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Explore top voice over microphones, book picks, and trusted partners. VOStrategist shares expert-approved gear for your voice over studio success. Paid Links Studio Gear, Book Recommendations, and Approved Partners Welcome to the ultimate resource hub for voiceover professionals! Here you’ll find everything from recommended studio gear, must-read books, and helpful tools to elevate your voiceover business. VO Strategist has partnered with some incredible companies to offer exclusive discounts and affiliate links to enhance your experience. Studio Gear Recommendations Let’s get real: you can be the most talented voice actor in the world, but if your gear sucks, you're not going to sound good. Period. A top-notch microphone, a solid audio interface, and a pair of headphones you can actually trust are the bare minimum. And don’t even think about skipping on acoustic treatment. Get your environment dialed in, and you’ll notice the difference in every recording. This gear is hand-picked to make sure you sound your best—no excuses. Microphones Start small, then go big! Explore these mics from budget-friendly to top-tier. Lewitt LCT 540 S Get This Shure SM4 Get This Lewitt RAY Get This Mackie EM-91C EleMent Series Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone Get This Elgato Wave:3 - Premium Studio Quality USB Condenser Microphone Get This Audio-Technica AT2020USB-X Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone Get This AKG Pro Audio P420 Dual Capsule Condenser Microphone Get This RODE NT1 Large-Diaphragm Studio Condenser Microphone Get This Shure SM7dB Dynamic Vocal Microphone Get This Stam Audio SA-87 Microphone Get This Sennheiser 416 Get This Neumann TLM103 Condenser Microphone Get This Manley Labs Reference Cardioid Tube Microphone Get This Rode NT1-A Condenser Microphone Get This PreSonus Revelator USB Condenser Microphone Get This Audio-Technica AT2035 Large Diaphragm Studio Condenser Microphone Get This Blue 1967 Yeti Pro USB Condenser Microphone Get This Interfaces & Hardware Lewitt Connect 6 Audio Interface Get This Lewitt Connect 2 Audio Interface Get This Apple 2024 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop Get This MOTU M2 Audio Interface Get This Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 Get This U22 XT 24-bit USB Audio Interface Get This Lenovo Thinkpad Get This Steinberg UR12 Audio Interface Get This Focusrite Scarlett Solo Get This Arturia - MiniFuse 2 Get This Focusrite Vocaster Two Studio — Podcasting Interface Get This Accessories & Software Adobe Audition Creative Cloud Get This Audio-Technica ATH-M50/M50x Hinge Repair Kit Get This Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa Headphones Get This Auratone C50A Studio Monitor Get This Microsoft Office 365 Personal Get This Norton 360 Deluxe Get This On-Stage DS300B Posi-Lok 7″ Mini Desktop Microphone Boom Stand Get This Proline MS235 floor mic stand Get This Rycote Shock Mount Get This Sonic Acoustics 12 Pack Set Acoustic Foam Panels Get This Stage Ninja MIC-12-CB Mic Clamp Mount Get This Stedman Proscreen XL Pop Filter Get This WBC 6 Foot XLR Cable Get This ZealSound Gooseneck Mic Holder with Desk Clamp Get This audio-technica ATHM50x Headphones Get This Book Recommendations These books changed my life. Some of them hit me so hard that I actually felt nauseous because they forced me to face some tough truths. If you’re serious about leveling up your voiceover game and your life, you need to read Atomic Habits by James Clear. It helps you build habits that actually work. And Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki gives you the financial smarts you didn’t know you were missing. Seriously, these books aren’t just for voice actors. They’re for anyone who wants to stop messing around and start making real progress. Performance & Mindset Books Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well Get This Living On Air: Adventures in Broadcasting by Joe Cipriano Get This Voice Over Legal Get This A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink Get This Sound Advice Get This Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else Get This Thinking, Fast and Slow Get This The Gift of Anger: Use Passion to Build not Destroy Get This The Five Thieves of Happiness Get This Stop Guessing: The 9 Behaviors of Great Problem Solvers Get This The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron Get This The War of Art Get This Culture Crossing Get This Breaking Through Gridlock: The Power of Conversation Get This The Innovation Code: The Creative Power of Constructive Conflict Get This Accents: A Manual for Actors Get This The Art of Community Get This Business & Financial Books Seven Habits of Highly Effective People Get This The Right-Brain Business Plan: A Creative, Visual Map for Success Get This The Psychology of Money Get This Rich Dad, Poor Dad Get This Atomic Habits Get This The Money Book For Freelancers by Joseph D’agnese Get This Before You Quit Your Job Get This Cash Flow Quadrant Get This You Are a Badass At Making Money Get This Affiliate Marketing Partners I know how incredibly confusing it can be to figure out what actually works for your voiceover business. That’s why I’ve partnered with these brands. They get it, and they deliver real value. Whether you’re looking for high quality gear, effective training, or marketing support to move your career forward, these partners can help. Many of them also offer solid discounts, so you don’t have to overspend to get access to tools that actually make a difference. Trust me, this is the real deal. ZOOM Use this link to get 15% off your Workplace Pro Subscription: https://tinyurl.com/4nf4mbtd. New users only! Voice123 Use this link to get a discount on the $495, $888, or $2300 plan: https://voice123.com/plans/tomdheere. New users only! Apollo Apollo is a fantastic CRM for voice actors and it’s also a very useful Chrome extension to help voice actors find the contact info of potential clients! Quickbooks QuickBooks keeps everything organized in one place, so you’re tax ready all the time. Easy-to-read reports and dashboards help you make smarter business decisions George the Tech Enter “GTTVOS10OFF” coupon code at checkout for 10% discount on your remote or onsite support! VO Planet Use the coupon code VOSVOP25 to get $25 off any Strategy Session, where you can take your voiceover to the next level! You can discuss any voiceover business, money, marketing, or genre topic. Tennessee Voice Over TNVO offers a structured, upcoming voiceover career program designed to help aspiring and emerging voice talent build skills, find their niche, and succeed in the industry. vidIQ vidIQ is a powerful, all-in-one YouTube growth tool designed to help creators optimize their content, reach a larger audience, and grow their channels. Sanebox Sanebox works with every email