go. I think I want to thank everybody very much for listening and, and again, by the way, I did, I, I, you know, I kind of cheated [00:14:00] on that one, on that, on that episode because I did get that from a, uh, a listener question.
Tina: Oh, okay.
John: Yeah, I, we just did, you know, I could say that 'cause I know the person's gonna hear this and go, that was me.
Tina: Yeah.
John: I was the one. Uh, and by the way, it was, I think it was Brad. Good question. Brad. Brad. Brad. I don't gotta say your last name. Uh, so I did kind of, you know, 'cause I'm always looking for, and I said this, if you have ideas for episodes
Tina: Oh yeah.
John: Let us,
Tina: let us know. Um, yeah.
John: Brad didn't really say it was an idea for an episode as a question, but I thought, Hey, we can do an episode on that. It's a good one. Yeah. Starting from ground zero. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Right. I think that's how he said it, but I was thinking that's not a great, uh, I don't know how to, I'm trying to make it, yeah.
I think your idea is better. Which is, what did you say?
Tina: I don't know.
John: We're gonna call it. If we were to start from the beginning, how would we build our voiceover career?
Tina: Yeah. Yeah. Something like that. Something like that, yeah.
John: All right. Well, I'll figure it out when I, when I type it out. Yeah. Into the episode.
Whatever the episode name is. Alright, well thank you very much for attending. Everyone again. Attending.
Tina: Yeah. Thanks.
John: No, was here. Thanks guys. Thank everyone. Nice
Tina: to see you.
John: Thank you very much for listening. [00:15:00] Attending,
Tina: watching,
John: watching too. Yeah. If you're watching, we apologize, but for listening, I thank you.
And uh, so yeah. Again, John [email protected]
Tina: and [email protected].
John: We out.
John and Tina talk about how they would start a career in Voice Overs if they were starting over now.
