5 Ways to Make Money When You’re Not Doing Voice Over

Is your voice over business paying the bills? Often times it does, but most actors experience periods where the money just isn’t what they need or want it to be. This might be because you’re new, and a steady VO income usually comes over time as you build your brand and reputation. Or maybe you’re just in a voice over lull right now.  Whatever the case, you may be looking for other ways to generate income in addition to your using your pipes. I know I’ve been in that position since I started doing voice over work.

Luckily, we live in a day and age where it’s really not too difficult to make some side money. Here are 5 ways you can boost your income when the VO work is slow.

1.    Sound editing - Do you have awesome editing skills? This can come in handy, because believe me, there are plenty of VO actors out there who are no good at it. Whether they’re technologically challenged or just don’t have an ear for it, people are willing to pay good money to those who can edit tracks to make them sound like high quality, professional recordings.

2.    Vocal coaching - Vocal coaching is another area you can make some extra cash. This one is probably better left to actors with more professional experience, as level of experience will be a deciding factor for many of the people seeking coaching. However, if you’ve got the skills and are good at working with others, coaching might be something to consider.

3.    Teaching - This is very similar to coaching, but while coaching is more of a one-on-one deal, teaching is usually done in front of a class. Again, this is a job better left to more experienced VO artists who have the credentials to back up what they’re teaching. Check with your local college or voice over group to see if any teaching opportunities exist if this is an area that interests you.

4.    Web development - All VO actors need a website, but very few are capable of creating their own in a professional and engaging format. However, if you are one of those few, I strongly recommend advertising your web development services to other actors, or anyone who needs a website, really. There is a huge market for this type of work, and you may be surprised to learn the earnings potential available.

5.    Blogging - If you’re like me and you like to talk, blogging is a great avenue to earn some extra cash. A lot of actors employ ghostwriters to handle their posts, for one reason or another. Actors aren’t the only ones, either. Many companies and individuals rely on freelancers to handle their writing projects, and as with web development, the right gig could land you a decent steady income.