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Building Confidence

September 1, 2023 by Tanya Rich

Overcoming Directed-Session Anxiety with Mental Preparation

Hey there, aspiring voiceover stars!

We’ve all been there – heart racing, palms sweaty, and a bundle of nerves as your directed session looms closer. But fear not, because conquering session anxiety is all about mental preparation. Let’s start with some game-changing quick tips that’ll have you striding into your vocal booth with confidence!

3 Pre-Session Preparation Tips

Embrace Your Inner Cheerleader
Picture this: you’re in front of the mirror, pep-talking yourself like you’re your own coach. (My students tell me all the time that they imagine the look on my face, or think, “What would Tanya say right now?”) It might feel a bit silly, but trust me, it works wonders! Shower yourself with positivity, affirming your skills and worthiness. Remember, you’ve got a unique voice that’s itching to shine!
Visualize Your Success
Close your eyes and imagine it – you’re standing in front of the mic, delivering lines flawlessly. Visualization is like a mental rehearsal that tricks your brain into thinking you’ve already aced the session. It’s like having a secret preview of your success!
Pre-Session Rituals to Soothe the Butterflies
You know those pre-session jitters? They’re totally normal. But you can tame them by establishing rituals that calm your nerves. It could be anything from deep breathing exercises to a quick dance to your favorite tune. Rituals act as a safety net – a familiar place that reminds you that you’ve got this!

You’re not alone if you’ve been shaking in your boots before directed sessions. That’s why these little tricks exist – to help you shake off the anxiety and show your true potential. Remember, every voiceover artist has their own unique journey, and nervousness is just a tiny speed bump.

Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of mental preparation that’ll help you banish those session-day jitters once and for all.

Conquering the Directed-Session Jitters: Your Mental Game Plan

Know Your Material Inside Out
Imagine stepping onto a roller coaster blindfolded – pretty terrifying, right? Well, the same goes for directed sessions. The more you know your script, the more confident you’ll feel. Study it until the words flow effortlessly.

Now, you might not get the script until the day of the session. That’s okay! Remember RichCraft’s script analysis lessons and put them to full use. If you are a RichCraft student, you have been put through your directed-session paces already, so you are fully prepared to handle this wrinkle!

Embrace the Imperfections
Perfection is overrated, and nobody expects you to be flawless. With the rise of AI voiceovers, it’s more important than ever for you to sound human. And humans are not perfect. Accept that you might stumble or fumble a bit. Embracing imperfections takes the pressure off and allows you to focus on delivering your best.

Positive Self-Talk
Imagine you’re chatting with your best friend before their directed session. You wouldn’t say to them, “You’re going to mess up, and they won’t like you.” Treat yourself with the same kindness – replace negative thoughts with encouraging ones.

Stay Present in the Moment
Anxiety often creeps in when we’re worrying about what might happen. Bring yourself back to the present moment – the script, the mic, and your talent. Focus on the now, and watch the anxiety fade away.

Release Expectations
It’s natural to want to impress, but don’t let the pressure of impressing overshadow your performance. Release the need for a specific outcome and focus on connecting with your script and delivering your best work – that’s all you can control.

Remember, confidence isn’t about eliminating all nerves; it’s about acknowledging them and showing up anyway. So, take these strategies and weave them into your directed session prep routine. With a bit of mental magic, you’ll be ready to dazzle those clients with your unbeatable confidence and talent.

The vocal booth is waiting – armed with your newfound mental tools, you’re ready to step in and rock that mic like never before!

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RichCraft Students get put through the directed-session wringer in our Meet the Producer sessions during their training. If you are feeling directed-session anxiety, get more info about coaching with RichCraft today!

Simply email Coaching@RichCraft.biz for more information on how to get started!

Let’s get Real About Reels

May 6, 2023 by Tanya Rich

I think I’ve detected a shift in the UK voice-over industry.

It might only be a little one.

But still, I’m starting to wonder what it signifies. Perhaps we’ll get into that later.

