Today’s blog is the first in a series where I reached out to some of the industry’s most recognizable thought leaders to gather a 360-degree view of the voiceover industry as we approach the home stretch of 2020. In this year that has changed so much, I wanted to » Continue Reading.

Strange title, right?

Maybe, but it could very well be true, and if so you need to know why you might be a better fit for a different VO coach or demo producer.

Everyone learns and communicates differently, and sometimes styles of communication and learning aren’t the most » Continue Reading.

Young. Fresh. Hip. Current. Real. Gen Y. Gen Z. Millennial.

If you’ve been around the voiceover industry for more than a week you’ve probably learned those terms by heart. They are the adjectives that have dominated casting for the past five years, as buyers have flocked to youthful talent » Continue Reading.

The last couple of months have changed the world, and in most cases not for the better. Health issues aside, the economy is suffering its greatest tribulation since the 1930s, and as usual, people at the less privileged end of the socioeconomic ladder are being hit the hardest.

And » Continue Reading.

The world today faces its greatest challenge in perhaps many generations. The virus known as COVID-19 has shut down public life across the globe, and will have untold impacts on every facet of society. Lives will be lost. Loved ones will be mourned. For many, much will change.

I » Continue Reading.

As the founder of the JMC Demos brand, one of my missions is to bring our industry-leading quality to as many corners of the voiceover industry as possible. JMC Demos is committed to being an inclusive and diverse brand that lifts the careers of talent across the spectrum of » Continue Reading.

Okay, I know what you’re thinking: “Do we really need another ‘getting started in VO’ blog post?” There are hundreds of these out there, penned by every VO expert and thought leader you can think of. Add to that the almost daily posts on VO social media asking for » Continue Reading.

My Talent Profiles series continues with the incredibly talented Sundholm family, including young rising stars Everett and Ashton, VO pro mom Michelle, and epic producer dad Steve. Here, Michelle Sundholm sits down for a chat about their careers.

JMC: Tell us about your career as a VO.

Michelle: I’ve » Continue Reading.

Many of you know that A.J. McKay is the Lead Audio Engineer for JMC Demos. He’s become a bit of a rockstar over the years, and deservedly so, but what many don’t realize is that A.J. leads a team of five world-class audio engineers who handle various aspects of » Continue Reading.

Continuing my profile of some of the industry’s hardest-working talent, today I sit down for a chat with Susan Glow, mom and manager to the amazing Cassie and Sabrina, both multiple Voice Arts Awards nominees in 2019.

* How did Cassie and Sabrina get interested in voice acting? From » Continue Reading.

After a long hiatus it’s time to bring back my Talent Profiles series, where I feature some of the everyday heroes of voiceover.

Today, I talk with Washington, DC-area talent Brad Hyland about his ascension as a professional voice actor.

What was your background before becoming a voice actor?

» Continue Reading.

Large companies understand that business cycles never last forever.

Have you ever wondered why, during times of plenty, companies seem to get stingy? Airlines devalue their frequent flier miles and benefits, credit cards offer tougher terms and fewer rewards, hotels stop passing out free upgrades and complimentary fruit baskets. » Continue Reading.

It’s a privilege to have the chance to attend numerous industry conferences throughout the year as a speaker and sponsor. From VO Atlanta to That’s Voiceover to WoVO Con, Voxy Ladies,  V.O. North, One Voice, and others, it is great to support the coming together of our industry.

This » Continue Reading.

The voice actor surveyed the wasteland before her. It had been some years since the robot voices had taken over. They arrived slowly…..seemingly harmless  in their cylinders and cubes with cute names like Alexa, Cortana, and Siri. They may have been people once, even then, but in their disembodied » Continue Reading.

Voice actor and coach Angel Burch has had a prolific career in the industry, and has helped many new talent find their footing on the road to success. Here, we discuss her struggles with vocal health issues, and learn lessons from her story.

JMC: Tell us about how you » Continue Reading.

It’s basic economics. Leave money in the bank, or in low-risk investments with a defined annual yield, and over time the initial principle will grow substantially if it is not touched. Compound interest is the topic of many articles and talks by financial experts, and with good reason. Smart, » Continue Reading.

In this first of a series of articles on vocal health, I talk to Shannon Torrence, a successful and talented voice actor who has recently struggled with vocal issues.

JMC: Tell us about how you got started in voiceover.

Shannon: After college I was living in Orange County with » Continue Reading.

Many of us take our instrument for granted. As voice actors, we’ve become used to opening our mouths and producing our work product almost reflexively, often without a second thought to the very real danger of strain, stress, or vocal failure.

