Search Results

Where does your voice over client list live? If you’re like many voice actors, your “system” is probably a patchwork of spreadsheets, scattered notes in a document, flagged emails, and maybe a few names scribbled on a sticky note attached to your monitor. You track auditions in one place, client contact info in another, and follow-ups…well, those you try to keep in your head. This isn't just stressful; it's costly. Every forgotten follow-up and lost contact is a potential opportunity that has vanished into thin air. Your talent gets you noticed, but your systems are what build a sustainable, profitable career. The single most powerful system for organizing your voice over business and turning chaos into opportunity is the CRM. The Smartest System for Your Voice Over Business: A CRM CRM stands for Customer Relationship Manager . Don't let the corporate-sounding name fool you. A CRM is simply a central hub—a digital brain—for every single interaction you have with your network of clients, leads, and contacts. Why Isn't My Spreadsheet Enough? Using a spreadsheet for all of your client management is like using a paper map in the age of GPS. It works, but it’s not the most efficient, and you’re bound to miss a few turns. A spreadsheet is static. It’s a passive list of data that requires you  to remember everything. A CRM for voice actors is a dynamic, active partner in your business. A spreadsheet can’t remind you to follow up with that casting director in three months. A CRM can. A spreadsheet can’t show you a visual pipeline of all your current auditions and their stages. A CRM can. A spreadsheet can’t keep a running log of every email, phone call, and note related to a specific client in one easy-to-find place. A CRM can. Introducing Capsule: The "Just Right" CRM for Voice Actors Those of you who know me are aware that I'm a big fan of the CRM Cloze and I also use Wix, but they're not a good fit for everyone. Capsule CRM  hits the sweet spot. It's powerful, intuitive, and perfectly scaled for the needs of a voice actor. Here’s what can make it so effective for your voice over business: Visual Sales Pipeline:  You can create a custom pipeline to visually track every audition. Imagine columns labeled "Leads," "Audition Sent," "Callback," "Booked," and "Paid." With a simple drag-and-drop, you can move a client from one stage to the next, giving you a complete overview of your workflow at a glance. Complete Contact History:  On a single screen for any contact, you can see all their info, any notes you’ve written ("Loves conversational reads, hates corporate jargon"), and a history of your email conversations. Task Management & Reminders:  This is a game-changer. When you finish a project, you can create a task in Capsule to "Follow up in 90 days." The system will automatically remind you when the time comes. No more opportunities falling through the cracks. A Real-World Example: An Audition in Capsule You get an audition from a new producer. You add the producer as a Contact in Capsule and link them to their Production Company. You create an "Opportunity" called "XYZ Explainer Video Audition" and place it in your "Audition Sent" pipeline stage. You get a callback! You drag the Opportunity to the "Callback" stage. You book the gig! You drag it to "Booked." After you send the invoice, you set a task to remind you to follow up in two weeks if it hasn't been paid. Every step is tracked, logged, and managed. Nothing is left to chance. Stop Managing and Start Strategizing This is about more than just being organized. It’s about shifting your time from administrative busywork to strategic action. It’s about building stronger client relationships and ensuring no lead is ever wasted. This is how you build a truly professional, six-figure business. I have partnered with Capsule to help get this tool into the hands of more voice actors. The link below is my affiliate link, which means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you decide to sign up. Click here to try Capsule and build a smarter, more profitable VO business. Your talent deserves a business system that can support it. It’s time to ditch the spreadsheets and get strategic. Wanna learn more about Capsule? Check out the tutorial video below! Subscribe on YouTube for the latest... 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. Keep Going - Watch this next: Voiceover Website Basics 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... Through VO Strategist , Tom's provided voiceover business & marketing coaching since 2011. He's also a voice actor with over 25 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.

