Everyday VOpreneur® Podcast with Marc Scott

Episode: Business Fundamentals for Voice Actors with Tom Dheere
Release Date: February 22, 2024
Guest: Tom Dheere, The VO Strategist

Episode Overview

This episode is a business masterclass for voice actors, drilling into the essential business and entrepreneurship fundamentals required for success. Host Marc Scott and seasoned voice actor, coach, and business consultant Tom Dheere discuss what it truly takes to survive and thrive as a "VOpreneur"—from managing taxes and building good financial habits to understanding the vital importance of consistency, business literacy, and leveraging marketing channels (including pay-to-play sites) for sustained growth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Reality of the Voiceover Business

• The industry requires more than creative talent—it's about building and running a successful business.
• Many newcomers underestimate the non-performance aspects: taxes, time management, marketing, customer service, etc.

“It’s called the voiceover business for a reason. You’re not just choosing to flex your creative muscles and acting chops… you’re also starting a small business.”
— Marc Scott (01:06)

• There’s a growing trend of people leaving voiceover, often due to misaligned expectations about ease and profit.

2. The Age & Experience Question

• Both Marc and Tom reflect on longevity in the industry, the value of persistence, and combating ageism.

“For me, it’s a badge of honor… It’s a testament to my persistence. This is such a hard thing to do.”
— Tom Dheere (02:13)

3. Financial Literacy: Making Money vs. Keeping Money

• One of the biggest pitfalls is not understanding the distinction between generating revenue and retaining it (especially taxes).

“There is a difference between accumulating revenue and then retaining the revenue.”
— Tom Dheere (06:51)

Key Takeaways:

• Self-employed voice actors must put aside 25–30% of all revenue for taxes (Quarterly estimated taxes).
• Develop a system (e.g., automatic transfers to savings) so tax money is not accidentally spent.
• Good financial habits early make everything easier as income grows.

"If you take nothing else away from this podcast episode, it’s that you need to pay your quarterly estimated taxes. Set up a system."
— Tom Dheere (07:20)

• Working with a CPA from the outset is critical—many expenses (gear, websites, classes) can be deducted early, reducing net taxable income.
• Rolling over tax refunds, tracking expenses, and understanding deductions (e.g., home office, conferences, retirement accounts).

“Get the accountant in the beginning when all the money’s going out.”
— Marc Scott (26:56)

Notable Resource Mention:

National Association of Enrolled Agents (find certified CPAs for freelancers): naea.org (30:06)

4. The Power of Good Habits & Consistency

• Forming responsible financial behaviors and routines pays off over time (examples: credit card use, audition routines, daily time management).

“Building good habits—you always get rewarded for building good habits.”
— Tom Dheere (14:27)

• The most successful voice actors are often not the most talented, but those who outwork and outlast their competition.

“I’m not the best in the booth by a wide margin, but I will out-hustle you.”
— Marc Scott (20:04)

5. Respect & Relationship-Building in Business

• Professional respect is fundamental for business relationships—arguably more essential than “likeability,” communication, or even trust.

“Relationships are built on… respect. Respect is the number one key ingredient for every relationship, personal or professional.”
— Tom Dheere (21:09)

6. Marketing for Voice Actors in 2024

• Forget silver bullets; direct marketing, email, and social media are important—but pay-to-play (P2P) casting sites remain valuable.
• Use P2P sites as a tool for:
  • Project management skill-building
  • Data collection: Discover your marketable strengths (keywords, genres)
  • Networking and direct marketing opportunities

“The single most important skill that a voice actor can have is project management… Your talent will book you your first gig with a client. Your project management skills will book you your next gig with that same client.”
— Tom Dheere (33:40)

Strategic Synergy:

• All three marketing “portals”—direct marketing, rep/agency, and P2P casting—should be used in a synergistic, not exclusive, way.
• Data from P2P wins (e.g., which jobs/keywords bring auditions and bookings) can inform website and email copy, social media posts, and future demos.

“Stop judging portals. Stop sticking them in buckets and judging them. They can and should… work better when you use them together in a synergistic, holistic way.”
— Tom Dheere (39:45)

Real-World Example:

• Both hosts discuss adapting to industry trends (e.g., the “explainer video” boom and shift to eLearning), driven by careful attention to booking data.

7. Tracking & Analyzing Your Own Data

• Keep detailed spreadsheets of bookings, genres, and sources—track what works and what doesn’t to streamline future marketing and effort.

“Everything is a numbers game. Follow the data, follow the tech… there are numbers that can tell you those things.”
— Tom Dheere (44:15)

• Tom offers a free downloadable expenses and tracking spreadsheet via his site, helping voice actors analyze ROI on marketing channels and genres.

8. Time Management & Personal Workflow

• There’s no “one size fits all”—finding your own rhythm matters more than blindly copying someone else’s routine.
• Both hosts discuss their daily structures: habitual start times, prioritizing auditions, leveraging periods of high creative flow (evenings for Marc, mornings for Tom).
• Outsource parts of your business that drain your focus or energy.

“You got to find the day that makes you be the best version of you that you can be—physically, mentally, emotionally, creatively, psychologically.”
— Tom Dheere (54:56)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There’s coaches who try to sell you dreams, but you and I, we sell reality.”
  Tom Dheere (04:23)

• “One of the most important skills you need to develop as someone who is self-employed…is financial literacy. And who better to teach you than somebody that went to school for it and got certified in it?”
  Tom Dheere (22:48)

• “Let me tell you something. You want to know how the rich stay rich? It's because they figured out the tax code.”
  Marc Scott (31:00)

• “If you do good habits consistently, you will get rewarded for it.”
  Tom Dheere (15:57)

• “It’s not that the most talented always succeed, it’s that the most consistent do.”
  Marc Scott (implied throughout consistency conversation, ~17:39)

• “You may not be good at what you like, and you may not like what you’re good at.”
  Tom Dheere (36:47)

Important Timestamps

• 01:06: Opening theme—why running a VO business is more than creative work
• 06:51: Distinction between accumulating and keeping money; quarterly tax discussion begins
• 13:20: Saving for retirement and tax strategy
• 22:48: Why you need an accountant from the start, not just when you’re making money
• 30:06: Where to find a self-employment-savvy CPA (naea.org)
• 33:40: Project management as the #1 skill for VO success
• 39:45: Why synergy between direct marketing, representation, and P2P casting is essential
• 44:15: The importance of tracking your booking and audition data for effective marketing
• 50:22: Time management strategies; daily routines and work flow
• 54:56: The necessity of finding your personal workflow for best productivity

Actionable Resources & Links

• Tom Dheere Online:
  • Voice actor portfolio: tomdeer.com
  • Coaching/resources: veostrategist.com
  • Free templates (expense tracker, monthly plan) and mentorship options available
• Find a freelance CPA: naea.org (National Association of Enrolled Agents)
• Marc Scott’s VO business resources: vopreneur.com

Final Takeaways

• Running a VO business is as demanding as the creative performance itself. Success increasingly requires business savvy—particularly in tax management, long-term financial habits, strategic marketing, and workflow consistency.
• Synergize every tool available to you: agencies, direct marketing, and casting platforms.
• Invest in your business acumen from day one, especially with a CPA or advisor for early tax strategy and expense maximization.
• Track everything! Analyze data to focus your marketing, audition smarter, shape your voiceover brand, and maximize ROI.
• Consistency, discipline, and relationship-building define the long-term winners in voiceover—not just raw vocal talent.

For further learning or to connect with Tom and Marc, see their sites and social links in the show notes.