The Work From Home Voice Actor

Timestamps:

1:48 - Why you need to build a voiceover business toolkit. 

2:08 - Tool #1: Getting cozy with your tech + equipment.

2:39 - Tool #2: Choosing a DAW.

3:16 - Tool #3: Finding places to audition for free and for pay. 

3:50 - Tool #4: Demos and the different options you have for getting your first one.

6:58 - Tool #5: Establish an online presence via LinkedIn or a website.

Links & Resources:

The Ultimate Voiceover Business Resource Guide

Episode 3

Audio Production Course by MRC (Affiliate link)

What We're Talking About: 

• From recording on an iPhone and living on Food Stamps to building a successful six-figure voiceover business.
• Chris started out with a Rode NT1-A mic.
• Working with what you have until you have more to work with.
• You can record with crappy equipment when you start out.
• Having six-figures of talent without realizing it. 
• The importance of finding the intersection of what you love and what you're good at.
• Knowing what work you're willing to do and what you're not willing to do + being totally ok with that.
• Having boundaries in your business.
• VO is a vessel, not an end all be all.

Key takeaways:

1. Be patient with people when it comes to your vision.
2. Don't work for money.

Links & Resources:

Chris McCann

Time Stamp:

1:07 - How I felt stuck in my business at the beginning of the pandemic.

1:35 - Investing in mindset coaching + doing the work.

2:42 - I started making double in voiceover. 

3:27 - Getting real with my business marketing efforts.

4:23 - The beginning is always a numbers game (plus a fun plant analogy).

4:45 - What success now means to me.

5:04 - Where do you want to be? + What I did in my first year to grow my business.

6:03 - Takeaways that might help you.

7:46 - What you can do right now + download the Ultimate Voiceover Business Resource Guide!

Links & Resources: 

The Ultimate Voiceover Business Resource Guide

My first 3 months in voiceover

My first 6 months in voiceover

Timestamp:

:59 - Understanding and utilizing my current skillset. 

1:14 - The fear and mind drama behind producing my own demo. 

1:42 - If we limit ourselves, nobody can do it for us.

2:09 - We all start from somewhere.

2:32 - Synopsis of work during my first 6 months. 

2:51 - You don't need a super expensive demo to launch your voiceover business.

3:02 - How I continued to invest in my business.

3:30 - What I did to grow my business in the first 6 months.

4:45 - 3 things I learned in my first 6 months that might help you.

Links & Resources:

My first 3 months as a Voice Actor episode

Time Stamp:

0:33 - The beginning of my voiceover journey.

1:18 - All the businesses and distractions I created for myself before diving in.

2:13 - February 2019 and taking Andy Field's class.

3:20 - June 2019 and launching my voiceover business.

4:55 - The 'Joe Z Method.'

6:14 - The rest of my first three months + the concrete things I did.

7:05 - What you can do as you get started in your voiceover business.

Links & Resources:

What You Need to Get Started in Voiceover Episode

Mike Russell's YouTube Channel

Andy Field's Business of Voiceover class

Tom Aglio

Behind the Voice Actors

GVAA Rate Guide

Time Stamp:

0:40 - What do you need to record a voiceover?

0:58 - Brief mic overview and recommendations for beginners.

2:30 - Industry recommendations for more advanced professional voice actors.

2:53 - DAW overview and recommendations.

4:22 - Learning to run a voiceover business (primarily from home).

5:58 - Review: what you need to get started in voice acting.

Links & Resources:

Mic options for beginners:

AT2020 USB, AT2020 XLR 

Rode NT1-A 

Interface options: 

Focusrite

Behringer Uphoria UM22

Industry recommendations:

Neumann TLM 103

Sennheiser MKH 416 Shotgun

DAW options:

Audacity

Adobe Audition

Other:

Difference between USB and XLR mics

Andy Field's Business of Voiceover class

Time Stamp:

0:27 - Voiceover is more than animation and video games.

0:57 - Most voice actors are working from home on various genres of voiceovers for companies across the world.

1:28 - Definitions of voiceover, voice acting, voice actors.

1:54 - The voiceover bible of industry genres + rates.

Links & Resources:

GVAA Rate Guide

Time stamp:

1:00 - The beginning of my podcasting journey.

1:30 - The last office job I ever had. 

2:00 - My introduction to voice acting. 

3:31 - The reality of what you actually need to get started in voiceover.

3:50 - Making your VO career your own.

4:44 - You are always going to be learning + growing.

5:01 - Breaking down all the barriers in your voiceover business + what I bring to the table. 

6:24 - The Hello VO Podcast is a resource for YOU.

Links & Resources:

Andy Field's Business of Voiceover class

Behind the Voice Actors

People always ask me - how did you get started as a voice actor? While the title by itself sounds cool and fun, there is a lot of work that goes into building a successful voiceover business.

But success... takes effort. Where do you start? How do you get paid to be a voice actor? 

Hey there, I’m Melanie Scroggins - professional voice actor and content creator at the Work from home voice actor. This podcast delves into the everyday, nitty-gritty work that goes into being a successful voice actor and actively working in the industry. 

As a podcast producer turned voice actor, my goal is to share a fresh, modern-day approach to voiceover based on lessons learned in my own career.

This podcast covers everything in VO from getting started, tools to help you run your business, how to find clients, and more. Plus we’ll discuss some of the fears and obstacles you may face in VO with tips for overcoming them. 

Whether you’re looking to become a voice actor, already work in the industry, or just want to know more about the voiceover landscape and where it’s going, this podcast is for you.

Welcome to the Work From Home Voice Actor Podcast!