The bucks stops with YOU as a freelancer

The bucks stops with YOU as a freelancer.

There’s no way around that.
 
You’re the one calling all the shots. Learning all the lessons. Making all the decisions. Making all the mistakes.

And that can be really scary.


Especially in the beginning of our careers, we’re still not sure exactly of the kind of work we want to produce, and the kinds of clients we want to work with. We’re still discovering ourselves.

Even taking time off can be difficult.

SO many of us start out saying yes to anything and everything.

I get that - when you’ve got bills to pay, sometimes you’ve just gotta do what you’ve gotta do to make ends meet.


But the sooner you can become crystal clear on what you bring to the table, and who you’d like to have at your table, the sooner you can get laser-focussed on putting out the right kind of invitation, for the right kind of client.

You can shape your website. 
You can tailor your social media content.
You can target your outreach.

And attract the right client, for you.


How have you found what’s right for you, as a freelancer?



#FreelanceLife #BeingAFreelancer #MondayThoughts

English Literature is no longer in the top 10 of most popular subjects studied at universities

English Literature is no longer in the top 10 of most popular subjects studied at universities, according to last year’s figures.

For the first time ever.

Students are favouring STEM subjects more and more, along with the promise of higher salaries at the end of their studies.

Given the current cost of living crisis, and our government’s policies, that’s hardly surprising.

To someone who champions the humanities though - hell; I’ve made my living out of using language, and creating performance pieces for all kinds of industries - this is incredibly worrying.


Even if you’re not a performance artist, or even a thespian for that matter, do we really want the next generation to throw out;

Ethics,
Creativity, 
Or even morality?

I don’t think we do.

Creativity and communications are some of the most prized skills in any business. Let’s not forget that!


#Humanities #NextGeneration #MidWeekMusings

I know, I know...selling yourself has huge ick energy.

I know, I know…

Selling yourself has huge ick energy.


Does the thought of putting yourself forward for a job, or taking credit for a piece of work you’ve created make you want to duck underneath your desk, and stay there?

I know what that feels like.

But if you want to get noticed, and noticed by people who could really use what you have to offer to make their lives better, you better get used to that feeling.

Selling yourself has connotations of insincerity, and not without reason. But shouldn’t this all depend on what it is that you’re selling?

Be proud of what you bring to the table. Don’t batt away praise if it’s lavished on you.

Value your own work, so others will too.

Look at it this way - if you don’t, how will people be able to find you and what you can uniquely offer, in amongst all the noise that the cacophony of digital platforms brings? 


#FreelanceLife #ValueYourWork #SellYourself

Are we all about to be replaced by binary code?

Are we all about to be replaced by binary code?

Is that really what’s happening?

Will a programme pip us all to the post, moving forward?

Soon, will all the images we see and voices we hear be concocted by computer programmers?

I’m not so sure.


Freeing up capacity can only be a good thing, of course. Anything that’s mundane, repetitive and leaves vital skillsets to rusticate, could, and perhaps even should, be picked up by software.


But what do we stand to lose, if we lean too much towards convenience?

If we listen only to the words, and ignore the warmth in a voice?

If we value a quick turn-around, over plummeting the depths of the human soul?


There is a reason why we all turned to Netflix, podcasts and streamed theatre when the lockdowns first hit. And I’ve got a feeling that ones and zeros had very little to do with it.

What do you think?

Is the text you’re writing maybe not flowing the way you’d like it to?

Here’s a top tip from a Voiceover Artist that’s made a huge difference for me and the way I write just about anything;


Read it out loud for yourself.


I know, that might sound a little irksome, or even a little odd.


But by reading any text out loud, you very quickly realise when;

Your punctuation isn’t working, and needs a tweak. 

You’re using words (or dare I say, jargon) that is jarring and stops the reader from even reaching the end of a sentence. 

You’re waffling without getting to the point. Good luck hanging onto your reader then, too.


So next time you’ve got some content to create, just give this a bash. It’ll do the world of good to your words on paper.



#ContentCreation #Voiceover #MondayTopTips

Have I improved? Am I doing things better?

