Taking Voiceover Risks that Pay Off

Moving close to L.A. is providing me with amazing opportunities that will continue be revealed with time. Several years ago, I attended the 200th episode taping of VO Buzz Weekly. This event had Voiceover “All-Stars” attending – actors and industry professionals.

I was kinda freaking out… Not only because I had not yet driven down the I-5 into the city by myself (AND needed to squeeze into Spanx), but because I’d be faced with a theatre full of people who do what I do daily and yet, had absolutely no idea who I am.

Initially, I consciously decided that I would pass on attending because of the risk involved for me. Sharing what I deem as risks are even too personal for me to reveal, but it’s along the lines of finally stepping up to the plate and being afraid of failure, falling on my face as I step up to the plate…or possibly even being blacklisted from my own industry when they find out what I have or haven’t done.

You see, there is a stigma about being “just a person who does voice-overs” vs. a “Voice-Over ACTOR”. I’ve been a “person who does voice-overs” from home for many years. I’ve voiced THOUSANDS of commercials and business narration jobs for HUNDREDS of clients, working tirelessly over a hot microphone… But, I had rarely given myself the credit for being a bona fide actor and I can tell you that nary a voice actor would have called me one either. For you to be a “success” in this industry, there are certain criteria such as having an agent, being unionized, and recording National spots. At that time I had none of those, except having recorded a National spot. Still, I had worked. A lot. And, I had created a life for myself that was, and still is, extremely fulfilling.

Would I be looked down upon? Well, who cares really. I would certainly recover from that.

Would I be invisible? Possibly. Being a fly on the wall, is really what I was hoping for anyway.

Here’s the reasons why I told myself I SHOULD go:

…to know the players in my industry

and to begin to make appearances at industry functions

to open various doors for myself…

It’s thanks to Randy Thomas that I did go, actually. I was honored to meet the first lady of voice-overs by Skype last week and she supported me in making the effort.

Every blog I write, includes some risk-taking on my part, whether it be through the language I use, the personal information I share, or even how I choose to present myself with a certain photo or voice recording.

If I didn’t take risks, I certainly wouldn’t have the business I have today and would not have accomplished nearly as much. Whether I can “label” myself this or that is really irrelevant. I need to take my life in my own hands.