The VO Life

Paul Schmidt is a guy who tells it... and isn't afraid to face questions. His You Tube channel covers a variety of topics that inspire, teach and make you want to be a better VO. Sort of reminds me of church. If you get your toes stepped on, maybe the sermon is for you. I always liked those preachers who made me look within deeper and want to know more... and Paul may be just that... the VO Evangelist! Listen and lean in and learn as Paul talks about his journey, marketing, demos and more on todays episode. Find him everywhere by searching Paul Schmidt Pro.

Lots of interviews coming on The VO Life... a sneak peak into who and when. Plus as I said in 2022 I wanted that PRO DEMO and I will be recording them NEXT WEEK! (Them?) YES... them!

Today I am joined by SUPERMAN! Super Voiceover, Coach and all around good guy Josh Alexander. We talk about the business of VO, his methods, his journey into VO from Wedding Videograpgy and how Squeaky and Raspy may be the new Ren and Stimpy!

Negativity. The demise of everything. Recently "Sabrina Farrows" has re-appeared and started in on someone who has been in the biz for nearly 30 years... but why? Some people just thrive on personally attacking a successful person in a genre they failed in. It gives them "relief" of some sort to attack, harass and belittle someone who is actually "making it". They use examples that make you wonder "how do they know that" and make us second guess our ability. Then comes MORE imposter syndrome, as if we don't deal enough with that. The best thing you can do is NOT engage. Delete it and move on... but our core WANTS to respond and defend! Let it go Elsa! Move on. Go do something to HELP your career versus losing time and energy on "that". See you in ATLANTA March 22-26!!!!!!! #voiceactor #impostersyndrome #mentalhealth

Workshops, coaching, training, advice,consulting... what is what and why can't I be quiet???

A second mock audition with ONE WINNER and a runner up. Hear all the first lines the casting director would have heard, then hear the winners and cool compilation using the winners and the read I did on the same spot and booked it.

How we crossed paths I cannot recall but VERY HAPPY to know and get to talk to Jenna this week. Not only an award winning VO, she is also a producer of thousands of spots a year giving more perspective onto the business. Commercial, automotive, imaging... she does it all and with style!!

What a casting director does EVERYDAY? My respect for wht they do had gone WAY UP... thinking I was giving some fo the group a fun shot at a "real audition" I think I ended up learning the most. Listen in hear what I thought about how HARD it is to not only pick someone but also to get things submitted properly and by the directions.

Sometimes you just need to think ahead and plan ahead... sometimes you need to be patients. Sometimes you end up giving up anyway. Being good at customer service to me means remembering two things.

Social Media. The dreaded blackhole of Tik Tok. Can I really get any business from posting? Let's scratch the surface of a deep area of VO wonderences with a short about where and what (and what not) to post.

There are a million ways to get to where you want to go. They are all right! The bottom line is you have to choose the path that works for you. YOU decide what gear to buy, YOU decide what platforms to be on, YOU decide what work to do and not do...YOU DO YOU! Then decide if you want to talk about it or just keep your head down and do it. Today I am admitting there is still some work I take that I don't always want to but I have to keep the lights on... so I get to choose this month who I fire, who I retain and who I chase. I CHOOSE...for me and my family. Long term do I want this work? No... but I do hav a plan for how I will rid myself of it eventually. Just like having a plan to go full time or a plan to market to agents or a plan to stay part time! YOU DO YOU!!!!!

You can't let me go that long again between recording podcasts... I couldn't stay on track OR stop talking!There will be shorts coming but I ramble on about Genres, Year End, Mission Statements, and finding your niche AFTER the market shows you what it is....

Association. It is one of the overlooked things in VO for those just getting in because you don't know what you don't know. Who's real, who's a scammer? Who just got a GOLDEN TICKET and what is happening??? I feel smart association pays off... I have watched it happen over the past year and tried to learn what I need to do and make sure I am not seen the WRONG WAY!

