Podcast Summary: Everyday VOpreneur® with Marc Scott

Episode: "How to Land An A List Agent and Grow Your Business like a VOpreneur with Carrie Olsen"

Release Date: June 13, 2024
Host: Marc Scott
Guest: Carrie Olsen

Episode Overview

This episode offers a deep dive into what it takes to land representation with a top-tier (A-list) voiceover agent and how to cultivate the entrepreneurial mindset necessary to succeed in the modern voiceover industry. Guest Carrie Olsen—herself a highly successful voice actor signed to Atlas and a specialist in e-learning and entrepreneurship—shares her unique journey, practical advice on business-building, and actionable tips for those seeking to stand out and grow as a VOpreneur®.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jumping Into VO While Raising a Family (02:16)

• Carrie’s Origin Story: Carrie started her voiceover business just three months after giving birth, motivated by her desire to stay home with her child. She cited her husband’s support as critical to making this leap, even taking their newborn on a nine-month road trip while starting her VO journey.
  • Quote: “It was insane… but I knew I had to go back to my corporate job and I didn’t want to leave… She was my motivation.” (Carrie, 02:16–02:56)
• Life Philosophy: Inspired by “The Family Adventure Podcast,” she embraced doing unconventional things now rather than waiting for ‘later’. (04:22–05:10)

2. Geography Is Not a Limitation (06:34)

• Location Myths: Carrie underscores that living outside major cities (she’s in Kansas) is no barrier; what matters is a stable internet connection and a quiet space.
  • Quote: “Your location—don’t let that keep you from pursuing voiceover work.” (Carrie, 07:54)
• Industry Shift: The rise of home studios, remote work, and tools like Source Connect have leveled the playing field even further, especially after COVID-19.

3. Making the Leap: From Part-Time to Full-Time VO (11:57)

• Transitioning: Carrie moved from part-time to full-time after booking a major radio campaign. She and her husband calculated that if part-time effort led to good results, full-time focus could yield much more.
• All-In Mentality: She kept a consulting role as a safety net briefly but let it go as VO grew.
  • Quote: “If I can do this with this many hours, if I put full-time hours in, how much more can I do?” (Marc, 13:28)
• Entrepreneurial DNA: Carrie traces her drive to childhood and a lifelong desire to control her own income, citing business failures as crucial learning steps. (14:18–16:34)

4. The Entrepreneurial Mindset in Action (18:59)

• Ferocious Marketing: Carrie attacked VO marketing with intensity, targeting potential clients relentlessly and treating time spent not recording as time to market.
  • Quote: “When I wasn’t recording, I was marketing… so much… is just looking around, being innovative.” (Carrie, 19:56–20:02)
• Discipline Over Formula: Both Marc and Carrie stress that discipline and consistency beat any magic formula—most people simply don’t stick it out long enough.
  • Quote: “Any of those strategies can work, but they work to the level of discipline that you have.” (Marc, 21:04)

5. Fast-Tracking Success with Skill & Mindset (22:13)

• Early Wins: Carrie booked a national job (REI radio campaign) within three to four months—atypical but possible with the right approach and training.
  • Quote: "It's not normal, but one of the first things I did was I sought out training..." (Carrie, 22:13)
• On Mindset: She validates that industry “narratives” about timelines can become self-limiting. Success can come fast with preparation and confidence. (25:02)

6. Landing an A-List Agent: The Real Story (27:37)

• Timeline: Signed with Atlas (top agency) within her first year of VO.
• Catalysts: Key factors included a strong, relevant demo; notable bookings; professional training; and courteous, strategic outreach.
  • Quote: “Having a really strong demo that had a sound that was relevant for right then… and being a good person, being kind and thoughtful and not being pushy or entitled.” (Carrie, 28:49)
• Relationship Building: It’s about developing a rapport, not just transactional asks. Meet them when possible and always make their job easier with professionalism.
  • (31:11–32:24)

7. Training Never Stops (32:24)

• On Ongoing Development: Both Carrie and Marc stress that continuous training—on performance, business, and tech—is essential, especially to maintain prime agent representation.
  • Quote: “Getting to Atlas was not the end of the journey… you gotta work your butt off to stay there.” (Marc, 33:01)