Have I improved? Am I doing things better?
Am I treating myself with the same kindness I try to offer others?

Those are three questions I asked myself in a post 11 months ago...

To rewind, it was after the One Voice Awards, which are the voiceover industries equivalent to the Baftas, or the Oscars, or summat like that...

On awards night, I'd come home empty handed despite my 10th and 11th nominations in the last four years.

Last week, nominations were announced for this year's awards.
I managed to get my twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth:

🏆 Best Video Game Performance
🏆 Best Documentary Performance
🏆 Best Male Voiceover of the Year

Now there's a lot about that which is gratifying.

Those first two nominations were in genres I'm hugely passionate about and had specifically targeted to work on in the last twelve months. Disciplined monologue practice has aided my gaming work a lot, and working with a great coach (Thom Pinto) and demo producer (J. Michael Collins) had led to my first documentary gigs.

But despite all of this, I almost didn't submit my work for consideration.

Why?

Because of imposter syndrome.
And also because I knew that the drive that had helped me achieve all this was also going to put me in a no-win situation.

If I don't enter the awards, I'll have FOMO.
If I do enter and don't get nominated, I'll feel I've slid back.
Now that i am nominated, what happens if I lose for the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth time?
And even if I do win, I know part of me will be asking 'But can you do it AGAIN Chris?'

Now let's not even begin to dig into the privilege behind such a mindset. I'm making a great living after all.

But from conversations with a few other people who have gone through similar, i wanted to take this opportunity to be transparent.

My feed is currently dominated by voice actors (rightly) celebrating their achievements. But I also feel the ones who get anxious about the next step, or those that weren't nominated and who are now beating themselves up.

It's all bound up in that entrepreneurial mindset.
That striving to keep pushing, keep improving, to hold yourself responsible.
It's the biggest reason for my own success, but that doesn't mean it can't be a right b*tch at times.

So I return to those three questions I posed last year.
While I feel I've answered the first two, that third - about treating myself with kindness - still poses the toughest challenge.

How do you find ways to give yourself a break?


#entrepreneurlife #voiceover #onevoiceawards #mentalhealth

Don’t under estimate the importance of going for a run

Don’t under estimate the importance of going for a run.

Of hitting the gym. 
Of going for that yoga class. 
Or simply going for a walk. We spend so much time rushing from one meeting to another, one email to another, one task to another, that it’s easy to lose track.

To lose track of what our bodies need to be able to function, and stay in good health. Before you know it, it’s 6pm, you’re staring at heaps of empty cups and plates next to your laptop, and you’ve hardly moved from your office chair all day. 

So take that time to eat a proper lunch, rather than scoffing your food quickly behind your laptop. Head over to the gym (or any other class or activity that floats your boat).

Your health should be at the top of your list.


#TakeTime #Selfcare #MondayMotivation

What reaction are you trying to get?

What reaction are you trying to get?

As I approach 120k followers on Tiktok,
I'm now getting frequent 'reaction' videos to my posts.
They've got me thinking about this question.

I don't offer a service tons of people need right now.
So rather than try a hard sell, I want to give you something memorable.

It might make you laugh.
It might make you sad.
It might make you think.

My only job is to be engaging enough so that when you,
or someone you know, DOES need a voiceover...
you can't think of anyone else

(Don't get me wrong, I'm also reaching out directly to decision makers every spare moment that I have.
But sharing creatively is what makes me tick, so here's where I'll mostly be!)

#videomarketing #videocontent #viralpost #contentcreation #voiceover

A Ghost(ing) Story - Voiceover Style

A Ghost(ing) Story - Voiceover Style

By Chris Tester - British Male Voiceover Artist

A Ghost(ing) Story 👻

Whether you're a freelancer, consultant, or business owner, it can be dispiriting when someone suddenly stops responding to your messages.

Being available for last minute jobs is essential for my business.
Voiceover often comes near the end of the production chain, so I HAVE to quickly respond to clients' needs.

When that level of consideration isn't reciprocated,
I'll be honest, it really sucks 🤷‍♂️

I know as a service provider, I'm not the most important cog.
And I also know deadlines make things frantic and busy.
But I didn't know professional courtesy was so expensive?

