Do you start each new year with a list of goals for your voice over career?

But somehow, “life gets in the way”, right?

Don’t worry – you’re not alone!

Here are some ‘get back on track’ tips to help you fulfil your voice over aspirations

1   Mindset

It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out in the voice over industry, or you’ve been at it for years – a positive attitude is a “must have” mindset. Now when I say “positive mindset” it’s not to suggest that you’re going to sit on your couch and recite positive affirmations like, “I am a successful voice over actor” and then not do anything else!

I very rarely hear that success has come to someone who’s made little or no effort at securing it!

You might pick up a job just because someone suggested you, but that usually doesn’t make a career – only diligent, consistent work does.

Notice I didn’t use the phrase ‘hard work’? 

Because nothing you do with passion is ever hard – when it feels hard, you might like to choose a softer career path.

The mindset I’m talking about here is to be consistent and persistent, with a smile in your voice and determination in your heart.

2   Research

Constantly listening out for what’s being recorded and where it’s appearing is the kind of research that’s invaluable in building a voice over career.

You need to be listening for where you hear the ‘disembodied voice’…and when you begin to listen for it, you’ll hear it everywhere.  

Voices are not just on radio and television, they’re online, in-store, on phones, in aircraft, at events, the airport, the bus station, the cinema!

Understanding what kind of work is being produced, and where you fit in is essential if you’re to carve a niche for yourself. 

Whenever you listen to the recorded voice, always ask this question, “Could I be doing that?” 

You may have one voice style – you may have many, but you need to know where you fit in.

3 Your Voice Over Repertoire

If you’ve been canny enough to work out where you’d fit in, with or without the help of a coach, you now need to make sure that the kind of work you have on your voice over demo reflects this. 

You may feel you have the voice for a certain area that you’re not getting work in – what to do?

Make a study of the scripts and the voice styles that you’ve heard, practice your version of what is already out there and then add these to your demo!

Listen to those you like and respect who are doing the kind of work you can imagine yourself doing.  Analyse what they’re doing and how they’re doing it.  If they’re successful, clearly it’s because they’re doing something right… and begin to increase your repertoire of voices and styles.

So, now that you have 3 things to do, make your plan about how you’re going to roll this out and when.  You could also:

• Get your contact lists in order (if you don’t have one, create one!)
• Join voice over groups online
• Read voice over blogs, and
• Participate in social media

In fact, follow me on Twitter, like my Facebook page and get my daily updates. Even follow me on Google + if you like – hey, the more, the merrier.  

And if you would like some coaching, apart from my regular Melbourne and Sydney courses, I offer one-on-one Skype sessions to help you refine your voice over technique and get the edge on those out there trying to get into voiceover alone!

Happy voiceover-ering!