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Love working with the VO Strategist? Leave feedback and reviews here, and share your experience! Tom just gave us a masterful class at LIDA for LatinAmerica. His passion and knowledge of the VO business is apparent. His input on the tools needed for any artist to become successful is extremely accurate. He will pinpoint the right actions for you to take in order to get to the next level. Gracias Tom. Keep on shining!💥 Gabriel Romero I recently finished 4 strategy sessions with Tom. I found these sessions to be incredibly valuable in terms of developing a clear and doable strategy for my business. Tom was able to identify what was missing or required tweaking in my current plan. Then we formulated a plan of action for moving forward with short, mid-range, and long term goals. If you are feeling overwhelmed, confused, or just plain old stuck, I highly recommend scheduling a session with Tom as soon as possible! Lori Groopman After attending Tom's eLearning X-Session at VO Atlanta 2022, I was excited to set up a one-on-one VO Diagnostic session. Did he give me some hard truths about my voiceover business and performance? Oh, definitely. Did I receive meaningful, motivating, and actionable advice on how to take my business to the next level (or two)? ABSOLUTELY. Tom has been in voiceover for a long time, and his skillset in both VO and business is impressive. I'm so glad he was able to share some of his insight with me. Thanks, Tom! Chris Epperson I enrolled in the weekly Mentorship program with Tom and it was an incredible value and investment. Tom is warm and knowledgeable and shares his insights with generosity. I came in with tons of questions and not only were they all answered, I left with an action plan of exactly how to improve and grow my business. If you're thinking about coaching with Tom just do it. You'll be glad you did! Sarah Naughton Tom has a fantastic, warm, self-deprecating, and knowledgeable approach to his seminars. The aspects of the voiceover industry are nebulous, and even though having everything you desire in the palm of you hand is rare, if not impossible, Tom is very good at breaking down and identifying the things you can focus on and what you would like to achieve." Kevin Lowney I am a big Fan of Tom from the moment I took his Money Management class at VOA in 2017. He is so thorough and practical and his sense of humor just adds to it. I have been disappointed in ANY of the classes and I just sound up for 4 of them. If you want to have a practical way of establishing and running your VO business any of Tom's classes would be of great benefit. Overall it was an eye opening experience for me and I have implemented several of his strategies and tips. Thank you Tom for always giving back your time, talent and expertise." Saundi Harrison-Cooksey Tom's knowledge of business know-how and presentation are some of the best in the industry. He is easy to listen to and provides content that you can take and actually use in your business. He rocks. It's just that simple." Robbie Shelburn Tom is the Master of VO marketing. His "How Do I Market My Demo?" webinar is a must take class for any voice artist. Tom's "tell it like it is" approach is refreshing and a reminder to us all that we can run a successful VO business if we set tangible, realistic goals, have a well thought out plan and pursue our profession with dedication and determination. Being a pragmatist at heart, I love Tom's pragmatic approach to the business of voice acting. Tom is also an excellent coach, patient, fun to work with and committed to getting the most out of his students. It was a pleasure working with him on a recent demo." John Andersen Tom is the go to guy for all things E-Learning. I’m refocusing on the VO world after a long break and Tom has been incredibly helpful both in clarifying the current markets and as an efficient and patient coach. He recently produced my E-Learning demo and I’m extremely happy with the results and feedback. Tom is also a respected expert on the business processes of VO, particularly direct marketing. If you’re new or struggling with the project management aspect of running your VO business, working with Tom is a must." Mary O'brady I attended Tom's webinar on "How Do I Market My Demo?" Finally there's someone who explains how to get yourself in front of the right people in a very comprehesive manner. I'm looking forward to putting his methods to work and to get an ROI on my demo! Thanks, Tom!" Mike Mcdonnell 'Can't say enough about working with Tom Dheere. In addition to his extensive knowledge of the VO business, I found him to be an excellent e-learning coach! He's insightful, communicative, efficient...and really fun! I learned a great deal from Tom, and was very happy with the e-learning demo he helped me create. Go ahead - book a session!!" Suzanne Wolfson I took the "How Do I Market My Demo?" workshop with Tom yesterday and it was chock-full of great information. This is the second class I've taken with Tom, and he has the great ability to take the complex concepts of marketing and branding and make them approachable. I wish I could have him on speed dial to answer all of the VO related questions that come up every day. Looking forward to the next one!" Jason Arnold Tom assessed my voiceover progress during each session. He strategically incorporated new growth and learning challenges into each session that led to an eLearning demo that I and others love! Tom provides an honest critique of your capabilities and helps you to make make the right adjustments (solid choices) that result on better, long-term voiceover skills overall. As a result, I continue to