Copyright 2015 Success Vantage Group Pte Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Jenny Lewis.

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2 Copyright 2015 Success Vantage Group Pte Ltd All rights reserved. Published by Jenny Lewis. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recorded, scanned, or otherwise, except as permitted under Canadian copyright law, without the prior written permission of the author. Notes to the Reader: While the author and publisher of this book have made reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the information contained herein, the author and publisher assume no liability with respect to losses or damages caused, or alleged to be caused, by any reliance on any information contained herein and disclaim any and all warranties, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy or reliability of said information. The publisher and the author make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every situation. It is the complete responsibility of the reader to ensure they are adhering to all local, regional and national laws. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that neither the author nor the publisher is engaged in rendering professional services. If legal, accounting, medical, psychological, or any other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. The words contained in this text which are believed to be trademarked, service marked, or to otherwise hold proprietary rights have been designated as such by the use of initial capitalization. Inclusion, exclusion, or definition of a word or term is not intended to affect, or to express judgment upon the validity of legal status of any proprietary right which may be claimed for a specific word or term. The fact that an organization or website is referred to in this work as a citation and/or potential source of further information does not mean that the author or publisher endorses the information the organization or website may provide or the recommendations it may make. Further, readers should be aware that the websites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between when this work was written and when it is read. Individual results may vary. 2

3 CONTENTS Introduction... 4 In-Person Audition... 4 Traditional Demos Enhances Reliability And Professionalism... 6 Cold-Calling Clients... 6 The Importance Of Following Up... 7 The Rules Of Cold Calling... 8 Finding Connections Through LinkedIn... 8 Casting Through The Web... 8 Setting Up And Designing A Website For A Voiceover Professional Voice Casting Websites Casting Websites Networking Efforts Business Networking Events And Organizations Business Cards QR Codes Finding An Agent Client-Agent Behavior Types Of Agents (Franchise Versus Non-Franchise) Marketing Yourself

4 Introduction So you've got your home studio set up. You've bought the right equipment, you've got the softwares handy, and you're ready to land yourself a gig and make big money with your new career as a voiceover artist. But where do you start? How do you get the voiceover gigs that will flood your bank account with more cash than you know what to do with? Well, the first thing that comes to mind for most people who are beginning their journey in the world of voiceovers (or any home business opportunities, really) is the Internet. Surely there are various websites out there that offer plenty of great money making opportunities for new voiceover artists? You bet there are. Read on and find out just how you can get more voiceover gigs than you can handle! In-Person Audition You have spent every spare minute taking voiceover classes, training, recording sample scripts and have worked on your voice interpretation, sincerity and a natural delivery. You have uploaded and sent your demo to every voiceover website you can find on the Internet. You feel confident in your skills and talent to record anything that is sent your way. One day, the phone rings and you have been called to an in-person audition, and the panic rises. Do not be alarmed. Here are some tips to ensure you will have a great audition: 4

5 Prepare Your Voice By avoiding any activities or beverages that could cause any dryness in your throat or mouth. Avoid milk, smoking, soft drinks and drink plenty of water before and during your audition. Get Enough Sleep The Night Before The Audition Arrive early so you can read through the script, warm-up your voice and not be rushed. It you are stressed out, it will translate into the audition. Dress Sharp But Comfortable You don t need to wear a suit but you should look professional and confident. Avoid Wearing Any Noisy Jewelry Or Clothing This includes dangly earrings or material that makes noise while you are acting out your lines; their sound can be picked up during recording. Bring A Pencil To The Audition (Not A Pen) This will allow you to make notes or visual cues on the script that can be erased when you are done. You might note an emphasis of certain words, where to take a breath or pause and write out the pronunciation of words. Get A Feel For The Message What does the client or advertiser want to convey? Get creative and give yourself some different options of sounds that you think might work. It is always nice to have a few different ways to say the same thing. Stand Where The Microphone Will Work Best For You Do not be intimidated by fancy equipment. Set yourself up where you need to be to record your best audition. Find The Sweet Spot When Working With The Microphone That perfect position where your voice sounds perfect without any pops or clicks. Remember, DO NOT TOUCH THE MICROPHONE the engineer will make any adjustments required. Be A Part Of The Team Listen to direction and give the director or client a couple of options that may sound unique or different that will give what everyone is looking for in the project. While these techniques will help you through the voiceover recording process, be prepared for a marathon recording session, in some cases. There are many opportunities opening up in the voiceover industry and by following the tips and suggestions listed in this special report, you will have a fabulous audition, and land more gigs than you can handle! 5

6 Traditional Demos Enhances Reliability And Professionalism Whatever the trends in the voiceover industry, a traditional demo always markets and highlights your talents and skills. You must be sensitive to the fine changes in the marketplace and adjust your performance accordingly. Keeping your demo current is important and requires you to not sound "dated". Nonetheless, a traditional demo will make you look reliable and professional. Cold-Calling Clients Cold-calling clients may sound a scary proposition but it can be a great way to make contacts and open the door for a future opportunity. Speaking on the phone with a client can actually act as a personal audition for them and you may be surprised as to the response you may receive. While may be your preferred method of communication, it only gives you time to organize your thoughts and plan out your words. Many times though, once contact has been made, even by , they will inevitably ask you to call them. Your client or producer may be interested in making sure that you are a living, breathing person and it allows them to hear your voice over the phone. Cold-calling clients can still be quite effective by keeping your opening simple and concise. The objective is not to get an appointment but rather to initiate a relationship that could lead to opportunities down the road. The sole purpose of cold-calling is to have a pleasant conversation with the person you speak with. However, before you make a phone call, take some time to research their website, read every bio and listen to the demos. Make sure you fully understand the company s history and what they do. That way you will be able to ask spontaneous questions and give appropriate answers to questions during your cold-call. 6

7 Before calling, make an outline as to what you would like to know and what you would like to share. For example, if you are calling an agency that specializes in recording audiobooks, then you might share the fact that you can do many voices. Having an outline in front of you when you call can prevent you from fumbling over words if you become nervous. Be respectful of their time. If you hear phones ringing off the hook in the background, then ask if there is a better time to call back. Showing empathy to the person on the other end can get you much further than you think. Think about talking to your best friend on the other line when you call by being totally engaged and in the present moment. Listen, listen, listen. People can sense it if you are simply waiting for them to finish talking so you can say something. After visiting for a little bit of time, ask for what you want. For example: Do you prefer to receive demos by CD in the mail or by in an MP3 format? Be direct and to the point. After you have received the information you need, get off the phone first. This will leave the impression that when you call, you do not take up too much of their time. After your cold-call conversation, make some detailed notes such as: The name/identity of the person you spoke to and any pertinent contact information like a specific address to send your demo. Date and time. What you spoke about. Is there a project coming up that you would like to be considered for? Any personal information about them like travel plans, getting over a cold, etc. List any important details. The Importance Of Following Up Keep in touch with prospective clients and producers by , phone or mail based on the conversations or progress you made with that person. Keep your followups simple and easy by asking if they received what you sent, have any questions or if they need another demo or more information. If the receptionist was exceptionally kind to you, send him or her a small gift card to a coffee shop or restaurant to show your appreciation. 7

8 The Rules Of Cold Calling 1. Make it about having a great conversation. 2. Learn as much about the person you are calling. 3. Stay on track with an outline in front of you so you don t digress. 4. Be sincere. 5. Listen. 6. Be aware that building relationships takes time. 7. Record any pertinent information by creating a file for that company or person. 8. Follow up. Cold-calling can be a fun and rewarding experience if you approach them as simply a way to introduce yourself to prospective customers and clients. Get over your fear of coldcalling and set aside some time each day to make those phone calls. Always follow up by phone or when appropriate. Finding Through LinkedIn Connections In addition to creating your website, setting up your profile on LinkedIn is an excellent way to stay in the mainstream, letting people in the industry know who you are and what you do. It is also an excellent way connect with people that are looking for voiceover talent for their businesses and projects. There is a way for you to connect with those on LinkedIn by sending them a short note, allowing you to introduce yourself as a voiceover talent. Casting Through The Web Becoming a freelance voiceover artist online brings endless opportunities for you as a home business. The voiceover jobs are everywhere if you take some time to listen to the world around you. Once you have a professional quality demo, you can market it to clients and customers throughout the Internet. 8

9 Remember, you cannot be all things to all people so focus on one or two genres that match your strengths and talents. It will save you time, money and effort. Become the go-to person for that genres and employers will think of you first for voiceover work. Here is a list of places to get started: Create your profile on LinkedIn. List your profile and demo on edgestudio.com, voice123.com, ACX.com and voices.com. Schedule time each day to audition for specific parts that match your voice talent. Devote a half an hour each to follow-up with those you have contacted. If you have an agent, remember you are a team and work as such to get work. Continue to polish up your website. Partner with other companies and talent in other markets. Send thank you notes after doing a voiceover job. Look for ways to talk about your prospect s needs and how you can help. Promote the fact that you have a home studio and perhaps can offer extra services for extra pay such as music, sound effects or writing. Speak at local community groups about voiceover or how it can improve their business. If you have travel plans, make a point to stop by and visit the recording studio or company that you would like to do business with. 9