client. SaneBox works wherever you check your email. Nothing to download. No manual setup. It just works. Capsule Capsule CRM helps you organize contacts, track sales and automate managing your work—all in a clean, easy-to-use interface. SocialBee SocialBee is one of the fastest-growing AI-powered social media management tools whose promise is to bring you more leads with less effort. Its core functionalities allow its users to add, organize, and share content across several social channels from one place. Warmy Warmy.io helps improve your email deliverability by automatically warming up your inbox, making sure your outreach emails land in inboxes—not spam folders. Waalaxy Waalaxy is a LinkedIn prospecting tool. You can import prospects directly from LinkedIn, and then add them into a campaign to contact them directly on the platform or via email. This gives you the ability to conduct multichannel prospecting. LearnWorlds From digital products to marketing and selling tools, get everything you need to build a profitable business, all in one scalable platform. Adapting Social Adapting Social is a creative agency that helps personal brands and small businesses grow through professional web design, branding, and strategic digital marketing. CrispyVoice Your voice. Your rules. Create your alter ego. If you want to clone your voice, choose CrispyVoice. Your cloned voice. Always your property. Never in someone else's hands. Transparent. Secure. On your terms. Amazon All of the books and gear featured on this page include Amazon Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you have any questions or need personalized guidance, I’m here to help. Feel free to reach out to discuss studio gear, career advice, or any other voiceover needs. Let’s work together to make your voiceover business thrive! Be sure to check out my blog for valuable insights, tips, and updates on the voiceover industry. And if you’re ready to take the next step, book a free consultation or explore my full range of services here: Blog Services Book Free Consult

Boost your career as a voice over actor with coaching and business consulting from Tom Dheere at VO Strategist. Learn strategies to succeed in the voiceover industry. Business and Marketing Consultant for Voice Actors in NYC, LA, and Nationwide Hi, I’m Tom Dheere, Your Voice Over Business and Marketing Guide. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, I help voice actors of all experience levels transition from struggling starving artist to savvy CEO that consistently books the voice over work of their dreams. My mission is to help you hone your marketing skills, develop your business, and navigate the competitive world of voice acting with confidence. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your voice acting career to the next level, I offer personalized business & marketing coaching and mentorship designed to give you the tools you need to succeed. Book Free Consult Let me help you refine your business and build a sustainable, successful voice acting career. Why Choose Voice Over Coaching with Tom Dheere As a working voice actor with over two decades of experience, I understand the unique challenges of building a career in this competitive industry. My coaching is shaped not only by my performance background but also by my expertise in business development for voice actors, giving you the tools to succeed both behind the mic and in managing your career. I’ve been where you are, navigating the ups and downs of auditions, bookings, and client relationships, and I’m committed to helping you reach your fullest potential. Since 2011, I’ve worked with hundreds of students across the globe, helping them refine their craft, sharpen their business skills, and create thriving voice over careers. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting and Directing from Montclair State University and training from industry leaders in both performance and business strategy, I bring a well-rounded approach to coaching that’s practical, supportive, and results driven. Learn about my background here An introduction to The World of Voice Acting Business Coaching for Voice Actors Marketing & Branding Consulting for Voice Actors Personalized Advice & Guidance My Coaching Services For Voice Actors My coaching sessions are tailored to meet the needs of every voice actor, whether you're looking to grow your business, start from scratch, or update your business model. With personalized one-on-one sessions, I provide actionable insights and feedback to help you achieve your career goals. Services include: Voiceover Business & Marketing Diagnostics I will evaluate your current strengths & opportunities for improvement. Book This Ongoing Mentorship We'll meet every month to keep you on track with your career and goals. You must book a Diagnostic Session before applying for mentorship. Book This Strategy Sessions Schedule one-on-one sessions to get your voiceover questions answered... Book This AI Strategy Session Curious about AI or terrified of it? Book a session and I can empower you to fight it, embrace it, or learn to live with it. Book This Stream Videos Here: WATCH YOUTUBE VIDEOS All Categories $ Subscribe Subscribe Voice Over How-to: The World of Voice Overs The world of voice-over can seem both exciting and overwhelming, filled with conflicting advice and promises of quick success. "The World of Voice Overs" is a no-nonsense, foundational workshop designed to give aspiring and new talent a clear and actionable framework for building a sustainable career. This isn't about finding a gimmick; it's about building a business from the ground up. This free How-To is built on two core concepts: the "4 Pillars" you must construct to have a professional presence, and the "3 Portals" you must navigate to find work. You'll move from wondering "where do I start?" to having a confident plan. In this video, you will learn: The 4 Pillars of a VO Business: A deep dive into the essentials of professional Training, a killer Demo, a client-focused Website, and a functional Home Studio. The 3 Portals to Opportunity: Understand the distinct strategies for getting work through Agents & Representation, Online Casting Sites, and Direct Marketing. The Craft of Performance: Discover why voice acting is acting, and learn the key performance questions to ask to bring any script to life, from commercials to eLearning. The Business of the Business: Get a clear breakdown of how you get paid, including the critical difference between session and usage fees, and why an AI clause is non-negotiable in 2025. The CEO of You, Inc.: Learn the mindset required to manage your finances, your tools, and your instrument as a freelance business owner. After watching this video, you will be not just inspired, but equipped with a realistic understanding of the industry and a concrete plan for your next steps. Watch Preview