work with Tom to maintain and enhance my skills. His honesty along with his voiceover, acting and business knowledge are immeasurable in terms of the value he can provide to any voiceover artist's repertoire of voiceover skills. Thanks, Tom!" Tiffany Van Hoy If you're feeling lost and discouraged, Tom is the perfect person to help guide you where you want to go. I always recommend a 1-on-1 session to people who ask me how to get into voiceover because Tom will take time to listen to your concerns and provide honest feedback on solutions you can use right now in your business. Plus he's ethical and a fabulous human. Book a strategy session with Tom today!" Tracy Lindley Tom presented a class on marketing for the Voice Actors of NYC group, and it was an amazing experience! Tom provided a great deal of helpful information for both beginning voice actors like myself, and more experienced voice actors. The class was both informative and interesting, and I would definitely be interested in future events presented by Tom!" Sarah Switek Working with Tom is a smart thing to do for clarity and efficacy in your VO business — and your life. And it’s fun, too! With a series of pointed questions and a concentrated dose of business savvy, Tom helped me get right to the core of my VO business vision and set me up with clear strategies to help it unfold the way I want it to. He’s intelligent, kind, organized, supportive and delightfully enthusiastic, all of which feels really GOOD. And his website is a generous well of insightful posts that inspire, inform and entertain. I really appreciate Tom’s perspective and the specific recommendations he made for my VO trajectory." Patty Nieman Tom gets to the heart of the issue very precisely and logically. Within our diagnostic session, he was able to evaluate my demos, discuss my marketing plans, mission statement and the "business" behind my voiceover business. Tom is not only a great voiceover talent, he's a great business person." Marie Hoffman Art. Science. Organization. Tom Dheere blends them all with clear thinking, enthusiasm, and know-how so that you're walking out of each session with energy and inspiration to spare. Time with Tom, supported by his resource-deep website, provides a foundation of solid information you can use to muscle up your abilities and get optimistic about your VO future. Tom is excited about what he does -- and a big part of what he does is to share that excitement with you." Adam Barr Tom was great at zeroing in on the specific areas of my VO business that were not receiving the attention they needed. As a result, I was empowered to create a much healthier and more balanced strategy to move forward with. Tom is great at using analogy, common sense and humour to get straight to the root of any challenges, and how to resolve them. I am very grateful to Tom for my fresh direction and approach." Nick Wyard It is a privilege working with Tom Dheere. He really knows and understands the business. He has also helped many voice talent and is overall important to the Voice Over industry." David Goldberg, Edge Studio I had a very inspiring session with Tom. He's a very well organized thinker and doer; brilliant at communicating strategies and pulling original ideas out of you. I would highly recommend a session with him - had a very fruitful consultation with him - well worth the spondulix." Sarah Coomes, Actress/Writer Tom has been an invaluable asset to my career. When I was first starting off, Tom sat with me and consulted me on everything in the business. He couldn't have been more personable and I learned so much from him. Whether a narrator or a teacher, I would recommend Tom to anyone who wants to learn more about the Voice Over World. I still go to him time to time for simple questions and he never hesitates to get back to me with the best advice." Dara Rosenberg, Voiceover Artist/Narrator Already in my first VO Strategist session with Tom Dheere, Tom identified specific areas of my workflow, I could immediately work on. Tom gave me tools to set more accurate goals, and most importantly, Tom helped me develop a 'scaffolding' to keep my business productive even in the day-to-day trenches of 'life happens'. Thank you Tom Dheere for your insight, expertise and professionalism!" Linda Joy, Voice Actor Tom is a great resource for ideas on organizing one's business. He's able to pinpoint where your day falls through the cracks and come up with ways to help keep you from constantly trying to “catch up with yourself”. And while his overall strategies are a great road map, he really shines at coming up with specific solutions to those individual quirks we all have that often keep us from making the most of our days. His advice has been spot on." Melissa Exelberth, Voiceover Actor & Narrator Tom knows a lot about the Voice industry and he knows a lot about People. In just one session he was able to analyze my business and pinpoint the weaknesses. He was spot on! I am putting into practice everything we discussed. My business will be better organized and more lucrative thanks to Tom." Roxanne Coyne, Bilingual Voice Artist And Narrator Tom's class at FaffCon was a game changer for me. His organizational skill in tracking his day to day work was awe-inspiring. In a career field where every dollar can count, he knows were each dollar came and went and had the formula for making his accountant happy. Voice work is a business (a tough one at that!) and his systematic approach and easy techniques have made my business profitable. And he shared that information freely. A true talent, both in the booth and out. Thank you Tom!" Mark "Monk" Schane-Lydon, Bard College At Simon’s Rock Tom gave a great