In Voiceover Land, it Doesn’t Rain but it Pours

I’m having a fabulous voiceover week.Yay, successful voiceover week!

More jobs than I’ve ever had in one week, all well-paid, all either repeat clients or direct bookings that just found me – how good are jobs that you didn’t have to audition for, right?

I’m feeling very lucky and very proud of myself.

But here’s the thing; I’m also feeling a little…. scared?

Crazy! I’ve been wishing and hoping and working towards this kind of week for years. And here it is. I should be partying.

But I don’t have time to party! I barely have time to just do … stuff. I’m way behind on laundry. My stepson goes back to school this week and he may have to wear his pyjamas.

It’s a blessing and a curse, being as fabulous as me. 😊

But seriously, I need to learn how to be a proper adult with a full-time job. Perhaps I could start with just learning to be a proper adult. What’s a “proper” adult, anyway? Do proper adults even do voiceover?

adulting is hard, especially for silly voice actorsThis is the nature of the voiceover beast – a freelance, rollercoaster, never-raining-but-pouring kinda life.

Some weeks are so quiet that I start to wonder where the next booking is going to come from. And I’m not only keeping up with the laundry, I’m catching up with cleaning and mending and craft projects, too. AND doing all my VO marketing, auditioning and networking. Some weeks are like this one, and I’m overwhelmed with voiceover bookings and related commitments, but absolutely loving it.

Here’s some ideas I’ve got rolling around my head for How To Adult in the voiceover life:

In the quiet times:

  • LOTS of marketing. Spend time finding great leads at companies I’d love to work with, and write them charming, personalized, attention-grabbing emails.
  • Audition for anything suitable. I’m always a little bit picky with auditions, because there’s no point wasting a casting director’s time if I don’t suit the brief very well, but in quiet times I’ll throw caution to a small breeze and try out some new stuff, because why not?
  • Admin and all that exciting stuff. Get invoices sorted, update my CV and website and various online profiles so that everything’s in order.
  • Go through the goals and plans I’ve made and see how much of something I can get done. Take some of those Action Steps while you have the chance, baby!
to-do list: do the things.

In the busy times:

  • Be mindful and careful with my planner and to-do lists, so I keep on top of priorities and my schedule.
  • Continue to block out time each day for some marketing contacts and auditions, even if it’s not as many as usual.
  • Chat with my partner frequently about our combined schedules so nothing (for example… a child) gets forgotten or neglected.
  • Remember to be realistic about what I’m capable of in terms of work turnaround times, daily availability and project commitments. Always allow more time than I think I’ll need to get a voiceover finished and delivered.
  • And finally, make time to write a good, helpful blog post, without spending too much time on it!

Fellow voice actors and other freelancers, how do you deal with the up-and-down-ness of the business life? What else could I be doing to make my quiet times more productive and my busy times more smooth?

You know I LOVE it when you comment. Thank you!

Images by @robynbritz , @kayp and @jopanuwatd via Twenty20.

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6 comments… add one
  • Reece George Jan 27, 2021 @ 14:44

    Adulting is mostly just Googling stuff, but yeah, it’s hard to do when there is not a lot of time to Google.

    Thanks for an enjoyable read 🤩.

    • Sumara Meers Jan 27, 2021 @ 15:03

      Oh, excellent! I’m really good at google! 😁

  • Joshua Alexander Jan 28, 2021 @ 4:05

    Feast or famine, right?!?!? Very cool, Sumara. Keep it up. So glad that you are receiving showers of blessings! Couldn’t happen to a nicer Aussie chick. 🙂 Have a great week!

    • Sumara Meers Jan 28, 2021 @ 16:41

      Thank you Josh!

  • Jon Gardner Jan 28, 2021 @ 5:13

    I’m really glad to hear you are having a great week! I lift my glass in a toast to many more to come. BTW, clean clothes are overrated.

    • Sumara Meers Jan 28, 2021 @ 16:42

      Thank you Jon!

      I have a 10yo stepson and a 12yo son. Clean clothes are really not overrated around here! 😂

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