Got Some Questions?

Think about this: If you want something that’s very important to you, done VERY WELL, the first time, isn’t it smart to work with a professional? And when you work with me you get a professional who’s fast, experienced, versatile, and makes YOUR job a whole lot easier. Makes sense, right? I also give you peace of mind because I’m available, reliable, and make your project sound fantastic.

I usually record, edit, and communicate with my clients during normal business hours: 9am – 5pm, Mountain time, Monday – Friday. That said, I understand projects don’t always fit into a nice, tidy work week! If you have a rush job, or need changes to a project we’ve already recorded, at the last minute, get in touch and I’ll see what I can do to accommodate what you need.

Whisperroom, 4 x 6′, including additional, upgraded, booth tuning with Acoustic Tuning Package, installed by George Whittam. Neumann TLM-103 microphone. Sound Forge Pro 15 recording software.

For most all the projects I record, I include a round of “pick-ups,” or minor script changes for a period of time after the audio files are delivered, at no additional fee. More extensive script changes or re-writes of significant portions of a script, will incur an additional fee. Once we’ve discussed your project and agreed upon a fee, I’ll let you know the time-frame for pick-ups, for your specific situation. As I mentioned above, a well-proofed, well-reviewed and final script is always good insurance against any post-production re-records.

Paypal is my preferred way to receive payment. It’s electronic, easy, and very secure! There’s no worrying about getting your check into the mail, and no worrying on my part about if, and when, a check is going to be delivered. Electronic payment is always best. I do understand that larger corporations many times are not set up for Paypal payments, so I do sometimes accept a check as payment. If you’d like to pay by credit card, Paypal is a quick and easy way to make payment that way, and you do not need a Paypal account to do so. Get in touch if you’d like to discuss in more detail.

I can deliver your audio in any format that you wish: WAV, MP3, AIFF, etc. We can discuss the format you need in more detail when you get in touch and tell me about your project. I’ll make sure that I can deliver exactly what you need!

I prefer payment in advance, via Paypal. Or, if that’s not possible, I expect payment upon delivery of the audio files. I do not carry NET 15 or NET 30 payment terms. I give your audio production high priority and understand your sense of urgency to get the project done, and I appreciate the payment process being handled in the same way. Paying electronically (Paypal, for example) is also safer. Due to COVID staffing changes in the USPS, extreme weather, and the many people who have to physically handle a paper check, checks by mail are not as predictable or secure.

Depending on what kind of project you have – a corporate narration, a radio commercial, an explainer video – rates vary. That said, I understand that you have a budget to work with and I’m happy to discuss exactly what you need. Get in touch with the deets of your project, tell me what your budget parameters are, and I’ll outline a quote for you.

For most of the voice-over projects I record, I include a round of “pick-ups or minor script changes in the original fee for the job. The length of time for complimentary pick-ups varies, depending upon the scope and usage of the voice-over. Let me know the details of the project you have in mind and we can discuss in more depth.

I typically offer a 24-48 hour turn-around on most projects, and sometimes even same day if you’re in a big hurry. For longer projects like online training scripts or a series of video narrations, it can take longer depending on the scope of the project. I work from my professional home studio, so I’ll work hard to meet your deadline. And of course a well-proofed, final script always makes a project go more smoothly. Get in touch and let’s discuss what you have in mind.

No, I don’t charge to provide you with an audition. I’m happy to record an audition for you (typically sent via email as an MP3, or via WeTransfer), to help you with your casting process. It’s helpful if you can provide me with some “specs” for your audition: The kind of age range you’re looking for; the delivery style you’re looking for (warm, caring, conversational, authoritative, etc.), and any other direction that will help me deliver exactly the sound that you need.

Yes! I have a wide circle of voice-over friends who specialize in a huge variety of voice-overs. Women, men, children, accents, foreign languages, different voice-over genres, you name it! If I’m not the right person for your project, I can definitely give you recommendations for other voice actors.

Absolutely! I’d love to have you direct our recording session. You can connect with me via: Source Connect Standard, ipDTL, Skype, Zoom, or Phone Patch. Once we have all the details of your project dialed in, I’ll send you the contact information you’ll need to connect with my studio. If you don’t have time to direct the session live, we can discuss exactly what you need prior to my stepping into the booth, to make sure you get exactly the sound that you want.