Selecting the appropriate Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) is crucial for voiceover artists. Your choice directly impacts the quality and efficiency of your recordings. Each DAW offers unique features tailored to different experience levels and preferences. Below, you'll find an overview of some top DAWs. This guide highlights their suitability for beginners and advanced users, ease of self-learning, and recommendations based on your professional stage. 1. Audacity Ideal for: Beginners seeking a free, straightforward solution. Overview: Audacity is a free, open-source DAW that provides essential recording and editing tools. Learning Curve: Its simple interface allows for quick self-teaching through numerous online tutorials. Recommendation: Perfect for newcomers who want to master voiceover basics without financial investment. 2. Adobe Audition Ideal for: Intermediate users aiming for advanced editing capabilities. Overview: Adobe Audition offers a comprehensive suite of tools for recording, editing, and mixing audio. Learning Curve: While it's user-friendly, it has advanced features that may require a learning period. Recommendation: Suitable for those ready to enhance their production quality with sophisticated editing tools. 3. Pro Tools Ideal for: Advanced professionals requiring industry-standard features. Overview: Pro Tools is renowned for its robust audio editing and mixing capabilities and is widely used in professional studios. Learning Curve: Steep due to its extensive feature set; formal training or dedicated self-study is beneficial. Recommendation: Best for seasoned voiceover artists working on complex projects that demand high-end production. 4. TwistedWave Ideal for: Mac users seeking simplicity and efficiency. Overview: TwistedWave has a clean interface with essential recording and editing functionalities optimized for Mac. Learning Curve: Minimal; its intuitive design facilitates easy self-learning. Recommendation: Ideal for voiceover artists desiring a hassle-free, Mac-compatible solution for straightforward projects. 5. Reaper Ideal for: Advanced users seeking a customizable and cost-effective DAW. Overview: Reaper is a versatile DAW known for its extensive customization options and powerful features. Learning Curve: Moderate to steep; its vast array of features may require dedicated learning. Recommendation: Suited for professionals desiring a tailored setup without the high costs associated with some other DAWs. 6. GarageBand Ideal for: Beginners using Mac devices seeking a user-friendly platform. Overview: GarageBand is a free DAW exclusive to Mac that offers basic recording and editing tools suitable for voiceover work. Learning Curve: Low; its straightforward design is accessible to beginners. Recommendation: Great for those starting out, providing essential tools to develop foundational recording skills. 7. Logic Pro X Ideal for: Advanced Mac users seeking a comprehensive audio production suite. Overview: Logic Pro X provides a professional-grade set of tools for recording, editing, and mixing, including a vast sound library. Learning Curve: Moderate; while powerful, its extensive features may require some learning. Recommendation: Suitable for serious voiceover artists aiming to incorporate complex audio elements into their projects. Final Thoughts for Choosing the right DAW for Voiceover Artists Choosing the right DAW depends on your current experience level, specific needs, and the complexity of projects you intend to undertake. Beginners may find Audacity or GarageBand sufficient to develop basic skills. Advanced users might prefer the extensive features of Pro Tools or Logic Pro X. Explore Your Options It's advisable to explore trial versions of these DAWs. This approach allows you to determine which option aligns best with your workflow and professional aspirations. Each consistency in experience will set the stage for achieving superior recording capabilities in your voiceover work. 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. Keep Going - Watch this next: Adobe Audition for Voice Actors 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... Through VO Strategist , Tom has provided voiceover business and marketing coaching since 2011. He's also a voice actor with over 25 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.

Subscribe on YouTube for the latest... Why do I say wins and woes? If you're able to set up an effective home recording studio, you have the potential to be a successful voice actor. So that's a win. Learning how to build a home recording studio and doing all the troubleshooting, purchasing, repurchasing, reinvesting, upgrading, educating, well, that could potentially be a woe. With that in mind, here are some basics about how to turn your home recording woes into wins. 1. Work With An Audio Engineering Professional There are a bunch of audio engineering professionals who specialize in working with folks like you and me who are just trying to record out of our home as a voice actor. Keep in mind that nobody auditions in person anymore. COVID wiped that out. It has been over four years since I have done an in-person audition and I live in Midtown Manhattan. When voice seekers are listening to your auditions, they're not just listening to your performance, they're listening to your home recording quality because if it's not any good, they're not gonna book you. 2. Figure Out Your Home Recording Environment What kind of home do you live in? Do you have space to just purchase a $5 ,000 recording booth and have it get shipped in and assembled, and then you just step in and start recording? Do you have the money for that? Do you have the space for that? Can your floors bear the weight of that? And if you can't or won't do that for whatever reason, then you need to get creative. I use the front closet here at my apartment, here in Manhattan, acoustically treated. 3. Acoustical treatment Do you need Auralex foam? Do you need sound blankets? Do you need to construct PVS pipes to create the environment for you to acoustically treat? 4. Microphone Selection In this Ask Me Anything video, George "The Tech" Whittam says that microphones are very specific to the vocal quality of the voice actor and the environment in which they are recording. So for example, this Sennheiser 416 that I'm speaking into, this works great for me. It works great for me based on my vocal quality, but also there are ambulances and fire trucks and police cars and jackhammers and protests and all kinds of interesting things going on outside my window here in Manhattan. The Sennheiser 416 has a very tight field, which means a lot of extraneous sound doesn't get into this microphone, that works well for me. That may not work well for you. 5. Digital Audio Workstation ( DAW) Selection I use Adobe Audition Creative Cloud . I've been using it since Adobe Audition was in 2006. It's pretty much the only DAW I've ever worked with. If you are already familiar with Pro Tools from a previous life or career or hobby, then use Pro Tools. You can use Ocen or Reaper too, but most people start out with Audacity. And here is the affiliate link so you can get a discount for working with George The Tech! https://georgethe.tech/vos 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. Keep Going - Watch this next: Adobe Audition for Voice Actors Watch this trailer then click the button below to rent this How-To video for only 5 BUCKS! Watch with 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... Through VO Strategist , Tom's provided voiceover business & marketing coaching since 2011. He's also a voice actor with over 25 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.

