If there’s one thing that most commercial voice over artists and announcers have in common, it’s a need for more jobs.

I’d like to show you some secrets that most people will never know about getting work.

A few years ago, a good friend of mine reached a point where she was close to desperate to get more voice work. To say she was angry is putting it lightly.

She was  fed up with being

• an award winning,
• high quality voice over artist

and still not getting enough work to keep her busy.

So she got busy and studied all the books and information she could get her hands on that had anything to do with selling personal services. She was determined to really get it right this time.

After weeks of effort she started to put it into action.

Guess what?

It didn’t work very well . She got a  little closer to her goal but was disappointed. She was about to learn blues guitar and sing on the street.

But she didn’t give up.

Finally, she found a mentor who could help her put it all together and get results.

The mentor she found had been through the same thing. He was sick and tired of not getting the work he needed so he put together a system that worked to take him to the next level. Later, he wrote a book and developed a comprehensive program.

You know, not all mentors have to be close friends. They can often come in the form of books and audio tapes. That’s what happened in this situation.

My friend learned how to

• Get plenty of commercial contacts and turn them into clients.
• Get repeat voice business month after month.
• apply the different marketing approaches for various kinds of clients.
• Set up a system so that her marketing brings in leads even when she is not paying attention.
• Present herself professionally even though she hates selling.

The mentor I am talking about has been a big help to me as well.

Michael Port is the author of the “Book Yourself Solid” program.

His work is organized in a way that helps you

• understand the simple steps needed to contact potential clients
• and follow through with them until you are Booked Solid.

Most of the voice artists I know have always been better at their craft than selling themselves.

But the truth is, no agent will work as hard for you as you will. With these tools from Michael Port you can unleash the networking machine that lurks deep within you.

One technique I like is Ports postcards for prospecting and staying in touch.

Internet based postcards sent through regular mail. A simple idea with effective results.

BYS is a sincere approach so you don’t have to present yourself with unnatural hype. Matter of fact, Michael teaches NOT to do that. His approach is real and straightforward.

It works, so when you follow his method you can take control of your career and be the one commercial voice person you know with a full calendar.

You might want to pass “Book Yourself Solid” along to others who could benefit.

Click here now for Michael Port’s Book Yourself Solid .

voice over guru

Want the best vocal coach in the world? Want to know how you can be more commercially successful with your voice?

Learn from the Master, Arthur Josephs, and his Vocal Awareness Program.

Vocal Awareness is JAM PACKED with tips, concepts, recommendations and proven techniques to help you use your voice more effectively  instantly, as a professional or in everyday life.

Arthur Josephs has coached Barbara Streisand, Sean Connery, Tony Robbins, Angelina Jolie, Pierce Brosnan and a long list of others.

Josephs approaches the voice from more than just the sound aspect. He is a strategist and a master of the psychology behind the way you use your voice.

I took his vocal coaching series a few years ago and was impressed with a few things:

• He wants to get at your best voice, no one else.
• He fully understands that each person’s voice is like a fingerprint, unique.

The psychology behind how you hide certain tones and emphasize certain colorations of your voice is fascinating. He points these things out in clear , easy to understand terms.

He does not recommend a one size fits all standard ‘good ‘ voice.

This guy is the real deal. He strikes me as one of those people who was born to work with voices, commercially, theatrically and in everyday life.

Ever wondered why James Taylor has a strong, clear voice after 40 plus years of singing? I found the answer in this program.

Some professional voice over artists have a lot of problems with their voices. I know I have had plenty of challenges over the years.

Arthur Joseph’s coaching helps you-

• Understand how you might be abusing your voice ( it’s not what you think.)
  Tips on exactly how to bring out the best in your own voice.
  Understand how Arthur’s ideas have literally changed lives.

Over the years I tried every vocal technique I could find .

I used to put stones in my mouth to work on articulation. (I switched to paper when I got concerned about swallowing a stone.) I used breathing exercises, sprays, teas, soothing sounds, massage.

