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BUSINESS
FOCUS On Year-End Voice Over
Business ... And Plan For 2013

November 2, 2012

By Dave Courvoisier

Voice Actor & TV News Anchor

There are fewer than two months left to 2012! And if you are into the Mayan Calendar prediction, there’s not even that much time. (But the positive side to THAT school of thought: you won’t have to worry about buying Christmas presents!).

I point all this out, not to overstate the obvious, but to perhaps offer a few creative suggestions for getting your VO house in order for the end of the year, and in anticipation for 2013.

I’ll be pedantic and use a mnemonic: FOCUS.

FACE
... the remaining two months with a can-do attitude.  

Sure, all those great political commercial jobs are gone now, but what about Christmas and other holiday client opportunities? 

Get out there and make November and December count on your 2012 profit/loss statement.  (BTW, "F” also stands for FaffCon6 in San Antonio.)

OUTSOURCE
... the difficult, lingering, overbearing, or stressful jobs that you’ve been procrastinating to another freelancer who can get you over the hump (editing, bookkeeping, web-authoring). 

You can’t do everything yourself, and you give another freelancer some work! CUT your losses and move on. 

There’s surely something in your method, your business plan, your workflow, or your audio chain that’s been a thorn in your side all year. Sure, you spent a lot of time or money to make that thing happen (and maybe you’re even proud of it), but if it’s slowing you down, or a constant irritant, it’s time to let it go!

CUT
... your losses and move on. There’s surely something in your method, your business plan, your workflow, or your audio chain that’s been a thorn in your side all year.

Sure, you spent a lot of time or money to make that thing happen (and maybe you’re even proud of it), but if it’s slowing you down, or a constant irritant…it’s time to let it go!

UNDERSCORE
... to your slow-paying clients that the end of the year is nigh, and it’s time to pay up.

Don’t be rude, just firm. They’ll respect your business acumen, and YOU for standing up for yourself!

SCRIPT
... a plan for the new year now. Revamp your business’ goals. 
  • Are your books in order for the tax-man? 
  • What conferences are you going to attend in 2013? 
  • Time for a new demo? 
  • When’s the last time you were coached? 
  • Is it finally time for a new computer? 
You know what it is that needs a fresh look. Plan it!

HONORARY MENTION


Give a pat on the back to those who have helped you along the way.  Maybe it was a small thing to them, but you need to let them know what a big thing it was to you. 

A word of appreciation goes a lo-o-o-o-o-o-ng way.
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ABOUT DAVE
Dave Courvoisier is an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, writer, producer, voice actor, and the main weeknight news anchor on KLAS-TV, Channel 8, the Las Vegas CBS affiliate. He also writes Voice-Acting in Vegas, a daily blog of adventures and observations in a style that’s true to his friendly Midwestern farm roots.

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Comments (1)
Tracy Elman
11/4/2012 at 1:43 AM
John, VoiceOverXtra is one of my favorite websites. Dave your website, posts, blogs, and emails are the most informative and useful to me. I have really learned a lot from you and your many tips the past few years. I love the resources that you have personally tested and wrote about. I have purchased several of them. I want to thank you for your hard work... Keep them coming.
-Tracy
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