A wise man once said, “You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em, Know when to walk away and know when to run.”
It was in reference to a poker game.
It could have been a metaphor for Voice Talents.
Every so often I’ll get an audition invitation from Voice123 for a project that I’d really love to work on. Most of the time it’s because of who or what the project is for. I won’t lie. Sometimes it’s about the budget. After all, this is what I do to earn money!
When that invite comes I’ll sit and look at the screen for quite a while. I do some dry reads. I’ll review the information. I’ll think about how amazing it would be to put the client on my resume and the finished product on my demo reel.
Then I fold ’em.
One of the keys to being a great Voice Talent is knowing when to walk away. Knowing your skill set. Knowing your niche. Your sweet spot, if you will. Once you know that, it’s about having the ability to resist the projects that don’t fit, no matter how attractive they might be.
We’re told from an early age to trust our original instinct, it’s usually right. I happen to agree.
When I read project details I know right away if I fit or if I don’t. I feel it in my gut. Or something. Nine out of ten times, my gut is right. When I don’t listen, that’s usually when I get one of those dreaded, “Not Likely” rankings. I should have known better.
Know when to walk away, know when to run.
I book the most jobs when I stay true to myself, my voice, and my sweet spot. That goes for jobs I audition for on Voice123 or jobs people contact me about directly.
Have you got a project you need voiced that fits my voice and my sweet spot? Email me the details and I’ll let you know. marc@marcscottvoiceover.com
If you’re a Voice Talent, have you got any rules about when and when you won’t audition?