Voice health issues arise from a variety of » Continue Reading.

Do you know where you are on your voiceover journey?

As a demo producer, one of the most uncomfortable conversations I have to have with talent is a frank evaluation of their ability. I will produce for any voice actor whom I believe will be able to see return » Continue Reading.

I’m a bit late to the game this year as far as VO Atlanta wrap-ups go. Between a touch of jet lag, (I made a rare-for-me decision to take an overnight flight back so as not to miss too much work,) a multi-day marathon of jobs and administrative stuff » Continue Reading.

VO Atlanta 2019 begins this coming week, and the excitement is palpable.

Featuring hundreds of hours of content spread over four days, the industry’s biggest conference never fails to be an event to remember. It is a celebration of learning, networking, socializing and friendship unlike anything else in the » Continue Reading.

I had an interesting epiphany the other day. After booking a big-brand commercial client through a website walk-in, I took stock of my daily rake: One fantastic commercial client and a smaller one. Three Corporate Narration jobs. One new E-Learning client and a repeat from a steady customer. » Continue Reading.

In my last article, I spoke of this being a new Golden Age of Voiceover, in which opportunity is more abundant than ever before. That doesn’t mean that we live in an era free of dangers, however.

In fact, quite the opposite. Our industry has learned the hard way » Continue Reading.

If your only source of information about the voiceover industry is social media, you might think the business is a barren wasteland of scarce opportunities, declining rates, and predators hiding behind every corner ready to pounce on the pocketbooks of talent who don’t know any better. Like the » Continue Reading.

A few weeks ago I reported here on the initial changes to Voice123.com and the issues being encountered by users of the site. At that time I approached the re-launch from a glass-half-full perspective, having faith that the positive things I was being told behind the scenes by Voice123 » Continue Reading.

It’s been a heckuva year. In addition to a growing voiceover workload, 2018 saw me involved in almost every major VO conference, hosting two EURO VO Retreats, and working aggressively to further build the JMC DEMOS production brand.

People could easily be forgiven for thinking that I crave attention. » Continue Reading.

Recent events in the voiceover industry are making “transparency” a hot topic again.

This term was the watchword over the great controversies that began enveloping Voices.com a few years ago. Voices’ greatest sin wasn’t dipping their hands deep into the kitty on managed jobs, (which is not to excuse » Continue Reading.

I had the opportunity for an extensive chat with Voice123 leadership this morning.

As you can imagine, they are busy working multiple shifts, including overnight, to stabilize the platform and reply to talent and buyer concerns.

Here are a few of the highlights:

1.) The Accept/Decline feature has no » Continue Reading.

A few weeks ago, Red Dead Redemption 2 was released to the world, featuring the voices of roughly half of our friends and colleagues, (and much congratulations to them for their amazing work.) This Old West-themed video game takes place across a stunning landscape where law and order is » Continue Reading.

It was the third week of a nearly month-long trip when my lovely wife Anna and I arrived in Los Angeles for the 2018 installment of the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences signature weekend featuring the That’s Voiceover expo and the Voice Arts Awards gala. We were joined » Continue Reading.

Three VO things for your Friday…..

1.) I find it interesting that whenever I see a, “the sky is falling,” post about the VO industry, the theme is always broadcast rates. Broadcast rates have definitely been declining as a result of lower barriers to talent entry, changing media consumption » Continue Reading.

Three things for your VO weekend….

1.) For years the talk has been about the trend away from brick and mortar VO casting into the online space. Agents and casting directors are fighting hard and having some success in reclaiming part of that business, but lately I’ve seen » Continue Reading.

Three thoughts to close out your voiceover week:

1.) They say you attract what you are, not what you want.

Are you looking for premium clients, major agency representation, and the kind of voiceover work that is both lucrative and fulfilling? Your web and social media presence needs » Continue Reading.

Some say LeBron James is the greatest basketball player of all time. I’m more of a Jordan guy myself, but time will tell. There’s no denying, however, that LeBron is one of the most formidable athletes ever to play in any sport. He’s a master at his craft, excelling » Continue Reading.

As the voiceover industry continues to morph into a massive intersection of various genres and career-types, I think it’s important that we hear from successful talent who have built careers in the trenches, booking daily local and regional commercial work, imaging, affiliate work, and copious amounts of corporate narration » Continue Reading.

Voiceover talent and those aspiring to join their ranks are motivated by many different drivers. Ultimately, though, most talent can define their motivation down to one, (or a combination,) of three different things: The Art of Performing, Fame and Recognition, and Money.

Where you find your motivation is directly » Continue Reading.

