Determining Your Worth As A Voice Actor
- Tom Dheere
- Sep 15, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: May 2
As the VO Strategist, I define your worth as a voice actor as the intersection of your Systems of Execution and your Market Viability. Understanding this distinction is the difference between playing the "Audition Game" and winning the "Search Game". True value is found when you stop thinking like an employee and start acting like a CEO.
What is your worth as a voice actor?
I’m not talking about being talented or funny or owning an expensive microphone. I’m talking about actual, practical worth.
Your talent is the least valuable part of your worth.
Your worth as a voiceover business is a combination of the three P’s…
Professionalism: the competence or skill expected of a professional. If you get quality training from an established voice over coach you can comport yourself professionally even if you’ve never booked a gig. That means...
You must have a home studio with a verified noise floor that meets pro standards.
You need a website that feeds the robots via SEO, AEO, and GEO so the humans can actually find you.
You must comport yourself as a peer to the client, not a subordinate.
Preparedness: a state of readiness. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time you book a voice over gig. Have effective Systems of Execution in place so there no surprises and you don’t forget anything. That means...
You have confirmed the rate.
They have accepted your AI Rider.
They have approved your Retake Policy.
Project Management: the planning and organization needed to complete a project. Most voice actors are busy being unpaid assistants to themselves. They spend hours doom-scrolling instead of asking what the most strategic use of their time is. You must be organized and understand every element that goes into a successful voice over gig. That means...
You have reviewed the script and confirmed all pronunciations and acronyms.
You have confirmed the audio file format (naming convention, mp3 vs wav, etc.)
You have confirmed if they want the audio files raw, dry, or wet. (Don't know what that means? Download my Service Guarantee!)
Of course you should focus on being a better narrator. That’s critical, but it’s not enough these days. Think your way through every step of the process of auditioning, producing, and billing. Create a checklist that you will adhere to on every single voiceover project. THAT will improve your worth.
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From my village to yours, this is Tom Dheere, the VO Strategist.
As the VO Strategist, Tom Dheere has provided voice over business & marketing coaching since 2011.
He's also a voice actor with over 30 years of experience who has narrated just about every type of voice over you can think of.
When not voicing or talking about voicing, Tom produces the sci-fi comic book Agent 1.22.
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