Location Will Affect Voiceover Income, Even When Working Remotely

Your first big paying job as a voice over professional is so exciting.  There might be some smaller ones initially, which help to pay the bills, but bring little to nothing above and beyond those debts.  When that big one finally comes in, and you receive that check for thousands of dollars, the joy is immense.  And, there also comes the feeling that you have made it.  Now that you have earned money like that, you can continue charging similar rates to future clients, right?  Unfortunately, this is not necessarily the case.

Even though voiceover talent generally work remotely these days, your pay for a particular job will depend on location.  This is something that is hard to grasp, especially when you are trying to build a foundation for your business, and wanting so badly to turn a profit.  The truth of the matter is, though, that even the company that is contracting out the work will be at least partially driven by local economic factors.  While a company in a big urban hub may be willing to pay $4,000 for a radio commercial voiceover spot, a company, of the same size, in rural America may only have a budget of a few hundred dollars for the same type of work.  Although you are working remotely, these companies are operating in entirely different markets and are, therefore, likely to have budget restraints because of where they operate. It's important to find out how what you are recording will be used. Where it will play, etc.

Does this mean that you should always take the job -- whether it pays $4,000 or $400?  No.  There will be times during your voiceover career when you will turn down paying work because it doesn’t pay enough to justify your time in the recording booth.  However, in the beginning, as you are building up your portfolio of work and trying to establish yourself in the industry, turning down work means accepting much greater risk than it would after having built a reputation throughout the industry. But always maintain a healthy respect for the voiceover industry by finding out what you can regarding "going rates" for various types of voice over projects. 

What to Do When You Have Concerns About the Script

As a voiceover talent, you are hired to read the script provided to you by the client. In most cases, that is exactly what you will do. With the exception of the possibility of multiple takes, it will go smoothly. However, there are times when the script is difficult to read in areas or when you recognize a problem with the verbiage.

The dilemma of whether or not to address the concern with the client is one that most voiceover artists will face during their career, and likely on multiple occasions. It is important to understand, though, that you and the client share the same desire -- a good, clean recording. So, if you note problems or difficulties with the script, it is definitely worth addressing them in a professional and tactful manner. First and foremost, introduce the matter as a need for greater artistic direction. Ask questions about what you're reading.

Uncomfortable sentences or phrasing:  If you are stumbling over a particular phrase, simply ask if there is room for some minor rewording to make the sentence easier to speak clearly.

Difficult pronunciation: If the problem is with the vocabulary used -- particularly if it is industry jargon -- consider asking the client to record him- or herself saying the term, or to read it if in a live session, so you can familiarize yourself with the pronunciation.

If the problem is one of reading preference (i.e. how to read numbers), if the script is a short one, consider providing multiple readings, so the client can choose which suits their vision best. If this is a repeating concern within the script, then ask for clarification.

The most important thing to remember is that you need not fear the client. Asking questions is more apt to turn out a high quality product than trying to make clumsy verbiage sound natural.
A rule to always fall back on is... first record it the best you can as it is written. Then, ask if you may record it another way as YOU see fit. That way, you may not "step on someone's toes" (like the copywriter's) but will merely add an optional take to the mix.

Promoting Yourself as a Voiceover Artist

If you want to really make voiceover work into a career for yourself, then you are going to have to showcase skills that extend beyond the recording studio. While reading the various scripts of clients is a big part of the job, it certainly isn’t all that must be considered. In fact, it may prove to be only about 30% of the work that you do. At least 50% of your time will likely be spent promoting yourself in person and online. There are a few ways that you can give your business a big boost. Consider these paths to voiceover success.

Build the Website! It’s time consuming and may even mean hiring out a relatively expensive service, but your website is your home base and it will play a big part in your voiceover career. Potential clients want to be able to visit your site to gain a bit of insight into who you are, what you’ve done, and what sort of professionalism they can expect from you. Be sure that you pay a little more to get a domain name that makes sense for your business. Get the ‘.com’ that bears your name.

Create Content! Although it can be hard to walk away from the studio, when you have paying work to complete, it is important to take the time to create the content that will sell your services in the future. Write the blog posts, record the podcasts, and create playful voice samples that will appeal to the masses (and especially to those potential clients).

Get Social! You can’t avoid it these days and you shouldn’t even try. Social media can be a challenge and it may feel as if you are getting nowhere, but the more social you are online – the more real you are in those interactions – the more potentially valuable connections you can make, which will help you as you build your business.

Appeal to an Agent! It will take quite a bit of promotion before it happens, but if you can get signed by an agent, a lot of the promo work will be taken out of your hands. For many voiceover professionals, this is a fabulous turn of events, meaning that they can spend more time in the studio and less time stressing about how to secure the next job. Before you start reaching out to potential agents, though, be sure that you have a solid demo(s) prepared, and that you have done research into the agents that you are making contact with (not all are worthy of your talent). Not all are a good fit for you and visa, versa. And remember, all agents have to work a "numbers" game. Their main goal representing you is to be able to send out their best audition files, demos, etc. to their clients to fulfill job requests. They are not personal managers. Their job is to present opportunities for their talent... and to please their clients.

How Voiceover Helped Jennifer Garner Overcome Awkward Moment

If you are considering a career in voiceover, then you know just how powerful words can be, when played over an image or video. Voiceover has changed the entertainment industry, the marketing industry, and even many aspects of general business practice. If you want to see just how powerful voiceover can be, then use the recent example of Jennifer Garner at the Oscars.

During filming, the actress was caught on tape with an unexpected, and seemingly shocked expression. The short clip was already headed for viral status as is, but it wasn’t until Jennifer poked a bit of fun at herself with some well-scripted voiceover that it became an internet sensation.

It was during the performance of Common and Andrea Day that she made the face that had people wondering. Rather than trying to dissect the moment, in an attempt to recall what was really going through her head at that time, the actress had a bit of fun with it. She recorded herself and overlaid the clip with a few different versions of voiceover, saying things like:

“Congrats to The Shape of Water… Maybe I should date a fish.”

“Hey, Jimmy Kimmel, what’s in your wallet? Wait, where is my wallet?”

“Can’t wait to work with Lena Dunham. Wait, did I sign a nudity waiver?”

Her humorous approach proved to win over audiences everywhere. Through the power of voiceover, she turned what might have been a somewhat embarrassing clip into a prevailing self-marketing moment. The clips, along with her brilliant voiceover quips have been shared in countless articles, on news programs, and, of course, all over the various social platforms online.

There is a lesson to learn here, which could apply to you in your own efforts to be discovered as a voiceover talent. How can you use your voice skills to create a viral meme or video clip?
As well as, to keep your sense of humor going throughout your career. As they say, humor is the best medicine.

How to Choose the Right Voice Actor

No matter what kind of business you run, advertising is a big part of every industry. That's the reason why a voice actor is so necessary for your brand.

The audience connects to a voice, and when you have the one that syncs with your brand, the voice will soon become the mark of your brand. The wrong voice will do just the opposite – it will create a negative impression about your products in the mind of the audience.

It's important to choose a voiceover talent with a lot of care and thought. Nashville-based Rick Lance Studio specializes in all types of voiceover work.

Rick Lance has created his own Americana style of voiceover work, and has been the voice of many a brand over the last 25 years. Radio and TV commercials, web promotions, film/TV narrations and corporate videos are just some of the areas Rick Lance works in. He's also represented by several voice talent agencies across the US and Europe.

Rick Lance isn't only a seasoned voice narrator, but he can also advise you on how to pick the right voice for your brand. With hundreds of clients behind him, an experienced professional like Rick Lance is highly suited for voiceover work, coaching, and consultation.

Choosing the right voice

There are certain factors that can help you choose the right voiceover recording artist for your brand. The voiceover industry isn't small anymore; the moment you advertise your needs, you will have hundreds of hopefuls queuing up or sending you their demos. It is up to you to make the right decision.

