Well, I’ve made it to a year…and I’m happy to say, THE DULCET ONE VO IS STILL HERE! Even though I was laid off from my corporate gig in April of 2023, I don’t consider myself having truly gone full-time in VO until I finally received my Pro Commercial Demo from the man himself, Chuck Duran, and then after the video work by the super-talented Remy Cashman. Only after receiving that finished product in July of 2023, could I really go out and start marketing myself and putting my capabilities out there for all to see. Those two really helped me shine! Now, here I am, one year later…with 8 agents (both VO and On-Camera now), and on 25+ rosters across the globe!
But don’t for ONE SECOND thing any of that means I’m on “Easy Street”! That couldn’t be further from the truth!
VO can be a tough nut to crack if you’re not doing all the right things. Honestly, many people will fail in this (and most businesses) in under a year fro startup for a myriad of reasons. That’s why it’ so important to do your research before setting off on this journey, and then making a plan to attack all those potential pitfalls and obstacles before you encounter them. For me, I had the benefit of being in the game for about 6 to 7 years prior, just as an outsider doing this as a part-time gig. That provided some great insight for me to hit the ground running as a full-time VO when I was laid off last year. Despite that, things have not exactly come easy. You still fight for EVERY audition, and there is still a LOT of competition out there. The lower cost of entry now (as opposed to many years ago) makes it easier for EVERYONE to dip their toes into the water and test things out. To succeed, you’ve got to stay on top of your game, continue your training and coaching, stay on top of industry trends, etc. This means keeping yoru finger on the pulse of what your peers are doing, what the agents and casting directors as asking of you. If there’s one thing I have seen over the past year, it’s that what worked for you yesterday, doesn’t necessarily mean squat tomorrow. Stay sharp, adjust, and adapt to the trends, or you’ll get left behind.
I’ve still got plenty of work to do. I’m not yet where I want to be, or where I KNOW I can be…but with each passing day, I hope to do enough to make sure I take one step in the right direction. In time, those little individual steps add up, and that’s how progress will be made. I still haven’t replaced the salary I lost in my previous IT career. That was over 2 decades of amassed perks, benefits, annual performance increases, stock grants…I mean, I really lost a lot there. Where I am now, however, I know holds SO MUCH MORE promise for me, if I keep at it! Not that there is ever a good time to get laid off, but with a kid going into college now, the finances will really put a lot more pressure on my shoulders to go out an make more happen. Oh, and let’s not forget, my wife is still our family’s rock. She’s been doing all she can to support us and make sure our family continues to push on, despite the severe finanical hit caused by the layoff.
I remain, steadfast, however. Each day I wake up is a new adventure. Will tomorrow be the day I wake up to a massive new contract to be the official brand voice for some Fortune 100 company? Or the day after? Will I get a call from an agent saying that I booked a recurring gig on a new TV show or movie that will set my family up in a much better position? You see, that is what I wake up to each day. The possibilities are out there, and I just need to go out there and get them. The same goes for you!
Let’s do this!!!
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