Over the past few weeks, it’s been really interesting to see how the voiceover industry is adapting to the coronavirus pandemic.
Many voice actors are scrambling to book & record projects from home. The voiceover industry has been heading in this direction for a long time and COVID-19 has catalyzed the process. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately, depending on who you ask), some will be left behind.
One way that voice seekers are adapting are by adding new voice actors to their roster since some talent from their current roster can’t record from home. If Source Elements was a stock, it would be skyrocketing right now.
Another thing I’ve noticed is how people (both voice actors and non-voice actors) are logistically and emotionally adapting. Judging by many of the social media posts I’ve seen lately, some are adapting better than others. I truly sympathize with those who now have to work from home when they never have before, are home-schooling their children, and watching their bank accounts shrink.
TIP OF THE WEEK
Think about what adapting for the short-term and long-term looks like for your voiceover business.
Cash Flow: Millions of people have lost their jobs so finding a new one will be difficult for many. Many are flocking to the voiceover industry. If you are one of those people, please remember that you need to invest heavily in your voiceover career both upfront and long-term. If you haven’t already spent money on training, demo production, etc. this may not be the best time since it makes most people many months (if not years) to see a return on their investment.
Tools: Like I’ve said, getting phone patch technology like Source Connect and setting up your home recording studio is critical. Update your website to reflect you can record from home and phone patch.
Technique: there are a ton of free or low-cost webinars out there right now so this is the perfect time to explore new genres and hone your craft. FYI there are some opportunistic coaches (and wannabe coaches) out there right now trying to take your money so make sure you vet your prospective Technique investments.
Marketing: Direct Marketing will become much more important moving forward since there will be less live events like conferences and workshops. Develop an online brand if you don’t have one already or tweak yours as needed if you already do.
Health: adapting to how to mentally and emotionally deal with the pandemic and its consequences will go a long way. To those of you who are struggling, please remember that the current situation is temporary. Nobody knows when it will resolve, but it will. There will be a new normal and we will all adjust.
NEWS AND NOTES
Thursday, April 23rd @8PM EST: The VO Strategist eLearning Praxis! (that means practice) April 2020-style. In this FREE 90-minute webinar, we will be flexing our eLearning muscles! Bring your own eLearning, corporate, industrial, or medical narration scripts and I will have some on hand. Please email your scripts to tom@nulltomdheere.com so I can display them for all to see. Five attendees will be chosen at random to read. This webinar caps at 90 attendees and there are only a few tickets left so register fast! Sign up here.
Thursday, April 30th @8PM EST: My next Edge Studio Marketing 201 webinar will be ‘What Your Website Says About You’. In this one-hour webinar, we’ll talk about how your website can help you gain or lose clients without you ever knowing it. This webinar caps at 25 attendees and sells out fast. Click here to sign up!
Thursday, May 14th @8PM EST: My next Edge Studio Business and Money 201 webinar will be ‘Workflow’. In this one-hour webinar, we’ll talk about how to manage your office, inbox, and Systems of Thought. This webinar caps at 25 attendees and sells out fast. Click here to sign up.
Thursday, May 21st @8PM EST: My next Edge Studio Marketing 201 webinar will be ‘Keeping Clients Coming Back’. In this one-hour webinar, I’ll tell you the REAL secret to client retention. This webinar caps at 25 attendees and sells out fast. Click here to sign up!
Wednesday, May 27th @2:00 PM EST: even though the Audio Publishers Association Conference (APAC) is cancelled, my meeting table has gone from live to virtual! From 2:00-3:45, you are welcome to book a FREE 15-minute consult with me. We can talk about audiobook marketing, business, or just chat. This caps at 7 slots and will fill up fast so sign up ASAP. Click here to book your free 15-minute consult!
Thursday May 28th @2:30 PM EST: my “Learning to do eLearning” workshop has also gone from live to virtual! In this two-hour workshop you will learn what eLearning narration is, it’s sub-genres, narration tips, how much to charge, demo specs, and there will be live coaching! It’s $100 to attend, but if you use the promo code EARLYBIRD528 you get in for only $75! This webinar caps at 50 attendees and is filling up fast so sign up ASAP. Click here to register!
HAPPY HAPPYS
Happy Garlic Day and Bulldogs are Beautiful Day!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Tom Dheere is a voice actor who has narrated thousands of projects for hundreds of clients in over a dozen countries. He is also a voiceover business & marketing consultant known as the VOStrategist and produces the comic book “Agent 1.22”. You can subscribe to his weekly blog and the monthly VO Strategist Learnin’ Stuff Notice here.