Podcast Summary: A VO's Journey – Ep. 267: 3 Ways To Make Money In Voice Over

Host: Anthony Pica
Date: May 14, 2024

Episode Overview

In this episode, Anthony Pica returns to share his journey post-hip surgery and, more importantly, delivers practical advice for voiceover artists on how to move their business forward and make money in the industry. The main focus: Three actionable strategies every VO artist should adopt to consistently find paid work, based on Anthony's own experience transitioning into a full-time voice actor and coach.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Update: Recovery and Life Lessons

• Anthony shares details about his recovery from hip surgery, underscoring how transformative it’s been for his daily life and mental well-being.

  • He’s now able to walk daily, golf, and feels “a million times better” ([04:45]).
  • The experience highlighted the importance of not neglecting physical and overall health, especially in a sedentary profession like voiceover.

  "My hip is... it finally feels brand new. You know, I don't have pain in that hip anymore. It's just—it's amazing." – Anthony Pica ([05:55])

  • Also reflects on the patience required for recovery, subtly paralleling the patience needed to build a VO business.

2. The Time Factor in Building VO Success

• Anthony stresses that building a sustainable voiceover business is not instantaneous.

  • It “takes time to build your name. It takes time to build inroads...” ([10:20])
  • New talent shouldn’t feel discouraged if they don’t see immediate results.

  “It’s so easy to forget. It takes time to build your name... Just give yourself some time.” – Anthony Pica ([10:34])

3. Three Essential Ways to Make Money in Voice Over

1. Get a Coach, Join a Community/Academy ([13:35])

• Isolation is a dream-killer in VO; building a network is vital.

  • Find a coach, academy, or community that offers ongoing support with studio setup, equipment, and skill-building.
  • Participation in a community (like VO’s Journey Elite Academy) keeps you accountable and provides necessary guidance.

  “Get with people who have some skin in the game, who are actively working... somewhere that can continuously help you move forward.” – Anthony Pica ([14:10])

  • Facebook groups are good for beginners, but more serious support is found in structured communities.

2. Audition Relentlessly ([17:24])

• Auditioning is the heartbeat of a VO career.

  • Accept that it’s a numbers game; consistent auditioning is non-negotiable.
  • Use platforms like ACX to start, then transition to “pay-to-play” sites (Voice123, Voices.com, etc.).
  • Anthony credits his own steady work history to this relentless auditioning mindset.

  “You need to audition, audition, audition... My job every day is to audition. If I have work in a queue, that’s great, but I still need to do auditions every day.” – Anthony Pica ([19:00])

  • Recommends starting with audiobooks for experience, emphasizing it’s okay to use a pseudonym if you’re worried about early quality.

3. Join as Many Platforms as Possible ([23:28])

• Maximize exposure by joining every plausible freelance, intermediary, and pay-to-play platform.

  • More platforms mean more opportunities for visibility and jobs, even if some sites have a slow flow of work.
  • Don’t be discouraged by slow progress on any one site; combine immediate platform opportunities with longer-term brand-building (e.g., your own website).

  “The more places you are, the more opportunities people are to see you and for you to get work.” – Anthony Pica ([24:29])

  • Personal anecdote: Anthony got his first job within a month and never went without work again by leveraging these platforms.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On setbacks and patience:

  “Don’t feel like if you’re not seeing results in the beginning that you’re doing something wrong. It just takes time.” – Anthony ([10:50])

• On the necessity of community:

  “It is so easy to get sidetracked and to lose focus and to go down a rabbit hole, after another rabbit hole, until you can't even find your way back to the basics.” ([15:00])

• On perseverance:

  “I wish I could grow [Academy Voices] ten times faster. But just like anything else worth doing, it takes a while.” ([10:00])

Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment | |----------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Intro & health update following hip surgery | | 04:45 | Benefits and life changes from recovery | | 10:20 | Realities of VO career timelines | | 13:35 | The three keys to getting VO work, intro | | 14:10 | Importance of community, coaching, and accountability| | 17:24 | Auditioning as a daily discipline | | 19:00 | ACX and the value of starting with audiobooks | | 23:28 | Platform strategy: exposure through scale | | 24:29 | The logic of “the more places you are…” | | 27:45 | Final words: discipline, community, and specials |

Episode Tone & Closing Thoughts

Anthony’s tone is candid, encouraging, and practical. He balances empathy—knowing firsthand the challenges and discouragements—with direct action steps. He repeatedly emphasizes community and perseverance, speaking as both a teacher and a working talent.

“These three things, in my opinion, are essential. If nothing else, do these three things.” – Anthony ([25:40])

Summary Table: 3 Ways To Make Money in Voice Over

| # | Strategy | Key Takeaway | |---|-----------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------| | 1 | Get a coach/community/academy | Constant guidance keeps you on track & learning | | 2 | Audition relentlessly | Auditioning daily is essential to land consistent work | | 3 | Join as many platforms as possible | Your visibility multiplies with platform participation |

For new or struggling voice actors, Anthony’s core advice is simple yet profound: don’t isolate yourself, treat auditioning as a daily habit, and cast a wide net for work opportunities. Patience and consistency, supported by a robust community, are the path to making money in voiceover.