How Do You Recession-Proof Your Voice Over Career?
March 25th, 2009 Posted in General Info, MarketingEach week, I pose the question, “How Do You Recession-Proof Your Voice Over Career?” We’ve been getting great responses that we’ve been publishing each week. We’d love to hear from you! This week, I have my own answer to the question.
Last week I got a call from a client. She needed a voice for her project right away. The only caveat was (of course) the very low budget. Just like so many in other industries, times are lean and clients are scaling down. The rate was half of what I normally make. My first instinct was to say no. After all, it’s important to keep our rates at a certain level. But then, I had another thought. Maybe I could do things a little differently.
As Tori Hartman said last week’s podcast and in tomorrow’s podcast (part 2), it’s all about relationships when it comes to marketing your voice over career. So, I said to my client, “I will do this at a lower rate for you because you’ve been a good client.” She was very grateful. Then on my way to the studio, I thought, I’ve never met her. This might be a great opportunity to build our business relationship. And, maybe she could connect me with other producers.”
The session lasted 30 minutes. She was great and I met another producer she knows really well. On the spot, she recommended me to him and he has a slew of documentary projects he needs voices for!
As Zig Ziglar says, “If you help enough people get what they want, you’ll get what you want.”
-Tracy Pattin
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FEED
2 Responses to “How Do You Recession-Proof Your Voice Over Career?”
By Mark Neely on Apr 10, 2009
How do we Voice Actors do it during this Recession time? Well for most of us who are fulltime Actors nothing has really changed. Big expenses aren’t a part of our lives. Yes part time gigs have been cut back (Bartending) but the thing for me now is I simply have to become better at what I do. A better Actor, Voice Actor and go to each audition with gratitude and the stronger intention to book it. Become truly Professional at the business of this work
One thing I can’t ignore in this climate of financial crises hearing how the public panics. I actually heard a News report on how Rice and Beans or shopping at a resale shop can save you money. My relatives in Tennessee would laugh. To Black and Brown folks generally that has been a necessary way to live for many of us for years. Smart shopping. You don’t always need $200 Jeans!
Its not just getting by time how about making it the time to prosper! Thank you for your blog Traci and the space to participate
By Recession Proof Career on Jun 1, 2009
Just wanted to add a small tip on creating a recession proof career. It would be a good idea to plan out your career or business by considering government contracting. This is a very lucrative financial opportunity that can help you stabilize financially and increase your income flow if it is done the right way.
If this is something that you are interested in to put an end to your financial worries, get yourself registered with the Central Contractor Registry which is a federal clearing house for vendors and small businesses too. Also identify a product or service that you can supply to the government and which the government needs in order to get a contract.
You can win such billion dollar contracts and secure your career or business better even during this phase of recession.