I get it. You just can't spend that money right now. What else you can do and let's just talk about what works...

Agent work is the best but it is a SMALL part of my take. I am upping the game to land more but HOW DID I EVEN GET THE FIRST ONE? The answer may surprise you... it was NOT through my own doing.....

P2P is a great place to get leveled up in VO and land some "better" jobs. Not to say you can't otherwise, but... when and how to jump in DOES matter. Don't use it for a practice field....

Time to talk with David Piper from the VO Life Group! David has been in VO a few years and has really lit a path for many to follow with a fast climb in the FIverr world, and he explains how he applied his brand of customer service and over delivering to build a strong repeat business core. David also moved to Brazil during this transition and talks about life there and more in this episode!

You WILL need that pro demo one day. When? Why? Listen and learn...

VO is a unique one person business and you may need a business coach to help drive you in the right direction.

Coaches are there to get your performance where it needs to be. Past that, you need a mentor. Someone who has "been there done that" and is willing to share with you. Is it an absolute? Maybe not... but it is a HUGE help....

Peer feedback is truly essential and can garner you some great advice... but remember who runs YOUR business!

Be yourself. 100% But be smart enough to see successful VO's and learn HOW they got there.

#1 of 10 shorts release every few days up to THANKSGIVING! In this one its all about giving thanks...

Is it just "today" or has it been bulilding up? Do you need an hour or a week? Let's talk about VO burn out and how I handle it daily and how I am now dedicated to more time away.

From college radio to VoiceOver, hear all about Christi's journey and how she recently came to start up the Tennessee Voice Over Studio and build a strong Nashville community for VO that is also available virtually to all! And learn about the THREE STARS!

James is a full time VO across the pond! His smoooth RP voice is heard on everything from commercial, games and elearning. Hear about his journey into the business and his previous career in journalism.

Part time, full time... doesn't matter. Are you working off a plan and goals or just going WILLY NILLY with VO?? This week we walk through a way to set some goals, plans and even dreams for you VO BUSINESS because after all, it IS a business no matter what level you are at.

SUMMER SHORTS # 2 .....You can get this solved in the first few minutes... or listen all the way through just for fun!

The more you know, the more you might have done things differently. This is a short take on a reflection of "if I knew everything then that I know now, would I have followed the same path" and the answer might be a surprise, As always, this is MY OPINIONS of MY WALK... and not meant to put any methods down. Its just a look back on what I would have changed had I known more!

I've had 6 months of this....Am I ready to throw in the towell as Sabrina suggested? NO! I am actually slightly ahead of what I set goals for, but the second half... I'm gonna have to let it all out... pulll out the trick plays and the secret weapons... but first let's review the first half!

Focus. We all need to focus and as the pastor says "today I am preaching to ME" as I have to make my career my focus. Just a few slight changes to the VO LIFE podcast and group... but no, I am not going anywhere... just need to F O C U S on THIS career!

How many people actually make 6 figures? How many coaches are legit coaches? How mush does the "average" VO Make a year? WHY IS SOMEONE OUT TO GET MARC SCOTT! These and many more deep dives in this LENGTHY podcast all about facts, fiction and who the hell is SABRINA FARROWS anyway?

As business owners WE set the hours, the schedules, etc. Sometimes we just figure we HAVE TO WORK AROUND THE CLOCK and we don't take time to unwind. I am ready for this Memorial Day and summer to take day trips to the lake for a few hours and just "get away" and unplug for a bit. We have to do it or we will burn out...so be sure YOU take some down time and remember what life is about!

Voices will be launching "projects" as it has rolled out this week to the VO side and the plan is a launch in Mid July. Why? Who benefits? How will it work? Listen in for some basic information and how to get MORE in depth information about this.