10 Also contact the following: Casting directors. Recording studios. Advertising agencies. TV and cable stations. Film/video production houses. Multimedia companies. Publishing companies (print and recorded). Educational companies. Audio-visual departments at large companies. Any companies that have employee, customer or consumer training. Radio stations They often need more variety in their local commercials, and may have voice acting jobs that can benefit from your acting ability. Sales representatives To represent you, for a flat fee, or on commission. Make it someone you trust. Dealer and other retailer associations. Organizations within the voiceover industry. For example, film and video organizations, acting resource centers, advertising associations, etc. Setting Up And Designing A Website For A Voiceover Professional One of the most important things you can do is design and set up your website. One of the simplest and least expensive ways to do this is at vistaprint.com where you can also print business cards, postcards and other materials that match your website theme. A basic, 3- page website should include your bio on your home page with a picture or headshot, a page that lists your demos for prospective clients looking for voice talent and the last page could be clients you have worked with or a list of all the services you offer. The fee is typically $9.99 per month for a basic website. You can always add other pages and options that might increase the price per month, but is totally worth every penny. Your website is very important and your calling card in the voiceover industry. Make it look professional and it will represent you well. 10

11 Voice Casting Websites Voice casting websites represent voice talent throughout the world. They specialize in the voiceover industry representing men, women, children of all ages including a variety of dialects and languages. Whether you are a director, seeker of voice talent, casting director, talent buyer, art director, advertising agency representative or voice talent, you can enlist for services or list yourself as a voice talent on their roster. They work closely with all of the above making it easier and more efficient to find the perfect voice talent for their project. Voice casting websites allow you to join for a fee or you may be able to register for free and then pay a royalty fee when you get booked for a gig. Anywhere from 10 25% of your fee is typical. However, do remember each project is different and should be bid on accordingly. 11

12 Casting Websites Take a look at the following websites and spend some time each day reviewing the options available on these websites. You access the following websites 24 hours a day, auditioning for gigs as they become available. It is always a good idea to audition quickly for a new gig that pops up by sending in your audition demo right away. It shows you are on top of things and ready to work. VoiceHunter.com A top voiceover talent website that allows you to send customized auditions to prospective clients and producers for a variety of projects. Voicebank.net Another website that allows you to list your name and voice demo so you may be considered when jobs become available. Voice123.com Allows you to create a profile, upload a demo and audition 24 hours a day for a variety of projects that match your voice talent. Voices.com Also works well for voiceover talent to be listed in a variety of genres that match your voiceover talents. Craigslist While this may be a popular website for buying a used washer, dryer or furniture, it is not recommended for voiceover talent who is interested in getting paid. There may be a few good-paying jobs that you would have to scour through the website, however your time would be better spent on specific voiceover websites. Freelancer.com Offers a variety of jobs for freelancers including writing scripts and voiceover gigs. It is a good website to be listed on as a voiceover talent with exposure to a variety of genres. Elance.com A reputable website that allows you to be listed in their Voiceover Expert section. However, it will still require you to submit proposals and your demo for projects that are listed. As a member of Elance.com, you can bid on projects on a daily basis. While this does take some time out of your day, it can pay off with a regular gig, should the right project match your voice. Odesk Also a good website to be listed on as a voiceover talent that offers a variety of voiceover gigs to audition for. 12

13 Networking Efforts Building a list of clients through the networking websites listed above and following up regularly is the key to a successful career in voiceover as a home business. In addition to being listed on the roster of websites listed above, you can also use Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and others that can launch your voiceover career in many ways. Using social networking to your advantage can help you attract clients to your voiceover business that are free to be on, allowing you to advertise your business with the click of a mouse. Here are some tips for using social networking: 1. Make your tweets engaging Write something clever or interesting that people will find interesting. 2. When you get a gig Tweet about it. 3. If possible, write a blog about what you do Include an interesting story that might start a conversation with others in the industry. 4. Record your voiceover and post it on YouTube People are fascinated with voiceover work and enjoy watching you record a script or story. 5. Start a fan page on Facebook You can post a link to your voiceover website. All of the above suggestions are free and are great ways to take advantage of social networking for your voiceover career. It is an excellent time to get into the voiceover business. Find your niche and become the expert in that genre. Use social networking to tell others about what you do. You will be amazed at the response you will receive. 13

14 Business Networking Events And Organizations Regardless of the business you are in, becoming a member of local business organizations and participating in local and national events is an excellent way to make contacts for your voiceover career. This includes business groups for both men and women, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Clubs and other local groups that meet on a regular basis. Offer to be a speaker; it allows you to highlight what you do and the services you could offer to other businesses. Business Cards Before you head to your first business networking event, make sure you have your website up and running, business cards and perhaps brochures that you can pass out to all that you meet. Another idea that works well is creating postcards as opposed to a business card because they are larger and stand out more than a business card. One of the best websites to create your own business card, brochures, postcards and website is vistaprint.com. Their prices are very affordable with a website that is easy to maneuver and create all you need in a short time. 14

