8 CRUCIAL Questions BEFORE You Go Full Time in Voice Over
8 CRUCIAL Questions BEFORE You Go Full Time in Voice Over

The decision to go full time in voice over or not may be the biggest decision you make in your career, and often one not easily made. There are so many things to think about and consider. It can be super confusing, overwhelming, and deflating – if you let it.

When I had this decision to make, I didn’t ask myself all these questions and it almost put me out of business.

Today, I’m going to give you my checklist of the crucial questions you’ll want to ask and answer when you’re considering going full time in voiceover, so that it doesn’t bite you in the ass, like it did me.

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

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The Beginner’s SIMPLE Guide to Voice Over Training
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.

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

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

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

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How to Set PROPER PRO Rates by KNOWING Your Worth
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.

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What Voice Actors Can Learn from Photographers: Freelancer Series
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.

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interviews, freelancingPaul SchmidtinterviewComment
Lisa Biggs: The Unravelling of a Voice Over Reputation
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.

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interviewsPaul SchmidtLisa Biggs, dream bigg, dreambigg.com, lisabiggs.com, voxy summit, voxy summit cancelled, voice over demo producer, voice over coach, lisa biggs voice actor, NAVA, national association of voice actors Comment
Dervla Trainor: P2P Auditioning a HUSTLE. Marketing Is EASIER!
Dervla Trainor: P2P Auditioning a HUSTLE. Marketing Is EASIER!

The lovely and talented Dervla Trainor, a successful voice actor and creator of the VO Kickstart program, joins the podcast to discuss her journey in the voiceover industry.

Derv shares her experience transitioning from pay-to-play sites to marketing and finding direct clients, the importance of marketing and building relationships in order to have clients come to you.

She also highlights the value of attending voiceover conferences for learning, networking, and staying current in the industry and she talks about the VO Kickstart program, which provides a comprehensive foundation for starting a successful voiceover career.

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interviewsPaul Schmidtdervla trainorComment
5 BIG CHANGES to LinkedIn in 2024: What VOICE ACTORS NEED to Know
5 BIG CHANGES to LinkedIn in 2024: What VOICE ACTORS NEED to Know

LinkedIn's got a ton of changes in store for 2024. And if you're not up to date, then you could be missing out on huge opportunities and getting left behind.

LinkedIn is bringing a massive change to creator mode, a dedicated services section, search filters, and a whole lot more.

In this video, I'll break down five big LinkedIn changes for 2024, what they mean for you as a freelancer, as a voice actor, and maybe most importantly, how to update your LinkedIn profile to take maximum advantage and have the best possible effect in light of all these changes.

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marketing, social media, businessPaul SchmidtLinkedInComment
TikTok VO Maven Mandy Fisher: Social Media Made Me ANGRY
TikTok VO Maven Mandy Fisher: Social Media Made Me ANGRY

Well, my guest today is one of those folks that in the voiceover world, kind of borders on celebrity. She's got close to 20,000 followers here in early 2024 on TikTok alone.

Then you go over to Instagram. She's got another 5,000 there. So, she's building a little empire. She's known by a couple of names, @AstoriaRedHead on TikTok, but...

Her real name is Mandy Fisher and we couldn't be happier to have her here today.

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How To Get a Voice Over AGENT: 3 BIG Questions, 3 Big Answers
How To Get a Voice Over AGENT: 3 BIG Questions, 3 Big Answers

I got a message from a VOPro student this past week who says this. “I have a topic that could go down a big rabbit hole for all us newbies out here. When is it time to look for an agent? What milestones should you have met or be meeting to find an agent? How do you go about finding an agent and soliciting them?”

I'll answer these and other burning questions in Paulie's Secret Agent Plan.

Yeah, this is a big one, especially for newer talent. So, you've got your baseline training, you're competent, you have your professional demos ready, you have a professional website ready, you are finding work, maybe even you're finding a fair amount of work.

And yet the whole question of agent representation can be a big black box. So let's try and break it down for you into smaller chunks.

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agentsPaul SchmidtagentsComment
Toby Ricketts: "It's NEVER Been Harder” To Be a Voice Actor!
Toby Ricketts: "It's NEVER Been Harder” To Be a Voice Actor!

Well, my guest today, I'm pretty certain is a time traveler because it's already a day ahead of me where he is in New Zealand.

In all seriousness, my guest today is not just a highly experienced voice actor of over 20 years.

He is also the head of Gravy for the Brain Oceania and runs his own voice acting academy in New Zealand and the voice of Outback Steakhouse in the US.

Please welcome Toby Ricketts.

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interviewsPaul Schmidttoby ricketts, toby ricketts voice actor, gravy for the brain oceania, hugh edwards, peter dickson, dervla trainor, outback steakhouse, outback steakhouse commercial, world health organization, voice over marketing tips, vo marketing tips, voice over, voice over marketing, voice over business, paul schmidt voice actor, paul schmidt pro, voice over business coachComment
7 Voice Over Audition Red Flags – RUN, DON’T WALK AWAY
7 Voice Over Audition Red Flags – RUN, DON’T WALK AWAY

Auditions are the lifeblood of any voice actor. It's the main way that we compete and win work in our business.

Assuming you're properly trained, the more auditions you do, the more work you're ultimately going to be able to book, and that's a great thing.

But what about bad work? Work that is unfair, exploitative, or downright dishonest? How do you avoid those jobs?

Well, the best way to avoid bad work is to not audition for bad work.

Today I'm gonna walk you through seven common audition red flags in voiceover.

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3 HARD FACTS for Freelancers & Voice Actors - Straight Truth
3 HARD FACTS for Freelancers & Voice Actors - Straight Truth

If I asked a hundred voice actors, what do you do for a living? How many do you think out of that 100 would include the word freelance? Probably zero. And yet, if you're a voice actor, you're a freelancer.

We get so down in the weeds with all things voice actory, and sometimes we forget that we are freelancers first, and that many of the issues and problems and challenges and obstacles that we face are not at all unique to voiceover.

Freelancing is literally exploding in this country, and there's some evidence to show that it is around the world as well. And as voice actors, we are part of the freelance community.

Today, I'm going to break down three hard freelancing facts for you if you're a voice actor or, more importantly, a freelancer.

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freelancing, professional development, businessPaul SchmidtFreelance, freelancerComment
J Michael Collins: "P2Ps Are in DECLINE"
J Michael Collins: "P2Ps Are in DECLINE"

In our chat with J. Michael Collins, he emphasizes the importance of using voiceover sites wisely and not overspending on memberships.

He highlights the significance of having a strong marketing game and reaching out to clients on a regular basis.

He also talks about the benefits of search engine optimization for visibility and attracting clients. JMC emphasizes the importance of networking and building relationships in the industry.

Finally, he provides some insights into what can be expected at VO Atlanta 2024.

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interviews, AI/TTS, the vo industry, rates, marketing, conferences/conventionsPaul SchmidtJMCComment