Time Management Strategies For Commercial Voice Over Artists

The success of any profession, including voice acting, majorly depends on the time management strategies used by the professionals. As a commercial voice over artist, you can manage your personal and professional time to balance your mental, physical, and financial stability.

This article answers the following time management questions to help commercial voice over artists- 

• How many hours a day should voice over artists work?
• What time of day is most productive for voice recording?
• How can commercial voice over actors improve time management?
• How much time do voice actors need for auditioning, making demos, and other tasks?
• How can voice artists stay motivated?
• What self-care routine do voice actors follow?
• How can voice artists structure their workdays?

How many hours a day should voice over artists work?

Voice over artists may overwork to get more auditions. But every individual has a maximum limit, beyond which no effort materializes into success. Voice acting professionals need to protect themselves from the temptation of working too much to become successful in a short time.

Working a maximum of 7 hours per day is ideal for maintaining a healthy voice and a work-life balance. Most commercial voice over actors prefers to work 4 hours a day with a 10-minute break once every 50 minutes.

In the initial days of your career, it might feel like a cakewalk to record extensive durations without adequate breaks. But eventually, it will catch up with your vocal, physical and mental health.

What time of day is most productive for voice recording?

If you are an early bird, mornings are ideally more productive as a voice over artist. Mornings are better as you are at the top of your energy levels and have the lowest distractions compared to the rest of the day.

If the thought of starting your recording sessions in the morning sounds uncomfortable, you may do the voice recordings any time of the day that suits you best. 

Make sure to take enough time to warm up the vocal cords and your body.

How can commercial voice over actors improve time management?

Time management needs an utmost priority in any profession, including voice acting. Once you learn to manage your work and personal time, everything else falls in place. Time management is an art that calls for personalization based on your lifestyle, work location, routine, and so on.

You can allocate time for your personal life, entertainment, exercise, breaks during voice recordings, vacations, warm-up exercises, and so on. Make sure that your time management strategies do not lead to any stress. 

How much time do voice actors need for auditioning, making demos, and other tasks?

Commercial voice over actors often dedicates most of their time to auditioning for new jobs. Even experienced voice over artists requires new gigs to grow in their business. Auditioning is a tried and tested method to help get your voice heard by potential clients. Avoid the following mistakes while auditioning- 

• Not taking directions.
• Not being aware of the product.
• Not rehearsing the lines before the audition.
• Being late for an audition.
• Getting over-involved in the project and taking back to the clients.

How can voice artists stay motivated?

The flexibility of working from home and being your boss is undoubtedly one of the advantages of being a voice over actor. Yet, it comes with its own set of disadvantages. One can get too comfortable at home and risk losing focus and becoming less productive. So it is essential to develop and master the skills to stay motivated. 

The factors that motivate other voice actors need not inspire you. The following are some of the factors that motivate commercial- 

• Following a structured working pattern with working hours that accommodates nonvoice recording activities. 
• Take regular breaks between the recording sessions to get some voice rest and fresh air.
• Go for walks or indulge in light physical activities when the stress levels in the recording booth rise.
• Go on a vacation
• Going out with friends and family
• And more.

It is better to be disciplined than to be motivated. You need to maintain consistency in your work, whether motivated or not.

What self-care routine do voice actors follow?

The work-from-home culture has led to an increase in loneliness and isolation among the commercial voice over artists. Voice actors are required to work alone in a recording studio for an extended duration of time. Hence, a self-care routine is a must for voice over actors. Always remember that life is more important than working all the time. Here are some of the tips on self-care routines for voice artists- 

• Consuming adequate water at room temperature.
• Maintaining healthy eating habits.
• Regular walks.
• Exercise and other physical activities.
• Take breaks during the recording sessions.
• Following a vocal warm-up routine.
• Separating work from personal life.
• Stress management.

How can voice artists structure their workdays?

As a commercial voice over artist, your work day can be structured based on personal preferences. It could be a highly-structured or flexible day, whichever suits you best to increase your productivity.

Why do some voice artists prefer a highly-structured day?

Some voice actors prefer a highly-structured day as it provides a structured approach to the day and allows for a more organized and smooth workflow throughout the day.

Why do some voice artists prefer a flexible work day?

Some voice artists prefer a flexible work day because of the constantly varying demands and priorities of every day. For some voice actors, it becomes a cause of stress trying to structure their day. 

When choosing your daily time management strategy, there is no right or wrong strategy. Experiment with different structures and craft a time management strategy that best suits your career and lifestyle.