Finding an Arc in Shorter Scripts Hey Reader, We’ve talked before about finding the "Why" behind a script, but once you know why you’re speaking, you need to decide where you’re going. Even the shortest 30-second commercial has a narrative arc. If you read the entire script with the same energy from start to finish, you lose the listener. To keep them engaged, you need to identify the three "acts" of the spot: 1. The Hook (The Setup): The first few lines usually establish a problem, a...
10 days ago • 1 min read
A Professional E-Mail Signature Hey Reader, Think about how many emails you send in a week. Between following up with leads, sending auditions, and coordinating with current clients, that’s a lot of digital "real estate" you’re using. Are you making the most of it? A professional email signature is more than just a sign-off; it’s a passive marketing tool that works for you every time you hit "send." Why it matters: Instant Credibility: A clean, well-formatted signature tells the recipient...
17 days ago • 1 min read
Ears over Eyes Hey Reader, Have you ever finished a take that felt incredible, but then you looked at your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) and started second-guessing yourself? Maybe the waveform looked a little "thinner" than the previous take, or perhaps you noticed a small spike and immediately thought, "Oh, I must have clipped there." It’s a common trap: we start editing with our eyes before we even listen back. The truth is, your eyes may not show you the full pictures, but your ears...
24 days ago • 1 min read
An "Alternate" Choice Hey Reader, Have you ever looked at a script marked "High Energy" or "Excited" and felt like your read ended up sounding just like everyone else's?. When we see those descriptors, our brains often default to one specific sound: high pitch, fast pace, and "big" volume. The problem is, that's exactly what the client is hearing from 90% of the other auditions they receive. Today’s tip is about finding an "Alternate" choice that can help you stand out from the crowd. The...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Dealing with "No" Hey Reader, Let’s be real: A professional voice-over career is a marathon of rejection. You might send out 50 or even 100 auditions to book a single job. When the "No's" start piling up, it’s easy to feel frustrated, doubt your talent, and fall into an "audition slump." I experience it myself and have these feelings from time to time. Your resilience is just as important as your microphone or your read. Here are three simple shifts to help you push through and keep your...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
LinkedIn Marketing Hey Reader, When most VO talent think about finding work, they often focus on Pay-to-Play sites, direct email marketing, or agents. But a professional networking platform like LinkedIn can also be a great tool in the marketing toolkit. LinkedIn is where the decision-makers live—the people who hire voice talent. Here’s how you can stop scrolling and start strategically building connections that turn into clients: 1. Optimize Your Profile for Clients (Not Just Other Actors)...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Home Recording Spaces Hey Reader, When you record VO at home, you’ve probably battled the biggest enemy of clean, professional audio: your room. That slightly hollow, echo-y sound (reverb) can make an otherwise perfect read sound amateur, costing you bookings. The great news is you don’t need to spend thousands on a full vocal booth (although you certainly can once you advance in your career). You just need to focus on breaking up flat, parallel surfaces and applying adequate treatment as...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Being Authentic Hey Reader, We all know the "Conversational Read" is king right now, whether it's for commercials, e-learning, or corporate narration. But sometimes, we can get so focused on sounding conversational that we forget the crucial step: actually being authentic. The single secret ingredient that makes a read truly memorable is You. Here are a few ways to stop "acting" and start simply being yourself in the booth: 1. Find the Hook You Believe Every script has a central idea or...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Post-Session Hey Reader, Landing a great booking feels amazing! But after you send off the final audio, there's still a few things to be sure to take care of. The 15 minutes after you finish delivering the final files are actually some of the most critical for your long-term business. This is when you solidify your reputation as a professional who is easy, reliable, and delightful to work with, and track relevant info for your bookkeeping. Here are the four immediate steps to take after a...
2 months ago • 2 min read