The voice over industry is in full bloom. There are many voice over projects out there --- from narrating projects to voice over commercials. But no matter how talented you are as a voice actor, without the right marketing strategy and the right people to represent you, success in the commercial voice over acting industry will remain a dream, despite how much you have practiced and trained.
Speaking of the right marketing strategies and the right people, hiring professionals to promote your services may just be the ticket to getting those voice over commercial projects and television promo voice overs that you have been seeking. Of course, you can promote yourself in a number of ways, posting your services on the internet, making demos, etc. But the truth is, even with the flashiest website and talent, without the appropriate connections, your chances to nail those television promo voice overs will be slim.
You have to build yourself up and get your name out amongst the industry. Getting a marketing firm to project a positive and bankable image can do wonders even if you are a beginner in the commercial voice acting industry.
A marketing firm's main priority is to create positive buzz about you and your services and ultimately get clients to think about you and what you have to bring to the table. Once that influence is established, a marketing firm can attain and maintain a sense of goodwill and understanding between you and your target market.
However, hiring a marketing firm can strain your bank account. This means that you should always consider value for your dollar when choosing a company to market your services. You should also acknowledge the fact that hiring a marketing firm won't give you a guarantee of success. Browsing over the companies you consider hiring is imperative. Here are a few pointers:
A good and reliable marketing company:
? Will be honest about your chances of successfully breaking into your target market. ? Will measure you against your competitors and give you realistic expectations from the start. ? Has a good and strong link to various media outlets.
You should pick a company that is well-versed in your line of work.
While a PR firm is all about public image and reputation management, a marketing firm helps you scheme your business strategy and organize your marketing plan. Basically, they are the ones who determine the best time to sell a product or service and how to efficiently go about doing it. The marketing experts are also the ones who strategize how to convince the target market to buy what their clients are offering.
Advertising is one marketing strategy that never fails to grab attention. In the voice over industry, advertising can take the form of recording and distributing demos, creating portfolios and resumes, and attending networking events. Advertising helps you establish a brand that represents you and what you can bring as a voice actor.
Another marketing scheme that is widely used today is online advertising. However, simply putting up a website and linking with other people is not enough. A marketing firm can do collaborative campaigns and utilize channels you never knew existed.
Article distributions, video posts, and email marketing are just some of the avenues a marketing firm can pursue to help you boost your voice acting career. Nonetheless, while hiring a marketing company is very helpful to your career as a voice talent, you still need a professional that can represent you and your services at the most personal level --- an agent.
If you are considering getting an agent it is best that you browse over the list of agents registered with the AFTRA and SAG (the two actors' unions). A good indicator of a reputable agent is the number and quality of clients he or she holds. However, you still need to research each of the agencies that you narrow it down to. Cross-checking several voice talent agencies can help you discern whose services you want to employ. There are very reputable non-union agents as well, especially in those states that are right-to-work states.
For a beginning voice actor, getting the services of a PR firm may not seem to be a logical move for the time being. If you are still struggling to etch your name in the industry, you need more than a stack of business cards to get yourself some amount of exposure. That said, there are still low-cost things you can do to promote your brand of voice acting.
When you are attending a voice over seminar or a voice acting conference, it is absolutely necessary to mingle with your fellow actors and casting directors. If asked about current projects, by all means, let them know with confidence and gratitude. Let your networking message be ?How may I be of service to you?.
Depending on your popularity, sponsoring an industry-related event is a surefire way to get you noticed. Another is offering lessons and seminars as part of your marketing plan. This is particularly useful if you are a gifted public speaker and you have a deep understanding of the industry.
Many voice talent start their careers in music, particularly as classically trained singers. During tireless years of training a voice for singing, a bounty of skills are developed including vocal stamina, projection, breathing capabilities, phrasing, tone, inflection, elasticity, rhythm, sight-reading, posture, diction, interpretation, and characterization.
The voice is an instrument, just like a flute, a guitar, or a drum - however, the voice is a very special instrument, for reasons I'll now reveal.
The most dramatic difference between the voice and other instruments from the string, brass, woodwind, and percussion families is that the voice is able to communicate using speech, that is to say, language. Whether it be a vocalise sung on vowels, an oratorio by Handel, a wordy patter song by Gilbert and Sullivan, or a pop medley, language is incorporated into the piece, something which even the most convincing instrumental performance cannot convey.
The written word is at the very core of a song composed for a vocalist just as copy is at the core of a script written for voice-over talent.
The voice is also organic, that is to say, your voice is a living, breathing instrument, able to phonate (utter speech sounds) as well as function melodically like an instrument, relating one pitch to another.
The voice is the most versatile of all instruments and is also the only instrument that is a part of your physical self, making it portable and convenient.
Now, you might be thinking that just because someone has developed their instrument and embodies all of these traits doesn't necessarily mean that they have a great talent for voice-overs. The answers may surprise you.
A singer, in many areas, has several practical advantages that help them transition from a career in music to a career in voice-over. With all of the technical aspects out of the way (regarding vocal technique), all that's left is interpretation of the copy, performance, and a means to record their voice.
Their unique vocal education, vigilant care of their instrument, and 'polished' sound are another set of benefits when getting started. Their voice is already pleasing to the ear, it's just a matter of speaking rather than singing.
That being said, the voice-over talent does not live on Easy Street, and a singer shouldn't expect that making the leap from song to speech will bring automatic success.
As in any career, research and private instruction are necessary to fully grasp the magnitude of the profession as well as to learn what is expected of them in this new arena.
Do I record at home or go to the studio down the street? What do I charge? Should I be in the union or not? Do I need an agent? What's the demand like for jingle singers who can also compose?
The same questions enter the minds of any aspiring talent new to the industry. In that way, singers are on a level playing field with colleagues who left professions in other fields such as science, visual arts, journalism, or law.
Both Janet Ault & Stephanie Ciccarelli are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Janet Ault has sinced written about articles on various topics from . Janet Ault, has been working as a voice over actor for years providing voice over commercials, . Janet trains extensively to hone h. Janet Ault's top article . to your Favourites.
Stephanie Ciccarelli has sinced written about articles on various topics from Music, How to Podcast and Wellness. Stephanie Ciccarelli is the VP of Marketing with hosting more than 7,000 professional voice talents. Stephanie is also the author of Th. Stephanie Ciccarelli's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.