and easy to follow presentation on the business side of the VO World. He was open to questions even after the seminar ended. Tom is knowledgeable and patient, a wonderful combination." Alanna O'brien, Performing Arts Professional I asked Tom to evaluate my time management and overall goals for my voiceover business and was very happy with the outcome. He asked me pointed questions about my priorities and current strategies and made excellent suggestions from reorganizing my time to ensure I'd have quiet, focused time to be proactive, to suggesting that I remember to take some unplugged down time once a month for my mental health, which as a passionate entrepreneur is a hard sell. He also helped me analyze how I spend my time and made useful suggestions about ridding myself of some old habits that kept were keeping me from more productive, proactive tasks. On top of all that, Tom is a delight - personable, compassionate, straight-forward and has a great sense of humor. I'm very happy to recommend him as a VO Business consultant! I'm getting more done for my business and taking better care of myself these days. Thanks Tom!" Rosi Amador Love working with Tom? Add your testimonial here... SUBMIT Thanks for your submission! add review

Voice actor Tom Dheere, the VO Strategist, offers AI voiceover coaching to help you stay relevant, protect your voice, and grow your career. AI Voiceover Coaching for Voice Actors Who Want to Stay Relevant You are a voice actor, or want to be one, and now AI is in the mix. If you are wondering whether you are already behind, what to do next, or whether to pursue voice over at all, this coaching is for you. Book Now Why AI Voiceover Coaching Matters For Your Career I’m Tom Dheere, a full-time voice actor, business coach, and the VO Strategist. With over 25 years in the booth and thousands of credits (including Red Dead Redemption 1 & 2, Inspector Gadget: Mad Time Party, and Madballs), I’ve seen a lot of trends come and go. But AI voiceover isn’t a trend, it’s a market shift. One that’s already changing how work gets booked, voices get cloned, and talent gets paid (or doesn’t). This page is for voice actors who want to understand AI voiceover and make smart, informed decisions about it. What Is AI Voiceover and Why Should You Care? 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. How I Help You Navigate AI Voice Over (Without the Hype) In our coaching sessions, 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 Murf 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. Choose Your AI Coaching Format AI Strategy Session: 60 minutes): A deep dive into your business, branding, and AI concerns 30-Minute Check-In Session Quick and tactical — ideal for returning clients or specific questions VO Mentorship Program Ongoing support for navigating the business of voiceover in the AI era No diagnostic session required for the AI Strategy Session. AI Voiceover Coaching Includes: Links to my AI-focused blog content Access to exclusive how-to videos on AI tools and strategies Real-life examples — like this YouTube Short featuring my AI voice A no-BS conversation about what’s really going on — and what to do about it Let’s Cut Through the AI Noise “I know how tough it is out there. When I started, I had no clue what to do or how to do it. I made mistakes so you don’t have to.” If you’re wondering whether AI voiceover means the end of the road — or if there’s still a place for human voices — this coaching will give you answers, direction, and confidence. You don’t need to panic. You need a plan. Book Your AI Voiceover Coaching Session Now Schedule Your Session

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 25 years of experience in the industry, I specialize in guiding voice actors of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned professionals. 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 $19.99 Buy from $19.99 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 $14.99 Buy from $14.99 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 $19.99 Buy from $19.99 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

Navigating the Union Maze Few topics in the voice-over world can start a holy war faster than the discussion about joining SAG-AFTRA as a voice actor. For some, SAG-AFTRA is the protector of the realm, the only thing standing between professional talent and low-balling clients. For others, it's an outdated gatekeeper in a rapidly changing industry. Then there’s the Fi-Core option, which gets its own special brand of vitriol. The conversation is often packed with emotion, assumption, and a whole lot of confusion. My goal here is not to tell you what to do. It’s to give you a strategic, business-focused breakdown so you can make an informed decision for yourself. What IS SAG-AFTRA? The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) was formed in 1933, and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) in 1937. They were created for the same reason most unions are: to protect workers through collective bargaining, ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions. They merged in 2012 to form SAG-AFTRA, which today represents over 160,000 performers. Their purpose is to negotiate and enforce contracts (or "agreements") that set minimum pay rates and working standards for its members. Understanding Your Union Status Your relationship with SAG-AFTRA comes down to one of three statuses: Union (SAG-AFTRA Member):  You've officially joined. You pay an initiation fee and annual dues. You are obligated to follow all union rules, most notably Global Rule One (see the definition below). Non-Union:  You are not a member. You are free to work for any client, union or