What It's About
When faced with the overwhelming debt associated with going through med school, this post doc student turns to one of his best attributes to pay the bills—his voice.
Business Model
Skills Required
Complexity
Profit Potential
Words of Wisdom
"Getting good at voiceover work, Anatol says, "is as much about listening as speaking. A good ear makes all the difference." He listens back to old recordings, checking for flaws in quality or intonation that he might not have picked up on at the time. And he trains his ear by spending time listening to ads, to study the voiceover artist’s approach and its effect.
It’s also important to be attuned to what the client is looking for, so Anatol has learned to pay careful attention to the brief and take artistic direction on board.
Fun Fact
Anatol’s favorite voiceover project so far was for the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. He helped create three videos about three men from the Netherlands who were retracing the steps of Van Gogh’s life. Getting into character for the voiceover had Anatol nearly in tears!
Check out the videos at #FollowVanGogh to hear him in action.
Notes from Chris
Episode 489
In 2016, Anatol Silotch was a recent med school graduate with an abundance of bills to pay. With his funds running out, he needed to earn some extra cash in between medical work experience and studying for his next board exams. A friend in the music industry suggested voiceover work, so Anatol figured he’d sound it out. A few Google searches later, it was clear that voiceover artistry was a booming industry—albeit a competitive one. Anatol decided to try his hand, and see if he really had the voice for the job. His first step was to figure out the equipment he needed. Some online research taught him the basics of creating a mini home studio. He was on a tight budget, so he didn’t splash out on buying high-end gear, and cleverly makeshifted the rest. He headed over to Best Buy and bought a microphone (which was $150), an acoustic foam (which was $90) and an Audio Interface (which was $230). He used an old box to make a booth and fashioned a pop-filter out of a wire hanger and a cut up shirt. He already had audio software from his days as a DJ, but he mentioned that Audacity and Pro Tools would have been good free alternatives. Now that he had the tech set up, he needed clients! Anatol’s first gigs were tiny, and not well paid. But knowing he was brand new to the world of voiceover, he used them as experience—and within a couple of weeks landed a spot with a national client. With his confidence boosted, he went on to grow his list of clients to include the likes of Corona, Samsung and Dell. He now brings in between $500 and $2,000 per month. With no significant outgoings and upfront costs that totaled $570, those numbers really talk some sense! Both revenue and time needed can vary a lot month to month—but over time, with more experience and a growing portfolio, Anatol got quicker at auditioning and saw a steady increase in income. He saved time by learning to focus on auditioning for jobs that really made sense for his voice and style. Anatol had always wanted to run a business, but assumed his first and only shot at it would be the medical practice he plans to open in the future. He’s surprised to find himself with a side-hustle business along the way! His focus now is to continue using voiceover work to fund his medical dreams. And as his client list grows, so does his profile. So while he’s taking more medical board exams, and shadowing people in the medical field, he’ll keep using his voice to earn the cash he needs to support himself. One thing’s for sure—this is definitely a side hustle worth shouting about!
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
- Doctor Says Voiceovers: Learn more about what Anatol, and check out some of the organizations he's done voiceover work on his website
- Voices.com: The online marketplace for voice actors that Anatol subscribed to
- Voices | Starting a Voice Acting Career: If you're looking to get into voiceover work, here's a great post to help you get started!
- How One Man Used a $100 Microphone to Make Over $8,000: After testing the waters with low-priced services on Fiverr.com, a Tennessee IT manager learns to focus on voiceover services for overseas customers
- Radio Personality Channels Her Vocal Cords for Extra Income: How a professor-by-day and former radio announcer makes a handsome side profit selling her most natural and accessible tool: her voice
- South African Writer Launches Accidental Acting Career: After being told he had a voice for radio, a journalist stumbles into a profitable side hustle appearing in beer and soft drink commercials
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Resources
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