Subscribe on YouTube for the latest...

Subscribe on YouTube for the latest...

Studio gear recommendations are critical for every voice actor to buy the right stuff the first time. Voice actors are constantly asking asking for studio gear recommendations and a lot of opinions fly around with varying degrees of reliability. With that in mind, I've created a new page on the VO Strategist website: the Studio Gear & Recommendations page ! I have either used or currently use most of the studio gear on the page and have read most of the books. The rest are studio gear & books that I have heard great things about over the years from voiceover professionals I trust. Some of these suggestions may include an Amazon Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you click on the link and purchase the item in question, I get a few cents at no extra cost to you. TIP OF THE WEEK The next time you're looking to get a new piece of studio gear or want a new book to read, visit the Studio Gear & Recommendations page . Feel free to drop me a line about any of the items on the page and I'll be happy to answer your questions. I will be adding more stuff to the page as time goes by so stop on once in a while to see what's new. NEWS AND NOTES Saturday, October 9th @5PM ET: The Voice Actor Studio workshop, " Analyze Your Business and Marketing Strategies ". Wednesday, October 13th @8PM ET: the VO How-To webinar, " Agents, Unions, and your VO Business ". Curious about representation and SAG-AFTRA? Are they right for your voiceover business? Learn more here! Thursday, October 14th @8PM ET: The Business and Money 201 webinar, " Workflow ". This class will give students an understanding of how to utilize 21st century tools and software to stay organized and on task. Monday, October 18th-21st: New England Narrator Retreat. SOLD OUT Friday, October 22nd-24th: Baltimore Comic Con . I will be promoting my comic book Agent 1.22 . If you're at the con, stop in at Artist Alley Table C33 and say hi! Thursday, October 28th @8PM ET: The Marketing 201 webinar, " What Your Website Says About You ". In this class, students will explore best practices when creating a successful voice over talent website. HAPPY HAPPYS Happy Taco Day and Change a Light Day ! QUOTE OF THE WEEK All I can be is me, whoever that is. Bob Dylan 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 20 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.

You've spent thousands of dollars and countless hours with coaches and producers to create the perfect voice-over demos. So why are you presenting them to casting directors like it's 2005—as a single, giant audio file they have to scrub through? In today's market, your demo's presentation is just as important as its production. If you're making a potential client do extra work just to hear your talent, you're losing business before you even get in the door. It's time to stop. Why an Interactive Voice Over Demo Player is a Non-Negotiable Business Tool Just like it says, VoiceZam is an interactive voiceover demo player. VoiceZam is an important tool for your voice over business for a number of reasons…. First, It Makes Your Demos Modular (and Casting Directors Happy) A monolithic, 90-second demo file is a casting director's nightmare. They don't have time to hunt for the 10-second spot that might fit their project. An interactive player like VoiceZam  breaks your demos into individual, clearly labeled tracks (e.g., 'Conversational,' 'Announcer,' 'Character'). It's like giving a client a playlist instead of a full album—they can jump directly to the exact sound they need. This respects their time, which immediately makes you look like a pro they want to work with. Second, It Makes Your Demos Downloadable (and Shareable) These days, voice seekers love to build their own 'virtual filing cabinet' of talent. An interactive player allows them to download your entire demo or, more importantly, just the specific spots  they like. When a project comes up that you're right for, it's infinitely easier for them to find your file and pass that perfect spot along to the end client. I can't tell you how many times a client has sent me one of my own spots from VoiceZam as a reference for a booked gig, saying, 'We want it to sound just like this.' That's a clear sign your marketing is working. Third, It Gives You Powerful Analytics (Hello, Zamtistics!) This is where it gets really strategic. VoiceZam's analytics—or 'Zamtistics'—tell you when your demos were listened to, for how long, and which spots were downloaded. This isn't just a vanity metric; it's critical business intelligence. Did your recent marketing blast to e-learning companies lead to a spike in listens for your Narration demo? Now you know. Is everyone listening to your Commercial demo but no one is downloading your Animation demo? That's valuable feedback on what's resonating in the market. It takes the guesswork out of your marketing. The Bottom Line: Upgrade Your Professional Image My tip is simple: Use a professional demo player! It signals to the industry that you are a serious business owner who invests in the right tools. I've used VoiceZam  for years, and the team there, led by Bob Merkel, is fantastic at helping you get set up. Just make sure your demos are separated into individual audio files first. For a ton of helpful tutorials, I strongly recommend checking out their YouTube page. Welcome to VoiceZam 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. NEWS AND NOTES Thursday, December 5th @8PM EST: my next “Business and Money 201” webinar topic will be ‘Goals’. In this one-hour webinar, we’ll talk about how to set yourself up for success in 2020 by writing an effective business plan. Saturday December 7th @5PM: The 11th Annual NYC Voiceover Holiday Extravaganza! Click here to join the festivities at Hurley’s Saloon in New York City! Thursday, December 