No doubt at some point in your voice over journey someone has told you that in this business you’ve got to work hard. I suppose that statement isn’t entirely incorrect, but it’s also not entirely accurate.
Few things in life come easy. Without effort. Without dedication. Commitment. Time. But “working hard” isn’t necessarily the road to great success.
Consider the individual working two or three jobs just to make ends meat. No doubt they are one of the hardest working people you’ll ever meet. But if hard work truly were the answer to success in business, this person should be basking in wealth and financial freedom, should they not?
Hard Work Isn’t The Answer
In theory, if hard work were the answer to voice over success then the individual that submits 50+ auditions a day, spends 16 or 20 hours a day in the studio, makes 20 phone calls daily, sends 50 prospecting emails daily, and attends every conference and networking event within driving distance should be making big money.
More often than not, that is not the case. More often than not, the individuals working that hard aren’t having much success at all.
Work Smarter
The key is not necessarily in how hard you work. It’s how smart you work!
- What kind of work do you book most consistently? Figure it out and limit the bulk of your auditions to those jobs.
- Who are the clients you’ve worked with more than once? Devote marketing effort to those people.
- When you cold call a studio, first confirm they produce projects in your niche area.
- When you email studios use the same logic as cold calling.
- Don’t attend every networking event. Attend the one that fits best with your niche.
- Choose voice over and business conferences based on the sessions offered that you’re most interested in.
When you narrow your focus and direct your efforts accordingly, you’ll find that you’re able to be much more effective.
Now, you can work hard but smart with a targeted focus and reap the rewards you’re hoping to see!