Anyway, it began when I became aware of an email from, shall we say, a ‘voice-over-related company’, which was suddenly offering voice-over showreels among its list of services.

That’s interesting, I thought. I’ve never seen them do that before.

But not only that: this company was also offering a discount on these voice reel services. Hmmm, never seen that from them, either.

A couple of weeks later, in the same month, I became aware of another email – this time from a different ‘voice-over-related company’.
It, too, seemed to promise something similar.

However, this company seemingly had a bit more to offer. First, it had its own dedicated website. And second, it was also offering a bigger discount on voice-over showreel creation, compared to the other company.

Plus – ooh – a discount code.

Perhaps they’d seen the first company’s offering and thought they would go one better.

So… two voice-over-related companies… never involved in creating voice-over showreels before (as far as I can tell)… and both offering discounts on their new voice reel creation services….

Oh, but they don’t give a price, either of them. Yet you do get a discount.

Or two discounts, if you buy one voice-over reel from each place, I suppose!

Maybe offering a discount without actually revealing the price is how they intend to reel in their customers (pun very much intended).

Now, I’m not about to say that two ‘voice-over-related’ companies doing similar things is a trend, but it certainly seems to represent a shift in the way that the brains behind such businesses are adapting to the current economic climate.

I’m sure we’re all aware that rising prices are eating away at everyone’s earnings, which presumably means that companies need to do more to keep their bottom lines looking healthy.
Since inflation is running at about 10 per cent, presumably this means that they need to do about 10 per cent more business than they did a year ago.

I suppose that making showreels for people they already have associations with is a good way to make up that 10 per cent. And it would make sense: established connections are easier to turn into money than new business.

And diversifying and adapting are key skills for any business when things change, which is all fine and is obviously, entirely their business.

But… what if the voice reels those businesses are making are made by someone putting in 10 per cent effort? Or someone who’s 10 per cent below what most people would consider professional?

Suddenly, you have to wonder why there’s a discount on their services… and still no advertised price…. Hmmm…

It is disheartening to witness how these companies exploit the dreams and aspirations of aspiring voice actors, offering flashy promises and quick fixes while charging exorbitant fees.

They lure in unsuspecting talents with misleading advertisements, claiming to provide comprehensive demo reel packages that will launch their careers. However, what these companies often deliver is subpar production value, generic scripts, and hastily assembled reels that fail to capture the unique essence and range of the voice actor.

This growing trend is a reflection of the industry’s shift towards commercialization and profit-driven motives, overshadowing the genuine desire to foster talent and nurture artistic growth.

They are all about the money, and not about the craft.

If I were looking to make a professional voice reel, I think I would have to question why two companies pop up during challenging economic times and start offering ancillary services, discounted, with no stated fees.

And do you know what? I think I’d start questioning why I would want to use those services.

I think that I’d start to ask around, or to start searching the internet for voice-over showreels made by established creators who really know the business of voice acting.
Not just businesses who act like they know ‘voice’.

I think I’d start looking for genuine voice-over people.

People who’ve been voice-over people since well before these other companies claimed they were voice-over people and suddenly popped up with offers and discounts to help other voice-over people.

People where the art of voice-over is in their being and in their doing.

And has been – day in, day out, for more than three decades.

Where a voice-over education is not about getting rich.

Where it’s about working on your craft.

So that your voice can be the richest version of itself.

I think I’d contact RichCraft, where showreels or demos are only made after you’ve shown or demonstrated what you can do in the studio with genuine scripts in real-world, professional voice-over scenarios.

Where you are put through your paces, made to study and practise – and are coached, mentored, and helped on your journey.

Where you are told the truth about who you are, where you are, and how to get where you want to go.

RichCraft doesn’t need to offer discounts or come up with promo pto attract people who want to improve their prospects in the professional voice-over world.

RichCraft knows the industry.

We know what the next generation of voice-over talent needs.

We know what producers need.

And we deliver.

In fact, a remarkable 10 RichCraft graduates – plus myself – each received nominations for the biggest awards celebration in the UK voice-over industry, the One Voice Awards 2023.

