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Voiceover Audition Psychology Part 2 – Five Keys to Positive VO Audition Outcomes

April 4, 2014 by Debbie Grattan

There’s no Ph.d at the end of my name, so what I will assert here just comes from my personal experience, and is in no way meant to be the only set of solutions for this daily voiceover audition process. But, when I dissect how I am able to keep chugging along day after day and feeling positive and good about what I’m doing despite the competition and rejection involved, this is what comes to mind.

Keys to Positive Results in Your Next Voiceover Audition

1. Be picky

Try to only audition for projects for which you really feel you are a good fit. As actors, we have a tendency to think our vocal range is broader than it actually is. Know what you can do… Especially what you can do well, and what IS and ISN’T in your wheelhouse. If you labor over a voiceover audition for too long without getting in the groove, just let it go. Voiceover auditions are such a longshot anyway that spinning your wheels for too long is just a royal waste of time, and only serves to deplete your energy and faith in your talent. An important note: It may take some time (even years) to know what you are really good at in voiceover. You’ll probably have some early insights that you can run with, while you develop your talent and skills more deeply as you progress along your path. Participating in a reputable voiceover workshop is a great way to discover and develop your strengths as a voiceover actor.

5 Tips to Improve Your Voiceover Audition Psychology2. Be succinct and simple

Often I will find that, after many takes of the same copy, the first one was actually the best. It was spontaneous and real, and didn’t seem overly thought out or rehearsed. I know some voiceover audition coaches might disagree with this approach, wanting the actor to really flush out all the choices. But the bottom line is, if you have the intuitive connection with the copy, and come to the mic with the basic acting knowledge as a given (no substitute for having an acting background in the voiceover profession) you’ll either be the voice they want, or you won’t. That part of the equation is completely beyond your control. So give it your best shot, and then let it go!

3. Become a good voiceover audition director

Unless you’re going into your agent’s or a casting office for your voiceover audition, you’re probably self-directing. This can be tough. It is where the experienced voiceover professionals will have a real edge over the newbies. If you’re less seasoned in the profession, (or if you just need a tune up) seek some active coaching from a reputable source. I’ve most recently worked with Marc Cashman in LA, who is very reasonably priced, and has the ear and expertise to help you discover what you’re missing. Voiceover coaching can give you a more competitive edge in the voiceover audition process.

Ever heard of the 10,000 hours to mastery? Anders Ericsson, the Florida State University psychologist whose research on expertise spawned the 10,000 hour rule-of-thumb, says, “You don’t get benefits from mechanical repetition, but by adjusting your execution over and over to get closer to your goal.” A voiceover audition coach can help you see where you need to adjust. And 10,000 hours… Well there is simply no substitute for putting in the time and practice if you wish to become a skilled master.

4. “Fuh-get about it!”

Once you’ve submitted your voiceover audition and given it your best shot, move on to whatever is next. Pining over when or whether you’ll get notice of a booking doesn’t serve you. Each voiceover audition you record is another chance to perform and hone your skill. Look at it as another opportunity to practice any new techniques you’re playing with and strut your stuff. If you DO book the job, see it as the icing on the cake.

This is really about shifting from being “results-focused” to being more “process-focused” in how you approach your profession. In our society, people tend to be fixated on results. Results are important for sure. But in an artistic type of business, if you’re too focused on just results, you may miss important adjustments you can make in your process. The real joy and excitement of creation comes during the act of creation.

5.  Be non-attached

I’ve already kind of alluded to this idea, but it’s worth mentioning again. The more attached you are to getting any specific job, the harder it may be to get it. This might sound counter-intuitive, but when you want something too much (too strong of a desire coming from a place of not having it = lack) you can actually wind up blocking yourself off from getting it. You may inadvertently be focusing on the fact that you don’t already have it and this creates internal discord and contradiction in your thoughts and emotions.