My recommendations are: email, telephone, and LinkedIn.

I prefer Voice123, but there are many opinions about just as many sites. The most important thing to remember is that online casting sites, should you choose to engage with them, are just one small part of your marketing arsenal. You should always be reaching out to clients, directly, yourself, and not just “waiting for auditions to come to you.” An online casting site is just one arrow in your quiver!

Okay, this answer is going to be longer than the others because this is REALLY important. Your mindset, and how you FEEL inside can have great effect on your voice-over career, for better or for worse. So let’s talk about this for a minute.

My first suggestion is to take heart, and know that a situation like this is temporary. Things WILL get better. You simply MUST believe that. And you have far more control over your situation than you probably give yourself credit for.

When work is slow, and you’re feeling down, it’s a great time to sit down and assess what you’ve been doing to move your business forward. And to examine what you might have been doing that’s holding you back.

Taking care of your health, exercising, getting out doors, and eating well is a great place to start. Doing those things will help you sleep better, which in turn will help you handle stress better and also give you more energy.

Next, get clear on your voice-over goals. What do you want your voice-over business to look like? What would your ideal voice-over day look like? Create a vision for yourself that’s positive and motivating.

Then, take the time to assess your marketing materials and marketing habits, and daily habits for that matter.

Is your website out-of-date? Does it showcase your current abilities and is it modern, mobile friendly, and contain all the necessary elements? Are your demos very old and contain irrelevant material? Do you have a good contact management system so you can easily keep track of your client contacts and your interactions with them? Do you spend an afternoon watching Netflix, when you could be researching new clients online, or sprucing up your LinkedIn profile?

Is it time to stretch yourself into a new genre of voice-overs perhaps? If you’ve been doing a lot of corporate narration for years, and feel bored by it, why not get some coaching in character voices, audiobooks, video games or medical narration?

It can be challenging when you’re in a funk and feeling down, but even small, daily changes to your routine, your goal setting, and your vision for the future will help you.

Now, get off this website and go and make a list of five things you can do in the next 24 hours to help move your voice-over business forward. There’s ALWAYS something you can do to create positive change! Then send me an email and let me know how you shifted the listless energy you’re experiencing to something more positive and energized.

What a great question! Managing our time, as a voice actor, freelancer, and someone who works from home, is one of the most challenging aspects of being an entrepreneur. And what I suggest to you is have SYSTEMS. That is, ways of doing things that are planned, predictable, and that you can replicate over and over again. So you’re not reinventing the wheel every day!

And that goes for your marketing, for how you organize your recording and editing schedule, and for how you schedule learning and business growth into your weekly routine.

As far as the business side of voice-over, something that will be incredibly helpful to you is to have TEMPLATES for the tasks you face each day. Whether that’s a consistent way to ask clients for referrals (an important part of business growth!), invoicing promptly, regularly requesting testimonials from clients or knowing exactly what to say when you cold call a client or send an email as a way of introduction, using templates helps you run a tight ship so nothing falls through the cracks.

Here’s something I created, just for voice actors, that I think you should check out: “12 Voice-Over Business Templates. Make your voice-over business processes and plans easier and faster, with these easy to modify templates.” (Includes 3 bonus VO biz checklists!) Any system you can implement that reduces the time spent on repetitive tasks will help keep you OUT of overwhelm, and streamline your business day. Less stress, more efficiency, greater professionalism and more peace of mind! Here’s the link to check it out: https://www.maxinedunn.com/voice-over-business-templates-package. The price is $10.99.

Possibly. But doing voice-overs is not about having “a nice sounding voice.” It’s a skill that takes time to master, and being a voice actor also means you’re an entrepreneur. That is, you’ll be running a BUSINESS. It’s not just “talking.” And it’s not an easy business to master. It’s great if you have a nice-sounding voice, but only get into voice-overs with your eyes wide open. It will take a lot of hard work, perseverance, skill and determination to have a successful voice-over business.

Probably the two biggest changes are the delivery style of voice-overs, and the home-studio aspect: Voice-over clients consistently want natural, conversational, authentic delivery now. It’s no longer the super-enthusiastic, overly announcer style. The “real person” voice-over is what’s in demand now. And it’s of paramount importance that you can record broadcast quality, professional voice-overs from your home studio. Visiting professional studios (unless you’re in L.A. or New York), is a rarity now. So: develop a natural, conversational style of voice-overs, and put together a great home studio.