12th @8PM EST: ‘Brand Yourself’. In this one-hour webinar, we'll talk about the basics of telling the story that is your voiceover business. The Mid-Atlantic Voice Over (MAVO) conference Mastery Session signup is open! My session, ‘Manage Your Money Like a VO Pro’ will take place Friday, November 6, 2020. These sessions are optional and have a supplementary fee because they are not part of the main MAVO 2020 Conference. These sessions fill up quickly as there is a max of 12-15 so make sure you get your spot! Click here to sign up now ! Saturday, February 1st 2020 @2PM PST: I will be speaking LIVE at the Voiceover Studio in sunny Las Vegas! The topic is “THE VOICEOVER BUSINESS AND HOW TO ACT LIKE IT”. Here’s the description: Congratulations! You’ve done your voiceover training and have your freshly produced demo in hand. Now what? In this three-hour workshop, veteran voice talent and “VO Strategist” Tom Dheere will help you rub the stars out of your eyes and learn how to think & execute like an effective voiceover business. We will discuss how to build your voiceover business from the ground up, craft a Mission Statement, set goals, craft an Action Plan, and learn how to stick to it. Registration is now open! Click here to sign up. March 26-29 2020: I am proud to announce that I am the VO Atlanta 2020 eLearning/narration Track leader! Very soon I will announce my teammates and the sessions we’re offering. Stay tuned…! HAPPY HAPPYS Happy Sardines Day and Manatees Awareness Month ! QUOTE OF THE WEEK This, I submit, is the freedom of a real education, of learning how to be well-adjusted. You to consciously decode what has meaning and what doesn't. You get to decide what to worship. David Foster Wallace Tom Dheere is a 20+year veteran of the voice over industry who has narrated thousands of projects for hundreds of clients in over a dozen countries. He is also a voiceover business & marketing consultant known as the VOStrategist and produces the comic book “ Agent 1.22 ”.

Building a freelance career is like building a house. You can have all the talent and raw material in the world, but without the right set of tools, progress is slow, frustrating, and often unsteady. You need a blueprint, a way to manage your materials, and a plan to keep the lights on. It’s no different in voice-over. Over my 30+ years as a voice actor, I’ve seen countless talented voice actors get stuck—not because their reads weren't great, but because they lacked the business structure to support their art. They didn’t know how to set goals, track their finances, or present themselves professionally to clients. That's why I've put together a completely free collection of downloadable resources designed to be the toolkit for your voice-over business, whether you're a curious beginner or an established pro looking to get more organized. The VO Toolkit: Free Voice Over Resources for Your Business Think of this as your one-stop shop for getting the business side of your career in order. These are the exact types of documents I've used to build and sustain my own business, and they are yours to download, customize, and use right now. For the Aspiring Voice Actor Just starting out? The question "How do I even begin?" can be overwhelming. These resources will give you tools you can start to fill your toolkit with. A Day in the VO Life:  Ever wonder what full-time voice actors actually do  all day? This guide demystifies the daily workflow and helps you build professional habits from day one. Voiceover Resume Sample:  Don't just list your roles; present your experience like a pro. This sample resume provides a proven format that helps you stand out to agents and clients. Free "How To" Video & Consultation:  Get a foundational overview of the industry with our introductory video. Still have questions? Book a free 15-minute chat with me to get them answered. For the Working Voice Actor If you’re already booking jobs, the challenge shifts from getting started to staying organized and profitable. These tools are designed to streamline your business so you can focus on the mic. Cash Flow & Audiobook Task Spreadsheets:  Stop guessing where your money is going. These simple-to-use spreadsheets help you track your income, expenses, and project tasks, giving you a clear picture of your financial health and workload. Voiceover Service Guarantee Sample:  Elevate your professionalism with a clear service guarantee. This sample document builds client trust and sets clear expectations, making you look like the reliable pro you are. For Every Freelancer, At Every Level No matter where you are in your journey, setting clear goals is the fastest way to get to the next level. These planners are essential for turning vague ambitions into concrete achievements. Annual Goals & Monthly Action Plan:  Don't let another year slip by. These documents guide you through setting meaningful annual goals and then breaking them down into achievable monthly actions. It’s your personal roadmap to success. Your Next Step is One Click Away A successful career doesn't happen by accident. It's built with purpose, intention, and the right set of tools. I’ve taken the guesswork out of building your business so you can focus on what you do best: delivering incredible voice over performances. Ready to get organized and build a more resilient voice-over business? Click here to access all the free downloads and resources on the Voice Over Strategist website. No strings, no hidden fees. Just valuable tools to help you succeed! 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. Keep Going - Watch this next: Make Working From Home Work 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... Through VO Strategist , Tom's provided voiceover business & marketing coaching since 2011. He's also a voice actor with over 25 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.

