When you are a<\/span> broadcaster everything is done for you, there are expensive mics, voice booths, and<\/span> producers along with tech people you can call when things go wrong. When you are a<\/span> voice artist working from your own studio, it is a completely di\ufb00erent beast that requires<\/span> some new knowledge. Here are a few things I have learnt along the way.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n One thing I learnt very early on is that a $1000 mic will sound pretty ordinary in a poor<\/span> setting. Doesn\u2019t matter how much you spend, a poorly treated room will create terrible<\/span> audio. Study what is needed for a booth and for as little as $700 you can treat a space in<\/span> your house that can replicate most top booths that you could easily spend thousands on.<\/span> If you get the booth right then you can for a long time get away with using a $300 mic.<\/span><\/p>\n The right booth is the key to getting great audio.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n A bit like girlfriends who one generally must have a few before a wife can be chosen, mics<\/span> are similar. <\/span><\/p>\n I started with a basic Rode Podcaster USB mic, found that didn\u2019t suit then<\/span> bought an Apogee mic plus<\/a>, that was better but not professional so I then moved onto a<\/span> Rode NT1A and now have a Sennheiser 416. <\/span><\/p>\n I took me a while to learn what I really<\/span> needed to get the sound I wanted and I needed to go on that journey to discover the<\/span> \u201cforever Mic\u201d<\/strong> you click<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I found a fantastic guy called George Whitten who can take your audio and for a small<\/span> price create presets based on your mic, voice, and booth and give you the proper tuning<\/span> of your setup. This has been a real game-changer. <\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019m not an audio engineer I have a<\/span> basic knowledge of audio but this guy was like having a top producer tune your audio to<\/span> make it just right. Now I have a professional sound that I can replicate every single time.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Whilst this point doesn\u2019t apply to VoiceRealm<\/a> as they handle the payments for you I<\/span> imagine you will work for lots of other people at the same time and it really is very<\/span> important to know exactly who you have done jobs for and to make sure they pay. <\/span><\/p>\n I have<\/span> found it best to invoice a job immediately upon completion. It puts it in the mind of the guy who paid you and it means you won\u2019t forget. I like to give people thirty days to pay<\/span> and then after that I am on the phone asking for payment.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sometimes you can audition for a job and then weeks later the client comes to you to do<\/span> the job. In the meantime, you have auditioned and worked for hundreds of people in lots<\/span> of di\ufb00erent styles and now he wants you to do a job in the way you auditioned and now you<\/span> can\u2019t remember how you auditioned it for him. <\/span><\/p>\n I keep every audition in a folder for that<\/span> reason. It is also handy if a client doesn\u2019t have a script but wants a particular style as an<\/span> example. I can now pull out a piece of audio and send it to him as an example. The other<\/span> cool thing is that you can also turn those auditions into a demo tape later on if you want.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I like to take ten percent of a completed job and save that for potential upgrades of<\/span> equipment or marketing, perhaps a new headshot. There is always something you need<\/span> to do to stay ahead of the pack.<\/span><\/p>\n Super important to make sure you are on track and sometimes even worthwhile to do<\/span> every now and then. Maybe it\u2019s not even a performance type coaching but a business<\/span> coaching or mentoring scenario. Training is always important<\/a>, especially when you are<\/span> new.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Many people suggest you get a new demo every year, I\u2019m not sure about that one but<\/span> having something excellent to put out to prospective clients is worthwhile. The key is<\/span> \ufb01nding the right person. Take the time to talk to them and hear there work before you put<\/span> down the cash. If you have VO friends ask them for a recommendation.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n This is very important. If it is a big job set a time you will work on it each day. For example<\/span> with a book narration or some other long formwork make sure you know how you will<\/span> spread this work out over the week or weeks to make sure it is completed on time. <\/span><\/p>\n For<\/span> shorter jobs be aware of when is your best time to record. A time when you are relaxed<\/span> and the house is quiet. My booth isn\u2019t 100% soundproof so I know when is the best time<\/span> to record and I set down that time to hit the scripts.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I hope this helps you and I am sure as the years go by I will probably add to this list<\/span> because in this business you never stop learning!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Koop is a professional voice actor located in Sydney Australia. He hosts the \u201cCocktail Nation Podcast\u201d<\/strong> and works from his professional home studio as well as production houses in the Sydney area.<\/span> <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hire Koop for a male voice over jobs<\/a> on this link: https:\/\/www.thevoicerealm.com\/view-profile-artist.php?artist_id=3405<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Koop, a Sydney voice actor with a radio background, on what he’s learned going full-time: booth before mic, saving every audition, coaching.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3893,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[147,131,232],"tags":[467,61,509],"class_list":["post-3892","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-british-voice-over","category-british-voice-over-artists","category-male-voice-over-male-voice-over-talent","tag-voice-over-for-beginners","tag-voice-over-jobs","tag-voiceover-tips"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tSpend More Money on your Booth Than your Mic<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Mics are Like Girlfriends<\/b><\/h2>\n
Invest in a Tuning of your DAW<\/b><\/h2>\n
Keep a Decent Voice Casting Accounts<\/b><\/h2>\n
Keep Every Audition for Future Reference<\/b><\/h2>\n
Reinvest Some of your Winnings Into your Business<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/h1>\n
Get Coaching<\/b><\/h1>\n
Get an Excellent Demo
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.thevoicerealm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Koop-300x300.jpg\")
<\/b><\/h2>\nPlan your Time When you Get a Job<\/b><\/h2>\n