Watch Preview $ Buy from $9.99 Buy from $9.99 Voice Over How-to: LinkedIn Decoded The Problem: You are likely spending hours on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook trying to "build a following," hoping a client will stumble upon your content. But the data shows that voice seekers aren't scrolling TikTok for talent—they are vetting professionals on LinkedIn. If your profile reads like a desperate resume, you are losing money. This How-To video isn't a fluff piece on "personal branding." This is a tactical breakdown of how to treat your voice over business as a B2B service provider. We are shifting your operation from "Employee Mindset" to "Business Owner Mindset." In this video, we cover: The "Career Suicide" Audit: Why I fired my Facebook group to focus 100% on LinkedIn (and the ROI that followed). The "One Profile" Policy: Why hiding your past job history is a mistake—and how to turn your previous career into a lucrative VO niche. Hunting vs. Fishing: A dual-threat system. "Hunting" protocols for sending non-spammy, high-converting connection requests, and "Fishing" strategies for content that attracts clients to you. The "Insider" DM: Templates for messages that prove you understand the client's pain points (e.g., the Q4 training panic). Who this is for: Freelance voice actors who are ready to build direct client relationships. Watch Preview Watch Preview $ Buy from $9.99 Buy from $9.99 Your VO Blogging Strategy The SEO Secret Weapon for Voice Actors. Why blog? Because Google loves fresh content. A strategic blog can drive traffic to your website while you sleep. This video teaches you how to write content that answers your clients' questions, establishes your expertise, and boosts your ranking in search results. You'll learn how to overcome the "Three-Headed Dragon" of fear: "I'm not an expert," "I have no ideas," and "Why would anyone read me?" You will walk away with: The "5-Bucket System" for endless, high-value blog ideas. A simple, repeatable template for structuring every post. Actionable SEO tactics (H2s, alt text, keyword variations) that Google loves. The strategy for promoting your blog on social media (Tip: The link doesn't go in the post). The confidence to use your unique voice and write about your voice over journey to inspire and connect with peers and clients. Watch Preview Watch Preview $ Subscribe Subscribe Freelancer How-to: How to Watch How-To Videos Welcome to the How-To Video Library! Not sure where to start? Watch this video first! Watch Preview Watch Preview $ Buy from $7.49 Buy from $7.49 Voice Over How-To: Voice Over Marketing 101 The Antidote to "Audition Burnout." Sick of relying on casting sites (and their algorithms) to decide if you work today? Direct marketing one way to take back control. You don't need a $500 seminar to learn the basics of outreach. You need a clear process. This video strips away the complexity and gives you the "Who, What, Where, and How" of finding your own clients. Stop waiting for the phone to ring. Learn how to pick it up. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $9.99 Buy from $9.99 Voice Over How-to: Voice123 Decoded The Voice123 algorithm isn't magic. It's math. And you don't need to pay $300 to learn it. There are two ways to succeed on Voice123... The Expensive Way. Pay hundreds of dollars for long courses or hire consultants to "fix" your profile for you. The Smart Way. Learn exactly how the search engine works and take control of your own profile for a fraction of the cost. Voice123 Decoded is the no-nonsense, DIY guide for voice actors who want to book work, not just take classes. I don’t give you fluff. I give you the data-driven strategy I use to maintain a top-tier ROI. In this deep-dive training, you will learn: The "Ranking Score" Reality: How to manipulate the algorithm to get in front of the right buyers. Profile SEO: The specific keywords and formatting that turn a "skipper" into a listener. The Sample Strategy: Why your demos are failing and how to optimize your samples to capture specific searches. Smart Bidding: how to effectively bid on projects. Stop guessing. Stop overpaying. Start optimizing. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $14.99 Buy from $14.99 Freelancer How-to: VO Business 101: Plan Like a Business A Dream Without a Plan is Just a Wish. Here is the Blueprint. Most voice actors fail because they treat their career like a lottery ticket. They buy a mic, audition, and hope. You don't need "hope." You need a business plan. While other coaches charge premium rates to talk about "mindset," this video gives you the structural reality of running a freelance business. We cover the unsexy but profitable details that art school skipped: business plans, goal-setting, and the 4 Pillars of a sustainable voice over career. Includes: The actual "Business Roadmap" template to get you from amateur to CEO. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $9.99 Buy from $9.99 Freelancer How-to: Make Working From Home Work You Can't Leave the Office When You Sleep in It. The "Work From Home" dream can quickly turn into a burnout nightmare if you don't have boundaries. While other coaches focus on acoustic treatment, this video focuses on life treatment. Learn how to physically and mentally separate "Home Mode" from "Work Mode," manage family interruptions, and build a schedule that keeps you sane. Don't let your studio take over your life. What it's like to work with me: "Tom is a great resource for ideas on organizing one’s business." Melissa Exelberth Voiceover Actor & Narrator Upcoming Events Date and time is TBD The Voiceover Marketing Intensive / Online Course ATTEND Date and time is TBD Online Course Develop your Direct Marketing skills in this micro-course! Subscribe to my blog to learn more about the voice over industry 1 2 3 4 5 Cash Flow MARKETING Technique Tools Health

