Hmmm, will I be able to still find work without quitting my day job???

[Kerivox]

After the company I currently work with decided to have ME :smiley: record the message that goes out to tens of thousands of people every day (I work for a background screening company, and mostly handle professional references), I have decided to start doing my homework and try to get into voice-overs. My specific question (for now) is...


Will I be able to go out on auditions and bookings after I get off my regular job at 2:30pm??? I am in the LA area and can probably drive into the city just within an hour.


I have bills and obligations, and need my health insurance (I am recovering from surgery now, and am trying to use my time off for research b/f I go back to work at the end of next month). I can't afford to quit my day job, nor does that seem even REMOTELY wise from all that I've read...

Do I dream of being able to do this full time? Yes, but I know it's unlikely...do I think it's possible I may be able to get an occasional booking and supplement my income - if my voice is right for the job I'm auditioning for, then yes, I think I can, which is why I want to try.

Is it realistic to think I can work at all in the afternoons only (except for the RARE day I can arrange a vacation day)? I can arrange to get off as early as 1:30pm if I talk to my bosses a few days ahead of time. Also, if it makes any difference, I am looking to do union work as I think long term it allows me to pursue the voice-over work more if I am that fortunate...

Thank you all so much ahead of time for your input!!!

Keri

[jsgilbert]

You will no doubt get a ton of responses from folks saying go for it and raising pom poms high in the air to welcome you aboard the train to nowhere. (the bridge to nowhere was taken). Just realize that many of these well wishers aren't making over $1,000 per year in v.o. Other top earners will say go for it, becuase they are role models for the industry and simply ride in the voiceover parades and wave. You will also no doubt get many individuals who sell, train, teach, coach or otherwise drool over the prospect of an employed (hence you gots money) individual they can extract some cashola from.

I believe you have answered your own question. You are bit by the v.o. bug becuase your employer either did an

a - kind thing by horing you to do the outgoing message
b- is a cheapskate and saved themselves some money by using you
c- is inherently lazy and you were convenient
d- all of the above


Simply shake it off and bask in the spotlight of your 15 minutes of fame, just like the guys who are the first ones voted off the island.

Now there is that one in a million possibility that you have THE incredible voice. The one I've never heard and would rush out to hire you within seconds of listenening to your demo, but this sort of thing only happens in the imaginations of v.o. teachers who often will open with this story 20 or so seconds into their class 'How to make money without getting out of bed in voiceovers"

So, the good news is that Los Angelkes is the town for v.o. work. The bad news is that your competition will be working at this morning, noon and night. And in Lost Angeles, there are more voice actors than barristas. Although most barristas are voice actors, so it's probably not a fair analogy.

You probably could get an ocassional job, but supplementing your income isn't what it would probably amount to. If some of the fledgling wanabe voice actors out there bothered to put together a business or marekting plan, they'd figure out that spending 167 hours of studying, traveling, web surfing, auditioning, etcetering, along with learning to be an audito engineer (home studio's are almost de riguer) and a director and who knows what else, along with the cost of books and equipment and classes (even cheap acting and improv) which yields perhaps $400 in work, simply just doesn't add up.

If you have the energy and need the extra money, then go study political science, because one ofthe simplest tracks to wealth is becoming a politician. Just make sure anybody who was ever present when you threw up into a club toilet or dropped a hit of e is dead or proerly paid off and you're on your first step to perhaps even the presidency.

With clowns like we got running for office, simply pick some small town and run for mayor or council. Heck even 19 year olds are doing it these days. In a few years you're a congressman or senator making tons of money and getting lots of cash from corporate lobbysits and then you can do the voiceover for your own political commercials.

When you're an ex-president you can probably get lots of work doing commercials and maybe even video game voice over.

Money, fame, and you get to do voiceovers - now that to mean seems like a feasable plan!

[JoeActor]

JS, your posts always make my day!
(puts away pom-poms)

Hi Keri - Welcome!

JS has a lot of gold in his posts, (and occasionally he's even funny ;-)

Look at the following for a bit more newbie advice:
http://www.voice-overs.com/forum/newbie-board/1342-random-thoughts-newbies.html

If you love VO and acting (gotta have acting), keep at it... but it's a long road from start to even modest pay. You're at the very beginning of the path. Plenty of people at all levels here will help you on your journey.

