VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

bobsouer · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2016 9:50 pm Post subject:

Responding to the original post, from first paid voiceover job to full-time voiceover income was 22 years (1974 to 1996). From steady voiceover income to exclusively full-time voiceover was 26 years (1983 to 2009).

And to follow-up on something mentioned by several in this thread, I look at my financial goals both monthly and annually. For 2016 I have reached my monthly goals every single month this year, and passed my annual goal at the end of September.

I am doing voiceover because it's what I love to do (similar to Bob Bergen) and like Bob, I'm a union talent. Unlike Bob, I make my living in fly-over country and have zero major credits. Also, unlike Bob, far and away the majority of my work is non-union that I convert to union using a paymaster.
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Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

Bob Bergen · CM Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 981

What Bob Souer also didn't mention is, he's brilliantly talented and one of the nicest guys in the business!! Wink

Lee Gordon · Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2016 1:39 am Post subject:

bobsouer · Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2017 1:55 pm Post subject:

Very kind words here from two of my favorite people. Thank you Bob and Lee! Embarrassed

_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

Moe Egan · Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2017 2:13 pm Post subject:

Bish- I may have used the phrase "Blue Collar VO", I also - in my brush with fame when I had a chance to talk to Don LaFontaine at Voice 2007- told him he was the tip of the spear- and made it possible for me to make a living doing voice overs from my Purple Room of Isolation in NH- THE entertainment capital of the US...and I was a Staff Sargent. I've never desired to move to LA or NYC to pursue this profession- but I'm able to pay my mortgage and raise my kids (as a single mom) with my voice where I want to live.

When I was made to walk the plank on the Good Ship Clear Channel in 2004, I decided then to try this VO thing full time- it took me three years to make a living wage- and I haven't looked back since.

My first goal was to make more than I did in radio- not hard when one does radio in NH- and every year I up my target (FM Marketing). I now make three times what I did in radio- (again, sounds impressive, until you learn what I made in radio). I break my yearly goal down to a weekly goal because I have an itty, bitty attention span.

I love what I do, I do it on my own terms and I pay my own way and have provided a comfortable life for me and my kids. Winning.
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Moe Egan
i want to be the voice in your head.
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

It will take what it takes.

That will differ depending on who you talk to.

But it is good to post the question here to get a general idea of what to expect (and what to not expect).

Ultimately I would say don't compare yourself to others, although you can learn and profit from their stories and experiences. Learn to love your own path. It is what makes you, you , and is what makes that which you bring to the table unique and valuable in a way that no one else can replicate.

That's my two cent, Grasshopper. cool

HeatherMasters · Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 1:59 pm Post subject:

Just wanted to say thanks for this thread. I went through my first dry month back in September, and panicked. I have a monthly budget which I need to make and this was the first month things looked dark for me. All I could think was, "What if this is it? What if I've lost it and I never get a VO job again?!?!" So in a knee jerk reaction, I accepted some projects which, while they don't pay all that well, would keep me working through March. Then October came, and all of a sudden, I found myself with all kinds of prospects, and yet, because I'd filled my calendar with lesser things, I've had to hold off on great opportunities. This thread would have come in so very handy for me back in September. But I'm very glad to have seen it now, and have adjusted my business strategy, knowing that the months of lean WILL come, but I need not lose my head over it.

Thanks for the great advice all of you lovely people!
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Heather

www.heathermastersvo.com