I have found that a good way around this dynamic is to hold desires for more general things such as, “my goal is to keep improving and expanding my talent and ability as a voice over actor” rather than, “my goal is to get this Sony national commercial!” You can focus on the specific job and put it out there to God and the Universe as a clear request, but then you have to let it go and not focus on it too much. Let the chips fall where they’re going to fall as you keep moving forward toward your bigger picture dream.

Live Into Your Big Goals and Allow Great Things to Unfold

My goal when I first started acting was to simply be a working actor and I’ve never wavered from that being my primary goal. I didn’t aspire to win an Academy Award or be on Broadway, although those things could have been part of my path and I certainly wouldn’t have minded them showing up. I also didn’t set out to be a voiceover actor. Surprise!!! That result was just the way my goal got fulfilled. And, here I am, thirty years after setting that goal, still living my dream as a working actor!

Moral of the story: Enjoy the journey even more than you enjoy the destination. Realize that most of your time here on earth is spent on the journey, and that the destinations are usually few and far between. So make a conscious point of enjoying the journey and you’ll find that you will pass through many wonderful destinations along the way!

Debbie Grattan has been in the voiceover acting profession for over 20 years, collaborating on thousands of projects and partnering with hundreds of production companies, marketing and advertising firms, commercial voice-over recording studios and corporate/business clients around the United States and throughout the world. Check out her Voiceover Demos and request a Custom Voiceover Audition for your upcoming project.

Filed Under: For Voice Over Talent

Voice Over Audition Psychology – Part 1

March 28, 2014 by Debbie Grattan

The other day, as I was just submitting my last voice over audition for the week, I got an email from an actor friend of mine. He’s someone who I’ve had the pleasure of working with on stage in recent years. He has honed his talents and acting craft over a long time and he’s a very skilled actor.

Of all the folks who’ve asked me about getting into voice over acting, he is one of the few to actually take it from the “just curious” stage to a more serious committed level. He attended some live voice over workshops, researched and bought equipment, set up a good quality studio and conscientiously embarked on the voice over audition road through Pay to Play (P2P) sites and whatever local connections he could establish.

Oh, by the way, he’s married with a teenage daughter, a mortgage and a full-time sales job, so it really takes some drive to set all of this up. He has been steadfastly focused on the dream of eventually switching to a full-time career in voice over acting so that he can finally get paid for doing what he really loves to do.

Voice Over Audition PsychologyHis email to me the other day included a half-dozen voice over audition samples that he’d recorded. He wanted my feedback. He was wondering about what he might be doing wrong and what he could improve on to land more jobs.

While there were a few things I could suggest, overall I felt his auditions were pretty solid. I think that my answer was more disappointing to him than me giving him all of the “reasons” why any particular voice over audition hadn’t been chosen.

Waiting for bookings from P2P sites can be a long, hard wait. It is frustrating to not get the job even though you feel you’ve delivered exactly what was asked of you in the voice over audition. This points to an aspect of voice over acting that can create a lot of mental or emotional pain and suffering for people who may not fully realize the challenges of succeeding in the voice over business.

… It Might Not Really Matter

I recently caught an interview with Jason Bateman on the local NPR station, and there was one particular quote that relates to this topic that stood out:

On why Bateman wouldn’t let his kids act – I wouldn’t only because it is a profession that you can’t really help yourself in. In most professions, if you stay at the office an extra four hours every day, you’re gonna impress the boss, you’re gonna get that promotion, you’re gonna get that raise, you’re gonna at least have some job security. But with acting, if you’re really ambitious and you have a good work ethic, and are really good at your job, it might not really matter.

Wow, good thing I didn’t hear that when I was young and naive and starting out my acting career! Actually, it probably wouldn’t have deterred me back then because I would have thought “But I’m different! That advice doesn’t apply to me!”

Even though Voice Over Acting isn’t quite the same as trying to make it on Broadway or in television or the movies, it IS the same on the level at which Jason Bateman is pointing. And I think that is an extremely challenging idea for most people to come to grips with.

