3 Things to do During a Slow Period in Voice Over

For most voice over actors, work ebbs and flows. Some weeks you’re so swamped you can barely see the end, others you’re wondering if the phone will ever ring again with new work. Very rarely do you have the same amount of work week after week, and you’re certainly not doing a regular Monday thru Friday, 9-5 gig. Slow periods are inevitable, but they don’t have to be miserable, with you spending your time thinking your career is doomed. Here are 3 things you can do during off-peak periods to help the time pass AND advance your career.

1.    Professional development. When the work slows down, this gives you the perfect opportunity to brush up on some of your skills. Take a class, go to workshop, or attend a seminar. You can listen to interesting lectures and practice techniques, or you can just socialize and swap stories with others in the industry. Maybe there’s an area of VO that you’d like to break into, but you’re not sure how. Now is the time to start strategizing on this! Not only does professional development give you the chance to do a bit of networking, but you’re also learning and growing as a voice over actor.

2.    Marketing. Growing as an actor isn’t the only thing you can do during slow periods. Now is the time to start expanding your brand as well, which will ultimately translate to more work. Turn your focus on marketing by asking yourself questions like, “What am I doing to market myself now? Am I targeting those companies that will use my signature sound? Is it working? How can I make it better?”  Once you know the answers to these questions, you can start plotting your brand expansion.

3.    Take it easy. Americans are spending less and less time vacationing or taking time off from work, and this isn’t such a good thing. People need time to decompress and unwind, so take advantage of this when the VO work isn’t pouring in. When things get slow, that gives you the chance to slow down too. Relax, recharge, and get ready for when things pick back up.
      And always keep your spirits up! Better days are ahead if you stay focused on your career.