“Rejoice, and make a joyful noise.” I remember sitting in a Presbyterian church at around nine years old and hearing the pastor use that phrase. He was talking about how much we have to be grateful for, despite all of the problems we may face in our lives. » Continue Reading.

Welcome to the first installment of VO Nuggets: Short blog posts designed to take a quick look at an issue of the day in our industry.

We keep being told that the market is overrun with talent, and that competition is fiercer than ever before. However, I find it » Continue Reading.

During recent webinars and coaching sessions, I’ve frequently been asked for a list of various terms and titles to search when looking for buyers of E-Learning content. So, here’s a short guide to some of the most common titles of decision makers, that I hope will help you » Continue Reading.

Type “hire voiceover” into Google. Go ahead, I dare you. What do you see?

Here’s what I saw when I did just that a few moments ago, in order of listing from top to bottom, (excluding sub-pages of sites listed here.):

Voices.comVoicearchive.comFiverr.comVoicebunny.comUpwork.comVoiver.comVoice123.comSchoolofmotion.com (with an » Continue Reading.

Who doesn’t love an old fashioned New Year’s predictions article, right?

Here are my thoughts on what we have to look forward to in the voiceover industry in the coming year.

1.) Having an abundance of audition and work pipelines will become more important than » Continue Reading.

Today I sit down with the extremely talented Bob Glavin, he of multiple 2017 Voice Arts Awards nominations. Bob is one of the more interesting people you will ever meet, with an eclectic background as a performer, and a burgeoning career as a voice » Continue Reading.

When things are going well, it’s easy to start thinking you are a superhero, capable of handling Herculean tasks without breaking a sweat. Saying yes to every client request becomes second nature, until you have your day scheduled down to five minute blocks trying » Continue Reading.

I recently had the privilege of working with the absolutely brilliant Jodi Krangle at my Las Vegas Conversational VO workshop, which led to our collaboration on two spectacular new FIRST CLASS DEMOS. (http://voiceoversandvocals.com/) Jodi is one of the most gifted talent I’ve had » Continue Reading.

Like a hornet’s nest that has been smacked unexpectedly by a baseball bat intent on disrupting its tranquility, the voiceover community has been in an uproar over the past two weeks since news of Voices.com’s acqusition of Voicebank.net was announced to the world. The » Continue Reading.

It’s one of the more controversial aspects of online casting platforms: Bidding. Many industry professionals believe that talent bidding against each other drives rates down, and surely in some cases it does. It would be nice to say, “I won’t work on a job » Continue Reading.

Juliette Gray is the very definition of class, both as a person and a voice. Recently, I had the privilege of producing a new suite of demos for this class act, and she was a true joy to work with. You can hear her » Continue Reading.

Recently, I had the pleasure of chatting with talented voice actress Rain Gwinn about her journey in voiceover. We met at VO Atlanta where Rain took part in my X-Session, and subsequently worked together on her new E-Learning demo, which can be found here: » Continue Reading.

It’s one of the most intangible pieces of direction we get as voice actors: “energy.”

What does it mean? Where does it come from….and how do we know if we have correctly judged the buyer’s meaning? More importantly, how do we inject energy into » Continue Reading.

This week I’m talking with new talent Jim Cooper, a former commercial production pro, who recently booked his first gig as a professional voice actor. Jim’s a talented and interesting individual, and I enjoyed working with him on his delivery and new demos over » Continue Reading.

This week I had the privilege of chatting with Mindy Baer, a prolific and highly talented voice actor from the Miami area who recently completed a suite of four demos with me, (Automotive goo.gl/tuD9Ao, Pharmaceutical Commercials goo.gl/8AnE3h, Political goo.gl/xJzeV6, and TV » Continue Reading.

If you haven’t heard of Kabir Singh, it’s a name you should get to know. With a sound that pivots effortlessly from regular guy to authentically urban, Kabir is spearheading demographic change in the voiceover industry, paving the way with his success for future » Continue Reading.

Jas Patrick, (jaspatrick.net,) is one of the hottest young talents in the voiceover marketplace today, with over a hundred jobs booked in the past year alone. It would be easy to call him a rising star, but the ‘rising’ bit seems unnecessary at » Continue Reading.

It’s Friday, and here are my three thoughts for the week…

GENDER NEUTRAL CASTINGS

This week I’ve received no less than three castings looking for, “gender neutral,” voices. I’ve heard some buzz about this for a few months, but hadn’t yet encountered it myself. » Continue Reading.

It’s Friday, so here are my three things for the week….

Cost Cutting

As some of you know, I’ve been pretty loyal to British Airways over the years. Their fleet is modern, it’s easy to earn and use frequent flier miles with a little » Continue Reading.