non-union, but you must negotiate all your own terms and rates. Financial Core (Fi-Core):  This is a legal status, not a union one. Through a loophole in national labor laws, you can resign from the union but continue to pay fees for the union work you do. This allows you to work both union and non-union jobs, but you lose all rights and privileges of membership. Key Terms You MUST Know The union debate is filled with jargon so here are some common terms... Global Rule One:  This states that no SAG-AFTRA member can work for an employer who hasn't signed a union contract. In simple terms: once you're in, you can only do union work (with a few exceptions we'll cover). The Taft-Hartley Act:  This law allows a non-union performer to accept their first union job without immediately joining. You get "Taft-Hartleyed." After this, a 30-day window opens during which you can do more union work. Once that window closes, you become a "must-join," and you cannot do another union job until you become a SAG-AFTRA member. Right-To-Work States:  In the 25+ states with "Right-to-Work" laws, you cannot be forced to join a union as a condition of employment. This means you can theoretically keep getting Taft-Hartleyed and never become a "must-join." However, if you voluntarily  join SAG-AFTRA in a Right-to-Work state, you are still bound by Global Rule One. Converting & Non-Jurisdictional Work:  Can a union member do non-union work? Sometimes. You can sometimes convert a non-union job to a union one using a signatory paymaster service. More importantly, there is a whole category of non-jurisdictional work —voice-over genres not covered by any SAG-AFTRA agreement (like radio imaging or some narration). Union members are free to do this work without violating GR1. Pros and Cons for Voice Actors There is no universally "best" choice for voice actors joining SAG-AFTRA. Each path comes with significant trade-offs. Being a SAG-AFTRA Member Pros:  Access to union-only jobs, minimum guaranteed rates, residuals on some contracts, health and retirement plans (if you meet the earning threshold), and a powerful organization to ensure you get paid on time. Cons:  A hefty initiation fee (around $3,000), annual dues, and being unable to work with non-union clients due to Global Rule One. FYI only about 20% of voice over work these days is union work. Being Non-Union Pros:  Total freedom. You can work with anyone, anywhere. You are the CEO of your own business and keep 100% of your revenue (after taxes, of course). Cons:  You are on your own. You must find your own health insurance, fund your own retirement, and chase down every invoice. You have to be disciplined in setting and maintaining fair rates for yourself. You're also responsible for your own legal protection when things get weird. Going Fi-Core Pros:  The ability to work both union and non-union jobs, which can seem like the best of both worlds. Cons:  You lose all member benefits—voting rights, discounts, workshops, etc. More importantly, you will be viewed as a "scab" by many union members and producers, which can have reputational consequences. My Non-Union, Pro-Union Perspective I believe in the power of collective bargaining. I believe every worker deserves a living wage and access to benefits. I am pro-union in principle. I am also, for strategic reasons, a non-union voice actor. My career evolved in the non-union world. If I were to join SAG-AFTRA today, the business math is simple but brutal: I would pay a $3,000 fee with zero guarantee of getting a single union job. I would instantly lose nearly every client I have spent over three decades cultivating. I would still have to pay for my own health insurance and retirement plans, because making the union's earning threshold for benefits (over $26k/year from union work) would be an uphill battle. What Are Your Assumptions? The choice to join the union, stay non-union, or go Fi-Core is not just about money or politics. It's about examining your assumptions. Do you assume joining the union guarantees high-paying work? Do you assume being non-union means you're undercutting the industry? Do you assume going Fi-Core is a magic bullet with no consequences? Non-union does not necessarily mean anti-union. Non-union does not necessarily mean unethical. And non-union does not necessarily mean cheap. I charge fair rates based on the GVAA Rate Guide and turn down low-paying work all the time. Meanwhile, some union members quietly violate GR1 every day because they have bills to pay. Don't believe me? Read this section of the NAVA 2025 Survey. Your path depends on your career goals, your target genres, where you live, and your personal values. Do the autopsy on your own assumptions, weigh the opportunity costs, and build the career that makes sense for your  business. Helpful Links SAG-AFTRA Main Site:   www.sag-aftra.com SAG-AFTRA Voiceover Page:   sagaftra.org/contracts-industry-resources/voiceover Understanding Fi-Core:   www.sagaftra.org/financial-core The Taft-Hartley Act:   www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/who-we-are/our-history/1947-taft-hartley-substantive-provisions List of Right-To-Work States:   www.upcounsel.com/right-to-work-states Keep Going - Watch this next: Control Your Time Want to stream as many How-To videos as you want? Get a Video Subscription - use code FORWARD  for 20% off your first month! 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 the professional tools I trust to save you time and help you make smart decisions for your business. Please note: 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. 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... 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.