To mitigate against it, I'd recommend:

1️⃣ Setting clear expectations and deadlines: Make sure your client knows what to expect from you and when.
This helps to establish trust and accountability.

2️⃣ Communicate regularly: Keep your client informed about your progress and any potential roadblocks. This builds a strong relationship and reduces the risk of being ghosted.

3️⃣ Follow up: If you haven't heard from your client in a while, don't be afraid to follow up with a polite reminder. This shows that you're proactive and professional, and can help to keep the lines of communication open.

Do you just take ghosting as a cost of doing business?

#business #videoproduction #ghosted #communication #freelancelife

Being a voiceover artist is easy….right?

Being a voiceover artist is easy….right? 




By Chris Tester - British Male Voiceover Artist

Being a voiceover artist is easy….right? 




・You don’t have to be on camera. 

・You don’t have to learn your lines - one one will mind you having your script in front of you.
・They can’t see you, anyway! 

・You don’t have to be on a set or work long hours.

Right? Well, no, actually. 
Not quite, I’d venture. 


Being able to tell a story as a voiceover artist - whether you’re in front of a camera or not - means you have to convey all your emotions and your journey as a performer, through your voice alone. 

Making sure that you can be clearly understood when speaking, means countless breathing exercises, articulation drills and tongue twisters - which all need to be done before you get anywhere near a microphone. 


Once you’re in the studio, getting that right take in the bag that the director will be happy with, can take many (and I *mean MANY) different takes. 



It takes a lot to make the listener keep listening. So you definitely want someone who knows what they’re doing to tell your story. 



#VoiceOver #StudioLife #ItTakesWork

Hey documentary filmmakers and producers - are you tired of the same boring narration?

Hey documentary filmmakers and producers - are you tired of the same boring narration?

By Chris Tester - British Male Voiceover Artist

[smooth sexy voice] Hey documentary filmmakers and producers - this blog post is for you 👇🏼

Are you tired of the same boring narrations? Give your film the spark it needs with a voiceover that's bold, funny, and full of life. Or dead and dark, like Dracula.

Yes, this is a shameless sales post, and the voice I’m ‘selling’ is mine.

So, where were we? Oh yes: Are you tired of the same boring narrations?
That's where I come in!

I'm all about bringing energy and excitement to your documentaries. No more monotone narrations, it's time to bring your story to life in a big way!

My goal is to help you create a film that not only informs, but also captivates and inspires your audience. So, let's make some magic happen together…

Who's ready to elevate their documentary game with me? 🎙️

End of salesy post. Now, please form an orderly line towards my DMs. Thank you.

#voiceover #narrator #documentaryfilm

Don’t look at what your voiceover competitors are doing

Don’t look at what your voiceover competitors are doing

By Chris Tester - British Male Voiceover Artist

Don’t look at what your voiceover competitors are doing.

Actually, ignore that.. LOOK at what your competitors are doing.

‘He must be crazy’ ‘This guy sounds unhinged and confused’

Yes, you might be right. But hear me out:

Look at what your competitors are doing - and then do things completely differently to them.
Because, how do you expect to stand out when you’re trying to emulate what everyone else is doing?

Especially when you’re copying what your competition is doing. You’re making it way harder for yourself than it needs to be.
Your competition might be miles ahead of you, their audience is used to their style, and they’ve spent months if not years building trust and brand recognition.

What works for them may not work for you at all.

I’m not suggesting to completely ignore your competition. Keep an eye on what they're doing, but don't copy them.

Stand out, be unique and make a name for yourself.

Are you more of a 'copycat' or a 'one-of-a-kind-unicorn'?

#unicorn #copycat #competitors #voiceover

On the hunt for the perfect voice for your next audio book project?

On the hunt for the perfect voice for your next audio book project?

By Chris Tester - British Male Voiceover Artist

Are you on the hunt for the perfect voice for your next audio book project? (say yes, and read the rest 👇🏼)

Here's why you should give the job to an experienced voiceover artist:

Versatility: Voiceover artists have the ability to bring a wide range of characters and emotions to life through their voice. They can easily switch between different accents, ages, and genders to give your audio book a dynamic and engaging listening experience.