Ideal Scenario = No Voice Over Audition Required

My philosophy on working a successful career in professional voice over is to amass and continue to build my roster of satisfied and ongoing, loyal clients. These are clients who have regular VO work for me which they send to me directly. That means no audition required. This kind of situation usually only comes with time and a lot of hard work and persistence. It also helps to be able to consistently and reliably deliver a high quality product. Building a loyal voice over client base is the ideal and it is 100% worth the effort involved.

Ten years ago, 95% of my voice over work came through this channel. I rarely auditioned for anything (hard to believe I know) yet I was earning a very comfortable full-time income. People would just contact me and hire me to record their script. Alas, those days seem to be long gone now, thanks to the rise of P2P sites and thousands of new voice talent competing for jobs. But I always work to cultivate those kinds of relationships as much as possible.

I still audition A LOT because voice over auditions are 1) a good way to potentially book a little more work each week and 2) a great way to meet new clients who will need my voice over services in the future and hopefully turn into the loyal, long-term clients who hire me without needing me to audition ever again!

Nowadays, with so many casting sites, agencies, and independent casting directors, it’s pretty hard to avoid the audition process, even for seasoned pros. But for me, auditions are a supplement to a lot of other work that comes by way of longer term clients.

Given the fact that auditions are necessary, how does a voice over professional stay in a good place psychologically, with this day-to-day process of constant auditioning, and (let’s face it) seemingly constant rejection?

In Part 2 of this article, I share my 5 Keys to Positive Voice Over Audition Outcomes. Read it now at Voice Over Psychology – Part 2.

Debbie Grattan has been in the voice over acting profession for over 20 years, having collaborated on thousands of projects and partnered with hundreds of production companies, marketing and advertising firms, commercial voice-over recording studios and corporate/business clients around the United States and throughout the world. Check out her Voice Over Demos and request a Custom Voice Over Audition for your upcoming project.

Filed Under: For Voice Over Talent

Observations on the Ever Changing Voice-Over Acting Landscape – Part 2

March 7, 2014 by Debbie Grattan

This is Part 2 of the article, “Some Observations on the Ever Changing Landscape of Voice-Over Acting.” It will make more sense if you read Part 1 first.

Just Because It’s Easier to Start… Doesn’t Make it Easy to Succeed

Here’s the truth: If I was trying to start my voice-over acting business today, I honestly don’t know how far I would get in that process. Even though access to jobs and opportunities is greatly expanded to the point where virtually anybody can set up a studio and start auditioning for (and hopefully booking) lots of voice-over acting gigs, I actually think it is much harder to “make it” in this business today than it was twenty years ago. And by “make it,” I mean ramp it up to the level where you can make a living at it as your sole source of income.

Just for the record, I am a full-time voice-over talent and have been since the year 2000. Prior to that I supplemented my voice-over acting income with more stage and on-camera acting jobs. While my income has increased over the years, the biggest change and challenge I’ve seen is that I now have to market myself much more aggressively and constantly in order to land the same amount of work. Keeping the marketing engine rolling has become a pretty full-time job all by itself and has necessitated me building a marketing team. Since I am also a full-time Mom, wife, and running a household as well as a VO business, I’ve learned to delegate….a lot.Technology also created much higher Competition in Voice-Over Acting

After all, my professional time is of most value when I am recording. That’s what I get paid to do. The more time spent on marketing, (and blogging, posting to social media, networking, invoicing, and the list goes on…) the less time I have available to do what makes the money. We all need to be wise in how we spend our very limited time on a daily basis. These days I think it is very easy to get caught up in a lot of activities that make you feel busy but which are not ultimately very productive. This is a pitfall I am aware of at all times.

Maintaining Voice-Over Acting Client Relationships

It used to be that I only had to focus on maintaining my relationship with my agents. I’m sure there are still many voice talents who operate that way, but what has naturally evolved for me over the past several years is doing work for more and more clients directly, who find me on the internet or are referred to me. Now it is necessary for me to maintain relationships with a whole bunch of different direct clients and companies, in addition to agencies, casting agents, recording studios, production companies, etc. It’s much more to manage from a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) perspective. I’m always thinking about better ways to serve, stay in touch with and be top-of-mind for my clients’ voice over acting needs.