8. E-Learning: Specialization and Approach (34:40)

• Background Benefits: Having worked as an e-learning content designer, Carrie knew precisely what e-learning clients needed and marketed herself directly to them.
  • “I wanted to bring a levity to e-learning, a fun storytelling… I knew stories sell, stories are what stick.” (Carrie, 36:11)
• Meeting Client Needs: Communicative, reliable, easy-to-work-with professionals win recurring business. Provide high-quality, easily usable audio, address revisions promptly, and be a solution provider. (38:42–39:51)

9. Versatility: From E-Learning to Promo (40:44)

• Genre-Hopping: Carrie transitioned into promo voice work through focused training and energy, adapting her delivery as needed.
• Preparation/Rituals: To switch genres (e-learning vs. promo in a day), she reviews previous coaching notes and listens to relevant recordings of herself to reset her mindset and style. (42:50–43:31)

10. Natural Progression into Coaching (44:27)

• Origin: Carrie began coaching after being repeatedly asked about her journey, leveraging her e-learning content design skills to create effective online courses and support systems.

• Coaching Philosophy: She focuses on actionable, step-by-step guidance designed to cut out the fluff—offering only what’s truly needed, plus systems for accountability, community, and live practice.

  • Quote: “The strategy that’s going to work for you is the one that you’re doing, the one that you’re consistent in.” (Carrie, 46:43–50:15)

• Resource: Her main program, the Voiceover Success Intensive, offers modules, accountability, study groups, and peer workout sessions. Advanced course: Get Traction in Voiceover (50:15–53:17)

11. Advice for Aspiring VOpreneurs (53:17)

• Develop Thick Skin: Prepare for rejection and for things not to go as planned—don’t let disappointment stop you.
  • Quote: “Having proper expectations and having thick skin…” (Carrie, 54:03)
• Help, Don’t Hassle: Approach outreach as a way to help clients, not as a burden to them.
  • Quote: “Have your marketing be trying to serve people. And I think that's a mental thing that some people have to get past because marketing just feels dirty to them. But it's not…” (Carrie, 55:40)

12. Free Resource for Listeners (56:53)

• Offer: Carrie shares a free mini-course on VO outreach specifically for e-learning.
  • Get it at: keriolsonvo.com/veopreneur

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Mindset:

  “If you have a professional demo, a professional home studio and a great-looking website, but you're still not making money in voiceover, chances are the problem is with your marketing. But that is something that we can fix.”
  — Marc, 16:34

• On Booking Early:

  “You can book a national campaign three months after you start doing voiceover. Why not?”
  — Marc, 25:02

• On Consistency:

  “Discipline, I always think, is one of the biggest underutilized marketing tools.”
  — Marc, 21:04

• Entrepreneurial Drive:

  “I will out-hustle you. And that was how I built my business, was because I just shut up and did the thing.”
  — Marc, 50:15

• Sustainable Success:

  “You are not your work, so you have value as a person. So if someone doesn’t appreciate…it can ruin your day…So be aware…that’s a possibility.”
  — Carrie, 54:03

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Starting Voiceover as a New Mom: 02:16–05:10
• Geography and the Remote VO Revolution: 06:34–10:20
• Making the Leap from Part-Time to Full-Time: 11:57–16:34
• The Role of Discipline in VO Marketing: 18:59–22:13
• Booking a National Campaign Early: 22:13–25:02
• Landing and Working with an A-List Agent: 27:37–33:32
• Importance of Ongoing Training: 32:24–33:32
• E-learning Expertise and Marketing: 34:40–39:51
• Switching Between Genres (Promo/E-Learning): 40:44–43:31
• Path Into Coaching and Course Design: 44:27–50:15
• VOpreneur Mindset Advice: 53:17–56:08
• Free Resource Announcement: 56:53

Final Thoughts

Carrie Olsen’s story is an inspiring testament to the power of embracing both artistry and entrepreneurship. Her rapid rise—booking national campaigns and signing with top-tier agents within months—demystifies industry myths and demonstrates what’s possible through skill, discipline, and resourcefulness. Alongside hard truths about rejection and business risk, she and Marc Scott emphasize actionable marketing, ongoing training, and value-driven outreach as keys to sustained success.

If you’re ready to take your VO business seriously, this episode is a must-listen—and Carrie’s free e-learning outreach mini-course is an excellent next step.

Access Carrie's Free E-Learning Outreach Mini-Course:
keriolsonvo.com/veopreneur