Oh, and in case you're wondering... JS is definitely in the top level - a voice of experience to be sure.

Nice to meet you - Hope to hear more,
Joe J Thomas
www.JoeActor.com (http://www.JoeActor.com)
www.SoundsGoodToYou.com (http://www.SoundsGoodToYou.com)

[Diane Havens]

Hi, Keri --

So the short answer is that it is far from easy, highly competitive, often frustrating, and there are many new skill sets to develop. It is going into business for yourself, with YOU as the product. Not easy in any economy, even if the product is excellent. There has to be a real need for it -- and the market in VO is rather glutted right now.

Think some more on it.

Best to you,

[jsgilbert]

Then there are some other people who do quite well and offer a rather practical form of optimism. I still contend it would be easier to get hired doing v.o. if you were a senator. - Or perhaps a serial killer. Hi, it's me Jeffrey Dommer for Colgate winterfresh toothpaste.

One last thing, most of the children of voice actors will lie to their friends and simply tell them you ar either dead or abandoned your family. At best the children of voice actors can expect to have paper routes until they are 19 or 20 and will attend community college. At worst their parents will push them into the "biz" at an early age, forcing them to audition for commercials and such, whichi will no doubt lead to what I call the "Buffy and Jody Syndrome", as in the kids from Uncle Bill and Mr. French. Said chil;dren will no doubt have many substance addiciton problems and self-esteem issues and require years and years of therapy.

Give up this "dream" of voiceover. If not for yourself, then for your children and generations to come.

[JoeActor]

:rofl::shocked:;):cheesy::afro:

LOL! You're crackin' me up, J.S.!

5 Smiley Rating on that last post,
Joe

[Kerivox]

Do I plan to study about this? Yes. Do I plan to spend tons of money on it...well, since I DON'T have tons of money (ever had to deal with PPO payments??? :(), I am likely looking at community college classes, etc. I am well aware that my $50 MPV player from Walmart with a voice recorder that I got for practice isn't going to cut it for demos, and you can forget about my spending thousands of dollars to set up my own studio when I don't even have an agent.


BTW, I am well aware that my company got me for nothing more than my regular paycheck, but as I have gotten job offers over the phone over the past 3 years (not necessarily for vo work, but it's still a consistent thing), I'm still willing to give it a shot, but in a sensible way. I realize it's a longshot, but I have all afternoon to try, and sometimes there is enjoyment in the chase...:afro:

BTW JS, I DO appreciate feedback and realize that I am probably tilting at windmills, but don't worry about my kids - for (very painful) medical reasons, I had to get myself "spayed", so I will only be dragging myself into "wannabe voiceover hell".

[Scott Pollak]

Um, yeah, what J.S. said.

I KNEW a post like Kari's would bring him out.

But he speaks the truth.

Think about this: how many fledgling, wanna-be actors ever hit the big time? And how many of them are, in fact, waiting tables and just thrilled to get a walk-on role in the latest Brad Pitt movie, where they're 'lucky' enough to sit on the set for 16 hours a day in order to collect a net check of $252.13? Or substitute 'singer', 'athlete', 'musician' or 'voice talent' for the word 'actor'.

Now, how many of those with ZERO experience ever hit the big time?

This is the truth of the matter. If it was easy and lucrative, everybody would be doing it. Instead of simply everybody just WANTING to do it.

[JoeActor]

Do I plan to study about this? Yes. Do I plan to spend tons of money on it...well, since I DON'T have tons of money (ever had to deal with PPO payments??? :(), I am likely looking at community college classes, etc. I am well aware that my $50 MPV player from Walmart with a voice recorder that I got for practice isn't going to cut it for demos, and you can forget about my spending thousands of dollars to set up my own studio when I don't even have an agent.


BTW, I am well aware that my company got me for nothing more than my regular paycheck, but as I have gotten job offers over the phone over the past 3 years (not necessarily for vo work, but it's still a consistent thing), I'm still willing to give it a shot, but in a sensible way. I realize it's a longshot, but I have all afternoon to try, and sometimes there is enjoyment in the chase...:afro:

Kool Beanz - you passed the first test!