It’s Friday again, and time once more to scattershoot about what’s on my mind this week….

ENERGY

Throughout the webinars and coaching I’ve been involved in this week, one consistent theme has been a particular focus of mine: Energy! Are you bringing it to » Continue Reading.

Today I’m launching a new weekly blog series to take a look at three voiceover related topics that are top of mind at the end of my week.

First up:

The Future is HereThe issue of rates and compensation continues to percolate around the » Continue Reading.

I had a nice Thursday last week. One of those days where a few things come together and you unexpectedly book more revenue in 24 hours than your usual monthly target. A happy dance may have been involved. Perhaps two.

My instinct, sitting there » Continue Reading.

The issue of what we should charge as voice actors continues to be the most talked about topic in our industry. From talent lamenting major national buyouts coming through agents for $5,000, and then reappearing elsewhere at even more egregious rates, to the festering » Continue Reading.

For the third year in a row, I had the privilege of attending and presenting at VO Atlanta. The past two years have been content and information-packed events which lifted the industry, and brought the community closer together. Somehow, Gerald Griffith and the team » Continue Reading.

Today I chat with everyone’s favorite rockstar, Armin Hierstetter, CEO and founder of Bodalgo.com. Armin is sitting on my Online Casting Leadership panel this Friday at VO Atlanta 2017. Apologies for any formatting issues as I post from my iPad. JMC: Tell us » Continue Reading.

Today I chat with Juanita Casas, head of Voice123.com. Juanita is a panelist on my Online Casting Leadership Panel at VO Atlanta 2017!JMCTell us about your role at Voice123. JUANITA

As Head of Operations at Voice123 I have a hand in virtually every aspect » Continue Reading.

Today’s post features voice and screen actor Rob Sciglimpaglia, who as a practicing attorney is widely recognized as the leading authority on legal issues in the voiceover industry. Rob will be sitting on my Ethics in Voiceover panel at VO Atlanta 2017!

JMC:

In » Continue Reading.

Today’s installment of my VO Atlanta 2017 Panelist Profiles series features CourVO, the irrepressible Dave Courvoisier, voice actor, TV anchorman, and President of the World Voices Organization. Dave will be sitting on my Ethics in Voiceover panel at VO Atlanta 2017.

JMC:

You are » Continue Reading.

Today I interview Paul Strikwerda, voice actor, respected blogger, and a frequent commentator on issues of ethics in our industry. Paul will be appearing on my Ethics in Voiceover panel at VO Atlanta 2017.

JMC:

Tell us about how voiceover became a career for » Continue Reading.

In this second installment of my panelist profiles series, I talk to Bev Standing, prolific talent and advocate for industry standards.

JMC:Tell us how you got into voiceover.BEV:I started out by taking a weekend voiceover workshop at VoiceWorx in Toronto. I took the course » Continue Reading.

As a preview of my upcoming series of panels at VO Atlanta 2017, I will be profilingeach panelist in the coming days, getting to know who they are and what they bringto the table as leaders in our industry. We begin with Cliff Zellman, king of AutomotiveVO, and a legendary demo producer. » Continue Reading.

It’s one of my bedrock principles to never speak out on a subject from a perspective of sanctimony or self-righteousness. No one’s hands are entirely clean where the often dueling forces of profit and integrity intersect. All of our houses have corners where there is more glass than concrete, and » Continue Reading.

Life is busy. Between having or building a career in voiceover, caring for family, spending time with friends, and general household responsibilities, it’s easy to let little tasks or ideas that might help you grow your business slip onto a never ending to-do list, or disappear from sight and mind » Continue Reading.

The holiday season brings so many reasons to be grateful. As my family and I prepare to celebrate Christmas this year, I’d like to take a look at some of the incredibly talented folks I have had the chance to work with as a voiceover coach and demo producer over » Continue Reading.

If you’ve ever read through my articles, or listened to one of my webinars, you know that I’m a devout proponent of a “The Customer is Always Right” attitude. I have always believed that success is in large part a direct result of the » Continue Reading.

For the last two years, voiceover legend Randy Thomas has hosted the VO Mastery Event, (randythomaspresents.com,) originally in Fort Myers, Florida. This year the event moves to Los Angeles.      I had the pleasure of presenting in 2015, and will be back in » Continue Reading.

The 2016 Voice Arts Awards, ( http://sovas.org/home-vaa/,) preceded by the That’s Voiceover Career Expo, (http://thatsvoiceover.com/,) are just around the corner. These November staples of the voiceover industry social calendar, conceived and brilliantly managed by Rudy Gaskins and Joan Baker, who founded the » Continue Reading.

