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Realigning Work and Priorities Thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic, TV and film production (and nearly every other industry) came to an abrupt halt in March 2020 in an unprecedented worldwide economic shutdown. Social distancing restrictions halted work on all levels, from major studios down to film student projects. Actors, crew members, and support personnel were suddenly out of work and without a paycheck for the unforeseeable future. Fortunately for voice actors, the work is by nature compliant with social distancing. You can’t get much more isolated than by working alone in a 4x4 recording booth for hours at a time. And for production houses able to work from home offices, many projects are still going forward. So, while voiceover work may have slowed, it certainly hasn’t stopped, and in some genres – especially medical narration and eLearning – the work is picking up dramatically. As both an on-camera actress and voice talent, my time previously had been split more or less evenly between the two. Bookings pretty much decided where my time was allocated. Priority was given first to awarded jobs, with preparation for those jobs, paperwork and administration in support of those jobs, auditions, and marketing/social media work scheduled around those important client commitments. Once the quarantine hit, half of that activity immediately evaporated. Too many other actors, however, saw all of their professional momentum hit a brick wall. Even more painful, those working in the service industry as waiters and bartenders had their income safety nets yanked out from under them. Some are just trying to hold out until the industry shutdowns are over, but others with special skills are showing ingenuity by offering their services online in new creative ways, such as teaching design for social media platforms or leading group fitness classes from their homes. I have nothing but admiration for those folks and their resourcefulness. In my case, I’ve shifted my focus to voice over, fully investing in my business by launching a new and better website, updating my demos, and upgrading my ability to service clients with better connectivity options. But the on-camera side has not been ignored; actors have to continually work at their craft lest they become rusty. Like many others, I am also taking advantage of online workshops, coaching, and Q&A sessions with casting directors, as well as open casting calls generously offered nationally by many respected casting directors to consider new talent. The smartest actors are using this time to create original content, practice their monologues, or learn new skills, readying themselves for when productions will resume casting. Not surprisingly, voice over is attracting a lot more attention from the on-camera talent. I’ve been fielding many questions from actors interested in learning the basics and the steps to developing their own VO business. Aside from helping them get started, I like to remind them that VO practice will also help them keep their on-camera acting skills sharp; the foundational training, which is the script analysis and character study, is the same. It doesn’t matter if the actor is in front of the camera or out of sight behind a microphone. The actor is still telling a story, whether it’s from a character’s perspective within a crime drama or as an experienced medical worker explaining how to properly use a COVID-19 test kit. And a commercial voice over script often requires the actor to tell the whole story within 30 seconds or less. Excellent training material for the on-camera actor trying to convey intent and purpose in a longer-lasting scene. Life never stands still and we’re always called upon to pivot in response to unexpected events. Repositioning ourselves and our careers in especially uncertain times like these … well, it can seem more like we’d been unceremoniously thrown off a tower than just being pushed down to the ground. We can sit at the bottom of that tower and nurse our grievances, but most of us would prefer instead to check for broken bones, scramble to our feet, and dust ourselves off (probably with a curse or two) before looking for a way back up into that tower. Or maybe we’d decide to invest our days inside a nearby, more structurally stable building instead. Either way, the repositioning begins with a positive thought that there is a way out, followed by a goal-setting mindset that these new objectives can and will be achieved. Priorities are certainly changed by these major events. People are appreciating good health in ways few stopped to consider much before. Family, loved ones, and friends are top of mind, whereas career may have once occupied most waking thoughts. And while we may not be able to control the causes of these unwelcome changes, we can manage our personal outlook, responses, and new priorities and do our best to mitigate the damages. We can shift our time, attention, and resources to make the most of what we have and can do for ourselves. Perhaps best of all, we can keep a cool head so that we can assess a changing situation and position ourselves as best we can to make lemonade out of lemons. We may not have enough sugar to sweeten the result to our liking, but it’s better than just sucking on the lemons and feeling sorry for ourselves.

Learn more about voice over by following these popular bloggers Sometimes, the best way to learn about an industry is to learn from those working in the trenches. Voice actors who write about their experiences. Both good and bad. What works and what doesn't. And what you should watch out for as your own journey unfolds. It's helpful to learn from the perspectives of those who've been in the industry for a few decades. And others who've come to VO from other careers. You'll find some very well-known and respected names here, as well as some up-and-comers who are well worth watching. We're all part of an informal voice over blogging consortium and most of us know each other fairly well. Yes, I'm including a link at the end to my blog, too, since I'm a card-carrying member of this group. I'm a little different in that my blog also touches on life as a film/TV actor, since I work in the on-camera world about as much as I do in voice over. There are also posts about business, customer service, and entrepreneurship, stuff I've gleaned running a voice over business and, before that, as a corporate IT sales exec. Funny observations, too, because good-natured humor is part of my brand and I tend to see the ironic in life. Hey, I figure a little humor now and then goes a long way to bettering our lives. You'll get to know some of my blogger friends through their posts. Several are coaches, others run highly regarded Facebook networking and learning groups, newsletters, and podcasts. They're just some of the super-nice folks who are genuinely happy to share advice and experience with other voice actors in our community. Check them out! And enjoy. Want to learn what it's REALLY like in voice over? Read the blogs of those who've come before you. FEATURED BLOGGERS Paul Strikwerda Paul's name is synonymous with voiceover blogging. With over 40,000 subscribers around the world, he's a straight shooter, unafraid to call BS as he sees it and stir up controversy when and where he deems fit. And we all love him for it! Read & subscribe here . J. Michael Collins JMC is the uncrowned king of voice over. His name - and initials - are well-known throughout our industry for his first-rate work as a voice actor, coach, demo producer, and all around industry cheerleader. Read & subscribe here . Kim Handysides Kim is a longtime voice talent with a knack for well-researched articles that are not afraid to dive into the political arena and challenge the status quo. She has excellent material and a great mind to challenge your views and refine you. Read & subscribe here . Joshua Alexander Josh calls his blogs "edutainment" - and they certainly are! On point, interesting, and always downright funny. And, oh, he heads the VO blogging community. Read & subscribe here. Michael Apollo Lira Michael is an RN and brings a uniquely vulnerable and human perspective to his writings. Read & subscribe here . Carrie Olsen Carrie heads up the " Voiceover Start-Up with Carrie Olsen " group on Facebook and is coach and all-around source of encouragement. Read & subscribe here . Jeffrey N. Baker Jeffrey is a heart-on-his-sleeve blogger who shoots straight. Read & subscribe here . Jon Gardner Jon writes a humorous blog, inspiring and full of life, and always on point. Read & subscribe here. Paul Stefano Paul, along with Sean Daeley ,maintains The VO Meter Podcast . His blogs are honest, friendly, and transparent. Read & subscribe here . Paul Schmidt Paul maintains "The Move, Touch, Inspire Newsletter" which truly lives up to its name. Read & subscribe here . Billie Jo Konze Billie Jo writes a lively blog based on her experiences in the VO community. Read & subscribe here . Natasha Marchewka Natasha runs the Freelancer's Blog, a great resource of thoughts, experience and lessons. Natasha helps the voiceover community through her partnership with Katherine Tole in the V123 Pro's program, hailed for helping voice talent maximize their Voice123 profiles and online marketplace performance. Read & subscribe here . Tom Dheere Tom is a highly trusted name in the VO industry, helping other voice talents navigate the voice over industry as the VO Strategist . He always has a lot to say about our industry. Read & subscribe here . Ian Russell Ian's blogs have an educational, insightful British flare, showing us just how much is possible in the VO realm. Through a joint effort with his wife Sandra, Ian focuses on helping people find creative ways to do business through personal experiences and insights. Read & subscribe here . Sumara Meers From the land Down Under, Aussie Sumara's blogs are full of humor and enthusiasm. Read & subscribe here . Mike Christensen Mike "The Voice Monkey" pens a blog that chronicles his journey in stream-of-consciousness style. Read & subscribe here . Craig Williams Craig's blog is honest, forthright, and occasionally salty, as the situation may dictate. Read & subscribe here . Theresa C. Ho Theresa is a new and honest blogger with a business background who has no qualms about tackling serious topics like diversity in voice over. Read & subscribe here . Jessica Mathison Jessica is a novel writer with a unique viewpoint that is literally moving, as she shares her travels of life and voice over on the road. Read & subscribe here . Tyler Robbert From the perspective of someone fairly new to voice over, Tyler writes very well-crafted and unique blogs that bring a colorful and energetic look at what we do. Read & subscribe here . J.D. Gibson A world traveler, J.D. writes from a business perspective, having worked years in IT in both the military and the corporate world.. Read & subscribe here . Laura Doman And here I am, bringing up the rear on this list! if you haven't already found my blog, you can Read & subscribe here . Want to learn more about the business of voice over and what it's REALLY like? Read more about it here > I'm Laura Doman, a former tech industry sales executive, hands-on mom, voice & TV/film actress, and improv performer. I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories, from the friendly CEO touting new upgrades to your sassy best gal pal dispensing some necessary, real-world advice... Let's Talk! COMMERCIALS •  EXPLAINER VIDEOS • CORPORATE NARRATION •  ELEARNING • K12 • MEDICAL NARRATION • CHARACTERS & ANIMATION • TELEPHONY