Some of the factors to consider when choosing a voiceover artist are:

What emotions best describe your brand? Is it efficiency, positivity, happiness, or something else? Next, look for the voice that invokes all those emotions that your brands stand for.
Take a cue from those national car commercials that are so good at selling an "image... not just a car.

Presenting or storytelling? There is a world of difference between just talking and storytelling. Select a voiceover artist that matches your purpose, whether it's just presenting or storytelling.

Listen to demos. Without listening to a variety of demos, it's hard to make a selection. Look for artists who can handle a wide range of work with ease. Determine the age of your demographic. What should be the proper sounding "age" of your voice talent?

Choose the right accent. An incoherent accent can be a dealbreaker, no matter how good the artist is. Look for an accent that's clear and easy to understand. Or a generic sound may be more appropriate.
By the way, I notice that the industry standards regarding accents has been changing. More and more regional accents are being sought after by voice seekers. Rick say,"Sounds pretty Americana to me. Interesting, over half of my weekly work I record using a slight (almost generic) Southern sound, even though I was not born in the South (rather in PA) but have lived in Tennessee for many years. It's just part of my Americana style/attitude."

Think of longevity. If you don't want to keep changing artists, look for someone who you can work with for the long term. Of course, it may take a little while to settle on someone. But once you find they fit your product/service like a hand-in-glove, stick with them to maintain the consistency and strength of your company's brand.

Tune Your Voice With These Food Tips Before The Voice Over Sessions

Every profession needs some preparations before starting their job or session every day. When it comes to voice artists, the food they consumed before a session plays an important role in the quality of the recording.

If you are a voice artist, irrespective of a seasoned or fresher, you cannot leave your producers unhappy with your performance. A number of food tips will help you to offer high-quality voice sessions at studios and improve your confidence.

Reduce Food and Drinks that Cause Acid Production

Generating acid in the stomach is one of the biggest enemies of voice health. You should avoid the use of food intake that contains reduced caffeine as it creates an imbalance of acid in the human body. It leads to increased acid production as well as loosens the muscles between esophagus and stomach.

Caffeine also causes dehydration, urination, and mucus production. Therefore, you should remove coffee (or at least decrease intake) and carbonated drinks from your menu. The other foods that lead to the generation of acids include alcohol, spicy foods, highly acidic vegetables and fruits, processed chicken, spicy food items, and more.

Hydrate Yourself

If you want a healthy voice at the voice recording sessions, you should hydrate yourself. While drinking water throughout the day is the best choice, you should not take iced water as it tightens your vocal cords. Instead, room-temperature water is the ideal choice to make your vocal tissues healthy. I drink the cheapest bottled water I can find.

Also, food items that contain more fluid content can help you stay hydrated. Especially, vegetables and fruits with high fluid content will soothe your throats between sessions. Cucumber, celery, grapes, apples, and raw tomatoes can also help you in your attempts. How about a hot bowl of soup for lunch?

Avoid Dairy Products

Whenever you have voice over sessions, you should keep dairy products away from your dining table. Dairy and dairy products are notorious for mucus production and make your voice recording sessions painful. It creates problems for you to produce consistent, clear voice throughout sessions and make you worry about your performance.

The milk products include ice cream, yogurt, butter, milk, cheese, sour cream, milkshakes, and more. Reducing your dairy intake, the previous day and completely avoiding just before the voice session is the best choice to save your throat. I recently discovered Almond Milk to pour on my morning cereal. It's non dairy and I can barely tell any difference from whole milk!

Sufficient Vitamin A Intake

Vitamin A has the capacity to keep your mucous membrane and soft tissue healthy. For any voice actor, foods that contain vitamin A is a must intake to keep their overall throat health better. Liver and eggs are important sources of vitamin A, and you also get the sufficient protein supply from these foods for cell repair.

Vegetables and fruits including carrots, orange sweet peppers, cantaloupe, and apricots also provide you the required vitamin A intake. Do you know that cantaloupe has almost 90% water? It helps you to stay hydrated as well.

Final Thoughts

Some simple steps and a little care can help you to make your voice over recording days greater. Any industry where people are "selling their voices" can use these food tips to deliver the best out of them.