I think you’ll agree that, when it comes to producing demos for its students, RichCraft provides real – and reel – value.

Because demos and reels come at the end of training – not at the beginning.

They’re not part of an introductory offer.

They’re part of an initial investment into, hopefully, a solid, sustainable career.

I think you’ll also agree that in a world of rising prices and discounting, you can’t say fairer than that.

Yours,

Tanya Rich

Founder, RichCraft voiceover coaching & professional UK voice-over artist

Tough Love or BS?

March 29, 2023 by Tanya Rich

What to Expect from a Great Voice-Over Coach

If you’re serious about pursuing a career in voice acting or looking to improve your skills as a voice actor, then you’ve probably thought about working with a voiceover coach.

Now, I know what you’re thinking.

Surely you can just go it alone. It’s the 21st Century. Anyone can pick up a smartphone and become a YouTube star. Anyone can open Google Docs and write a book. Anyone can buy a microphone, plug it in, and start voiceover acting.

And there’s so much information online. Any questions you have or problems you run into can be resolved with a simple Google search.

“How can I be a better voiceover artist” you may ask.

There we go. 261 million answers.

Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s really not going to get you anywhere.

I’ve been in this industry for over 30 years- as a voice over actor and coach, so I know a bit about this!

Sure, these posts and guides are great for helping you find tips and tricks, but there’s no diamond piece of advice that will drastically push the needle on how good you are as a voiceover artist.

If you want to learn the real inside track, the real tricks of the game, and want real feedback on your skills and artistry, you’re going to need a coach.

But which coach?

There are so many out there today. Some are brilliant, well established, with careers as voice actors spanning decades. Who care about their students and steer them in the right direction… However, anyone with a semi-decent career seems to be offering mentoring services/coaching. Due to the nature of the work, anyone can say they’re a voiceover artist, and anyone can say they’re a coach.

Here’s what you need to know to make the right decision for you and your career.

Always Look at a Coach’s Experience

The first thing to consider is the coach’s experience in the areas of the industry that you’re interested in.

Look at their demos, reputation, and credentials. Make sure that your coach has real-life experience in the types of voiceover work that you’re interested in pursuing.

Now, as I said above, make sure you’re not just hiring someone who’s a one-hit wonder and has secured one semi-decent role. Also, just because a VO has lots of followers on Instagram, doesn’t mean they’re a good coach.

It must also be said that just because someone is a voice actor, doesn’t mean they know how to coach. It just means they’re good at building (or quite possibly buying) a social media presence.

Having authority is far different from being an authority.

Look for someone who’s been in the industry for a long time and has experienced both its highs and lows, and is still succeeding when they’ve come out the other side. Someone who still works in the industry and has weathered the changes. This experience is invaluable and will serve your own career immensely.

Look for Education on the Proper Techniques

It’s important that a coach can teach you the proper techniques and give you the tools you need to succeed.

And I’m not just saying they can teach you the techniques, but they can actually show you and work on them with you. For example, in my own VO coaching academy, RichCraft, Alicia King, Greg Marston and Bob Lawrence all have a wide experience that allows them to specifically focus on building strong foundational skills that will help you succeed in today’s modern industry, whatever direction you’re trying to go. We teach methods that are proven to help you succeed and cope with whatever life in the booth throws at you!

We even have guest coaches come and share their knowledge.

But here’s the deal and your main takeaway from this guide.

Our coaching classes aren’t suitable for every VO, nor will we accept you if we don’t think our values align.

You see, we live in a world with all these coaches and mentors out there, all claiming to be the number one guide, but that’s a lot of companies possibly out there just trying to take your money.

And take it they will.

Choose wrongly and despite the fact that VO may not be for you – they may try to keep you around week after week, taking your money and more often than not, will give you a lot of bullshit. Courses are a ‘one size fit’s all’ approach, we believe that 1-2-1 is the best way to get ahead. We never ‘up-sell’ and you get to see the coach most suited to you!

Voiceover acting is hard work, meaning growing a career in it is hard.