Today, let’s talk about something I’m barely qualified to talk about: your Digital Audio Workstation, or DAW for short. For those of you who audition & book gigs at remote studios only: a blessing on your house. For the rest of us poor slobs, using a DAW effectively is a critical part of our voiceover business. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t get into the voiceover business to be an audio engineer. However, you need to be able to do some basic stuff with your DAW. Such as… Create a project with the correct settings. Always ask your clients for their preferred sample rate, bit depth, and if they want mono or stereo audio files. And no, I can’t explain exactly what these things mean. That’s Amanda Rose Smith’s job and she can phrase it exponentially better than I can. More about her royal awesomeness later. Gain control. That’s a fancy way for saying how loud your recording is before you mess around with it in post. The louder the better, but not too loud. Anything over -3db and your audio starts “clipping”. Clipping is what exactly, I don’t know. My hair is short enough as it is. Save the audio files in the correct format. Most of the time the clients want WAV or MP3 files, but always ask. What’s the difference? WAV files are bigger. Beyond that, ask Amanda. Noise gates, compression, mastering, EQ, adding a music bed, etc. See, now my brain hurts. TIP OF THE WEEK Here are some of the more popular DAWs that voice talents use: Audacity ( https://www.audacityteam.org/about/ ): the gateway drug of DAWs. It’s free, great for beginners, and both Dan Friedman & Amanda Rose Smith regularly teach classes on how to use it. Adobe Audition ( https://www.adobe.com/products/audition.html ): I’ve been using this DAW since 2006 when it was Adobe Soundbooth and it’s great. It’s subscription-based but worth every penny, in my opinion. It’s much more dynamic than Audacity but not as complicated as, say, Pro Tools. Speaking of Pro Tools… Pro Tools ( https://www.avid.com/pro-tools) : a lot of voice talents use Pro Tools and swear by it. In my experience, it’s way more powerful & complicated than what your typical voice talent needs. If you’re a techno-file and love all the bells & whistles, dive right in. If you’re not, I’d give it a wide berth and stick with a simpler DAW. Other DAWs I have heard good things about include: Ocenaudio : https://www.ocenaudio.com Reaper : https://www.reaper.fm Cubase : https://new.steinberg.net/cubase Wanna learn more about how the basics of home recording, signal flow, and mastering? Keep scrolling… 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. NEWS AND NOTES Coming to New York City for APAC ? I’ve written yet another Survival Guide which tells you everything you need to know about getting the most out of attending the audio book conference as well as the lowdown on parties & workshops. Read it here ! Thursday, May 23rd @8PM EST: Marketing 201 webinar, ‘Thriving in a Smaller Market city’. Click here to sign up! Thursday, May 30th 9am-3pm EST: “The VO Tech Deep Dive and eLearning Extravaganza!” is less than two weeks away and there are still a few seats available. Details below. Tickets are on sale here! September 13th-15: “VOcation NYC” Click here to register ! HAPPY HAPPYS Happy World Bee Day and Italian Beef Week ! QUOTE OF THE WEEK Sometimes I wonder if the fornicating I'm getting is worth the fornicating I'm getting. King Charlamagne in Pippin Tom Dheere is a 20+year veteran of the voice over industry who has narrated thousands of projects for hundreds of clients in over a dozen countries. He is also a voiceover business & marketing consultant known as the VOStrategist and produces the comic book “ Agent 1.22 ”.