Professionalism: we are trained professionals who know how to use our voice to its full potential. We can hit the right notes, use the right pacing, and give the right inflections to bring your story to life in a way that will keep listeners engaged.

Attention to detail: Voiceover artists take their craft seriously, and they will pay close attention to the script to ensure that every word is delivered with precision and accuracy. This means your audio book will be of the highest quality, with no mistakes or mispronunciations.

Save time and money: Hiring a voiceover artist will save you time and money in the long run. Instead of having to spend hours recording yourself or others, a voiceover artist can do it in a fraction of the time and with better results.

Branding: I can also help to create a consistent and professional tone for your audio book, making your brand more recognisable to your listeners.

Bonus: Because let's face it, you don't want your audio book to sound like a bad karaoke performance. Hire a pro and make sure it sounds like a hit! 🎶

So let me help you take your storytelling to the next level. Click on the button bellow to start 👇🏼

#audiobook #audible #voiceover

Are you ready to take your business to the next level? Enter: explainer videos

Are you ready to take your business to the next level? Enter: explainer videos

By Chris Tester - British Male Voiceover Artist

Are you ready to take your business to the next level?

Enter: explainer videos.

Let me explain explainer videos..

Not only do they increase website traffic by an average of 20%, but they also boost conversions by 30%.

And with the rise of video content all over social media, it's no surprise video marketing is becoming a must-have for businesses of all sizes.

Don't believe me? Check out these stats:

• 85% of businesses use video as a marketing tool (HubSpot)
• 90% of consumers say that product videos are helpful in the decision-making process (Animoto)
• 64% of consumers make a purchase after watching a branded social media video (Tubular Insights)

Investing in explainer videos can help set your business apart and give your audience a clear understanding of your products or services.

But guess what else you need? A convincing voice to narrate your video. Can you see where I’m going with this?

Answers in the comments 👇🏼

#ExplainerVideo #corporateVideo #voiceover

Feeling petrified about your upcoming podcast guest appearance?

Feeling petrified about your upcoming podcast guest appearance?

By Chris Tester - British Male Voiceover Artist

Feeling petrified about your upcoming podcast guest appearance?

These simple tips will help you sound confident and composed on air - even when you're not feeling it 👇🏼


1. Practice beforehand: familiarise yourself with the topic you will be discussing and practice speaking about it out loud. This will increase your confidence and reduce the chance of stumbling over your words.

2. Speak clearly: use a moderate pace and a strong, clear voice. Avoid speaking too quickly or too slowly, and pay attention to your volume and inflection.

3. Take deep breaths: breathing deeply can help you relax and calm your nerves, which can improve the sound of your confidence. Take a few deep breaths before you begin speaking to feel more composed.

4. Use good posture: Sitting up straight and keeping your head up can help you feel more confident.

5. Speak with conviction: believe in what you are saying and don't be afraid to show your passion and enthusiasm. This will help you sound more confident and engaging. The listeners will really buy into you...


And a bonus tip: use vocal variety. Varying your pitch, volume, and pace can help keep your audience engaged and make your words sound more convincing.

For example, you could use a softer, more thoughtful tone when you are presenting a nuanced argument, or a louder, more energetic tone when you want to convey excitement or enthusiasm.

Experiment with different vocal techniques to find what works best for you and the message you are trying to convey.


Are you planning to make a podcast guest appearance soon?

Time to get my crystal ball out... Here are my predictions for the voiceover industry

Time to get my crystal ball out... Here are my predictions for the voiceover industry

By Chris Tester - British Male Voiceover Artist

Happy 2023! Time to get my crystal ball out...

The voiceover industry has seen significant growth in recent years and this upward trajectory is expected to continue.

Here are my predictions for the future of the voiceover industry:

Voiceovers will become increasingly important in the marketing industry, for brands to tell their stories and connect with their audiences.

More people will be using voiceovers to advertise, market, and promote their products or services.

