• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Erggo

Karen@KarenCommins.com

Karen Commins

Award Winning

Atlanta Audiobook Share-rator™

  • Home
  • Demos
  • Titles
  • Reviews
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Shop

How to achieve success in voice-over

20 November 2007

The dictionary is the only place where Success comes before Work.

A couple of recent situations made me think of this phrase. I believe that you can achieve any goal you set for yourself ASSUMING that you are willing to do the work necessary to achieve it. I also know that no one can do your work for you, and no shortcuts exist on your journey.

I have previously commented and voice-over coach and actor Peter Rofe noted in an article this week:

There are a lot of people who want to get into voice-over work because they have the misconception that it’s a get-rich-quick scheme, that they can stay at home, record their voice in their pajamas, unshaven in a T-shirt …
and make lots and lots of money.

Now in some cases, that’s true, but usually for well-established voice artists.

I frequently receive calls and e-mails from people who want to get started in voice-over, study with me, request demo critiques, ask my opinion on teachers and classes, etc. A few weeks ago, I saw a message on a forum where I’m a regular contributor. Like so many other people who contact me personally, this person wanted to get into voice-overs because she has always been told that she had a nice voice. A forum member directed her to search for my posts, read what I had written and perhaps send a private message to me if she still had questions.

At 12:24pm, she responded that she would take those actions.

At 12.30pm, I received a private message from this same person. She wrote that she posted the question in the forum, and someone suggested that she contact me.

I responded to her first by quoting the advice to read what I’ve already written. I added: That’s my suggestion as well. While I can appreciate and understand your excitement, you would find the answers to many of your questions with a little research.

A couple of Saturdays ago, I received a phone call from someone who introduced himself and then said, I need an agent. During his somewhat lengthy voice mail message, he proceeded to do a few impressions for me and told me how to find him on YouTube. He also told me about a holiday CD he had created that he said the people loved.

If I had to predict which of these 2 people would be successful in realizing their voice-over dreams, I would pick the second person without hesitation.

Person One seemed unwilling to do even the least bit of work. A mere six minutes elapsed between the times that she learned about me and I received her message. She did not search for my posts and read absolutely nothing before firing off a message to me. I also was not pleased that she misrepresented to me the forum poster’s advice.

Person Two, however, already was doing some work, had looked at enough of my web site to learn my agent’s name and obviously was not afraid to enthusiastically promote himself. Calling a fellow voice talent, especially on a Saturday, was an unusual tactic to employ in his quest for agent. I don’t fault him for making the effort. He had an idea and took action; you never know when an inspired action will bring results. When I returned his call, I told him that I am a voice talent marketing myself, and I wouldn’t be able to help him get an agent.

As I tell everyone who asks, you will achieve your dreams by putting one foot in front of the other and taking some small step toward your goals everyday. Just remember — your success is defined by your work!

 

SHARE VIA:
Send email Mail
Share on TwitterTweet
Share on Facebook Share
Share on LinkedIn Share
Share on Pinterest Share
Print Print

Related posts:

  1. 10 Business Tips From My Day at the Great Pyramids
  2. Some advice about unsolicited advice
  3. Make it easy for your clients to want to refer you
  4. 1 “Oh s***” can wipe out 1000 “Attaboys!”

Filed Under: Business, Narrators, Observations, Voice-Over

Reader Interactions

Have a comment or question?Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Blog and Newsletter Subscriptions

Categories


Blog Archives

Most Popular Posts

  • How To Become an Audiobook Narrator
  • Audiobook Narrator Self-Assessment Quiz
  • Public Domain Narration Headquarters
  • Finding Your Own Road to Tara
  • ACX U - Acting With Intention
  • 4 Keys to Becoming a Successful ACX Audiobook Producer
  • Links to Help Narrators Research Rights Holders to Books
  • Karen’s Primer on Narrating Royalty Share Audiobooks
  • How to Use My Twitter Lists

Links Section

  • NarratorsRoadmap.com
  • AudiobookMarketingTips.com
  • My Tuesday Tips on Twitter
  • Press Page
  • AudioForAuthors.com

More of My Articles

ACX Blog:
  • A Narrator’s Look At Audiobook Marketing Part 1
  • A Narrator’s Look At Audiobook Marketing Part 2
  • How to Act Like An Audiobook Narrator
LinkedIn:
  • Setting Boundaries in Your Voiceover Business
VoiceOverXtra:
  • For a Good First Impression With Audiobook Producers,
    Share Your Audible 'Customer Rating'

Erggo

Karen@KarenCommins.com

© 1999-2023 Karen Commins // Site design by Voice Actor Websites // Affiliate links to Amazon are used on this site.