Watch in-depth voice over videos covering business, marketing, and performance. Learn proven freelance strategies with Tom Dheere at VO Strategist. Watch How-to Videos Learn freelancer business & marketing strategies! Looking for ways to improve your game? How-to Videos break down and explain various elements of the business & marketing side of freelancing and offer practical tips, solutions, and advice for freelancers. Voice Over How-to: The World of Voice Overs Play Video Get access to all videos Activate Subscription Business & Money Learn how to think & execute like an effective freelance voice actor. Watch Preview Watch Preview $ Subscribe Subscribe 08:08 Freelancer How-to: How to Watch How-To Videos Welcome to the How-To Video Library! Not sure where to start? Watch this video first! Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $14.99 Buy from $14.99 49:15 Freelancer How-to: VO Business 101: Plan Like a Business A Dream Without a Plan is Just a Wish. Here is the Blueprint. Most voice actors fail because they treat their career like a lottery ticket. They buy a mic, audition, and hope. You don't need "hope." You need a business plan. While other coaches charge premium rates to talk about "mindset," this video gives you the structural reality of running a freelance business. We cover the unsexy but profitable details that art school skipped: business plans, goal-setting, and the 4 Pillars of a sustainable voice over career. Includes: The actual "Business Roadmap" template to get you from amateur to CEO. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $4.99 Buy from $4.99 34:03 Freelancer How-to: VO Business 201: Think Like a Business Overcome "Analysis Paralysis" and Make Decisions That Pay Off. You face expensive decisions every day: Should I buy this mic? Should I join this P2P site? Should I attend this conference? Most talent guess or ask strangers on Facebook. That’s not a business strategy. This video teaches you the decision-making frameworks used by successful entrepreneurs. Learn to evaluate ROI, Opportunity Cost, and Risk vs. Reward so you can stop second-guessing yourself and start investing with confidence. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $9.99 Buy from $9.99 28:17 Freelancer How-to: Make Working From Home Work You Can't Leave the Office When You Sleep in It. The "Work From Home" dream can quickly turn into a burnout nightmare if you don't have boundaries. While other coaches focus on acoustic treatment, this video focuses on life treatment. Learn how to physically and mentally separate "Home Mode" from "Work Mode," manage family interruptions, and build a schedule that keeps you sane. Don't let your studio take over your life. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $9.99 Buy from $9.99 31:27 Freelancer How-to: Control Your Time Stop Being "Busy." Start Being Productive. There is a difference between "working" and "billable hours." If you spend 8 hours a day tweaking your website and 0 hours marketing, you are unemployed. This video introduces time-blocking and productivity techniques specifically for freelancers. Learn how to identify the "Income Generating Activities" (IGAs) that actually move the needle and ruthlessly eliminate the distractions that don't. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $14.99 Buy from $14.99 34:40 Voice Over How-to: Voice Over Project Management Never Miss a Deadline. Never Lose a Client. In the corporate world, Project Managers get paid six figures to keep things on track. In your studio, you are the Project Manager. A missed deadline or a lost file is the fastest way to kill a client relationship. This video teaches you the workflows to manage complex projects, track deliverables, and communicate with clients like a pro. The goal: Be the talent that clients trust implicitly. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $14.99 Buy from $14.99 21:10 Freelancer How-to: Know Your Numbers, Grow Your VO Business Stop Counting your "Booking Ratio" and Start Counting Your Profit. How much did you spend to get your last voice over job? If you don't know, you aren't running a business—you're running a charity. Many "gurus" tell you to audition more. I’m telling you to analyze more. This video introduces the data-driven approach to voice over. Learn how to track your Conversion Rates, Cost Per Lead, and ROI so you can stop wasting money on P2P sites and marketing channels that don't pay you back. The Goal: Make more money by doing less of what doesn't work. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $9.99 Buy from $9.99 16:49 Freelancer How-to: Your VO Business Health Check The DIY Voice Over Business Audit. You don't need to hire a $300/hour consultant to tell you what's broken in your business. You just need to know where to look. This video walks you through a comprehensive "Health Check" of your VO business—from audio quality and branding to finances and client retention. Identify the leaks in your ship and fix them before they sink your year. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $4.99 Buy from $4.99 48:56 Freelancer How-to: The Financially Fearless Voice Actor Survive the "Feast or Famine" Cycle. Irregular income is the scariest part of freelancing. One month you're rich; the next month, the phone stops ringing. Stop living in panic mode. This video teaches you how to structure your personal and business finances to smooth out the roller coaster. Learn about emergency funds, "paying yourself first," and building a financial fortress that lets you say "no" to bad rates. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $14.99 Buy from $14.99 40:12 Voice Over How-to: Quote With Confidence Stop Leaving Money on the Table. The moment a client asks "What's your rate?" is the moment you either make a profit or lose your shirt. Don't panic-quote. This video gives you the tools to build a standard Rate Sheet and the negotiation scripts to defend it. Learn the difference between "Usage" and "Buyouts," and how to explain your value to clients without sounding desperate. Result: Earn more for the same amount of work. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $9.99 Buy from $9.99 25:09 Freelancer How-to: Make Taxes Less Taxing The "Freelance Tax" Panic Ends Here. You could pay a CPA $250/hour to explain this to you, or you can watch this video for MUCH less. Taxes terrify freelancers because the rules are different for us. This video breaks down the IRS confusion into plain English specifically for voice actors. We cover: What you can actually write off (Home Studio? Internet? Demos?), how to handle estimated quarterly payments, and how to avoid the "April Surprise." Note: This is not legal advice, it's a survival guide. Marketing & Branding I strongly recommend you watch these marketing videos in order. They are your path to voice over marketing success! Watch Preview Watch Preview $ Buy from $7.49 Buy from $7.49 35:10 Voice Over How-To: Voice Over Marketing 101 The Antidote to "Audition Burnout." Sick of relying on casting sites (and their algorithms) to decide if you work today? Direct marketing one way to take back control. You don't need a $500 seminar to learn the basics of outreach. You need a clear process. This video strips away the complexity and gives you the "Who, What, Where, and How" of finding your own clients. Stop waiting for the phone to ring. Learn how to pick it up. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $7.49 Buy from $7.49 28:07 Voice Over How-to: The Bookable Brand: A Voice Actor's Guide to Standing Out Stand Out in a Sea of "Generic Friendly Voices." "I have a nice voice" is not a brand. It's a commodity. To compete in 2026, you need to be memorable. This video isn't about logo design or expensive color palettes—it's about defining your Unique Value Proposition. Learn how to translate your personality into a business asset that makes casting directors say, "I need YOU!". Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $14.99 Buy from $14.99 18:16 Voice Over How-to: Building Your First Marketing Campaign Stop "Spraying and Praying." Start Targeting. Sending 100 random emails is spam. Sending 10 strategic emails is a campaign. You don't need a marketing degree to launch your first outreach effort. This video breaks it down into a simple, step-by-step process: Define the target, craft the message, send, and follow up. Stop overthinking it and get your demos into the right inboxes today. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $9.99 Buy from $9.99 23:50 Voice Over How-to: Local Booth, Global Reach You Don't Need to Live in LA to Book LA Work. The "Geography Barrier" is dead. Clients in London, New York, and Tokyo are hiring talent from home studios in rural America every day. This video teaches you how to leverage your local market (which is often less competitive) while simultaneously positioning yourself for global opportunities. Stop apologizing for your zip code and start using it to your advantage. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $9.99 Buy from $9.99 47:48 Performer How-to: Do I Need An Agent? The Honest Answer The Truth About Representation (That Voice Over Schools Won't Tell You). Every new voice actor thinks getting an agent is the "Golden Ticket." The reality? It's just one slice of the pie. Before you spend months submitting to agencies, watch this video. We cover the pros and cons of representation, what agents actually look for in 2026, and how to build a thriving career before you have one. Don't wait for a gatekeeper to give you permission to work. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $9.99 Buy from $9.99 37:18 Performer How-to: Are Casting Sites Worth It? An Honest Answer Gambling vs. Investing: The P2P Reality Check. Pay-to-Play sites can be a goldmine or a money pit. The difference lies in your strategy. This video is a neutral, data-driven look at the major casting platforms. We analyze the costs, the competition levels, and the "Audition-to-Booking" ratios you need to hit to break even. Stop blindly paying subscription fees. Do the math first. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $9.99 Buy from $9.99 32:33 Performer How-to: Is Self-Marketing The Best? An Honest Answer Why "Direct Marketing" is Just One of Many Bets to Make in VO. Algorithms change. Agents drop rosters. But the relationships you build directly with clients are yours forever. This video makes the case for why Self-Marketing has the potential to provide high ROI. It’s not the easiest path, but it may be the most stable. Learn why shifting your focus from "auditioning" to "connecting" changes everything. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $7.49 Buy from $7.49 40:28 Voice Over How-to: Your Demo is Ready. Now What? A Demo in a Drawer Gets Zero Work. You spent thousands on a demo. Now, does it just sit on your hard drive? This is the "Missing Manual" for your new demo. Learn exactly where to upload it, how to label it for SEO, who to send it to first, and how to use it as the centerpiece of your launch strategy. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $7.49 Buy from $7.49 51:50 Freelancer How-to: Unmute Yourself: a Guide to Social Media Don't try to be an Influencer. Be a Resource. You don't need to do TikTok dances to get voice over work. You just need to be present where your clients are. This guide cuts through the vanity metrics (likes/shares) and focuses on developing meaningful relationship with potential clients. Learn which social media platforms are best for you and what to post to establish authority without looking desperate or foolish. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $7.49 Buy from $7.49 29:11 Voice Over How-to: The Repeat Client Playbook One-Off Gigs Pay the Rent. Repeat Clients Build Wealth. The most expensive thing in your voice over business is finding a new client. The most profitable thing is keeping an old one. While other courses focus on "getting the gig," this video focuses on "keeping the relationship." Learn the specific touchpoints, follow-up strategies, and "customer service" secrets that turn one $300 job into a lucrative, long-term relationship. FYI if this video helps you retain just one client for a second job, it pays for itself 10x over. Watch Preview Watch Preview $ Buy from $9.99 Buy from $9.99 25:14 Your VO Blogging Strategy The SEO Secret Weapon for Voice Actors. Why blog? Because Google loves fresh content. A strategic blog can drive traffic to your website while you sleep. This video teaches you how to write content that answers your clients' questions, establishes your expertise, and boosts your ranking in search results. You'll learn how to overcome the "Three-Headed Dragon" of fear: "I'm not an expert," "I have no ideas," and "Why would anyone read me?" You will walk away with: The "5-Bucket System" for endless, high-value blog ideas. A simple, repeatable template for structuring every post. Actionable SEO tactics (H2s, alt text, keyword variations) that Google loves. The strategy for promoting your blog on social media (Tip: The link doesn't go in the post). The confidence to use your unique voice and write about your voice over journey to inspire and connect with peers and clients. Watch Preview Watch Preview $ Buy from $9.99 Buy from $9.99 35:28 Voice Over How-to: LinkedIn Decoded The Problem: You are likely spending hours on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook trying to "build a following," hoping a client will stumble upon your content. But the data shows that voice seekers aren't scrolling TikTok for talent—they are vetting professionals on LinkedIn. If your profile reads like a desperate resume, you are losing money. This How-To video isn't a fluff piece on "personal branding." This is a tactical breakdown of how to treat your voice over business as a B2B service provider. We are shifting your operation from "Employee Mindset" to "Business Owner Mindset." In this video, we cover: The "Career Suicide" Audit: Why I fired my Facebook group to focus 100% on LinkedIn (and the ROI that followed). The "One Profile" Policy: Why hiding your past job history is a mistake—and how to turn your previous career into a lucrative VO niche. Hunting vs. Fishing: A dual-threat system. "Hunting" protocols for sending non-spammy, high-converting connection requests, and "Fishing" strategies for content that attracts clients to you. The "Insider" DM: Templates for messages that prove you understand the client's pain points (e.g., the Q4 training panic). Who this is for: Freelance voice actors who are ready to build direct client relationships. Genres & Tech Dive into new voiceover genres, optimize your website, and explore popular voice over software. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $9.99 Buy from $9.99 56:41 Voice Over How-to: Finding Your Lane: VO Genre Exploration You Can't Be Everything to Everyone. "I do all kinds of voices" is a red flag to clients. They want specialists, not generalists. This video helps you identify where your natural voice fits in the market. We tour the major genres (Commercial, Narration, Promo, etc.) and genres you've probably never heard of so you can focus your training and marketing dollars on the lanes where you will actually make money. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $9.99 Buy from $9.99 39:38 Voice Over How-to: eLearning: The Stable VO Genre The "Bread and Butter" of the VO Industry. It might not be as glamorous as a national TV spot, but eLearning pays the mortgage. The demand for corporate training and educational content is exploding. This video explains the nuances of long-form narration, how to handle medical/technical terminology, and how to break into this high-volume, repeat-client sector. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $9.99 Buy from $9.99 25:25 Voice Over How-to: Explainers Explained Master the Art of the "2-Minute Sales Pitch." Explainer videos are everywhere. They require a specific, conversational style that balances "information" with "persuasion." Learn the trends, the typical client expectations, and the performance techniques needed to book work in this massive online market. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $9.99 Buy from $9.99 27:30 Voice Over How-to: Your Audiobook Workflow How to Narrate Audiobooks Without Losing Your Mind (or Your PFH Rate). Audiobooks are a marathon. If your workflow is inefficient, your "Per Finished Hour" rate drops below minimum wage. Narrator courses can cost hundreds. This video is a tactical workflow guide focused on speed and stamina. Learn the prep, recording, and editing techniques that shave hours off your production time, increasing your profit margin on every single title. Work smarter, not longer. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $4.99 Buy from $4.99 44:58 Voice Over How-to: Your VO AI Strategy Don't Fear the Robot. Manage It. The industry is changing. Panic is not a strategy. While the forums are full of fear, smart voice actors are building a defense. This video cuts through the hype and explains exactly what AI cloning is, how to protect your voice contractually, and—crucially—how to position your "Human Brand" as a premium product that AI can't touch. This is Your AI Playbook for 2026 and Beyond: PART 1: THE OFFENSIVE STRATEGY (Licensing Your Voice): Learn how to safely explore passive income opportunities. I'll give you my comprehensive checklist of questions covering compensation, usage rights, and legal jurisdiction that you must ask any AI company before signing a deal. PART 2: THE EFFICIENCY STRATEGY (Your AI-Powered Workflow): Discover how to use ethical AI as your digital assistant. We'll cover using your own voice clone for instant retakes, creating scratch tracks, and leveraging tools like Gemini and ChatGPT to supercharge your marketing and admin tasks. PART 3: THE DEFENSIVE STRATEGY (Your Digital IP Action Plan): Build a fortress around your most valuable asset: your voice. You will learn the importance of contract vigilance, how to use the NAVA AI Rider as your shield, and simple steps to protect your website and demos from unauthorized data scraping. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $7.49 Buy from $7.49 38:08 Voice Over How-to: The VO Website That Books Work Your Website Isn't an Art Gallery. It's a Sales Funnel. Web designers charge thousands to build "pretty" sites that confuse buyers. You can build a "profitable" site for a fraction of the cost if you know the psychology of a casting director. This video is a ruthless audit of what works and what doesn't. We cover: The navigational mistakes that kill conversions, why your demo player is in the wrong spot, and the SEO basics to help clients find you. Don't redesign your voice over site until you watch this. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $9.99 Buy from $9.99 20:06 Voice Over How-to: Adobe Audition Decoded Stop Watching Music Tutorials. This How-To video is for Voice actors and only voice actors! YouTube is full of Adobe Audition tutorials for music producers. You don't need to know how to mix a drum kit. You need to know how to clean up a voice track. This video is a focused, streamlined guide to Adobe Audition specifically for voice over. Learn the essential tools, shortcuts, and "Favorites" that will speed up your editing workflow and get your audio to broadcast standards. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $4.99 Buy from $4.99 15:42 Feelancer How-to: Cloze Decoded The CRM That Remembers So You Don't Have To. If you are tracking your clients in a spreadsheet (or worse, your head), you are losing money. Cloze is the "Smart CRM" that many voice actors swear by. This video is a setup guide to help you automate your follow-ups, track your email opens, and ensure no lead ever falls through the cracks again. Organize your chaos. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer $ Buy from $9.99 Buy from $9.99 52:33 Voice Over How-to: Voice123 Decoded The Voice123 algorithm isn't magic. It's math. And you don't need to pay $300 to learn it. There are two ways to succeed on Voice123... The Expensive Way. Pay hundreds of dollars for long courses or hire consultants to "fix" your profile for you. The Smart Way. Learn exactly how the search engine works and take control of your own profile for a fraction of the cost. Voice123 Decoded is the no-nonsense, DIY guide for voice actors who want to book work, not just take classes. I don’t give you fluff. I give you the data-driven strategy I use to maintain a top-tier ROI. In this deep-dive training, you will learn: The "Ranking Score" Reality: How to manipulate the algorithm to get in front of the right buyers. Profile SEO: The specific keywords and formatting that turn a "skipper" into a listener. The Sample Strategy: Why your demos are failing and how to optimize your samples to capture specific searches. Smart Bidding: how to effectively bid on projects. Stop guessing. Stop overpaying. Start optimizing. Click on the plan to see terms and conditions Best Value Video Subscription $25 $ 25 Every month The How-To Video Library is not just a collection of tips; it is a comprehensive university for the modern voice actor. With a subscription, you get access to 30+ videos for one low monthly price. Valid until canceled Select Full blog access & commenting Exclusive discounts Unlimited Access to the How-To Video Library Best Value How-To Video Library Lifetime Membership $499 $ 499 Watch every streaming video as many times as your want forever! Valid until canceled Select Access to 17+ hours of streaming videos The business of voice over, marketing, genres, tech, $$$ Learn actionable VO strategies Choose your pricing plan Find one that works for you