Here is a lovely anecdote about the importance of effective troubleshooting… A few days after my Source Connect debacle , I had a Skype session with a friend using my MicPort Pro as a workaround. It worked perfectly. The next day I recorded a short project for a client (no issues) then I had a session with a VO Strategist student. Just like the day before, I plugged my MicPort Pro directly into my PC so I could use my 416 instead of my webcam mic so my student could hear me better on Skype. He couldn’t hear me. I plugged my webcam back in. He couldn’t hear me. So as not to waste time, we did the session on the phone. The next day I wanted to get a head start on a 4,000 word project. Inexplicably, I couldn’t record anything on Adobe Audition. Everything looked right but no sound was being picked up. I went to the Intel site (the maker of my NUC) to make sure the software & drivers were updated. After doing that, now I can’t play videos either online or offline. What. The Hell. Since it was a Saturday I couldn’t call Universal Audio (to see if the Apollo Arrow was the problem) or Intel (to see if the NUC was the problem). Ugh. The following Monday I called Intel Tech Support to do some troubleshooting. We updated the drivers and did a few other things. They determined there is nothing wrong with the NUC on a software level. I called my friend Sean Caldwell (the builder of my NUC) to do some more troubleshooting. We determined that the XLR port of my Sennheiser 416 was wobbly and creating some mad static but that didn’t seem to have anything to do with the recording or video-playing issues. I wrote a buddy who works at Sennheiser about the issue with the 416. He told me to send it to the home office so they could fix it. I mailed it out the next day and it arrived back here safe & sound a few days ago so that’s taken care of. Whew. Back to the troubleshooting. Sean determined it was either a cable issue or an Arrow issue. I went to B&H and got a new Thunderbolt 3 cable. No effect. I swapped out XLR cables. No effect. I swapped out mics. It worked! And then it didn’t. And then it did! And then it didn’t. Hmm… Fast-forward to this past Friday. Some gigs had come in but I was able to get the old AKG Perception to work often enough to do them. I was sitting at my desk watching something on YouTube (yes, that started working again, albeit intermittently) and the new Thunderbolt 3 cable was draped over my keyboard so I moved it. That’s when the video crapped out again. I made a video of it and sent it to my caseworker at Intel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTcCgscgHYc&feature=youtu.be Within only 30 MINUTES of sending him the video, I got an email informing me they are replacing the NUC. As of this writing (Monday afternoon) I could get it as early as today and get everything back on track within 24 hours. TIP OF THE WEEK Halloween came early for me this year! What a nightmare. The good news is that the 416 got fixed and the NUC will be replaced at no charge (well, plus $50+ for shipping). The bad news is that it took forever to figure out the actual problem. Why a faulty port would effect the ability to play videos both online and offline is beyond me. Beyond most of us, I’d say. Anyway, the ability to quickly and efficiently troubleshoot your computer and signal chain is critical . Here’s a link to a fantastic troubleshooting guide created by Edge Studio.  It covers everything from buzz & hum to Skype & Chrome. Bookmark it! NEWS AND NOTES Wanna get your ducks in a row for 2019? Go to my shiny new VO Strategist website  (www.VOStrategist.com ) and book a session with me. We can do: a free 15-minute consult a Diagnostic Session a one-on-session covering business, marketing, genre exploration, or performance the Mentorship Program for ongoing sessions to develop your voiceover business Schedule and pay for your sessions directly on the website. Let’s take your voiceover business to the next level! Thursday, October 25th @8PM EST:  My next Edge Studio Marketing 201 webinar will be “Keeping Clients Coming Back”. We’re going to talk about the  real  secret to making clients cast you again and again.  Click here to sign up . SOLD OUT  Sunday, November 4th @2PM EST:  At  Soundvine Studios  in Manhattan I will lead the workshop “Learning to do eLearning”.  To get on the waiting list, PM me with the subject line “Add Me!” Tuesday, November 6th @8PM EST:  My next Edge Studio Marketing 201 webinar will be “Thriving in a Smaller Market City”.  Click here to sign up . November 9-11 : MAVO 2018 is less than two months away! If you’ve already registered and haven’t picked your sessions, watch this video to learn more about what I’ll be teaching: If you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time!  Click here to sign up . Thursday, November 15th @8PM EST:  My next Edge Studio Business and Money 201 webinar will be “Managing Your Money”.  Click here to sign up . Sunday, November 18th @2PM EST:  At  Soundvine Studios  in Manhattan I will lead the workshop “Explainer Videos Explained”. Seating is limited to only seven attendees so you’d better sign up fast!  Click here to sign up . HAPPY HAPPYS Happy Dessert Day and Spreadsheet Day ! QUOTE OF THE WEEK All you have to do, if you want a process to stop at any moment, is to say 'enough'. Philip Banks From my village to yours; this is Tom Dheere, The H is Silent, but I’m Not. Tom Dheere is a 20+year veteran of the voice over industry who has narrated thousands of projects for hundreds of clients in over a dozen countries. He is also voiceover business consultant known as the VO Strategist and is currently producing the comic book “ Agent 1.22 ”.

