Directed Voice Over Session
Filed under Free Videos
Here’s another directed voiceover session featuring Terry Daniel.
Popularity: 2%
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Kiss My Budget!
Filed under Blog
Wait, WHAT? Budget is not a curse word! It’s a term that we should all become comfortable with using frequently. All clients have budgets to work with and we should get used to getting them to talk about it. Remember, this is not a hobby that we are doing for free – this is our business! Since money is a necessity that all people in business have to deal with on a daily basis, it should not be an uncomfortable topic that we try to avoid when speaking with our clients. Based on responses that have been gathered from conversations held with other voice talents, we all get a little reluctant sometimes when it comes to asking a client about their budget and even more so when it comes time to discuss our rates with them! How can this hurdle on the track towards closing a deal be effectively overcome?
First, when it comes to a project, you never want to over sell or under sell your client. The only way that this can be accomplished is if they have informed you of their budget beforehand. This is why it is imperative that you always want to get them to the point of discussing their budget with you. Otherwise, you more than likely will not get the results that you are looking for. For example, if your client sends you a 10-page script and you immediately give them a rate off the top of your head, you are taking a huge risk that could only be of benefit to the client. How so? They would either be joyful because you have made their selection process a lot easier by removing yourself from their list or because you just gave them the deal of a lifetime that would end up costing you more than what you’ll make from doing the job!
Just the other day, a client sent me a 3-page script for a narration. Since I wanted to ensure that I gave her a fair and friendly rate, I politely asked her about the budget set for the voiceover. To my surprise, it turned out that her budget was about $500 MORE than I was originally going to quote her. Of course, you don’t want to come back and say, “Sure that sounds about right!” However, you can certainly come close.
Unfortunately, it does not always work out this way. Sometimes, the client’s budget is far lower than what you were going to quote them. At that point, it is up to you whether or not you want to work within that budget. Many blogs have been created (including some of my own) that have been focused on lowball rates. If you haven’t done so already, it is recommended for you to read over those articles and educate yourself on this so that you can be further prepared whenever these types of situations arise.
We all need to work, but it is also important for us to try to set and maintain the standards for fair and reasonable rates in this industry. Therefore, please be careful when agreeing to do a 5-page script for only $50.
“Budget” is not a dirty word. Get used to the word and implement it into your daily vocabulary! Our clients are comfortable with talking about money for their business, so we need to be just as comfortable (if not more) with talking about money for our own.
Popularity: 1%
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Go!
Filed under Blog
Is business a little slow right now? Spending too much time on “Words with Friends?” First quarter can be very slow, no matter what business you are in. The good news is there are steps you can take to make it easier to slide into the fast lane. So, before you push the panic button and start looking on CareerBuilder.com for jobs you don’t really want, here are five steps that I put into action when business is a little slow.
1. Pour a glass of Scotch and sulk. I’m kidding! Sign up for as many meetup groups as you can possibly handle and go to the events. You will learn a ton, meet great people and you’ll get new business! There is usually one for every kind of business person and they are free. There is only a fee, when you register for one of the events. Definitely go to the events and bring lots of business cards!
www.meetup.com
2. Build a Facebook business page for your business. This works as a secondary website and will not only help build traffic to your website, it’s an outstanding way to network with others in your industry.
3. Join your local Chamber of Commerce! These are all business owners you will be meeting with and some may hire you for a job or two. It’s an excellent way to network and also a tax deduction. Search for your local chamber of commerce to locate a website and contact information.
4. Send out postcards! Yes, this may sound like the “old school” way of marketing but snail mail is still effective. This gives the client something tangible they can keep on file or put on their refrigerator. E-mail marketing can be effective as well but sometimes e-mail gets lost in the shuffle or ends up in spam folders. Plus, snail mail is a little less intrusive. My last mail-out consisted of a post card and a refrigerator magnet business card!