No, no, and….. NO! You only get one chance to make a first impression, and home-made demos (unless you’re already a skilled audio engineer and producer) are a very bad idea. They’ll scream “amateur,” and won’t be advantageous to your career. Remember, once you’re website is live and you’re putting yourself out there in the world as a competitor, you’ll be competing with talented professionals who have amazing demos. Don’t make the mistake of trying to create your own demo. Again, get in touch and I’ll send you a list of demo producers that I recommend.

There are a few crucial things you’ll need to get started. The first is coaching/training. You’ll need to be a very facile reader, so start reading outloud as much as you can. Then, you’ll need to be able to record and edit audio at home, so educate yourself on the different audio recording software that’s available.

And start listening FOR voice-overs. Notice when you hear commercials, documentaries, on-hold messaging, explainer videos, etc. that sound like YOU. Notice what products and services use YOUR kind of sound. Those observations will help you down the road when you get your first demo made and start to market yourself.

If you send me a  note on the contact form, below, I can send you a resource list of websites, coaches, demo producers, etc. who’ll be able to help you. I also recommend my eBook, “The Voice Actor’s Toolbox – Beginner’s Edition. Get started in your voice-over career with these step-by-step, low-cost strategies.” Go to www.thevoiceactorstoolbox.com to purchase – the price is $27.00.

It can be challenging to work steadily in voice-overs if you have a strong accent – for example a southern accent or strong Brooklyn accent. The vast majority of voice-over clients are looking for unaccented voices. (Not all, of course, but the majority.) If you do have a very strong accent that you can’t avoid, I recommend working with a dialect coach to help you achieve more control over your dialect or accent.

This is a tough question to answer on an FAQ page, as it entails a number of strategies and lots of details. So I’m going to suggest that you purchase my $7.00 Special Report, “How to Set Your Fees, Charge What You’re Worth, and Get Paid Quickly.” It will be a great help to you when you’re starting out and trying to figure out what to charge your prospective clients. I outline all the things for you to consider when setting your fees, which gets rid of the confusion and you’ll be able to communicate with your clients with CONFIDENCE with regards to your rates. (Which of course enhances your professionalism 100%!) Here’s the link to get your copy: https://www.maxinedunn.com/your-voice-over-rates-special-report

First, as an aside, it’s a good idea to have a business checking account and a business credit card. That will go a long way to helping you at tax time! You can accept payment for your voice-over work in any method that you choose: Paypal, ACH electronic payments, paper checks in the mail, credit card, gold bullion! When you finish a voice-over job (or beforehand, if you’ve opted for the “payment-in-advance” business model), you’ll send your client an invoice. And by the way, payment terms (i.e., HOW and WHEN you’ll get paid), should always be determined BEFORE you ever set foot in the booth.

Your first demo will be comprised of “fake” spots. But even though they might not be from “real” jobs, it’s vitally important that you can recreate for a client, everything that you showcase on your demo. If you’d like some recommendations for demo producers who can answer your questions about demos, and ultimately produce them for you, get in touch and I’ll send you a list of demo producers.

Yes, you have to do marketing. Your voice-over business will not be a success without consistent, persistent, creative marketing. You’ll have to accept and embrace that fact if you want to have a career in voice-overs. Period. You can’t just slap up a website with a demo on it and expect clients to be beating down your door. You have to GO OUT AND FIND THEM.

Absolutely! Yes. Without question. That said, you won’t need a website until you have some great training and coaching under your belt, have had at least one voice-over demo professionally produced, and have a good idea of who you’ll be marketing your voice-over skills to. But long story short: Yes, you will eventually need a website. Which means you’ll need a domain name. Go to GoDaddy.com right now and purchase your first and last name dot com. Even if you name your voice-over business something else, get your name registered, stat.

Yes. But not immediately when you’re JUST starting out. The first thing you should focus on is training and coaching to master the skill of voice acting. Once you are in a position to start marketing yourself to clients, you’ll definitely need a home studio. In the mean time, you can start practicing with learning audio-recording software without a full-fledged studio. If you’d like some recommendations for studio techs, when you get ready to get serious about creating a home studio, get in touch with me and I’ll send you some highly regarded recommendations of people who can help you.