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STARTING YOUR OWN VOICEOVER BUSINESS Q&A REVIEWS – Week Three

Each Tuesday of Harlan Hogan’s month-long STARTING YOUR VOICEOVER BUSINESS: Everything You Need To Know To Turn Your Dream Or Your Sideline Into A Business teleseminar series includes an open-ended Q&A session.

Here’s what our students had to say about the one we completed tonight, dealing with “Finding Work” and “Getting Work.”

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  • Sean Hedenskog May 19, 2009, 9:11 pm

    Once again lots of great information!  I will defiintely have to listen to the mp3 of this session of this again as there was some great information and ideas being batted around.  I don’t believe I will be able to make the Live call on Thursday but look forward to the recording.  I also am real appreciative of the Facebook group as I think it will provide much value for many years.  I can’t believe next week is the last week.  Looking forward to joining the call next week!

  • Andrea Christensen May 19, 2009, 9:12 pm

    Fabulous call tonight. Liked the discussion around positioning – a concept to which I had not given much thought until now. I am thankful for the MP3’s of all the calls. I have some travel coming up and I know what I will be listening to on the plane…there is so much info on all the calls, and the Q & A sessions, I know I did not get it all the first time around. Looking forward to the bonus call – and next week! Thanks.

  • John Pellegrini May 19, 2009, 9:13 pm

    Another great night. I took 3 pages of notes – typed notes because I wanted to be certain I could read them when I was done!

    Everything you guys touched on was extremely helpful especially the website building stuff. I’m planning on having a long chat with my web designer this week about what I want my site to look like and have him get me a means to post blogs, demos, and other stuff quickly when I need them.  In just that area alone I’m sure you’ve helped me save a small fortune on website development revisions!  

    Also your stuff on positioning and branding is fantastic and I’m going to do an Amazon search for the Positioning book you recommended as soon as I complete this review.

    Looking forward to Thursday’s call!

  • Tim Petersen May 19, 2009, 9:13 pm

    You guys should write a book or teach a class. Thank you so much for all the info. I know my brain is on overload. You cover so much but we will all benefit from it. The acronym KISS is definitely for the website..less is better. Dan I really enjoy your “taking it one step further” shtick..and H2 comes up with some great 1 Liners to keep the class loose. I know for myself that next week will be bitter sweet but fly we must..

  • John Pellegrini May 19, 2009, 9:13 pm

    Another great night. I took 3 pages of notes – typed notes because I wanted to be certain I could read them when I was done!

    Everything you guys touched on was extremely helpful especially the website building stuff. I'm planning on having a long chat with my web designer this week about what I want my site to look like and have him get me a means to post blogs, demos, and other stuff quickly when I need them.  In just that area alone I'm sure you've helped me save a small fortune on website development revisions!  

    Also your stuff on positioning and branding is fantastic and I'm going to do an Amazon search for the Positioning book you recommended as soon as I complete this review.

    Looking forward to Thursday's call!

  • Joe Fedele May 19, 2009, 9:16 pm

    Thanks for your answer on the audition question tonight. I thought that the website info was very helpful, what they should look like, ease of use, tips about blogs helping out SEO and that every graphic on your website should have a text equivalent. I really liked the section on calling prospective clients, who to call, what to say in different situations. And Harlan’s brief review of Ries & Trout's "Positioning" along with the two definitions that Dan gave on Branding (A Promise & THE Solution to a problem) were great thought starters as I work on defining my voice brand. And the upcoming Thursday afternoon call gives me a chance to catch up on my sleep, so it’s a bonus in more ways than one!

  • Ashley Huyge May 19, 2009, 10:01 pm

    Tonight’s class was wonderful! I really appreciate the time and care you take with answering our questions. These classes run a little late for me over here on the East coast, but it’s worth every minute! There were a lot of things I wanted to put on my website that after tonight I realize would be inappropriate, thanks for the guidance. There’s so much I never knew about the business side of acting and I’m enjoying the learning process. Thanks so much!

  • Dina Boland May 20, 2009, 10:33 am

    Love the Q & A.  The questions folks had were pretty much the same questions I had.  I took loads of notes but I'm glad we have the mp3 to fall back on to help decipher what I wrote.
     
    Answers to what to say, how to initiate the call, who to call, how to get names, discussion engaging techniques– all were exactly what I needed.  I've made some cold calls before but was unsure what I wanted to say.  I've been sooo stuck because of that. I stopped making calls altogether because I knew I couldn't call up a company and say "I'm a voice talent.  What can I voice for you?" –even though that would be my question.  Last night's Q & A gave me tools and ideas to use.  I now feel I can move forward and make those calls.  Began researching a few companies to call.
     
    One thing that popped into my head last night was not something that came directly from the Q & A but the discussion last night reminded me of it.  You mentioned putting down whatever it is you need to do on the calendar.  You've been saying this from week one but for some reason (maybe the subject matter) it reminded me of some fantastic advice that I got from a fellow talent a while ago but sort of forgot.  She said to have a schedule such as: From 9-10am go through email, prioritize responses. From 10-12 marketing, mailings, research, From 12-12:30 lunch, 12:30-2 auditions (if any), 2-5 make calls-cold or otherwise.  That's not exactly what she said but you get the idea.  I think it's so much better to have a daily schedule– a regamine to follow otherwise you end up wasting time on facebook (like me)  I had a schedule but it sort of disintegrated.  Believe me, I'm putting one together this morning.
     
    I'm now embarrassed by my website from what we've learned. Re-tooling is in order.  It will probably take a while because I'll need to find someone to help me out with it.  Maybe in your curriculum in the future you may want to offer suggestions of where to go to find a good webmaster.
     
    Big thing?  I'm a bit closer to figuring out who I am in the market.  Just by listening to other callers and answers to their questions I find my self if not exactly pinpointing who I am at least eliminating who I'm not.  Believe it or not that's a big step for me.
     
    Thanks go to you and Harlan for being so open and helpful.  I'm sure I'm only one of many who now feel charged up and equipped to take action. The equipped part is HUGE. Can't wait til next week!

  • Melissa Freeman May 20, 2009, 10:35 am

    First, this is a fantastic class! I am learning the ropes better than I think I have or could have in any other 'workshop' experience. The material overall is hefty and last night's Question/Answer module realistically dealt in 'real time' based upon situational approaches to the questions asked regarding Branding, websites and (eek!) the ever-looming-but-now-less- threatening, cold calling!

    The solutions to whatever our puzzlements were based on a comprehensive arsenal of combined experience and knowledge between Harlan and Dan. I liked the organized, yet easy-going style of the entire class and the answers I needed were satisfied; a few questions I had were somewhat of a mind-meld with not only the some of the other students but also with both Dan and Harlan in their anticipation of the next question and addressed those too!

    I liked the time covered on 'voiceover etiquette' as well and how it augments not only promotion and marketing but also adds to positioning for the artist with a potential or existing client. But I gleaned that also building a rapport tailors or supports what type of specific gift-giving as a thank-you one would choose depending upon the client's interests.

    The fabulous thing is, that we can listen to the entire Q & A class module again and again on Mp3 whenever we need verification, validation or even more inspiration (inside) and motivation (outside) to keep us on track as well as to keep that confidence level high!

    I appreciated the quotes given by Harlan at the beginning and end of the class, one lending anticipation and the other, giving inspiration as we embark upon this exciting adventure of voiceovers as a real business — and a successful one at that!

    Looking forward to tomorrow night’s Bonus class!