As the VO Strategist, I frequently see beginners waste money when starting a voice over business. This is a failure that takes place at the intersection of Cash Flow management and Tools acquisition. Understanding this is the difference between playing the Audition Game and winning the Search Game. I can't even tell you how many times I've seen enthusiastic beginners blow $5,000 on their voice over business in the first few months of their voice over journey, book nothing, then drop out. They drop out because they have no plan, do minimal research, then impulse buy because some knucklehead on Tiktok tells them to. Starting out gives you serious anxiety. That happened to me, too! Sadly, tat anxiety makes you do foolish things. You throw cash at problems instead of building a real strategy to become effective and relevant in the voice over industry. Here is the breakdown of the top five ways beginners waste money when starting a voice over business. How Beginners Waste Money When Starting a Voice Over Business 1. Buying Premium Home Recording Gear Too Early People decide to try voice acting and immediately buy expensive gear. They do this before talking to anyone in the industry or getting any real training. They have no idea what genres they could potentially book. Worse, they haven't acoustically treated a space in their home. So they buy a mic that isn't right for their voice, their home, or their target market. Now they have a fancy microphone that just highlights the room echo. 2. Incorporating or Forming an LLC Prematurely Some yutz online tells you that you need an LLC on day one. So you spend hundreds on filing fees and paperwork before making a dime. Incorporating or forming an LLC may one day become and important part of your business, but many people do it WAY too soon. Don’t incorporate because somebody who knows nothing about your industry tells you to. Don’t incorporate because it makes you feel professional or important. Don't incorporate until you're making at least 75k to 80k in consistent voice over revenue. Incorporate only if it’s right for where you are in your voice over journey. Until then, be a Self-Proprietor like me! 3. Joining Pay-to-Play Sites Before You Are Ready New voice actors rush to buy premium memberships on platforms like Voice123 or Voices dot com. But they aren't ready to play that game yet. "Ready" means you have solid training, high-quality samples, and an optimized profile. You need to understand how the platform's algorithm works. If you don't, you are just throwing away money. 4. Producing a Professional Demo Too Soon This is an all-too-common trap that new voice actors fall into. You pay a producer thousands for a commercial demo before you can repeat that performance on demand. When a voice seeker hears that demo and hires you, they expect that exact quality. If you can't deliver that level of performance in your own studio and without live direction, you ruin your reputation instantly. Your demo must be a reflection of what you can actually do every single day. 5. Spending Big on Complex Web Design and Logos You do not need a custom designed $3,000 website when you are in the Crawl phase. Your focus in the first two years is simply product development and finding market fit. A simple, clean site at your name dot com that plays your downloadable demos is enough for now. Save the marketing budgets for when you are ready to scale. The Implementation Gap Information is cheap, but executing a real business strategy is hard. It's easy to buy a microphone, but building a sustainable career requires a personalized roadmap. If you are tired of guessing where your money should go, let's look at your actual numbers. Book a free 15-Minute Consult today so I can answer your burning voice over questions! Want More Tools In Your Voice Over Toolkit? Stop guessing which microphones, hardware, software, and books are worth your investment! I’ve built a curated resource page with professional tools I trust that will both save time and help you make smart decisions for your business. As an affiliate partner, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Get my curated list of essential VO tools here. AND Check out my VO How-To Library! Want to stream as many How-To videos as you want? Get a Video Subscription - use code FORWARD for 20% off your first month! 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.

Are voiceover genres even real? I know that's a weird question, an existential question, but I've been thinking about it lately. Yes, voiceover genres are real. However, I'm gonna put some qualifiers on that. Subscribe on YouTube for the latest... What Is A Voiceover Genre? A voiceover genre is a category of the medium in which a voice actor is cast. Classic examples include commercials, audio books, and cartoons. The First Big But Every genre of voiceover requires specific muscles that you must flex to be able effective. BUT voice acting is acting. All voice acting is storytelling. A lot of people who come into the voiceover industry don't consider storytelling. All voiceovers have a beginning, a middle, an end, an arc, and a message of some sort, which means that there is storytelling required. You need a solid foundation of storytelling skills first before you can layer your voiceover 101 training on top of that, and then layer your genre training on top of that. The Second Big But My good friend Johnny Heller (an award-winning audiobook narrator) says that you can't act a genre, you can't perform a genre. A character in a sci-fi audiobook doesn't realize that they are in an audiobook, much less a sci-fi audiobook. When you're narrating something, regardless of the genre, you can't contrive the genre, you can only tell the story. You need to be grounded You need to have storytelling training, voiceover training, and genre training, especially now that AI is here. In Summary You need storytelling ability. You need voiceover training. You need genre training. So yes, voiceover genres are real, but they can only be realized if you have good storytelling training and good voiceover training, too. Keep Going - Watch this Trailer: Finding Your Lane: VO Genre Exploration Click the button below to rent or buy "Finding Your Lane: VO Genre Exploration"! Upcoming Events & Appearances Looking for help navigating the entertainment industry? Check in and Stay on Track... Don't know where to start? Let's chat. Grab 15 minutes free - let's see what your business needs... Tom Dheere is the VO Strategist, a voice over business & marketing coach and demo producer since 2011. Tom Dheere is also a voice actor with over 30 years of experience who has narrated just about every type of voiceover you can think of. When not voicing or talking about voicing, Tom produces the sci-fi comic book Agent 1.22.