5. Be active on Twitter! Don’t tweet stuff like, “Spring sale going on right now. Everything is 40% off!” Instead, tweet about how cool the stuff is that you’re selling or how cool it is to have this product and what it can do for you. Engage in other people’s conversations as well. Don’t just yap about your own stuff. Twitter is one big party. When you go to a party, you don’t want to listen to the same person talk about themselves all night. Chances are favorable that you will get annoyed and leave the party. Instead, share what you have going on but also ask questions about their business! Re-tweeting posts is also very effective because you are showing that you care and are willing to help.
There are times when you should embrace the slow lane because you’ll have more time to work on marketing and other things going on in your life. Sure, money can be tight but life is too short to hover in a corner in a state of stress, wondering where the next gig is going to come from. The gas pedal is still within reach. Get into the fast lane and step on it!
Popularity: 2%
Comments
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January 11,2012
Dave Wallace @ 11:13 am
Hmmm….refrigerator magnet business cards. I have business cards, but never thought of turning them into magnets. Terry, what place/site would you recommend for ordering magnet business cards?
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January 11,2012
Angela DeNiro @ 5:24 pm
Okay Terry…never did get to the refrigerator magnets. I’m still working on suggestion # 1 LOL
2012: No More Excuses
Filed under Blog
We all procrastinate. It’s a part of life but there is always something we can do about it. I have enjoyed a fruitful voiceover career. I am looking forward to doing it for the rest of my life but ever since I spoke at Voice 2010 in Los Angeles, I have wanted to pursue public speaking on the side. 2012 is the year where I plan on being more aggressive with that dream. No more excuses. No more, “I’m just too busy to do it this year.” You are NEVER too busy to start something you are passionate about.
I get calls and emails from people all the time who are looking to get into voiceovers. I love these inquiries because I learn something different from each person. It’s exciting to learn what drives them or what made them pick up the phone or write the email in the first place. It’s that first step that takes a lot of courage. The ones who are determined and have a plan are the ones I love working with.
We all need to work together to conquer our fears and start taking action. This isn’t just a blog for voiceover artists. It’s a message for those who have wanted to try photography, music, marketing or whatever! Put your finger on the pulse of what makes you happy and go for it. We’re not getting any younger! A couple of fine clichés there but it’s true! Phrases like, “maybe next year or maybe when I have a little more free time” are killers! When thoughts like this enter your mind, tell whoever is sitting or standing next to you to smack you. Lol!
The fact of the matter is that you will never begin as long as you allow circumstances to dictate your starting point. You must begin at once. Take action and change your life. You cannot succeed if you never start. Learn what steps you need to take to make it happen. You don’t need to launch at light speed. Put together a plan of attack to reach your goals and begin the journey.
“Put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking out the door!” Did I really just quote the Winter Warlock from “Santa Claus in Coming to Town?” You bet I did!
Popularity: 4%
Comments
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January 3,2012
Keenya C. @ 8:45 pm
I live in Maryland, and I find it challeging to find work in this DMV area. However, I won’t allow location to stop me, especially since everything is digital now. I just need advice on where and how to begin a career doing voice overs? To no avail, I have searched craigslist, and local papers. Please help!
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January 3,2012
Terry Daniel @ 8:54 pm
Hi Keenya! Thank you for your comment. I can send you some information on coaching/demo production. You can also become a member of Voice Over Club by going to http://www.voiceoverclub.com/join-now. 3-day trial for just $1!
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January 5,2012
Nick Nichols @ 4:49 pm
What do I need to get started with voice overs, equipment-wise? Any recommendations as to brands? Keep in mind that I am starting out with very little cash.
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January 5,2012
Hi Nick,
Thank you for your comments. You’ll need coaching and a professional demo. Unfortunately, very little cash won’t get you very far but you could try out our members area for three days for $1. There are a ton of training modules on script delivery, recording, marketing and more. Just go to http://www.voiceoverclub.com/join-now
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January 17,2012
Leanette @ 7:54 pm
A tidbit that you may deem useful….