And, it’s not something I ever thought I’d have to do as a voice-over actor!

I have effectively become my own agent in that I am now almost completely responsible for my own marketing as well as the delivery of my services. If I sat back and waited for jobs to come only through agencies, I would have a lot of free time on my hands that is currently consumed by doing paid work.

It used to be I didn’t have to do much to market myself beyond having a demo, resume, etc. I got to just walk into a studio and be the talent…and then go home. But now, more and more, voice-over talents are forced to wear the marketing hats AND sound engineering hats, as well as the talent hats. That’s a lot of hats!

If you have a background knowledge in marketing, advertising, branding, writing, website construction/maintenance, SEO, in addition to being an awesome voice actor, you will definitely have an advantage in the voice-over business today.

It’s a tremendous amount to manage. Wait a minute, I thought technology was supposed to make my life easier?

So You Still Want to Be a Voice-Over Actor? How About a Voice-Over Entrepreneur?

I recently came across a video created by Paul Strikwerda that very succinctly lays out the reasons to NOT run head-long into a full-time voice-over acting career.

And to further amplify the excellent points Paul makes in his video, I also recently read a wonderful post by Rachel Fulginiti entitled, “Thinking Of A Career In Voice-Over? 10 Key Questions To Evaluate Your Potential” Her article deals more with the personal qualities that are critical if you’re going to become a voice-over entrepreneur — which I think is a much more appropriate term than “talent” these days.

If you aspire to work in voice-over acting, and if after watching this video and reading Rachel’s article, you are still convinced that you have what it takes to make it in this business, then by all means give it a go.

But, contrary to what some people will tell you, especially those who have a vested interest in getting aspiring voice-over talent to pay for start-up voice acting services like demos and classes, this really is a very tough business in which to succeed.

It’s nothing like it was just ten short years ago, and it now requires a lot more than just a great voice-over acting demo and the ability to take direction.

I’m not saying this to discourage aspiring voice talent in order to decrease the competition. I’m saying it because it really is true, and a person should be aware of the upside and the downside before entering into any new career field.

With voice-over acting, much like TV and film acting, it’s easy to ignore the downside and hold onto unrealistic dreams and expectations of “what could be” if things go the way you hope. Especially if all you hear about is the upside.

Again, comparing it to the music business.  Today you can literally be discovered on Youtube (like Justin Bieber was) and have millions of fans who watch your videos and want to hear your music. You can be on the Today Show next week if you happen to put up a video that goes viral. But, there are SO MANY people trying to do just that… Youtube is teeming with all kinds of very talented (and not so talented) people, who are ALL looking to be discovered, or at the very least, be noticed and acknowledged.

Ditto for the voice-over acting business these days. There are tens of thousands of voice-over actors chasing after thousands of voice-over acting job opportunities every day.

Just the thought of jumping into that race without the years of experience and a database full of loyal clients who already know me, feels a bit daunting I must admit. The demands created by constantly changing technology force all voice-over acting talents to embrace change at every turn. It’s both scary and exhilarating, and in the big scheme of things, it makes for a very interesting and challenging profession.

“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” — Alan Watts

Debbie Grattan has been in the voice-over acting profession for more than 20 years. She has collaborated on thousands of projects and partnered with hundreds of production companies, marketing and advertising firms, commercial voice-over recording studios and corporate/business clients around the United States and throughout the world. Check out her Voice-Over Acting Demos and request a Voice-Over Services Quote for an upcoming project.

Filed Under: For Voice Over Talent

Some Observations on the Ever Changing Landscape of Voice Over Acting – Part 1

February 28, 2014 by Debbie Grattan

The voice over acting business is going through something similar to what the music business has been grappling with in recent years.