The Dreaded Question Last week I had multiple students (from newb to 10+ years of experience) ask me the exact same question... Can you help me find voiceover clients? This is the #1 question I'm asked at webinars, conferences, podcasts, and private coaching sessions by voice actors of all experience levels. And I always answer the same way... NOPE! As a voice over business & marketing consultant, it's not my job to find you clients. It's my job to explain how the voice over casting process works and give you the tools to help you find your own clients. BTW any voiceover coach who says they can help you find clients is full of crap. I will say that there some high-end demo producers out there who will introduce you to certain agents and production companies once you produce a demo with them, but that is one of the few exceptions. How Do I Find Voiceover Clients? There is no easy answer. Well, that's not necessarily true... The easiest place to find voiceover clients are on Pay-To-Play sites. Whether you can actually book any gigs from said potential clients AND get a fair rate is another question. Another place to find voiceover clients is via agents & managers. Whether you can land a quality agent AND book auditions is another question. Tip Of the Week Every audition, cold call, email, blog post, etc. is an investment in your voiceover career. Ergo, make sure both the tools you use and the content you create has value. Google is your friend to find companies that cast voice actors LinkedIn is your friend to find individuals that cast voice actors The Hunter Chrome extension is your friend to find the email addresses of individuals that cast voice actors Quote of the Week You know, you put more value on every minute...I mean, I always thought I kind of did that. I really always enjoyed myself. But it's more valuable now. You're reminded to enjoy every sandwich, and every minute of playing with the guys, and being with the kids and everything, Warren Zevon Join me at an upcoming event Here's what I've got going on in the next few months - register to attend and add your voice to the mix! Study on your own time - download & watch VO How-to Videos Use Promo Code GETMORE for 20% off 3 or more videos! Paid Links Grab Studio Gear VO Strategist Book & Gear Club Today's pick: the audio-technica ATHM50x Headphones! This is the second set of audio-technica headphones I've owned and I'm very happy with them. One of my favorite features is that they're collapsible and fit snugly into the travel bag that comes with it. And they're reasonably priced! Want more studio gear & reading recommendations? VIEW ALL As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Keep Going - Work with Me Book a Strategy Session and get your VO business together! Tom Dheere is the VO Strategist , a voice over business & marketing coach and demo producer since 2011. He 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, he produces the sci-fi comic book Agent 1.22.