If your local area has a Community television station (most areas do), then most likely they have a Radio broadcast dept. that will allow you to volunteer some time during the week, and in exchange – produce a starter demo CD for FREE. There are two CC’s in my area (Grand Rapids, MI) and both offer this for artists wanting to get into professional voice-overs. Their equipment is usually SOA (state of the art) too. Check them out.
Pretty sweet
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January 18,2012
Thanks for your comments, Leanette. It may sound like a good idea but this isn’t the way to do a voiceover demo. A demo needs to be produced by a professional voiceover coach and after a series of coaching sessions. Community television stations are not staffed with professional voiceover coaches.
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The Voice of Santa Claus
Filed under Free Videos
Check out Scott “Scooter” Fortney as Santa Claus!
Popularity: 3%
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Taking Care Of Your Voice
Filed under Blog
Just in time for the holidays, here are some great tips on taking care of your voice!
Popularity: 2%
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November 23,2011
Jeff DeMuth @ 9:32 am
Hello Terri Daniel,
I dont know if your recall, but you assisted me in putting together a demo several years ago in Louisville. You added one that was a movie trailer that you had done. It’s good to know you are still around. Recently became unemployed and am going to push forward with the voice over work. I am also singing barbershop now with the Thoroughbred Chorus and know how improtant vocal health is. Quit smoking 2 months ago also. I look forward to working with you soon through this website. Have a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving. -
November 24,2011
Howard Ellison @ 7:57 am
Great advice. I got worried once: after a long read I thought I heard distortion on the track. Looked liked lumps of coal stuck to the waves, sounded like the dreaded ‘digital rattle’ some people report.
My wife, with much sharper hearing than mine, said it sounded just the same as I did, but she noticed I was getting hoarse! Now I trust the trace, and do shorter takes. -
November 30,2011
VJSings @ 3:57 pm
I have always wanted to do voiceovers. Never found a resource of info. I can’t wait to dig into your databases. Thanks much for the assist and for your selflessness.
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November 30,2011
Thank you so much, VJ! Let me know how I can help or if you any questions about the VO biz! You can also become a member of Voice Over Club by joining here; http://www.voiceoverclub.com/join-now
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Bouncing Higher
Filed under Blog
Like it or not, we are living in the era of craigslist. Someone will mow your lawn for $20. A photographer will shoot your wedding for $100 and so-called voice talents will record a 10-page narration for $50! This is the world we are living in. Every profession deals with low-ball inquiries from clients. You don’t have to like it but there are some things you can do about it. I used to get upset when clients would call me up for a quote and then come back to me, telling me they found someone else that can do it for less. Now, I just ask them a few questions.
1. How important is your business to you?
2. What is your marketing objective with this script?
3. How important is it that you have professional audio quality?
4. Is this person who can do it for less a professional voice talent?
5. Can I provide a sample for you first and then you can decide?
6. What is holding you back from wanting to pay my requested rate?
7. If I throw in a free voicemail message for your business, will you hire me for this rate?
8. Would you like to hear some samples of work that I’ve done that are similar to your content?
9. Did you know that 50% of the rate I am asking for is allocated toward my studio expenses?
10. Do you have Toto’s first album? (I always throw that in for fun!)
While cost is a factor in any business decision, it should not be the number one objective when hiring voice over talent. Take car shopping for example. Do you look for the lowest price tag or the car that will best fit your needs? The same holds true with a well-versed and seasoned voice talent.
No matter how hard you try, many will still take the less expensive route only to be dissatisfied with the quality of the talent and eventually hire a more experienced talent to record the voice over. In my career, I have had several of these clients come back to me after originally going elsewhere for a cheaper rate.
Thankfully, there are a lot of wonderful clients out there who understand that in order to move product, they will need to hire a professional and pay them what they deserve. When clients hire so-called VO talents for $20, it shows you what they think of their own business. The cost should not be a factor as the end product will result in exactly what you are looking for.