15 QR Codes Keeping your website updated is the best thing you can do for your voiceover career. One of the ways to do that is to include a QR code. They look like this: The letters QR stand for Quick Response that means they can be read quickly by cell phones. You have probably started to see them more and more in advertisements, billboards and webpages. Once a QR code is in your cell phone, you can receive details about that particular business or person. One click can send them to your website plus they can store all sorts of information. You can generate a QR code by visiting Kaywa.com or using Google s new QR code generator. You can use QR codes to do the following: Create a voiceover business listing. Show your business card with all of your contact information. Allow you to keep up with previous clients for further opportunities. Finding An Agent It is important to find an agent who specializes in voiceover work. You will need to provide them with your resume, contact information and a professional demo in both a CD and MP3 format. They can let you know when and where there are casting calls in your area and online. One of the best reasons for going with an agent is the personal attention as they guide you through the audition process every step of the way. They know your personality and capabilities and will take care of all the details including studio arrangements, if needed and delivery of all of your demos. They care about you and your talent and make every effort to get you there before everyone else. 15

16 Client-Agent Behavior A strong partnership with your agent will yield the best results for both of you. All lines of communication need to be open and honest. Both of you will want to receive feedback and make information accessible so that trust is built between your agent and you. Both sides need to be clear about what the expectations are so that the "blame game" does not begin or occur. Determine how each of you defines success that will increase accountability on both sides, evaluating performances as you go. Of course, a mutually agreed-upon system must be in place for a successful endeavor to take place. Communication must be built and fostered to create a long-term successful relationship with an agent. You are a team and you must establish clear expectations and define goals that will achieve results with the following tips: It is important to treat each other well and develop a friendship to get the best results for both of you. Be honest. If you don t like something, say something about it and be specific, but be collaborative and share in the responsibility for the final results. Evaluate your progress by scheduling assessments so you can make changes in the direction you are going with your agent. Develop ways and means to gather information and increase accountability so that the effectiveness of "getting you out there" is working. Of course, making a profit on both ends is important and you must be flexible enough to accommodate changes in your future. 16

17 Types Of Agents (Franchise Versus Non-Franchise) Due to the advent of the Internet, computers and social networking, working with an agent is not a requirement. However, there are still many clients that prefer to work with talents in person, in a studio. A franchised agent has a standard system in place offering locations throughout the country. A non-franchise agent offers a variety of business models that also offer a roster of home-based voice talent with pre-determined rates that are posted on their website. Meeting with an agent to determine if you would like to work together can be accomplished by learning and fully understanding what they offer and what they expect from you as a voice talent. One of the advantages to working with a franchise agency is that they are often known for having top-of-the-line voice talent who are looking for a more personal, professional relationship. They also have established relationships with recording studios, production companies, advertising agencies and television networks that are always looking for voice talent. Choosing to work with a franchise means buying into a proven system or business model that takes the guesswork out of working in the voiceover industry. Weighing the costs and benefits of working with a traditional franchise or non-franchise business should begin by doing a self-assessment of your voice talent and skills. Are you interested in following a prescribed system? Or would you prefer the freedom to experiment in a variety of voiceover work? Walk into any McDonald s anywhere in the world and you know that a Big Mac will taste the same in your hometown as it does across the country. Clients often will rely on a franchised agency that is well-established and guarantees their voice talents skill and expertise. 17

18 When you start your own voiceover business, you are in control over every part of your business. With a franchise, you will be required to sign an agreement to follow their operating system. In some instances, franchised agencies can offer you invaluable information and everything you need to succeed. However, creating your own home business allows you to run the show. Marketing Yourself At the end of the day, you need to market yourself. It is a critical, essential and relevant skill you must master. Well, if you do it well, you may not even need to carry out all the above strategies we outlined in this report, because people will just come looking for you to use your service! First, think of yourself as a unique product. Answer the following questions: What are the unique qualities of your voice? What is the style of your delivery? Are you humorous enough? Next, you need to brand yourself. Branding is all about taking the proper approach that is particularly unique ONLY to you. In this modern day, we have too excessive an amount of data clamoring for our attention. Something needs to stand out from the pack, otherwise it wouldn't register on your radar yes? Here are the aspects to consider to build up your brand: Name recognition Quality Trust Value The legacy of Donald "Don" Leroy LaFontaine (August 26, September 1, 2008) is still undisputed to this day. 18

19 After his graduation, he worked as a recording engineer in the army. Following that, he found work at the National Recording Studios in New York. In 1962, he worked with producer Lloyd Peterson for movie Dr Strangelove's radio spots. They eventually went into business together, and the rest was history. Don LaFontaine recorded more than 5,000 movie trailers and thousands of network promotions, TV ads and also video game trailers. At the peak of his career, he reportedly voiced 60 promotions a week, sometimes as many as 35 recordings within one day. Naturally, this meant his income numbered in the millions. You can be as, if not more, successful as he was! Now, it is your time. Go for it! Jenny Lewis 19