When you hear "Pay-to-Play," do you cringe? For many voice actors, sites like Voice123 feel like a slot machine you pour money into, hoping to hit the jackpot. You create a profile, pay what you can, submit a pile of auditions, and then...nothing. It’s easy to get frustrated and declare the whole thing a scam. I get it, but I don't look at it as a slot machine. I look at it as a line item in my marketing budget. Voice123 isn't some magical client dispenser; it's a lead generation tool . And like any tool, you have know how to use it. If you’re doing nothing but auditioning & praying, you’re ignoring a valuable part of the platform. But if you shift your Systems of Thought & Execution and implement an effective strategy, the results can be huge. My Voice123 Experience As a business-minded mutant, I love number crunching! Let’s breakdown my own Voice123 investment & returns... I joined V123 way back in 2006. Over the last 19 years, I have invested over $9,000 in my Voice123 membership. Sounds like a lot, right? Maybe, but that $9,000 investment has generated well over $80,000 in voice over income. That’s a 9-to-1 return on my investment. This can  work, and work pretty damn well if you know what you're doing. But it wasn't a straight line. My income from the platform was great in the early years, then I left due to poor judgement on my part of how effective a P2P site can truly be. In 2020, I rejoined, and in 2022 I invested in the $2,200 tiers The results? Over $30,000 in bookings in 2022 and 2023 alone. That’s because I stopped guessing  and started engineering . Why Your Voice123 Strategy Isn't Working Most voice actors fail at using Voice123 because they’re playing the wrong game, and there are two games happening on the platform: The Audition Game (The 40%).  This is the reactive  game. You see a casting call, you submit your audio, and you hope you get picked from the pile. This is what almost everyone does, and it’s where 1,000 other people might be right for the same project. The Search Game (The 60%). This is the proactive  game. This is where clients don't post a public job. They go to the search bar and type in what they need—"warm, trustworthy, professional," "high-energy, retail, friendly"—and the algorithm gives them a list of our profiles. This is where clients send you  direct invitations. Most voice actors spend 100% of their time on the 40% and 0% on the 60%. That's leaving money on the table. Stop Auditioning, Start Engineering Your V123 Profile Winning the 40% search game means treating your profile like a storefront designed to be found. The engine of the Voice123 search algorithm isn't your demos or even your auditions. It's your samples. Voice seekers don’t listen to your Commercial Demo. They search for "perky, college, university" and listen to the sample that matches. Your job is to create a library of samples that are tagged with the right keywords, Voice Styles, and Purposes of Recording. You have to think like a client. A producer for a healthcare company isn't typing "great voice" into the search bar. They're typing "empathetic, knowledgeable, medical." Your profile needs to be populated with those terms, or you will be invisible to them. This requires a system. I call it my "Content Bible"—a spreadsheet where I map out every single sample, its name, its description, and its keywords to ensure I'm covering every possible search term a client might use for projects that I can match up with. The "Secret Weapon" Hiding in Plain Sight Look at the "Additional Proposal Details" section when you submit an audition. Most people leave this blank or write something like "Thanks for the opportunity!" That's a waste of real estate. This is your chance to both manage risk and build trust. You can communicate your value before they even listen to your audition. My Additional Proposal Details section includes: My studio specs (Sennheiser 416, Adobe Audition, etc.) to build confidence in my quality. My Source Connect profile name to signal I'm ready for a directed session. My typical turnaround time to manage expectations. My revisions policy to prevent scope creep. A direct CTA: "If you like my audition, please give it a thumbs up and favorite my profile." (this feeds the algorithm) This turns my proposal from a hopeful audition into a professional bid, making it easier for the client to say "yes." IMPORTANT!!! I strongly recommend following these three steps to start feeding the algorithm the right way the first time. Get a FREE Voice123 account FIRST Optimize your profile (see below to learn how) Subscribe to at least the $495 tier. Here's my affiliate link to do that with a discount ! Your Playbook for Decoding Voice123 My Voice123 strategy is the result of years of data, tracking, and insights. I've compiled all of it—my full keyword strategy, the "Content Bible" spreadsheet template, a deep dive into the algorithm, and a breakdown of how to craft a quality bid—into a comprehensive How-To video. It's called " Voice123 Decoded ." If you're tired of playing the lottery and ready to treat Voice123 like the business tool it is, this video is your user manual! In this video, you will learn to: Master the "Two-Sided Algorithm" (Audition vs. Search). Implement a pro-level keyword strategy to maximize your visibility. Craft proposals that build trust and increase your chances of booking. Watch my "Voice123 Decoded" video today and turn your profile into a client-generation machine. 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 the professional tools I trust to save you time and help you make smart decisions for your business. Please note: 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! 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... 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.

Your voice over website is your digital storefront, and you have about five seconds to make a good impression. Is it inviting clients in, or are you accidentally leaving the "Closed" sign on the door? The Website Diagnostic is for you if: You're not sure if your website's layout is effective. You wonder if your messaging is clear and client-focused. You feel like your demos are buried or hard for visitors to find. In this 15-minute session, we'll do a top-to-bottom review of your voice over website. We’ll look at everything from first impressions and user experience to demo placement and your call to action. You'll walk away with: A clear, actionable list of improvements to enhance user experience. Honest feedback on your brand messaging and copy. Strategies to make your site more effective at converting visitors into clients. A written summary of our session for you to review anytime.

Have a massive list of questions? Need help setting goals, building a marketing plan, prepping for tax season? 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

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