Popularity: 4%
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November 3,2011
Hi Terry. Well said, as always. Just to cheer us all up, here’s a posting seen this week on a biz to biz site:
“I have a 500 word article to be converted into
a video presentation.
The article will be required to be narrated in an american accent.
I’m looking for someone familiar with powerpoint and windows movie maker.
(Female preferred)
I’ll pay you $5 for the job done” -
November 3,2011
Maya Kuper @ 9:11 am
Great questions, but I feel that they should be addressed in your first communication with the potential client, when they call you for a quote.
Asking “How important is your business to you?” right out of the gate is REALLY going to put any business owner on the defensive. Who WOULDN’T consider their business important, and who wouldn’t be offended by a stranger who even suggests otherwise? I think I’d be upset if someone asked me that in a non-rhetorical way.
And I would address all the questions in a less confrontational way…like this:
“Since it sounds like your business is important to you (question 1), I just wanted to find out your marketing objective for this script. (question 2).”
(they answer)
“Thanks for telling me more about the project. It actually sounds familiar to me since I’m a professional voice talent (question 4) and I’ve done similar work for other clients. Along with my quote, may I send you some samples of those so you can hear what I’m capable of? (question
Or, how about a free sample of me reading YOUR script? (question 5)”(They answer)
“I offer to provide samples, because I know it’s very important to you to have professional audio quality (question 3). You should know that half of my rate goes directly to maintaining my studio (question 9). My rate for this kind of project is _____.”
(they respond)
“It sounds like you’re hesitant to pay my requested rate, and I respect that you want to spend money wisely (question 6). I want to work with you, so I’d like to offer a free voicemail message as well. Are you willing to consider my offer (question 7)?”
(They answer. If the answer is no, tell them you’ll send them a free audition anyway because you’d like to work with them in the future and you’re confident they will be pleased with the quality you can provide. The end.)
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November 3,2011
Maya,
If they are offering a fair rate for the project, I don’t feel it’s necessary to address all of the questions provided in my blog. Why waste time if you are both on the same page right away? And yes, those that ask us to do a 10-page narration for $50 rate sometimes need to be asked how important their business is. You can present it in a way that is not condescending. Text can be interpreted this way but it’s the tone in your voice that matters. I’ve had success using this strategy . If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have written a blog about this subject. I appreciate your perspective.
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November 3,2011
Rick Lance @ 9:48 am
AMEN, Terry! You spelled it out nicely!
The whole idea, I believe, is to get a client to think differently… considering other aspects of VO work besides price alone.And yes, I do have Toto’s first album! I keep their Greatest Hits CD, which won 5 Grammys in my car.
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November 3,2011
Dave Wallace @ 8:01 pm
Terry, this blog entry of yours was cosmically-timed. Today a client asked me to do a job for a rate that was…not ridiculously low per say, but it was still a tad lower than what I would consider “economically fair” for lack of a better term. So I threw out a few of the questions you mentioned in this blog entry, and offered to do their phone message system for free.
And guess what? It worked! I got them to agree to the fee that I proposed. It was very gratifying to know that I convinced someone that my job was worth the extra money. Thanks very much!
-Dave
Reconstruction
Filed under Blog
Out of bad comes good, rewiring, evaluating of self & wisdom
This week I watched the documentary on the Discovery channel about the rebuilding of Ground Zero in NY.
So emotional, so inspirational, so sad & happy at the same time. The building of the first new tower is emotional for me to watch. After all these years of so much pain and an empty hole, it is nice to see that there is finally restoration taking place. In a way, it’s like spending years not knowing what you are going to do with your life and then out of nowhere, things start taking shape. One brick at a time. We are always rebuilding. Whether its highways, buildings or our inner soul. I think of my voiceover career this way. Like I’m building a tall skyscraper, one floor at a time. Each floor has a goal. An objective.
