A few weeks ago we heard from some of the leading minds on how their areas of the voiceover industry have fared during this difficult year for the world. Today, this blog series concludes with insights from a new set of VO movers and shakers, including power agent Portia Scott of the Coast to Coast Talent Group, TV Narration star Thom Pinto, and talent manager/branding expert Celia Siegel.
Portia Scott is currently The Director of Voiceover at Coast to Coast Talent Group. She runs the division with a great staff representing adult and youth talent in all areas of voiceover. Portia’s clients have booked hundreds of broadcast TV & Radio Commercials and several National Campaigns
such as Wells Fargo, Wendy’s, and T-Mobile to name a few. Her talent can been found as series regulars on Disney TV Animation, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Dreamworks TV and Feature Animation, and a plethora of Animated Feature Films.
JMC: How has the pandemic impacted talent agents?
PORTIA: The pandemic has impacted talent agents to mostly work from home with all of the tools from the office set-up at home.
Agents’ workload has doubled at home, in some cases without assistance, as many assistants and booth directors have been furloughed, so the actors must be prepared with their skill set, home studio, and ability to record not just the audition but record the job in their home studio with broadcast quality.JMC: What is the current state of play?PORTIA: Current state of play is being available and well-tuned for the opportunities that are coming forth and staying relevant and contemporary in this climate. There are limited studio openings that are SAG AFTRA COVID 19 approved, so when sending talent to record outside of their home studio this is a requirement to protect everyone’s safety.JMC: What can talent be doing right now to prepare themselves for the post-pandemic voiceover industry?PORTIA: Ways to stay relevant and prepared in this post-pandemic voiceover world; first please don’t wait for auditions to work out your
craft and skill set, keep training, and workout daily. Your craft is a muscle and must stay exercised, get into workout groups, classes etc, if finance is an issue don’t let that stop you, grab a couple of VO friends and set-up your own workout on zoom, read material and give constructive criticism. Make sure you have source connect or a software that allows you to record your jobs from home, this is essential. Make sure your equipment is as competitive as you can afford. We are now in a place where the quality of your audio is as important as your acting. Watch as much content as you can,i.e. commercials, video games, animation TV & feature so you can stay relevant on-trend.
JMC: What long term changes can we expect in the way agencies operate as a result of the current crisis?
than two decades. He’s currently heard on “Charles Manson” for the History
Channel, “The Twilight Zone” for CBS All Access, “Crazy Monsters” for Smithsonian,
and the upcoming nature documentary “America’s Arctic”. He has been coaching
working talent across the country, with his primary focus in the last decade being
the world of TV narration.JMC: How has the pandemic impacted the TV Narration marketplace?THOM: COVID-19 has brought about a reduction in TV narration auditions, as well as
putting a couple of series of mine on hold. Nature documentaries seem to be
immune to this, since usually, no people are on-camera, and videographers film in
sparsely populated areas. Also, I have voiced a few demo “pitches”, as companies
are trying to stay active creatively, to connect with networks. Docu-series which use
“re-creation” actors are on hold mostly at this point, as well as many reality series.
JMC: What can talent be doing right now to prepare themselves for the post-pandemic voiceover industry?
THOM: I’m finding that ambitious voice actors are updating their websites, tracking new
demos, and connecting with coaches via Zoom- both privately and for group classes.
Not only do I encourage this type of work ethic, but talent are expressing how much
of a psychological lift they are experiencing by connecting with their colleagues.
With most of us hunkered down right now, such activities are a win-win. I would
advise narrators the same thing that my commercial director coaches are saying:
Careful of falling into the tender, compassionate Covid-19 delivery on every project.
JMC: What long term changes can we expect in the way agencies operate as a result of the current crisis?
THOM: As far as long-term effects, I can’t imagine drastic changes in TV narration or
documentary work. However, my daughter, who is a theatrical casting assistant
says costs of shoots are going up due to safety precautions necessary. One docu-
series producer indicated that he’s playing around with developing a show that
would involve just the narrator, experts from their homes, and archival footage for
the project. He indicated we are all getting accustomed to interviews being done
from someone’s den with poor acoustics, and mediocre mic levels. So, is this going
to be the new norm? Let me gaze into my crystal ball…
Celia Siegel is a brand-builder, manager and success strategist for voiceover talent worldwide.
JMC: How has the pandemic impacted branding strategy? What is the current state of play?
CELIA: The pandemic has sped up innovation and taken us to places that seemed impossible just six months ago. That is certainly true for brand strategy. And with this rapid change comes opportunities. Now (just as in every other economic downturn and time of fear in the world) is the time to double down on your brand strategy and on connecting with your target audience.
People crave empathy, transparency, and connection. It is no longer about you and your reps but about you as an individual. This is your moment to connect.
Your brand has always been about you and how you are different from your competition, and what you can do for the buyer. In this uncertain post-COVID-19 world, double down on how you can be of service and you will be golden. What do you have with your awesome home studio, your impeccable responsiveness and your unique talent can be a game changer.
Voiceover trends are like a rollercoaster right now whiplashing from trust and empathy back to optimism and upbeat vibes. Keep it real and highlight your authentic self and you will be able to connect with the zeitgeist of our ever-changing world. Your written and visual brand needs to showcase how you can rock someone’s world and connect as a human.
If you can do one thing with your brand, humanize it. You are a human voice so this does not need to be hard! In the COVID-19 era, we have to put our best foot forward. There is no time for asking for people to figure you out. A concise brand that tells them who you are and how you can help them will see them — and you — through all the ups and downs.
JMC: What can talent do right now to prepare themselves for the post-pandemic voiceover industry?
CELIA: Quite simply, this is the time to build your business. Positioning your brand will help you not only weather the crisis but thrive. Take care of yourself, your brand, and your business plan. Forge relationships and be of service. Button up all aspects of your business. The vo world is competitive, and the way to stand out is to build your brand and your business in a way that lets others know you are solving problems and sharing your passion. Avoid the temptation of hopping on the latest bandwagon — the trends are changing so quickly that you will just get run over. Instead, dig in to what makes you the one and only you. It’s all about you as a real person. Since you are your product, you can’t go wrong with that.
JMC: What long-term changes can we expect in talent branding and the industry in general as a result of the current crisis?
CELIA: I have always been and will always be a silver-lining seeker. But even if you’re a bright-sider like me, there’s no denying that pandemic is serving up plenty of rough patches and taking a toll. I’ve seen this before, and I have good news based on my experience navigating many changes and ups and downs. When I look into my crystal ball, I see our industry pivot and grow stronger than ever. One of the biggest changes that’s already in motion is the global acceptance of and need for home studios. This change levels the playing field — making vo talent in major hubs just as accessible and relevant as those in far-flung places.
Branding-wise, you need to include your technology in your brand story and answer the call to connect more human to human. From here on out, your brand story is paramount to your success. Do not be afraid to avoid the safe middle and create a brand that tells your story and shows your passion. That is how you will not only survive post-pandemic but also thrive by driving your career to the highest level. Tell your story and connect.
That my friend… was well worth the read. J.Michael you never disappoint. I loved that Ceila said, stay out of the safe middle. Now if only Thom and Celia could pass along their Crystal Balls. Nah, who wants to know the future and all the good things it holds. Thank you, Theresa
Great read as always J. Michael. I am really optimistic about 2021 as there will probably be a huge sigh of relief once we turn the corner and many businesses will need to get the word out that they are back and ready to provide service again.
Really terrific advice, as always J. Michael! Thanks.
Thank you so much for providing such a valuable read. I really appreciate the “State of the VO” address. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out where it’s all heading.