Here is an important lesson in understanding voiceover technology. How a Known Tech Issue Led to a Big Fat Fail Last week I was booked for a recording session and was asked to use Source Connect as an audio bridge so the client can record the audio on their end. I’ve never had much of a need for it (I usually go to a studio or record from home without being given live direction) so we agreed to use Source Connect Now, a free version of Source Connect. A few hours before the session the engineer ran some tests to make sure everything was working properly. This is where the fun starts… The High-Stakes Session and the Pre-Flight Check He could hear me but there was static. For two hours we tried everything he could think of to resolve it including checking the settings for my Apollo Arrow interface, Adobe Audition Creative Cloud , my Internet speed, and the settings in Windows 10. Nothing. As a result, they had to book a nearby studio. I insisted on playing the studio fee so I made a lot less on the gig than I should have. Two Hours of Voice Over Troubleshooting and an Expensive Defeat The next day I called my cable provider to check my internet speed. It was working perfectly. Then I called Universal Audio, the maker of the Apollo Arrow. That’s when I discovered the issue. The Apollo Arrow was neither designed for nor tested with any phone patch or audio bridge technology. They’re just not compatible. This explains why there’s static every time I try to use Skype, Zoom, or GoTo Webinar. As of this writing, my current workaround is to use my MicPort Pro . Obviously it’s not ideal so I need to come up with a better solution. Of course I just sold my Focusrite Scarlett so I may be in the market for a second interface to handle audio bridges and phone patches. The Day-After Diagnosis: A Fundamental Incompatibility I’m the first to admit I’m not well-versed in voiceover technology. Sometimes it bites me in the ass but this time it wasn’t that. This became a problem because I had known about the static issue with Skype, Zoom, and GoTo Webinar for months. I kept kicking the can down the road and used my webcam mic instead for classes & seminars. My procrastination cost me money and made me look like a newbie dunce to my agent and the end-client. It was both embarrassing and frustrating. If you have any kind of issue with the technology you use to run your voiceover business, address it immediately . Yes, life is crazy and there are a bunch of shiny things out there to distract you both important and not-so-important. Stay focused! Address important matters that you are uncomfortable with as soon as possible. Do your research, ask good questions, and be thankful for the help you receive from our wonderful voiceover community. 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. NEWS AND NOTES Wanna get your ducks in a row for 2019? Go to the shiny new VO Strategist website  (www.VOStrategist.com ) to book a session with me. Just pick the one that’s right for you: a free 15-minute consult a Diagnostic Session a one-on-session covering business, marketing, genre exploration, or performance the Mentorship Program for ongoing sessions to develop your voiceover business Schedule and pay for your sessions via the website. Let’s take your voiceover business to the next level! Thursday, October 11th @8PM EST:  My next Business and Money 201 webinar will be “Time Management”. We’re going to talk about how to keep your voiceover business on track on a daily basis. SOLD OUT  Sunday, October 14th @11:30 AM EST:  At  Arts On site  in Manhattan I will be leading the conversation “ Marketing For VO ”. In this 2-hour in-person-only workshop we will discuss the basics of marketing, branding, the Sales Funnel, and much more. This is a  donation-based  event. $35 is the suggested donation, but you are free to contribute whatever you want.  To get on the waiting list, PM me with the subject line “Add Me!” Thursday, October 25th @8PM EST:  My next Marketing 201 webinar will be “Keeping Clients Coming Back”. We’re going to talk about the  real  secret to making clients cast you again and again.  Click here to sign up . SOLD OUT  Sunday, November 4th @2PM EST:  At  Soundvine Studios  in Manhattan I will lead the workshop “Learning to do eLearning”.  To get on the waiting list, PM me with the subject line “Add Me!” November 9-11 : MAVO 2018 is less than two months away! If you’ve already registered and haven’t picked your sessions, watch this video to learn more about what I’ll be teaching: If you haven’t registered yet, there are still a few tickets left!  Click here to sign up . Sunday, November 18th @2PM EST:  At  Soundvine Studios  in Manhattan I will lead the workshop “Explainer Videos Explained”. Seating is limited to only seven attendees so you’d better sign up fast!  Click here to sign up . HAPPY HAPPYS Happy Pierogi Day and World Octopus Day ! QUOTE OF THE WEEK The person who wrote the advertisements is without doubt the most ignorant person now alive on the planet; also without doubt he is an idiot, an idiot of the 33rd degree, and scion of an ancestral procession of idiots stretching back to the Missing Link. Mark Twain From my village to yours; this is Tom Dheere, The H is Silent, but I’m Not. Tom Dheere is a 20+year veteran of the voice over industry who has narrated thousands of projects for hundreds of clients in over a dozen countries. He is also voiceover business consultant known as the VO Strategist and is currently producing the comic book “ Agent 1.22 ”.