Resilience- In the voiceover business, it’s easy to get down on yourself when you are having a bad day, week, month or even year! Focus on what has worked in the past but don’t be afraid to try new things. Success will come back to you like a boomerang. Some weeks are great, some weeks are tough. It’s a like musician who makes it to the top of the charts and then has to work twice has hard to back there again.
It seems every day there is this fine line between good & bad. There will always be people trying to take us down, intentionally or not. Spreading negativity, trying to break down what we are trying to build. It can be challenging because now we have social networking sites, where people can either choose to be supportive and positive or cynical and discouraging. The beauty is that we can decide who we are going to be connected with. This is the same in the real world.
So remember it is always your choice. Your choice who you are connected with, your choice to not be afraid, your choice to wake up every day & decide what brick you will add to your tower of life.
Build the life you dream of…..
*Special thanks to Tracy Blowers for contributing to this blog.
Popularity: 3%
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September 23,2011
Paris F. Robinson @ 12:37 pm
Why is there not a website, Company, Association, Program, etc., that will offer assistance with job placement or marketing as such, that will offer “work” as a V/O Artist instead of constant solicitation to JOIN their establishment, attend yet another seminar, enroll in some v/o training camp, etc., in other words we find ourselves constantly being drawn into the endless money pit of investment into a voice over vertigo canyon that goes no where. Some of us are quite ready and talented enough to be working. The primary reason we aren’t is simply because the doors of opportunity are not being opened to us via the “right” people. Instead old favorites are monopolizing the business thereby choking out “new talent” Where does one go for real help and direction that results in work…not another useless class, seminar, workshop.etc. ?
Enough with the tips, talk and motvational webinars that serve only to displace the dollars from our pockets to yours. We need real opportunity and a fair chance to compete. For those of us who are ready, we know who we are and after hearing our voices…so do you! Bring us over that hurdle, beyond that obstacle and through that “kryptonite” barrier and you will have our “ultimate” respect and endorsement for those just getting started as well.
Paris
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September 23,2011
Hi Paris,
I am sorry that you are frustrated. It’s easy to blame training companies for your shortfall. Let me ask you this. How much of an investment have you made toward voiceover training? Did you spend a lot of money and get nothing? Our members area is jam-packed with all kinds of modules on recording, auditioning, marketing and more! I’m aware that there are seminars and webinars that do nothing but blow smoke. That is why we created Voice Over Club! We wanted to build a unique program that covered it all!
Unfortunately, if you’re looking for a magic pill for free, you might as well give up. Nobody will train you for free. Nobody will produce your demos for free. Be thankful for the free information that is already out there. Let me know how I can help. I’m not a smoke blower and I never guarantee success to any of my students. I merely provide a compass and the right tools to help you get there.
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October 15,2011
Miné Bilgé @ 12:36 pm
Thank You,Terry Daniel, for your emotional and inspirational article.
I -indeed – am thankful for the free information (as above) with a great generosity you always share; like those -very few.
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Not only success,but also right tools that you show others, would come back to you like boomerang: wider and wiser students for your
*busy-bee* VO Business…PEACE and Blissful Horizons…
voiceofmine
The Art of the Voiceover
Filed under Free Videos
Terry Daniel, voiceover artist and coach discusses the world of voiceover talent on FOX 9 News in Minneapolis.
The Art of the Voiceover: MyFoxTWINCITIES.com
Popularity: 4%
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Jonathan’s Voice & Terry Daniel – Getting Perspective
Filed under Free Videos
Terry and Jonathan team up to bring you an important tip when recording!
Popularity: 3%
Hi Terry,
Thank you soooo much for sharing this with everyone. At present, I work full time as a commercial producer for a TV station and I record freelance voiceover from my home studio. It’s wonderful to hear such a pro talent as youself in a directed environment. You handle being directed with amazing grace and professionalism. What a great example of how important it is to respect your client and do as you are instructed.
Best,
Dory