Voice Over Agents (like record labels) are getting squeezed out more and more as the voice over actors (like music recording artists) find ways to go directly to their clients (consumers) via new forms of technology, especially the internet.

There is a word for this phenomenon. It’s called “Disintermediation” and it is defined as the “removal of the intermediaries or middlemen in a supply chain.”

Other examples of businesses or industries that have been strongly impacted by disintermediation are: Computers (both hardware and software), travel agencies, bookstores, video stores and stock purchasing.

Two markets that are currently in progress of disintermediation in a big way (in addition to voice over acting) are the real estate market; RE agents are getting squeezed out due to online homeseller transparency, and education, as online education continues to erode enrollment in traditional schools and universities.

It is interesting to look at how this process of disintermediation has affected how I spend my time each day as a working voice over talent.

The Old School Way to Start Voice Over Acting

Back when I first started voice over acting in the early 1990’s, the internet was not the marketing tool that it is today. In order to get a voice over acting job, I had to physically go out on an audition or be booked for a job by my talent agency. That always meant driving many miles to studios or casting agents in Los Angeles, San Diego or somewhere in between. No problem, I was young, single, carefree, gas was only $1.15 per gallon and I drove a very reliable Toyota Corolla!

I also had to find ways to establish and maintain relationships with recording studios and producers who I met along my travels. Because I’m a pretty social person by nature, I excelled at making connections with people who hire, or even suggest voice over acting talent to clients. As a result, I booked more and more voice over acting jobs and the momentum eventually began to build over time.

At this stage of the voice over timeline, making it in this business was fundamentally contingent on where you lived and who you knew. You HAD to live in a major market or metropolitan area, or at least be willing to commute to those areas on a regular basis. You HAD to know the kinds of people who could offer you voice over acting opportunities.

So, living in Orange County, California was perfect for me to get my feet wet and start building a career as a voice over talent.

Then, Along Came Technology

Technology can be a blessing or a curse depending on where you stand in relationship to it. Looking back, it would have been truly impossible for me to have started my voice over acting career living where I do now in Southwestern Michigan.Technology created more opportunity in Voice Over Acting

Likewise, were it not for technological advances that make home recording studios now possible and even easy to set up, I could never have even dreamed of moving out of crowded, traffic-jammed, expensive Southern California when it was time to start a family, buy a bigger home and shift gears into a more stable and practical lifestyle.

On the other hand, because of technology, I now have to compete with a lot more voice talent than I ever did in the past. This fact has forced me to constantly work on improving my marketing skills and continually adapt to the changing voice over acting landscape.

Just Because It’s Easier to Start Doesn’t Make it Easy to Succeed

If I was trying to start my voice over acting business today, I honestly don’t know how far I would get in that process. Even though the access to jobs and opportunities is greatly expanded to the point where virtually anybody can set up a studio and start auditioning for (and hopefully booking) lots of voice over acting gigs, I actually think it is much harder to “make it” in this business today than it was twenty years ago. And by “make it,” I mean ramp it up to the level where you can make a living at it as your sole source of income.

In Part 2 of this article I look more at the impact of technology on voice over acting, and specifically on what skills and abilities beyond acting training are needed for today’s voice over actors.

Debbie Grattan has been in the voice over acting profession for more than 20 years. She has collaborated on thousands of projects and partnered with hundreds of production companies, marketing and advertising firms, commercial voice-over recording studios and corporate/business clients around the United States and throughout the world. Check out her Voice Over Acting Demos and request a Voice Over Services Quote for an upcoming project.

Filed Under: For Voice Over Talent

Getting Paid Well for Female Voice-Over Services: Understanding Pricing

February 18, 2014 by Debbie Grattan

This article is part of a series of articles exploring various aspects of what is involved in getting paid well as a working female voice-over talent in today’s highly competitive voice over industry. You may want to also read the first article in this series, Getting Paid by Voice-Over Clients – An Overview of What Matters Most, and look for more blog posts on this topic in the coming weeks.