Subscribe on YouTube for the latest... VO Atlanta 2024 is in the books! I had an amazing time as always! I wanted to give it a little bit of time before I posted this blog so I could let it all sink in. Without further ado, here are my top five takeaways from VO Atlanta 2024. Number 5: The Presenters Everybody was kind. Everybody was obviously knowledgeable, but everybody was also accessible. Some presenters have been in the business for 20 or 30 years, but there were others who were newer to the industry and had achieved success relatively quickly. They had lots of tips and tricks to share about what it's like to enter the industry in the 2020s, how to be able to navigate it, and how to be able to be successful. Number 4: The Trends It wasn't the same old content from the same old presenters. They talked about the latest trends in social media, casting, and more. What are voice seekers looking for right now? How should your demos be right now? What should your website look like right now? How can you market yourself right now? Number 3: AI There's a lot of stigma abut AI. There's a lot of controversy. There's a lot of confusion. There's a lot of disinformation. There's a lot of misinformation. There are individuals and organizations in the voiceover industry who are not only anti AI, but they're keeping themselves willfully ignorant and keeping the people in their ecosystems willfully ignorant of AI, which I believe is extraordinarily damaging to themselves and to the industry at large. The fact that so many presenters were talking intelligently and thoughtfully about AI and creating a safe environment to learn about it, talk about, it and express concerns about it speaks well of the culture of VO Atlanta. Number 2: Voices.com If you've ever attended the annual Online Casting Panel at VO Atlanta, you know that the conversation can be, well, spirited. This year was no exception There was a surprise panelist: Jay O'Connor, CEO of Voices.com. Everybody in the audience was quite surprised that this gentleman showed up for the event. The fact that he showed up as well as the fact that he apologized to the voiceover community for the past business practices of VDC was surprising and impressive. It was a healthy discourse. It got a little little tense here & there but Jay handled it with professionalism and dignity. I'm going keep an eye on Voices.com and see what happens... Number 1: The People I was shocked at the amount of attendees who had never done voiceover before that were willing to learn and have deep conversations with complete strangers. It's very gratifying to see so many people who are new to the business that showed up, that were there to learn, that were kind and fun and curious and eager is really a testament to the culture of VO Atlanta. Those are my top five takeaways from VO Atlanta. I'd love to hear what your VO Atlanta takeaways. Please put them in the comments! Keep Going - Watch this Trailer: Genre Exploration Click the button below to rent "Genre Exploration" for only FIVE BUCKS! Upcoming Events & Appearances Here's what I've got going on in the next few months - register to attend and add your voice to the mix! Looking for help navigating the entertainment industry? Check in and Stay on Track... Don't know where to start? Let's chat. Grab 15 minutes free - let's see what your business needs... He's the VO Strategist, a voice over business & marketing coach and demo producer since 2011. Tom Dheere is also a voice actor with over 25 years of experience who has narrated just about every type of voiceover you can think of. When not voicing or talking about voicing, Tom produces the sci-fi comic book Agent 1.22.

Ok — you’re here because you’re a voice actor or want to be one. But now AI is in the mix, and you're wondering: Am I already behind? What should I do next? Should I even try to do voice over at all? AI voiceover refers to synthetic voice tools that can generate voice performances using AI — often by cloning human voices. Tools like Eleven Labs, Murf, and other text-to-speech platforms are making it easier (and cheaper) for content creators to bypass human talent. And sometimes, those “AI voices” are actually based on your work — without your knowledge or consent. Scary? Yes. But also manageable — if you know what to do. In this 60-minute AI Strategy Session, we’ll talk about: ​What AI voiceover is, how it works, and how it’s evolving How to protect your voice from unauthorized use or cloning Whether and how you can monetize your own AI voice (ethically) Tools like Respeecher and Eleven Labs — and how to use (or avoid) them strategically How to position yourself as a human voice actor in an AI-saturated market What buyers are really looking for now — and how to stay top of mind This is not a fear-based rant or a tech bro sales pitch. It’s real-world coaching from someone who works in this industry every day — and wants to help you keep working, too.

Have a massive list of questions? Need help setting goals, building a marketing plan, prepping for tax season? In this Strategy Session. let's talk... - Effective Marketing Strategies - Using Online Casting Sites Effectively - Marketing Basics - Sales Funnels - Client Retention - Being Successful in a Smaller Market City - Networking and Industry Concepts - Understanding AI - or ask me those questions YOU need answered! Connect via Zoom

Have a massive list of questions? Need help setting goals, building a marketing plan, prepping for tax season? In this Strategy Session, let's talk... - Effective Marketing Strategies - Using Online Casting Sites Effectively - Marketing Basics - Sales Funnels - Client Retention - Being Successful in a Smaller Market City - Networking and Industry Concepts - Understanding AI - or ask me those questions YOU need answered! Connect via Zoom