There will be an increase in demand for high quality voiceover artists who can deliver a professional sounding product in a timely manner.

There will be more opportunities for voice actors to work remotely and freelance, allowing them to have more flexibility in their lives while also increasing their earning potential.

Voiceover and AI technology will continue to merge, allowing for more sophisticated and seamless audio creation. (this is a big one!)

Voiceover will become even more common in video games, allowing players to interact with in-game characters and environments. This will open up new opportunities for voice actors to work on various projects within the gaming industry.

More and more products, services, and apps will be created for voice-based interactions. This means that there will be an increased demand for voiceover actors to create the audio content used in these products and services.

Do you work in audio, gaming, or voiceover production? I'd love to hear your own predictions in the comments.

Are you planning to release an audio book in 2023?

Are you planning to release an audio book in 2023?

By Chris Tester - British Male Voiceover Artist

Are you planning to release an audio book in 2023?

Then, perhaps you're after the perfect voiceover artist for your project?

Here are a few tips to help you find the right fit:

1) Research and listen to demos: Listen to voiceover artists who have experience narrating audio books, then determine which one sounds the most appealing for your project.

2) Consider the genre:
When choosing a voiceover artist, select someone who is comfortable and skilled in narrating the type of book you have written.

3) Look for versatility:
A good voiceover artist can adopt a variety of vocal styles, from character voices to accents and emotions. Find an actor who has experience performing in different roles.

3) Consider availability and turnaround time:
It’s important to choose a voice artist who can complete your project on time.

4) Don't be afraid to ask for references: It's important to find a voiceover artist who is both reliable and professional. Ask for references from previous clients so that you can get an idea of the quality of their work.


Choosing the right voiceover artist for your audio book can be a daunting process. Make sure to research and consider all these factors when selecting an artist, so you'll have a successful experience from start to finish!


Can I help you with your audio book voiceover? Send me a message to find out how it works.

#audiobook #audible #voiceover

Can your business afford NOT to join in on e-Learning?

Can your business afford NOT to join in on e-Learning?

By Chris Tester - British Male Voiceover Artist

Can your business afford NOT to join in on e-Learning?

Here are some statistics that show why your company should have already implemented this training method like, yesterday!

• e-Learning typically requires 40-60% less employee time than learning the same material in a traditional classroom setting
• e-Learning increases retention rates by 25-60%. In comparison, face-to-face training retention rates are significantly lower at 8-10%
• with e-Learning, participants learn nearly 5 times more material, without increasing time spent in training
• 42% of businesses implementing e-Learning say that it has led to a 26% increase in revenue
• an Open University study found that producing and providing e-Learning courses consumes and average 90% less energy, and produces 85% fewer Co2 emissions per student than face-to-face training. How’s that for green credentials?!


And this is just a few from the lengthy lists of positives for e-Learning I’ve come across.
Did you know, you can employ the help of a voice actor to record your eLearning narration?

It’s especially tricky for anyone narrating an online course to keep interest over a long period of time. The key is to deliver a likeable, interesting voice with personality to keep all your employees fully engaged.

Would you like to have a chat about working with a voiceover artist for your e-Learning project? Let’s talk!

#elearning #etraining #corporatetraining #employeetraining

What's the best online course you've done?

What's the best online course you've done?

By Chris Tester - British Male Voiceover Artist

What's the best online course you've done?

Mine was Ali Abdaal's on video editing in Final Cut Pro.

In just over two hours, I went from novice to someone who could actually put together something that looked - alright.

Yes, it took a lot of subsequent practise.
But getting a clear overview of the key features, and learning those CRUCIAL keyboard shortcuts was a game changer.

The course led to the creation of my Youtube channel,
my own courses on Skillshare,
my video case studies,
my Linkedin video,
my Tiktok account (56k?!)

Learning some basics about video editing also made me a better voice actor. Understanding the logic behind cuts from a production perspective informed choices I would make in my vocal delivery.

And the best thing about it? I watched it all for free on a trial for Skillshare - though I'm now a subscriber and teacher on there too.

So what course would you recommend?

#onlinelearning #videoproduction #elearning #videoediting #skillshare