The Best Voice Over Talent at Rick Lance Studio

Are you looking for a voice actor or narrator for a project you have? You obviously need someone with experience in the field and who has the voice and talent to make your project come alive.

No matter what you need the voice over recording for, you want someone with a distinctive voice and a penchant for great story-telling. Well, you cannot go wrong with Rick Lance Studio. With over two decades of experience in the voice recording business, this Nashville-based company is one of the best in the business.

Why Rick Lance Studio?

Rick Lance has a unique voice that is perfect for work in voice over Nashville TN. With his rugged signature sound, you can be sure that he will be a superb leading voice.

He has refined his craft through local theater performances, acting workshops, and on-camera work. Over the years, he has voiced TV and radio ads, audio books, corporate videos,  promos, explainer videos, long and short form narrations of all kinds... for all types of media.

Rick Lance Studio is known for its work in construction and manufacturing, community banking, finance and insurance, outdoor sports and travel as well as agriculture and equine industries – the studio has taken the role of a premier voice in these industries.

Rick Lance has also lent his signature voice over style for film, television and corporate and museum documentaries. His background in music, acting and photography has shaped him into one of the best and most seasoned voice over artists in the USA. There is no doubt that he is the best when it comes to voice over talent in Nashville TN.

Rick Lance Studio has done work as a voice over narrator in Nashville, TN for a wide range of clients, including John Deere, Harley Davidson, Sony Entertainment, Coca Cola, CBS Records, NASCAR, Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, CNBC India, Edward Jones Investments, and many more.

He has also been the narrator of Addicted to the Outdoors (Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel TV), On the Road (Sportsman Channel TV) Flagstar Bank, Rogue Credit Union and Championship Bull Riding, just to name a few.

Get the Best Voice Over Talent

There is no doubt that when you are looking for a voice narrator Nashville TN or voice actor Nashville TN, you want someone with a unique voice and style. You cannot go wrong with Rick Lance Studio.

With years of experience in the business, Rick Lance Studio has a deep understanding of what is needed for every unique project that comes its way, ensuring a job well done every time. No matter what you need, you can always rely on the voiceover talent Nashville TN at Rick Lance Studio to get the job done right.

How to Make Your Voiceover Project a Success

A stellar voiceover is a crucial aspect of advertising and broadcasting. A voiceover is not only meant to add narration to a video or broadcast but also form a relationship with customers.

Whether you use a single language or create multilingual voiceovers, it all begins with understanding your market and your objectives. When you have the right voiceover, your broadcast will automatically be a success, because people connect with the voice.

Those who regularly work with voiceovers know that they cannot be mastered in a day. Like every work of art, voice overs also need time and effort to be perfect. Since the narration plays such a critical role, there's no way you can depend on luck for its success. No matter what your end project, the following tips will ensure that your voiceover is always a success.

1. Plan in advance: No project can ever be accomplished without proper planning, and it also applies to a voiceover. You first have to consider your target market and your business objectives. What do you want to achieve with the project? What is your budget? What kind of quality do I want? If you don't have your own studio, consider if the studio you want is available. Do not underestimate the impact of a voiceover. When you plan in advance, you not only avoid delays and errors but also save time and money.

2. Get the right voice: Perhaps the most important part of a voiceover is the voice itself. What kind of voiceover artist do you need? What kind of accent, pitch, and tone do you want? Do you want a male or a female voice actor? Remember that the voice is what will leave a mark on your target audience, therefore, choosing the right voiceover talent is vital to the success of the project. If you have enough time, consider having auditions. Otherwise, ask applicants to send a few demos demonstrating different kinds of voiceover work.

3. Have the right script: Even before you seek a voice actor, it is important to have the script for the video ready. This will also help you give proper instructions to the actor. If there is no script, it is hard to explain the visuals to the voiceover artist, which in turn makes it difficult for the actor to deliver the right performance. When the script is ready, the actor takes less time to understand the work.

Rick Lance Studio has been delivering high quality voiceover work to many industries over the last 25 years. Get in touch with Rick Lance for high quality voiceover work with an Americana sound.