I was recently geeking out to Star Talk (as I sometimes do), and it got me thinking about the fundamental forces that govern the entire universe. You’ve got these four invisible powers that dictate everything from why an apple falls from a tree to what holds the very fabric of reality together. That's when I realized that the voice over universe has its own set of powerful, often unnoticed forces shaping our careers. As a voice actor, you can’t just have a great voice; you need to understand the "physics" of our industry. For me, it all boils down to four key drivers that I call the Four Forces of the Voice Over Universe. Let's break them down, Neil deGrasse Tyson-style... Gravity: The Force of Economics Gravity is the force of attraction. It’s what keeps our feet on the ground and the planets in orbit. In the voice over world, the undeniable force of gravity is Economics . It’s the constant pull of the market, the rates, the budgets, and the financial realities of running a sustainable voice over business. Just like gravity, you can’t ignore it. You have to work with it. Setting your voice over rates, understanding industry standards, and knowing your worth are all part of navigating this fundamental force. When you’re just starting out, the pull of low-paying gigs can feel incredibly strong. But with the right strategy, you can achieve escape velocity and build a career with real financial stability (see what I did there?). The Importance of Market Research Understanding the market is crucial. Research helps you identify the average rates for different types of voice work. It also allows you to see where you fit in. Are you a newcomer? Or do you have years of experience? Knowing this can help you set competitive rates. Networking can also play a significant role. Building relationships with other voice actors and industry professionals can provide insights into what rates are fair and what clients are willing to pay. Electromagnetism: The Force of Politics Electromagnetism can attract and repel, and it’s responsible for light and, well, magnets. In our VO universe, I see a direct parallel with Politics . I’m not talking Democrats or Republicans, but the internal and external politics of the industry. Think about it: the relationships you build with clients, casting directors, and other voice actors are a form of attraction. A positive reputation can pull opportunities toward you. On the other hand, a bad reputation or a misunderstanding can repel potential clients. Navigating pay-to-play sites, dealing with agents, and even the rise of AI in voice over all have a political dimension. It's about understanding the currents of influence and making them work in your favor. Building a Positive Reputation Your reputation is your currency in this industry. Always deliver high-quality work and meet deadlines. This builds trust and encourages clients to return to you for future projects. Engaging with your audience on social media can also enhance your visibility. Share your experiences, insights, and even challenges. This transparency can attract more clients and collaborators. The Strong Nuclear Force: The Force of Technology The Strong Nuclear Force is the most powerful of the four, but it acts over a very short distance. It’s what holds the nucleus of an atom together. For us in the voice over industry, our Strong Nuclear Force is Technology . Think about your home studio. Your microphone, your DAW, your internet connection – these are the foundational elements that hold your voice over career together. And just like the Strong Force, the technology you use has to be solid. Poor audio quality will instantly kill a potential gig, no matter how good your performance is. As technology evolves with things like new plugins & audio interfaces, we as voice actors need to adapt and ensure our technological core is strong. Investing in Quality Equipment Investing in quality equipment is essential. A good microphone and soundproofing can make a significant difference in your recordings. Additionally, staying updated with the latest software can enhance your editing process. Learning how to use new tools effectively can set you apart from your competition. The Weak Nuclear Force: The Force of Human Behavior The Weak Nuclear Force is responsible for radioactive decay, a process of transformation. This tracks with what I consider the fourth force of the voice over industry: Human Behavior . This is the force that governs why a client chooses one voice actor over another, even when both have great reads and top-notch audio. It’s the subtle nuances of performance, the ability to take direction, and the emotional connection you forge with the listener. It’s about understanding the psychology of your audience and the needs of your client. Human behavior is also about your own mindset – your discipline, your resilience, and your ability to keep learning and growing in this ever-changing business. This is often the most challenging force to master, but it’s where the real magic of voice acting happens. The Power of Emotional Connection Creating an emotional connection with your audience can be a game-changer. It’s not just about reading lines; it’s about conveying feelings. Take the time to understand the script and the character. This will help you deliver a more authentic performance. Continuous Learning and Adaptation The voice over industry is always evolving. New trends, technologies, and styles emerge regularly. Staying informed and adaptable is crucial. Participate in workshops, online courses, or webinars. This not only enhances your skills but also keeps you relevant in the industry. There you have it, the Four Forces of the Voice Over Universe! They may not be as grand as the ones that hold galaxies together, but for those of us navigating a career in voice over, they're just as important. Keep Going - Watch this next: Think Like a Freelancer 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... Through VO Strategist , Tom's provided voiceover business & marketing coaching since 2011. He's also a voice actor with over 25 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.