subject: Voice Over Actor Hints For When You Feel Lousy [print this page] All voice actors know what a drag it is to be sick when you have work to do. Despite all the perks of owning your own voice over business, paid sick days definitely doesn't make the list!
Working through your stuffy nose and cough is tempting, especially when you don't feel as bad as you sound. Rather than completing that important project and wasting hours trying to improve the sound quality of your voice in post production, try giving other areas of your business more attention.
Let's get that first part out of the way. If -- no, when you get sick, do yourself a favor and simply let your clients know that you are unable to complete the project by the agreed upon deadline. Giving your clients as much notice as possible will let them decide whether to hire someone else for the voice job or extend the deadline. Sure, it's a bummer to pass up a gig, but you should never send your clients less than your best.
Don't despair! Sick days needn't be wasted on your couch when there are so many creative things to do in your studio. Suggestions from our Facebook page:
1. Re-mix and re-edit your existing files. See what else you can come up with!
2. Pick some famous opening narrations for TV shows and have fun re-recording them. (For example, "Space ... the final frontier ...")
3. Record a newscast for a fictional TV station.
4. Practice copywriting for fake or real products or services.
5. Marketing!
It's nearly impossible to stay on top of all the trends in the voice over industry. Use your sick time to catch up on social media posts/tweets/blogs/comments, make sure your website is up-to-date with a list of project you are most proud of, work on your newsletters, check out new products for your studio (even if you can't afford them!), and check out what your fellow voice talent are up to.
Sick days are perfect cleaning days! Reorganize your studio, take some Lysol to your equipment, and organize your invoices.
If you're really under the weather, then surrendering to your jammies and daytime TV for a day or two won't hurt you either.
