Obviously, the working kind :P
But in my two decades of training others, hiring others and working as a voice talent for others, these are the few things I have noticed, picked up and found out.
Voice talents are people. And as such, they come from different venues of life and have their own character and personality. We all put our working mask when it comes to clients, but between us, Voice artists, there is no such thing as a mask.
So here is what I have picked up. Please keep in mind these are generalizations.
Voice artists, do not like agencies or P2P sites. Why? Because they feel that the agencies or sites are taking a cut for THEIR work. And that may apply for certain sites that do absolutely nothing, except maybe create a funnel fro ongoing clientèle, but some agencies actually do the work. Non billable hours of putting a portfolio of sometimes 100- 200 samples for the client, in hopes he will accept and chose the ones he wants. Negotiations and phone calls to Europe, Asia, Usa, with people that may speak or may not speak English. Tracking of offers and names and audio files, checking for quality. And that is only the part before any deal is done. So, agencies, true agencies, should get paid for providing openings to clients.
Of course there are sites that not only take a cut, but also charge Vo artists to be in their rosters, and in return they do not provide any client, or too few to explain the registration fee. And these, are bottom feeders and loathed by the VO community. But more about sites and agencies in the future.
Another problem is humility. Either there is too much of it, people willing to work for nothing, totally destroying the market, or there is none.
Some VO artist keep looking at the pocket of the client and say things like "The client will make thousands of dollars with my commercial, it's only fair I get paid adequately". The problem with that way of thinking is that the VO artist is not realizing two fundamental things.
a) No one is that unique or irreplaceable. A Danish woman living in Thailand, will ask far less than a Danish woman in Denmark. A French artist living in Denmark or Greece, will ask far less than a French artist in Paris. It is a big world, with lots of gateways and lots of people willing to work for less, so focusing on ones true needs and value is important, and as my mother always used to say "Regarde ton assiette", which means, look at your own plate and do not look on what others have, with envy or greed. If Coke will make millions, it will go on making them, with or without you, you are not a key component to its success. Ask for a logical price, put the brand in your resume and be happy for doing a great job that allows you to have your schedule.
b) Big companies spend lots of money for an ad, that includes writers, translators, film-makers, directors and producers, social media specialists, radio and tv stations and the voice over comes last in the food chain. Once the budget is decided, a chain reaction starts, with the ad agency hiring the writers, the producers, then the voice overs. If as a voice over you think your voice, again is the main component, you need to realize that for an ad that you get to voice, usually 6 to 20 people are involved and get paid from the prearranged budget.
Then there is the union one's. The ones that try to keep the job alive, and with decent pay and I have nothing but admiration for them, because they are passed by, many times. But on the other hand, they work in different venues.
And this is what it is all about, isn'it?
To find your niche, what you are good at. To exploit and market it.
For example, my English is Neutral. For years people told me I had an American accent and I agreed, until someone pointed out it was a global, undefinable accent that was very in demand.
I exploit my French and Greek.
I am very good at emotional readings, at portraying attractive feminine sultry or maternal characters. That does not mean I say no to e learning material, or applications, but my ability to convey vulnerability and a certain je ne sais quoi, has allowed me to work on tv commercials, a lot.
If you are just starting in this business, you will need to read the guide. (coming shortly)
And with practice, you will find out who you are, what you are good at, and what your voice overs are worth.
But in my two decades of training others, hiring others and working as a voice talent for others, these are the few things I have noticed, picked up and found out.
Voice talents are people. And as such, they come from different venues of life and have their own character and personality. We all put our working mask when it comes to clients, but between us, Voice artists, there is no such thing as a mask.
So here is what I have picked up. Please keep in mind these are generalizations.
Voice artists, do not like agencies or P2P sites. Why? Because they feel that the agencies or sites are taking a cut for THEIR work. And that may apply for certain sites that do absolutely nothing, except maybe create a funnel fro ongoing clientèle, but some agencies actually do the work. Non billable hours of putting a portfolio of sometimes 100- 200 samples for the client, in hopes he will accept and chose the ones he wants. Negotiations and phone calls to Europe, Asia, Usa, with people that may speak or may not speak English. Tracking of offers and names and audio files, checking for quality. And that is only the part before any deal is done. So, agencies, true agencies, should get paid for providing openings to clients.
Of course there are sites that not only take a cut, but also charge Vo artists to be in their rosters, and in return they do not provide any client, or too few to explain the registration fee. And these, are bottom feeders and loathed by the VO community. But more about sites and agencies in the future.
Another problem is humility. Either there is too much of it, people willing to work for nothing, totally destroying the market, or there is none.
Some VO artist keep looking at the pocket of the client and say things like "The client will make thousands of dollars with my commercial, it's only fair I get paid adequately". The problem with that way of thinking is that the VO artist is not realizing two fundamental things.
a) No one is that unique or irreplaceable. A Danish woman living in Thailand, will ask far less than a Danish woman in Denmark. A French artist living in Denmark or Greece, will ask far less than a French artist in Paris. It is a big world, with lots of gateways and lots of people willing to work for less, so focusing on ones true needs and value is important, and as my mother always used to say "Regarde ton assiette", which means, look at your own plate and do not look on what others have, with envy or greed. If Coke will make millions, it will go on making them, with or without you, you are not a key component to its success. Ask for a logical price, put the brand in your resume and be happy for doing a great job that allows you to have your schedule.
b) Big companies spend lots of money for an ad, that includes writers, translators, film-makers, directors and producers, social media specialists, radio and tv stations and the voice over comes last in the food chain. Once the budget is decided, a chain reaction starts, with the ad agency hiring the writers, the producers, then the voice overs. If as a voice over you think your voice, again is the main component, you need to realize that for an ad that you get to voice, usually 6 to 20 people are involved and get paid from the prearranged budget.
Then there is the union one's. The ones that try to keep the job alive, and with decent pay and I have nothing but admiration for them, because they are passed by, many times. But on the other hand, they work in different venues.
And this is what it is all about, isn'it?
To find your niche, what you are good at. To exploit and market it.
For example, my English is Neutral. For years people told me I had an American accent and I agreed, until someone pointed out it was a global, undefinable accent that was very in demand.
I exploit my French and Greek.
I am very good at emotional readings, at portraying attractive feminine sultry or maternal characters. That does not mean I say no to e learning material, or applications, but my ability to convey vulnerability and a certain je ne sais quoi, has allowed me to work on tv commercials, a lot.
If you are just starting in this business, you will need to read the guide. (coming shortly)
And with practice, you will find out who you are, what you are good at, and what your voice overs are worth.
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