“I did it my way.”

That’s likely to be etched on my tombstone for a number of reasons, some more laudable than others. Among them can be counted my voiceover career. From building it based on a radio background, (not the dreaded announcer!,) to embracing online casting in its infancy » Continue Reading.

It’s time once again to take a look at some of the fantastic folks I have been working with as a coach recently. Due to time constraints, I only get to keep a handful of talent on my coaching roster at any given moment. It’s always such a joy to » Continue Reading.

The 2016 Midwest Voiceover Conference in Columbus, Ohio was the fourth installment of this staple of the conference calendar, and it was once again a testament to the organizational skill of James Minter and his team who put on a top class event.

Featuring a lineup of industry luminaries led » Continue Reading.

I was thrilled this past week to land a pretty high profile national TV spot involving a three-letter network, a major prime time TV series, and a blockbuster movie release from the mouse ear people. Indeed, I dropped a short post on social media » Continue Reading.

VO Atlanta 2016 was the most heavily hyped voiceover conference in recent memory, and it did not disappoint.

With a vast array of presenters, panels, breakout sessions, exclusive X-sessions, a Spanish Day, a Kid’s Day, and hundreds of attendees from across the country and the world, VO Atlanta was a » Continue Reading.

It’s time again to take a look at some rising stars I have had the pleasure of coaching to begin the year. I am always amazed by the wellspring of talent out there just waiting to either make their VO dreams come true, or take already existing careers to the » Continue Reading.

This March at VO Atlanta (voatlanta.me), I am honored and thoroughly excited to have the opportunity to help continue the conversation regarding online casting and the future of the voiceover industry with two first-of-their-kind panels that will allow the voices of the talent community to be heard.

On Friday, » Continue Reading.

Christmas is always a magic time for me. The memories of the season never fail to conjure warmth, peace, and the love of family and friends. It is a time to reflect on a year gone by, and to dream of the blessings of the year to come. It is » Continue Reading.

Let’s take a look at some more incredible artists I have been privileged to work with as a coach and/or demo producer recently. What a pleasure it has been getting to know these superlative performers!

KATHERINE CRUMRINE  kathvoices.comKath has a remarkably pleasant voice that lends itself to both classic, » Continue Reading.

Love them or hate them, online casting sites are a fact of life in today’s voiceover marketplace. People from all walks of the business will continue to disagree over what they represent for our community. That said, with all the recent discussion surrounding the top tier memberships on online casting » Continue Reading.

If you are a new talent, you may find yourself struggling to break into the business for any number of reasons. Many aspiring voice actors have the talent and desire to make it in this industry, but are held back by a lack of funds which prevents them from getting » Continue Reading.

One of my great pleasures as a voice over professional is having the opportunity to coach and train other extraordinary voices. Whether they are working pros looking to polish certain delivery styles, or new entrants to this exciting business, helping these talents develop their skills, and book work, is one » Continue Reading.

There is a lot of money in political campaigns. At the national level, this can amount to many hundreds of millions of dollars for a single candidate. Some is well spent, while much is wasted in pursuit of vainglorious ambitions that exceed public buy-in. Embedded within the political process, however, » Continue Reading.

When is the last time you intentionally watched a commercial while viewing a television program? If you are like most people, you were watching that program on a DVR, where you can fast forward through the commercials, or on a streaming service like » Continue Reading.

In the past ten years, the online casting marketplaces for voice talent have exploded. Between Voices.com, Voice123.com, bodalgo.com, and others, there are 300-500 jobs being cast daily through online sites, via public and private channels. This number easily equals, (and probably exceeds,) all of the agency jobs being cast through » Continue Reading.

Check out my new article on what happened when a client overpaid me by more than $20,000.

http://www.voiceovertimes.com/2014/12/10/what-would-you-do/

Our regular clients are the lifeblood of our business. Chasing new jobs is exciting, but the relationships we build over the years are sustaining. There’s unlikely to be a single full time pro out there who hasn’t had a slow week saved by a big order from a return customer. » Continue Reading.

Check out my new article for VoiceOverXtra here: http://voiceoverxtra.com/article.htm?id=hll5qn1j

Check out my VO Times interview with the massively talented Satauna Howery here:

http://www.voiceovertimes.com/2013/10/13/voiceover-profiles-satauna-howery-2/

Everybody likes tacos….some of us a little too much, (just ask my doctor!) Whether loaded with beef, chicken, cheese, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, or other healthy things, a good taco can turn a bad day around.

What does this have to do with voiceovers, you might already be asking yourself? Has » Continue Reading.