It happens out of nowhere; one day you’re hot and the next day its crickets. You’re in a booking slump. No emails, no calls and no checks arriving in the mail. As voice actors, we all have times when there is no paying work on the horizon; especially in this time of constant business-model disruption. What is a voice actor to do? Hire yourself! This type of work won’t put dollars in your pocket, but it will do some other very important things. Here’s three ideas to productively fill your downtime.
Controlling what you can
When you enter a time of few auditions and no work, It’s very important to focus only on controlling what you can. You can always control your attitude and your self esteem, by keeping a positive outlook. How you respond to conditions you can’t control is always your choice. You already know you’re good because you’ve been successful in the past, and you know you will be again. Don’t play the fools game of comparing yourself to your colleagues. They are not you and can’t ever hope to do what you do so well. That’s a fact.
Another important part of controlling what you can, is something I’m hoping you’ve already done: saving $$$ for the lean times. You have to have a cash cushion in this fickle business of voice over. It’s the only way to weather the stiff wind of indifference always blowing in your face. If you have that, you can relax and work on finding your next job without panicking.
Here’s how I do it: Every time a check comes in, I put thirty percent in my tax withholding account. This is VERY important because that’s the amount i owe the feds, state and city at tax time. Then, I take twenty percent of the full amount of the check and put it into my cash cushion account, but – and this is important – It’s an account I don’t have immediate access too.
Mine is in a money market account that’s tied to my retirement savings. It would take a day or two to get it transferred back to my checking account. Since it’s not in front of me, I’m much less apt to spend it and it will be there when i need it. This takes some discipline, but like any good habit it becomes easier with time and repetition.
Creating Content
When you’re not doing paid work for clients you should be creating content to raise awareness of your brand. Your brand as a voice actor is, of course, you. So if you’re in a booking slump, hire yourself. How? The best way to showcase your brand is to draw from your imagination and personality and use your voice actor skills to exhibit them. “Sounds complicated” you say. It’s not. Take your phone, turn on the camera, point it at yourself and hit record. Rattle a bit of script or improv doing that English/German/Texan accent you’re so good at. Give it a humorous twist but putting that character in an unlikely scenario; Prince Charles asking directions to the nearest Krispy Kreme donut shop.( I think rolled ‘r’s are hilarious.)
The accent needs to be great, but what you say and even the production quality of the video is not that important, so shoot it and put it on social media. Potential clients and casting directors who follow you will see this and think: “I should give Carl a call for my nest casting.” It’s all about creating awareness and showing the world how talented and busy you are.
Fixing what’s broken
In slow moments, another productive thing you can do it start fixing what’s broken. I’m writing this in July, and sure enough, Its been slow. Not every July is slow, however. Last year this month I recorded more than ten political spots. All at Sag/Aftra rates. That was a good month. So while my clients cheat on me with other voice actors, I’m using this down time to rework my studio a bit with additional sound absorption panels, and reworking my templates. I’m also looking at my systems and seeing if they can be improved or streamlined. It beats the hell out of letting my inner vulture tell me “I suck” and “no one likes me”. Keeping busy with meaningful effort, combined with taking some time to enjoy life will show that vulture who’s boss.