Gotta have a tough hide and a realistic outlook in this biz. Keep that drive and excitement too. It comes in handy during the lean times.

Glad to see you post!
(only one pom-pom out),
Joe

[Kerivox]

OMG, only ONE post, and I get hazed!!!! ;) I realized initiation week was bad, but really, when are ya'll going to tie me up and leave me abandoned half naked in a graveyard!!!!! I'm locking my doors now...

[Scott Pollak]

but really, when are ya'll going to tie me up and leave me abandoned half naked in a graveyard!!!!! I'm locking my doors now...

Depends. Are you male or female? Age? Degree of cuteness on a scale of 1 to 10?

:cheesy:

[Kerivox]

Female, but :S (hey, aren't we getting a little personal/off topic here???) but I'm 5'5" 118lbs, and was told for the fourth time this weekend that I look like Liv Tyler, which I think is funny, b/c I don't see it except for I have light skin and long, dark hair...you will have to judge the cuteness factor for yourself.


Do I get any bownie points here if I squeeze myself into a bikini after my poor belly stops swelling???? :wink2:

[Diane Havens]

Scott, that question was totally inappropriate. Don't play with them, Keri -- it will only encourage them.

[Kerivox]

Thanks, Diane; it appears that the "rough and tumble" rules of the schoolyard apply here too...I'm picking up my ball now and taking it home until I have another question, and then you guys will get another chance to rip me a new one!

Tootles!:bye:

[jsgilbert]

At least we can laugh about it. Of course if I hadn't recently booked a national tv spot, my demeanor might not have been so optimistic.

Keri,
Sounds like the head on your shoulder is stapled on with rust proof staples, which will help when they get wet from all of the tears. Have no expectations and you'll have no disappointments and try to enjoy the ride.

And if you ever want some straight advice, you can email me at jsgilbert@pacbell.net and I'll do my best.

Good Luck.

[Scott Pollak]

Scott, that question was totally inappropriate. Don't play with them, Keri -- it will only encourage them.

Hey, SHE'S the one who brought up being in a graveyard in the buff!

And I'm surprised J.S. didn't tell her to include a pic when she e-mails him.

Liv Tyler eh.............? Hmmmmmmmmmm.

:cool:

[Diane Havens]

Granted, but a gentleman, and I know you are one, would have ignored it.

[jsgilbert]

My email was snet prior to my discovering a page 2. Anybody is free to email with questions or for advice regardless of how they may or may not look in a bikini.

Emails that are accompanied by attachemnts of said person in a bikini are however always given first priority.

Some people say I look a lot like a cross between Sara Palin and a Yeti. Although it's doubtful the two would ever mate.

[spartacus]

Keri ..... don't listen to all those out of towner's ....... I'm here local ..... we can meet up sometime and I'll give you the real truth ......


Hmmmmm Liv Tyler ......... ;-)

(just kidding ..... take everything JS has to say and count on it ......... he doles out harsh, but honest and excellent advice. Heck, if I remember correctly ... he even complemented someone the other day....)

[Scott Pollak]

( ..... Heck, if I remember correctly ... he even complemented someone the other day....)

I seriously doubt it.

;)

[Diane Havens]

Yes, he did! In Leads and Reads! I remember -- and it was a GUY!

[Kerivox]

Thank you everybody; I am just beginning to enter the dangerous waters of "wannabe voiceover hell"; I plan to take my time and do it right; no point in rushing out a crappy demo tape, right? I've found a community college nearby that offers lots of great classes and I am currently leaning towards that as a my starting point if I can get into their certificate program. I REALLY appreciate the feedback (and the sardonic senses of humor), and I'll come back on occasion with what (I hope) are good and interesting questions. I'm working on one right now, so get ready to rip me another one; apparently I'll be needing the space for the pair of cajones I'll require to pursue this...:smiley:

[Michael Murphy]

Welcome! I am new and haven't worked a job in VO yet, but if you want something, go for it!
Just be realistic.

Mike