I feel like I just signed my life away.
For the past year I've been thinking about trying to get into voice over work. Never really thought about it much before that. Last year I booked a VO job on a total fluke - went to an open call for an Internet radio station looking for people to do voice over for commercials and promos and for improv actors who could play callers to the radio station (that's the reason I went). It went somewhat well and the engineer let me hear some of my audition back. Damn! I sounded good! Then I got an e-mail saying I booked...something, and to come to a meeting. Found out what they were doing was creating a pool of voice talent with their own database of voices people producing the spots could listen to and choose who they want. There was also the option of training to be an on-air host but wasn't sure if I was into that or not. But the VO thing sounded cool - $25-$50 for an hour or so of work? Sign me up! At the time I was also in a slightly desperate situation and wanted out of my day job ASAP so I really wanted some extra cash! But...the job never happened. E-mailed them saying I was still interested, and got an e-mail back saying it was taking longer to get things going than they anticipated. Then I never heard from them again. So here it is a year later and that lovely little job never happened. :(
But it got me thinking, hey! I can do this! Maybe I can get a little demo together!
I've heard of people doing it on their own. I have a computer with recording software! Let's do this! Not too long after that I went to a VO demonstration thing at one of my networking groups. And you could get up and record a sample VO they would e-mail to you if you needed stuff for your reel! Cool! Sign me up! Between than and what I can record at home, I'll have my demo together in no time! One of the people speaking at the demonstration also put together demos...hmm, says they're cheaper than most demos but it seems expensive....I don't need it...I can do it on my own! I wasn't even thinking about classes or anything at this point. Then I got up and did my little recording. Ugh. Harder than I thought. Much harder than I thought. Hmm...maybe I should take a class? Nah, I can act, I can do voice overs! But the demonstration was really informative - I didn't know how much you could actually record at home. Not too long after that I saw a casting notice for a voice over job and they wanted people to send an MP3 for their audition. I recorded something on my computer and e-mailed it off. It took forever because I had no clue what I was doing! But I can figure it out and get that demo made!
A few months later, maybe after the new year, I went to a free VO seminar. It was taught by someone who did both VO casting and taught classes. They stressed the importance of class and how it was a waste of time to make a demo until you've had enough training. They won't even produce someones demo until they've taken the advanced class and are ready. Hmm. Does that mean you sit in the advanced class for months and months and they take your money over and over and FINALLY say you're ready? Well, I can take class somewhere and still make my own demo...right? Went home and looked at the person's website. They're demos cost FOUR TIMES what the person I met at the demonstration last year cost! Yikes! Then I listed to some of them. Wow. They sound great. They sound very, very professional. Better than the other persons. Way better. And definitely better than anything I could put together. I went and audited a class. Okay, I'm somewhat impressed. But seems pricey. But you can set up a payment plan. Hmm. Went home and looked up some other VO classes online. Okay, this class is actaully one of the cheaper ones out there. Hmm. Maybe I'll think about it.
Then I got into the advanced class at the studio where I take acting classes, put all my money into that, and the VO stuff kind of fell by the wayside. Then a few weeks ago I went to go hear another VO teacher speak. I was completely blown away by what they had to say. This person is extremely pricey but was completely honest with how much money you have to put into this. Between training, demo, packaging, putting a home studio together, getting on the VO casting websites, etc. it's a chunk of change. A very large chunk of change. But I was really impressed with what they had to say - basically they laid out the whole process and if you follow it you'll save yourself a lot of time, money, and frustration. And it's private coaching, which is probably why it's so damn expensive! But something about this seemed right. Hmm. I know people who have studied with this person. I went home and listened to the demos. Wow, they were great. And a little cheaper than the other teacher's demos I listened to. Hmm. What to do, what to do!
The thing I liked about this person's method was it seemed like they treated it as 1. starting a business, and 2. an entire process. It wasn't just like, okay, you took some classes with me, let's do a demo, and good luck! No, it really seemed like they guided you through the entire process of going from a newbie to a working VO actor. Yeah, you have to follow their instructions on everthing, but since I don't know much about VO, I kinda like that. I decided I really wanted to do this. Then I wavered. Changed my mind. Am I giving up on what I really want to do - TV and film? Or is this another avenue I can pursue in addition to TV and film? Is this just another area I'll try to break into, or can I really make some money doing this? Then I finally just took the plunge and did it. E-mailed and set up my first consultation! Purchased the required materials, signed the forms, wrote a check, and mailed it off yesterday.
What the hell have I done?
Am I taking away from what I really want to do? What about putting my webseries together? Will I ever do that? Is all my time and money going to go into this process now? Argh! But...what if I do end up making money from this? What if it is the thing that makes it so I can afford to do all the other stuff? Makes it a little easier financially every month. What if this is the thing that gets me out of a day job I hate so much! What if I actually LIKE doing this. What if I'm actually good at it? What if I'm actually SUCCESSFUL at it? I'm pretty sure I will enjoy it - I had a blast at that audition I went to last year. And I think I can be really good at it too! I'm just scared I may like this MORE than I expected and totally give up on trying to pursue TV and film...
Oh, and if I DON'T like it...I stop. I'm not locked into anything, so yeah, I'm out some money, but if I don't do I'll never know.
I can't think that way. I'm thinking of this as an investment. A huge investment. Plunking down a very large chunk of change I had put away. A portion of the money I had saved up in case it got to the point where I had to make a quick exit from my day job. A part of me feels like now I'm trapped at this day job. The money's dwindling and I can't replace it.
But...the money's been sitting there for awhile. Not doing anything. This is an INVESTMENT. Yeah, it's risky, BUT...there's the potential to make that money back and then some!
So yeah, I'm a little freaked out today. But I'm not thinking about it. Except for the money part, I'm EXCITED to be starting this! I got some of the materials yesterday - still waiting for one more thing I hope gets emailed to me soon. My consultation is in mid-July, but may be able to be pushed up if there's a cancellation.
I'm excited to start this process! But what have I done!!!????!!!!
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