Please share your comments, opinions, experiences and points of agreement or disagreement. A lively discussion is always a good thing!

Finding That Perfect Balance of Pricing Your Services

As a freelance female voice-over talent, it is very important for me to understand how to price my voice-over services in a way that creates a win-win feeling for my clients and for myself.

If I am priced too high for any given project, the client may not hire me for that project or, if he does hire me,  may feel like he didn’t get his money’s worth and therefore will be less likely to hire me for future projects.

Getting Paid Well for Female Voice-Over Services If I am priced too low, the client is very happy but I will feel like my efforts and talents are not being fairly valued and that may lead to some negative feelings which can really get in the way of client relations and me being productive in my business.

I also find that when I have priced myself too low, there are often more requests by that client to make more changes for no additional charge, or completely redo the project for little or no added cost. So, I have learned that clients who expect me to charge significantly lower than normal fees for female voice-over services are often the same clients who want a lot of free changes on the backend.

For me, finding that perfect balance point in pricing comes from experience and intuition. Being aware of the client’s needs, the variables of the project, the range of the current going rate and what just feels right.

The Importance of Educating Your Voice-Over Clients on Pricing

As the old story goes…

“Nikola Tesla visited Henry Ford at his factory, which was having some kind of difficulty. Ford asked Tesla if he could help identify the problem area. Tesla walked up to a wall of boilerplate and made a small X in chalk on one of the plates. Ford was thrilled, and told him to send an invoice.

The bill arrived, for $10,000. Ford asked for a breakdown. Tesla sent another invoice, indicating a $1 charge for marking the wall with an X, and $9,999 for knowing where to put it.” — Know-Where Man Story

The point of this story is obvious and its lesson could be applied to many businesses or areas of specialty, including voice-over. However, it is sometimes difficult for people who hire female voice-over talent to understand just how tricky it can be to make a script sound great. There is so much subtlety involved.

Delivering female voice-over services is as much an art as it is a business, yet many people don’t see it that way initially.

So, I sometimes find it necessary to explain to a new client who is overly focused on getting a “cheap” price, that yes, there are many other female voice-over talents out there who can record his script for the price he’s asking, but he needs to ask himself, “What will be the quality of the final product? Will it get him (and his end client) the results he is seeking?”

Essentially, I am reminding him that female voice-overs are like many other business services or products, you usually get what you pay for. And when you’re trying to communicate your message effectively to your audience, it’s not wise to scrimp on the person who is speaking your message out loud over the top of your video or on your radio commercial. No matter how great the final audio or video production is, if you add a sub-par voice-over track, it’s going to be less effective than if you hired a professional, experienced voice talent.

Voice-over work is so often seen by the layperson as being something that “looks” easy… People hear a voice on a commercial and they can imitate it almost exactly and think, “Hey, I could do that!” But, an artist must create on the spot and be original and relevant, on target… Not just an imitator of other artists who work in the same medium.

Being a Female Voice-Over Artist is Highly Creative AND Technical

When I am hired to do what I do, I’m not just hired to deliver the product. I’m hired to be a “creator” of the product. To bring something original and unique that captures the true essence of what the client is after.

Any experienced voice-over talent can share stories of being in a session doing take after take on one simple phrase, to get it just right. There is a reason that advertisers and marketers strive to get it just right. If it didn’t matter, they wouldn’t take the time to do it.

Anybody can read a line into a microphone. But it takes a real voice-over artist to read the line in a way that captures the essence and conjures the desired image or thoughts in the mind of the audience.

I liken it to being an accomplished jazz musician who has mastered the technical theory and now can easily improvise and play the notes the fit the moment.

Voice-over pricing is one of the key points I educate clients on to help them understand why the price is where it is and to illustrate that in many situations, a good portion of what they are paying me for is my knowledge of exactly where to put the X.

Debbie Grattan has been a full-time female voice-over recording artist for more than 20 years. She has collaborated on over 10,000 projects and partnered with hundreds of production companies, marketing and advertising firms, commercial voice-over recording studios and corporate/business clients around the United States and abroad. Check out her Female Voice-Over Demos and request a Voice-Over Services Quote for an upcoming project. 

Filed Under: For Voice Over Talent

Building Your Female Voiceover Fandom

January 20, 2014 by Debbie Grattan

At some point in the last several months, Facebook business pages changed their terminology, so that instead of having “fans,” my female voiceover services page now has “followers.” Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer the term “fans!” The word not only seems germane to the business of being a professional voice artist, but it also speaks to a new word I encountered recently: “fandom.”

Fandom refers to the community that springs up and surrounds a popular movie, television show, book, or even a single character. Those lines of folks dressed in costume as well-known characters? The wildly popular voice actor panels at conventions? Fandom in action!

In my decades of work in the entertainment industry as a working female voiceover actor, I’ve gotten to see the power of fandom in action, but I’ve also realized that I try to encourage a kind of fandom among my own clients as well.

Fan Power!

Last year I was very fortunate to be asked to voice a character named Aquatique on The Centsables, an educational animated series for children that recently picked up a 2013 Telly Award. Aquatique is a duck with a Southern Belle accent — She’s a character that I absolutely love to voice and the kids that watch the show really enjoy her too!

Female Voiceover Talent, Debbie Grattan as Mary Poppins
The experience of voicing an animated character reminds me of my time at Disney years ago. I had the opportunity to play (in live-action shows) The Evil Queen from Snow White, as well as the truly delightful and practically-perfect-in-every-way, Mary Poppins.

Thanks to the work of Disney’s top notch hair, makeup, and custom costume team, I was able to totally transform myself and give the kids and their families the experience of seeing the characters they knew and loved, up-close and personal. Walking around dressed in Mary Poppins’ beautiful white carousel dress, I spoke in her famous accent and joined little girls for tea. It was a delightful experience and it showed me just how much people rally around characters they feel like they “know.”

Creating Your Own Female Voiceover Client Cheering Section

In my work as a freelance voice talent, I’ve definitely learned the importance of trying to get my clients to also be my fans. There are plenty of talented women out there providing female voice over services, so why should my clients stick with me over all the rest? Female Voiceover Talent, Debbie Grattan as The Evil QueenThe first answer that comes to mind is because I work hard to give them plenty of reasons to cheer for me and spread the word about how my involvement in their projects makes their job easier and gets the results that they (and their clients) are looking for.

In this day and age, the prevalence of telecommuting means I have to deliberately find those moments of personal connection that can turn a client into a true fan. I try to go the extra mile with all of my clients, not only responding quickly and professionally, but also demonstrating genuine interest and care for the details of their lives they share with me.

I also acknowledge that for many of my business clients, the work of bringing in a female voiceover actor can be one of the most creative aspects of their job. I strive to be the kind of fun, easygoing talent that they want to partner with again and again, knowing that our work together can be a lot more like play!

By consistently delivering 110% to each client and actively soliciting reviews of my work, I hope to keep building my “fan base” for years to come.

Debbie Grattan is a female voiceover talent with more than 20 years experience in the industry. She has recorded over 10,000 projects while partnering with hundreds of production companies, marketing and advertising firms, commercial voiceover recording studios and corporate/business clients around the United States and abroad. Check out her Female Voiceover Demos and request a Complimentary Custom Audition for an upcoming project.

 

Filed Under: For Voice Over Talent

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Debbie Grattan is a top-rated professional female voice over talent with more than 25 years of experience delivering voice over services worldwide. She regularly records commercial voice overs for radio and tv as well as infomercial voice overs and direct response marketing for children's toys, health, fitness and beauty products. Other specialties include female narration voice overs for corporate narration, web videos, tutorials, explainer videos and technical medical narration. Debbie also provides phone-related voice over services including phone prompts, messages-on-hold and outbound phone marketing for companies in the United States and Canada.

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