All these helped but none of them can touch the vocal mastery Arthur Josephs offers. He is that good.

I cannot recommend him highly enough. Honestly, I don’t want to claim he can walk on water but pretty close.

Just check out his site and see for yourself.

When you use the Arthur Joseph method of improving your voice, you’ll never have to worry about what could have been.

Starting out in the voice over business you are never sure what to do. That’s the breaks. Often you wonder if you should even pursue voice work. There are so many questions.

• Can you actually make a living  voicing commercials?
• Will it take years to get enough clients and contacts?
• Are you good enough and, if not, can you get good enough?

When I started I bought every book available and checked out all the others the library had. I wanted to know I had done my best to learn everything.  One book was about breathing. (I would read a book , then go try my new knowledge.)

At one point I was breathing so carefully I could hardly talk. Another time I had a mouth full of paper to learn to enunciate clearly. One winter, I took a small, hidden tape recorder with me everywhere to tape my regular interactions with store clerks and others, then listen back and cringe at the horror.

That’s how I learned to control my voice.

Today there are many silly methods and some serious. I recommend you try them all like I did. You don’t know what’s going to click and make the difference. If you  try something ‘different’ just be sure you’re not doing something weird to your voice. I once saw a  girl singer screaming in an effort to make her voice sound sexy (scratchy) for a certain part. NEVER DO THAT.

But DO experiment with ways to get control of your voice. There are plenty of online options that will help you become conscious of your vocal style and be aware of how you do things. It’s important to separate your ego from your voice. Use your voice as a tool, like a model uses their body.

Here are some shortcuts to getting your voice to be your money maker.

• Practice everyday
• Practice the basics like reading aloud
• Always read into a recording device and listen back to it critically.
• Get a private coach ( a good one).
• Volunteer to do public speaking.
• Some towns have blind readers.
• Read ads from magazines out loud.
• Call your local radio station production director and say this:
• “Hey if you ever need a person on the phone for a part in a commercial, call me. I’ll do it free.”

Use your voice. Then relax it and go about your day.

Your rituals define you in all things from health to having a commercial voice.

CLICK HERE NOW for a program that teaches you to use your voice.

Have you noticed that many of the same voice talents keep showing up over and over?

Keep It Coming

Many people view that as a mistake, a burn out or tired, old sameness. But if you look closer you’ll find that most of those people generally communicate by complaining.

I view consistent voices as a good thing. One of the principles of ongoing success is momentum. One of the most consistent voices in the business is Donna Reed.

Steady She Goes

I have known Donna for over 20 years. There have been whole three or four year spans when we would only catch up for a minute or two by phone but I have always been able to hear her voice somewhere.

That is real momentum.

Donna’s resume is impressive. It reflects her consistency.

She has done voice work for-

• all of the major networks,
• movie trailers,
• children’s readings,
• characters for commercials,
• TV,
• radio
• and singing jingles.

She has often been interviewed by the major industry magazines so it is not hard to find her advice on how to be a force in the voice over business.

Here are a few tidbits:

Donna has recently been asked to submit as a voice double for acting legend Judy Dench.

She has completed a project for LAX, Scholastic books and American Airlines.

Her voice has been a steady anchor for:

• news promos,
• sports and rock stations both in the US and Europe,
• animated characters,
• narrations and tutorials.

She is at it every week. Year after year. That is what it takes.

And that is why you hear familiar voices, including hers. Consistency. Momentum.

So if you ever wonder, “what’s the secret?” Step back and look at Donna Reed. She is talented and works to improve her performance, she is sincere and trusted, and Donna is committed to working even when it’s not always glamorous.

The mistake Donna does not make? Not showing up..

My Favorite

She even voices the announcements on the local bus where I live. It’s not unusual to be standing near a bus stop and hear a familiar, friendly voice saying, “Welcome Aboard”. That’s Donna Reed.

Check out these videos and listen to Donna.