essentials for running a freelance vo business #wovochat 4-8-15

Essentials For Running A Successful Freelance

VO BusinessTwitter Chat

Wednesday, April 8, 2015 12pmPT/2pmCT/3pmET

#[email protected]

#WoVoChat www.worldvo.org

Featuring

Melissa Moats & Thom Dheere


Q1: Seriously, do you really need a formal business plan to be successful voice actor? #WoVoChat

A1: Artists dream, businesses envision. Vague goals get you vague results. Specific goals get you specific results. #WoVoChat@TomDheere

A1: IBM doesn’t just wake up in the morning and decide to build a computer. They set goals, design, test, advertise. #WoVoChat@TomDheere

A1: If you can’t or won’t create a formal business plan, may I suggest community theatre? #amateur #WoVoChat@TomDheere


A1: Yes, seriously! If you want to be an artist inside the booth, you have to act like a business outside the booth. #WoVoChat@TomDheere


Q2: Can you be a success as a freelance voice actor without having a great voice? #WoVoChat

A2: Absolutely! Being a smart business person is the better “talent” to have in VO. #WoVoChat@CourVo

A2: A good voice is an asset, but it’s only about 10-15% of your success formula. #WoVoChat@CourVo

A2: Being a strong marketer will get your farther than having a strong voice. #WoVoChat@CourVo


A2: Good voice or no, freelancing is a completely different world from working for someone else. #WoVoChat@CourVo

A2: Define “great voice”. A broken gravelly voice can do great as long as it delivers. #WoVoChat@Cromerty

A2: The definition of “great voice” is a relative thing. There could be an opportunity for nearly any voice. #WoVoChat@MarcScott

A2: uh….Gilbert Godfried. #WoVoChat@MelissaVoicer


A2: Plenty of successful voice actors don’t have great voices but they have a way of making the words on the page dance! #WoVoChat@voiceoversbytd


Q3: I’m doing “just alright” in my freelance VO. What should I do to take it to the next level? #WoVoChat

A3:Consistency is key! Make sure you’re auditioning multiple times daily for gigs that are right for YOU! #WoVoChat@MelissaMoatsVO

A3: Auditions. Submit and forget. Don’t spend time worrying about old auditions. Keep moving forward. #WoVoChat@MelissaMoatsVO

A3: Self discipline is very important. Have a start time to get rolling and stick to it! #WoVoChat@MelissaMoatsVO


A3: DO THE WORK. You’ll get out whatever you put in. #VO #Truth #WoVoChat@MelissaMoatsVO

A3: Seek out someone who can help you, whether it’s a buddy or a paid mentor or both! #WoVoChat@FaithCoonsVO

A3: Market yourself. Read a book about marketing. Then market yourself. Take a class. Then do more marketing. #WoVoChat@MarcScott

A3: AUDITIONS are a great way to stay “practiced”, whether you get the gig or not. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53


A3: Schedule 2-3 hours per day to work on nothing but marketing. #WoVoChat@voiceoversbytd


Q4: For Pros & Newbies: What are your 4 favorite books/resources? #WoVoChat

A4: “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki. It taught me how to make the right decisions. #WoVoChat@TomDheere

A4: “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield. It taught me about how to resist resistance. #WoVoChat@TomDheere

A4: “Talent Is Overrated” by Geoff Colvin. It taught me about Deliberate Practice. #WoVoChat@TomDheere


A4: “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey. It taught me how to set goals. #WoVoChat@TomDheere


Q5: Marketing. It freaks me out…How can I overcome my fear?#WoVoChat

A5: Accept the fact that marketing is required to be successful in VO. #FaceYourFearHeadOn #WoVoChat@MelissaMoatsVO

A5: Identify which marketing style best suites you: Phone Calls, Email, Snail Mail or Social Media. #WoVoChat@MelissaMoatsVO

A5: If your nerves get in the way, find someone you trust to reach out to potential clients for you. #WoVoChat@MelissaMoatsVO


A5: Brevity. No matter what, respect the time of potential clients you are reaching out to. Know what you want to say. #WoVoChat@MelissaMoatsVO

A5: You just have to do it; once you reach out to one client/prospect it gets easier. #WoVoChat@vallencourt

A5: Marketing is a skill, trust me, you can learn it so just do it! #WoVoChat@FaithCoonsVO

A5: Like anything else, you just have to do it without worrying about screwing up! #WoVoChat@voiceoversbytd


A5: Establish purpose, define audience/customer, then use most appropriate tactic to reach them(social media, cold call, etc…). #WoVoChat@MelHulm


Q6: So, how do I actually write a business plan? #WoVoChat

A6: Next, write a list of goals you want to achieve for the year. Make them large and clear. #WoVoChat@TomDheere