Our coaches will push you, and they will critique your work. They will break down your reels and performances, and look at each bit individually. But they will never do this to you personally. Honesty, encouragement and guidance is the name of the game.

This is the No-Bullshit Approach

If you want to be good, stand out, and be the best you can be, you need to be pushed to find your limits and break through into that best version.

You can’t simply waltz up to an audition and walk through it. The industry is, and always has been, far too competitive for that.

Of course, voiceover coaching isn’t for everyone. It takes a lot of time, effort, and dedication to excel in this truly competitive field.

But if you’re serious about making it as a voice actor and willing to work, then working with a great coach can make all the difference.

At RichCraft, we believe in being tough but fair, and we always strive to create a fun and supportive learning environment for our students. We’ll prepare you for every scenario you could potentially face when working as a VO to make you truly confident, inside and out. We don’t just tell you how to say something, we give you the techniques in a unique way that will mean you will never forget them, and be able to use them when you are out on your own, working as a voice actor.

We never sugarcoat the truth, and we always strive to provide honest feedback and guidance to help our students succeed.

So if you’re serious about pursuing a career in voice acting or improving your skills as a voice actor, then consider working with a great coach.

At RichCraft, we’re here to help you achieve your goals and take your voice acting career to the next level.

RichCraft Resolutions

January 20, 2022 by Alicia King

Hello to you 2022!

As we spring into the new year, of course, resolutions are everywhere. Whether you’re attempting dry-January, or starting to incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine, here are three resolutions we think every budding voice over should consider:

1: Take every opportunity to practice, and practice properly.
One of the biggest errors that voice over actors make is not practicing, or even worse, not practicing properly. So, I hear you ask, what exactly does practicing properly mean? The official art of ‘proper practice’ entails recording yourself every day. Practicing is paramount to getting you used to being vocally ready at the drop of a mic. Try and take fifteen minutes every day to practice. Whether you’re doing your RichCraft homework, or reading the back of a shampoo bottle, it’s crucial to keep your voice working and ready to go. After you have recorded your audio, be sure to listen to it without reading along to the script. We know this may feel a bit strange, and of course you want to be sure you haven’t missed a word out, but have you ever tried to listen to Bohemian Rhaposdy whilst reading War and Peace, it’s impossible. Why? Because, technically speaking, the human brain is incapable of processing language and music (in this case your own audio) at the same time. Arranging the written word and vocal tones simultaneously essentially overloads the brain, causing a detachment from your audio-self to your script-reading self. Remember, our listener does not have a script, you are their guide. Therefore it is imperative to know what you sound like. Basically folks, don’t read and listen. It’s important to focus on your audio, ensuring your diction, tone, and breathing is correct and all the ‘lifts and leans’ are in the right place. Then if you need to double check the script, read it again in silence, scan through once more whilst playing your audio in the background BUT make sure that the first time you listen to your audio, you’re focusing solely on your audio! Trust us, it works!

2: Say goodbye to imposter syndrome.
At some point in time, everybody questions themselves. Whether that’s personally or professionally, we all get a little niggle of doubt that makes us think we are not good enough for whatever reason. But this year we would like to kick imposter syndrome to the curb, 2022 is the year to start truly believing in yourself and your abilities. If you work with RichCraft coaches, you know that we will tell you straight. There is no agenda, making your voice career a success is the agenda! In a nutshell, if you have the talent, self-belief, and a coach telling you that you are ready to take control of your voice over career, you are no longer an imposter, you’re a voice over. If we believe in you, you believe in you.

3: Connections are key.
We’re all guilty of endlessly scrolling through social media, probably a bit more than we should do. But if you’d like to be a little bit more productive, use your scrolling time to connect to existing and future clients, as well as other people in the industry. Nowadays it’s very common that every company you buy from, and every person you know, is on at least one social media platform. So, what are you waiting for? Connect, connect, connect. By building your network, of both personal and professional contacts, will help share your brand and business with the world. Make sure all your information is up to date and that you’re sharing content regularly, people like to engage with who you are and what you’re doing, so share away and a start building your following.