Voice Over has apparently changed a lot in the last 10-20 years and rightly so with the need for so much more "media" in our every day lives. Who is right? Is there only ONE WAY to get into VoiceOver? Is there a right and wrong way or are we just watching the 2 worlds collide? This commentary is all about the 2 worlds of VO and how I wish we could find that middle ground. Change is inevitable in everything...Visit my site at troyholdenvoices.com

Ok, I have either GROWN as a VO or the light FINALLY went off in my slow southernish head. WHY? Well... listen and see. I think you will also agree with me on this "new" take on Demos.

Agents... do you need one? How many? When? Once the "only way" it is now "another way" to get work... and GOOD WORK. It also helps your credibility. Let's talk about it! And THANKS to Dana Ramoni for the AWESOME versions of his Morgan Freeman impersonation! SPOT ON! And also to my other "announcers" Louise Porter, Liz Moya and Charles Bain. Thank you all for your kindness!

VO is cyclical at times... well always. Clients come and go, regulars are busy then not. When things slow down, don't panic. Just get to work! Or don't! You may need to be marketing, learning, coaching or... maybe you NEED some downtime. Do a home project. Go for a walk, take the kids for ice cream... just don't start changing EVERYTHING! Let's talk about the slow times and what NOT to do!

Talk talk talk... its what we do... for what? An hour or 2 a day? Spend you OTHER time getting after the NUMBERS GAME! It's time to put your marketing to work....

Troy and Charles The Voice expand on their time at VO Atlanta... what they did, who they saw, what they learned and the impact it will have on their business.

First of two parts as Troy and Charles The Voice recap their visit to VO Atlanta...what they did, what they saw...and why they will be going back in 2023!

Visit the Facebook page for The VO Life and [email protected]

There is NO magic formula. But if you listen til the end I do wrap up 10 VERY GOOD TIPS you can use to help your climb. VoiceOver is overflowing with people getting in week after week. We see it in our group and the others. So what do you do to ensure you STAY in VoiceOver past the first weeks or months? Well... this might be my best podcast ever....so listen up!

We welcome Angela Ohlfest to the podcast (AYYY-OHHH!) Angela shares about her rise with Audiobooks and her "paying it forward" YouTube Channel! With over 100 audiobooks done she has the talent and experience to help those wondering "can I do that also"... plus she does characters, commercial VO and more! Meet and enjoy the conversation with Angela today on the VO Life!

They are not cheap and used ... how far are are you willing to go? The dilemmas of a "pre made" or building out at home. What's some of the pluses and minuses of it all and what I did to get my current space.

A podcast is a great way to get more exposure for your VO travels. Social exposure, etc is out there if you can keep good content going. Here is how I do mine and the services I use. Is a podcast in YOUR future?

Really? WHERE? Are you not in VO? Seriously folks its not that hard but I'll add more to get you spots that FIT so you are invested in your read. Catch this one if you are needing to pull together some new spots or your first spots!

January... new year, new start BUT it's been a tad slow. How can I stay focused on the PRIZE?? Routines, discipline and drop a podcast. I won't give up if you won't! Let's press on and hope things get better in February. At least we are closer to Daylight Savings Time!

I am honored and thrilled to have these 2 who are a wealth of knowledge and 2 of the most honest and trusted coaches in the VO world. Today is about their process and even just some fun conversations because as you know... JJ could say about anything!!! And that's why we love him! Don't miss listening to these top rated coaches! They have been pivotal in my career and in getting me where I am at this point. Two very giving people which is VERY RARE in this day and time!

I know we are all tired of those pushy, overbearing clients who promise LONG TERM WORK... we all know the drill...It's time we ALL shudder at those requests and FLAT OUT SAY NO. How can we band together to STOP the flurry of BAD CLIENTS wanting those "long term work" and will soon pay a "bonus" .... can we devise THE TOP 10 WAYS TO NOT DO THOSE $5 YOU TUBE JOBS! WHO IS LEADING THEIR ARMY AND HOW CAN WE STOP THEM!