A6: Then list all of the Actionable Items you need to do to achieve your Annual Goals. #WoVoChat@TomDheere

A6: Last, write a Monthly Action Plan and include the # of Actionable Items you think you can do in one month. #WoVoChat@TomDheere


A6: First, write a Mission Statement to declare who you are, what you want and what you’ll do to get what you want. #WoVoChat@TomDheere

A6: I’ve used the One Page Business Plan; easy to use and very good. http://t.co/0gkxcX45nJ #WoVoChat@pamelamuldoon

A6: $$$ goals are important, they give you a measuring stick to work with & to work backwards from. #WoVoChat@DownunderVO

A6: I took an online Entrepreneurship course through a local college. Learning to create a Business Plan was part of the course. #WoVoChat@MarcScott


A6: Set clear goals and measurable objectives. Set annually, review monthly. #WoVoChat@MelHulm


Q7: How do I know which area of VO is best for me? #WoVoChat

A7: Work with VO coaches and attend workshops. Experienced ears can provide solid, honest feedback. #WoVoChat@MelissaMoatsVO

A7: Know your sweet spot. Watch your booking trends. You’re good at THAT! That’s why you’re booking it! #WoVoChat@MelissaMoatsVO

A7: Pay attention to the type of VO you’re drawn to. Watch, listen, study, learn. #WoVoChat@MelissaMoatsVO


A7: Be real with yourself about your voice type, vocal range and where your strengths lie. #WoVoChat@MelissaMoatsVO

A7: Ask yourself – Who are the clients booking you for work?. What kind of jobs are you getting? #WoVoChat@vallencourt

A7: Part of discovering which area of VO is best for you is seeing what you enjoy doing. #WoVoChat@randyekayeVO

A7: The market tells you where your niche is by what you book. #WoVoChat@JackWestCoast


A7: Record commercials, trailers, documentaries, etc…Transcribe them and voice them! #WoVoChat@BobGlavinVO


Q8: How do I break down my business into manageable parts? #WoVoChat

A8: Cash Flow, Tools, Technique, Marketing and Health. #WoVoChat@TomDheere

A8: Organize your Annual Goals and Actionable Items using these five categories. #WoVoChat@TomDheere

A8: Once you do that, it will be MUCH easier to envision your business and what you need to do. #WoVoChat@TomDheere


A8: Dan Duckworth of Voiceovers Unlimited taught me there are five aspects of your VO business. #WoVoChat@TomDheere


Q9: What does a full-time Voice Actor’s day really look like? #WoVoChat

A9: It’s a juggling act. Auditions. Bookings. Quotes. Bookkeeping. Marketing efforts. #WoVoChat@MelissaMoatsVO

A9: Your client’s project is #1 to them. Staying on top of your email and communicating with them quickly is crucial. #WoVoChat@MelissaMoatsVO

A9: VO Pros start early. Especially if you live on the West Coast! Get up early and get going! #WoVoChat@MelissaMoatsVO


A9: Prioritizing. We have to stay on top of our audition and project deadlines while still managing our live sessions. #WoVoChat@MelissaMoatsVO

A9: Practice, auditions, marketing, practice, invoicing, follow ups, practice, voicing. #WoVoChat@MelHulm

A9: Breakfast. Marketing. Auditioning. Lunch. Recording. Marketing. Snack. Marketing. Auditioning. Dinner. Marketing. #WoVoChat@MarcScott

A9: Voicing, emails, marketing, lunch, voicing, marketing, voicing, invoicing, dinner. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53


A9: For me, it’s marketing in the morning, recording in the afternoon and brainstorming in the evening while drinking a Guiness! #WoVoChat@voiceoversbytd


Q10: Why is this so hard? #WoVoChat

A10: Impulse Control = making a series of small decisions over a LONG period of time that move your forward. #WoVoChat@TomDheere

A10: It takes self discipline, consistency and values. That’s why you need a Mission Statement and written down goals. #WoVoChat@TomDheereA10: Many are called, few make the right choices! #WoVoChat@TomDheere


A10: It’s hard because to be a truly successful voice talent requires maturity. Maturity = Impulse Control. #WoVoChat@TomDheere

A10: Because it’s constant work without a guaranteed paycheck. #WoVoChat@vallencourt

A10: Is anything awesome and worthwhile ever easy? #WoVoChat@MarcScott

A10: Because we love what we do. And so many share ideas, we are always reinventing ourselves to keep up. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53


A10: If it was easy, everyone in your family would be doing it! #WoVoChat@voiceoversbytd


Join Us for the next #WoVoChat on Wednesday,

April 22nd 12pmPT/2pmCT/3pmET!

Topic: Marketing Your VO Business

Check out the entire 4-8-15 #WoVoChat at our Storify:

bit.ly/WoVoChat_8

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