VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

anthonyVO · 14th Avenue Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 1470 Location: NYC

I've seen people talk about this all the time and it intrigues me.

Some say, I'll keep working my day job until the voice-over thing gets busy enough where I can sustain myself (and my family if it applies) from it.
Even some people that hold seminars tell you, "If you're getting into voice-overs, make sure you have a day job. When you see that you're making enough from voice-overs, then it might be time to consider doing it full-time." (Not specifically a quote, but heard it mentioned at seminars and/or interviews.

I'm here to tell you, NO. That if you follow this plan, you will never do voice-overs full-time. Maybe I'm playing devil's advocate (should that be capitalized?), but here's two other ways:

1 - Don't get a day job. Get a night job. Bust your but at night and audition, market, train, and work on your craft during the day. This way, you are available for last minute auditions and work. You can't compete if you're not available. And no one wants to hear - I'll do it when I get home. Besides, alot of studios and casting directors aren't available for auditions at that time.

2 - If you do have a day job - MAXIMIZE your contributions to your savings account (401K, personal savings, whatever). That way, when you've ammassed enought money, you can dive into this thing head first! It's the only way to make a splash - yeah, you might belly flop, but at least you'll be swimming.

Just food for thought. The level of risk you can take, of course, depends on how many mouths you have depending on you. But if you're single, then why not? Heck, even then, with a supportive spouse you CAN do it. I did - thanks to my wife.

When I left my day job (in October of 2003) I had no plan whatsoever. Foolish, maybe, but i really believe I've made bigger strides, well, because I had to.

C'mon - take off the training wheels!

Don't hurt me - just wanted to get your take.

-Anthony

mcm · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 9:24 am Post subject:

This is such an individual thing, depending on one's day job, how long one worked to get it, level of ambivalence about turning one's back on that life, comfort with swimming, lung capacity while at the bottom of the ocean, number of dependents, on and on.

I gave up my day job this year when the college told me that due to unforseen enrollment they would need me to teach 4 sections of molecular biology this semester rather than two. Recalling that even when I was teaching the usual number at this time last year while launching the VO business, I was pressed for time, I decided I would have to give up the teaching job if I was going to make a go of VO (and maintain sanity). And although I didn't burn any bridges at the college (I found them a replacement and got a rather heart-warming letter from the dean), I feel this is the end of my academic career - a multi-decades investment. That was very difficult, although I knew at the start of the VO venture that it was inevitable. It also represents a considerable loss of income at the moment. So, I'm taking a risk - a calculated one.

I would say, there are no rules for making these decisions - only guidelines. I know a local VO guy who has been doing VO quite successfully for years. He still has a day job and has no intention of giving it up. If you're in a market like NY where much of the work is by in-studio audition, that sort of life would be much less likely to be workable. By the way I don't really know what I mean when I say "successfully" - he's busy and has good clients. I don't know how much money he makes. But I think he's quite happy and satisfied with his life. That should be considered success.

Deirdre · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 9:42 am Post subject:

I had the great luck of being laid off from my day(radio) job back in 2000.

Almost had a similar stroke of luck last year January with another dayjob in radio that I had kept through the purge. One of the stations I do traffic for swore they'd fight for me and I encouraged them not to.

I can't argue with a steady income, and it IS radio and stuff, but the timing is wretched and it makes the job The Stake in the Heart of My Day.
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dhouston67 · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 10:57 am Post subject:

For myself, I keep the day job because of the health benefits; not so much for myself but for my wife and daughter. (Self-employment insurance can be crazy expensive, and Disney hasn't come knocking with a five figure check lately.)

I'm stressed and tired of IT phone support, however, so hitting the 'eject' button is a more tempting option every day...
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Drew · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 11:09 am Post subject:

Same here, I have 13 year old and a wife who may be afflicted with Lupus. We need the medical bennies at the moment while we get the diagnosis nailed down.

And yes, self employment insurance is EXPENSIVE. Been there, done that, got the ratty tee shirt.
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Philip Banks · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 11:31 am Post subject:

When I started to think seriously about voice over work as my living my goal was 3 session per week at my minimum session fee 46 weeks per year.

14 years on the bottom line is the same. How much I make is not important as it would never present a problem, how little I make is an issue so I needed to define exactly how low I could go.

I'll give it another year and if it doesn't work out it's back to K-Mart.

Travis · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 11:56 am Post subject:

The Voice-Over buziness is (ugh!) SHOWBIZ!!!! If you're a v-o person, you're pretty much in the same situation as an actor. You need to be artist, businessperson, marketing director, CFO, CEO, and today, IT specialist. Since you gotta' run a business (I hate that part the most), it's necessary to arrange financing for your little business empire.

However you do that (If I could choose, I would pick "Be independently wealthy.") is up to you and your individual situation. I've found that the people in the less secure situation tend to be more inclined towards success.

The worst deal - "My wife said she was willing to support us so I could follow my dream - she gave me 3 years (or 5, or 10) to achieve success." Everybody I've met who got that deal went nowhere.

Each must discover his own path.
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dhouston67 · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 1:02 pm Post subject:

Drew ---

Best wishes for the missus' health. My wife is having a lot of issues as well, not as-yet-completely diagnosed.
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VO-Guy · Guest

Leaving my full time radio gig to do this was the best thing I ever did! Wouldn't change a thing. It gave me the time to grow my business to the level where my wife stays home with the kids and everythings rockin right along. Sure it was tight in the beginning, but it's taken about 3 years to get it to the point where it's at. I'm making more than I ever did in radio after giving it 22 years of my life. I agree with Anthony, nothings MAKES you get something done quicker than if you have no other choice but to make it work. That's the way I looked at it, I was either gonna sink or swim. Luckily I knew how to swim. Wink

glittlefield · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 1:40 pm Post subject:

glittlefield · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 1:49 pm Post subject:

dhouston67 · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 1:51 pm Post subject:

anthonyVO · 14th Avenue Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 1470 Location: NYC

All very interesting points of view. Mary made me aware of the fact that the idea of jumping in with your eyes closed is also a matter of markets.

I've had a little of both Banksey's and VO-Guy: I had a goal of how many gigs and/or auditions (in-person/selected for the job) I wanted to be doing per week and at how much money can I survive on (my threshold). I've also had to get in gear and push really hard because if I don't then I have alot to lose... plus nothing like a toddler to make you hustle.

Keep 'em coming.
-Anthony

COURVO · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 2:00 pm Post subject:

'Point here is, it's a case-by-case basis with some underlying currents that ring true no matter what.

We all love the challenge...we all understand that necessity is the mother of invention, and HAVING to risk it all makes us more resourceful....but there's always a BUT.....

I'm currying a VO career as a retirement tool. I'll never be happy not doing something later in life (my dad is 91, so I've got the genes), but I can't do TV forever. This gives me a new challenge to look forward to.

But, 3 teen daughters, 3 out-of-state tuitions, 3 marriages to pay for....huh-uh....I'm not giving up a great gig at a #1 TV station making 6 figures for what -- by now in my career -- seems like skating. In a sense, my work is practice every day for what I really want to do in VO. That's an advantage radio and TV people have over say....microbiology professors....I'm not really that far philosophically....just limited by contract somewhat.

I don't go to work till 2-3pm PST, that's 5-6 on the East Coast...if there's a producer needing work anytime before 5pm I'm there for him.

Dave C.
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glittlefield · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 2:35 pm Post subject: