Emma O'Neill: Homeless Student, Yoga Guru, Top Voice Actor

In our chat today, Emma and I talk about her journey into voiceover, from discovering the industry to joining an agency and building her business.

She also discusses her experience of being homeless and living in different countries, which has influenced her acting. Emma emphasizes the importance of marketing services directly to clients and the limitations of pay to play platforms.

Emma's story showcases the significance of authenticity, perseverance, and building connections in the voiceover industry.

This is our interview with Emma O'Neill.

Paul SchmidtApril 1, 2024Comment

The Beginner’s SIMPLE Guide to Voice Over Training

You’re brand new to voice over and you think you want to become a voice actor. So how do you get started?

Your first real step will be to start training, but in order to do that, you need to understand the various types of voice over training available and that’s what I’m going to guide you through today, so that you can choose the kind of training that’s right for you and your level of interest and budget.

I’ll go through the different types of training and how much they cost, including free sources of training.

Paul SchmidtMarch 28, 2024Comment

Tina Morasco Dishing Audition GOLD - Voice Actors MUST WATCH

In this previously unreleased YouTube interview, I chat with Tina Morasco, an accomplished actor, voice actor, and head of casting at Sound and Fury.

Tina reveals her extensive background in the industry, her transition to coaching and casting, the importance of following the specs in auditions, and the role of AI in casting.

Paul SchmidtMarch 25, 2024Comment

4 Ways to Look Like a BEGINNER Voice Actor – DON’T DO THIS!

In the world of voiceover, if you want to look like a beginner and stand out like a sore thumb, there are a multitude of ways to do that. So in today's video, I'm going to give you four ways to look like a newbie so that you can understand them and avoid them while possible.

And make sure you hang with me until the end because I actually am going to answer the most common question I get: “So how do you get into voiceover?”

Paul SchmidtMarch 21, 2024Comment

From $5 a Holler to KILLING IT with AUTHENTICITY: Troy Holden

In this conversation, we chat with voice actor, Troy Holden. We talk about Troy's background, growing up in Nashville, and the influence of transplants on the Southern accent. He talks about the wrong path he initially took and how he course-corrected with the help of mentors.

We also discuss the mindset shift needed to value one's worth and the importance of training and competence in the voiceover industry. Troy also highlights the importance of personal growth and the role of community in the voice acting industry.

Paul SchmidtMarch 18, 2024Comment

Voices CEO UNANNOUNCED Pop-in at VO Atlanta: FIREWORKS ENSUE

There was a surprise, stealthy, mystery guest this year at VO Atlanta, and fireworks ensued!

There I was, on stage in the main ballroom at VO Atlanta, getting ready to take my seat on The Famous Online Casting Panel. J. Michael Collins, the moderator, walks by and announces to the panel, “65 seconds!”

I turn and a man in a blue plaid sportcoat holds out his hand and says, “Hi, Paul. I’m Jay O’Connor, Voices CEO.”

And my first thought was, is this guy gonna curse me out? Stare me down? Take a swing?

Paul SchmidtMarch 14, 2024Comment

How to Set PROPER PRO Rates by KNOWING Your Worth

Not all voice actors know how to set proper rates. Fewer still know what proper rates are. Even fewer quote them consistently.

Very few voice actors not only know and quote proper rates consistently, but they also know their worth.

Today, we’re going to delve into knowing your voice over rates, knowing and getting grounded in your worth, and the relationship between the two.

Paul SchmidtMarch 7, 2024Comment

What Voice Actors Can Learn from Photographers: Freelancer Series

Our guest today is an amazingly successful children's photographer in the Tampa, Florida area. She is the author of a book called Don't Blink: Capturing Your Child's Story Through Portraits (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.).

And she also hosts a very successful podcast. She's one of the hosts of the Fully Booked Photographer. And she helps photographers market their businesses much in the same way that I help voice actors market our business.

So we thought there might be some synergy there and maybe even something to learn for voice actors. Please welcome to the VOPro Podcast, Jeanine McLeod.

interviews, freelancingPaul SchmidtMarch 4, 2024interviewComment

Lisa Biggs: The Unravelling of a Voice Over Reputation

In December, very public allegations were made against voice actor, coach, and demo producer Lisa Biggs.

Earlier, in November of 2023, a group of voice actors sent an anonymous letter to the National Association of Voice Actors detailing their allegations, which in some cases, date back possibly as far as a decade.

As many as 100 people now allege that Biggs has violated agreements she made with them.

Three of the alleged victims have courageously stepped forward to tell their stories.

The VO Pro Blog