I’ve done everything I could.
I have spent tons of money.
I know I have a good voice, but I am always told I am not good enough.
How can I be “experienced”, how can I stop being a newbie if no one wants to at least listen to my demo?
At one point in the early stages of any voice over career, a voice over talent have thought of at least one, or two, even all, maybe more of these desperate thoughts – uttered in despair, frustration, maybe even in anger.
So what do you tell someone who is already on the verge of giving up, of losing hope?
You can sugar coat all you want; list all the things a newcomer can do; cite “the big break” experience every successful voice over talent has ever shared – it can motivate, inspire, get them geared up for another round of auditions, but unless you find out the root cause of all the rejections and failures, it will only end up in a vicious cycle.
Two years in, the new comer is still a new comer – with a digital portfolio as thin as a real writing paper.
Instead, BE HONEST. Be brutally, and utterly honest.
It is not enough that friends, family, teachers, co-workers, and other people tell you that you have a voice made for radio/television, for documentaries and what not – you need an expert to tell you so.
Remember the buildup segments of talents shows like American Idol and America’s Got Talent? Where the contestant even has video clips of them performing young, they have all the support of their family, they even got the looks of a super star, and all that was just a ploy, because as soon as the talent steps up to the mic and open his/her mouth… there’s an awkward silence from the judges’ table.
These contestants may have been told all their lives that they were the best at what they do, but the problem is, these people who have told them so, may not have the credentials or expertise to know so.
We hear the same thing from a lot of aspiring voice over talents – I am often told I have a great voice, but being told you have a great voice does not give you an automatic entry to the voice over industry.
What do you need to do to jump from being an aspiring, to a new comer? From a new comer to a legitimate voice over talent?
What does your voice needs to be like to not just sound great to family and friends (and yourself) but to the people that matters most in the industry (agencies, directors, producers, casting directors, etc.)?
To help you find the root cause of your failures and rejections, get someone who will be honest with you, brutally and utterly honest – even be ready to be told whether you do have the chops to be a voice over talent or not. And this someone should be an expert in the field. Not just someone who is willing to take your money so you can record a demo in exchange for an empty feedback. There are many reputable voice over coaches and trainers you can find online. Do your research and find a program that will suit your current dilemma.
What can a new voice over do to get the attention I need?
First thing you need to do is to PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR NEEDS.
Assessing what you have right now, of what you can do in terms of your voice talent and skills is necessary to move forward. Having someone who can expertly help you through the process of uncovering what you need, finding and working on your flaws, exploring and improving your voice is the first, real big step to becoming a legitimate voice over and eventually getting the much needed attention.
More to come….
