Smart Moves with Your First $500 in Voiceover

BOOM! There goes your bank balance, ballooning with the sweet influx of voice acting cash. But let’s not get too wild and start hiring skywriters just yet. I’ve got some brainwaves that’ll have you narrating a commercial for the genius life choices you’re about to make.

Now, when I first started raking in the dough from voice work, I jokingly called it “Monopoly money.” Why? Because if you’ve been paying attention to my other content, you’ve got a steady gig as your financial backbone while you moonlight as a budding voice actor. I’m always harping on this, but jetting off to LA with nothing but stars in your eyes and a few bucks is, frankly, a terrible plan. Trust me, you can build a voice acting empire while keeping your day job—and it’s a strategy I’d bet my microphone on. I delve deeper into this in my academy, where I dish out pro tips on managing your moolah and growing your business.

Assuming you’ve been taking notes, that $500 isn’t your only lifeline. You’re clever, money-wise, and fully aware of the ups and downs of gig life. So, what’s the best way to play it with those 500 bucks?

Let’s break it down into three strategic investments: Improve Your Skill, Improve Your Sound, and Improve Your Opportunity.

If this is your inaugural $500, you might want to hold off on coaching— just for now! There’s a good reason for this. Coaching is vital to voice acting. You have to maintain a student mindset throughout your voice acting career if you want to keep up with the changing trends, but if we’ve only got $500 to spend, that’s not a lot of quality coaching. You can possibly afford 2, maybe 3 sessions with most 1:1 voice acting coaches for $500. If you’re still new, there’s a lot of information you can gain that you don’t need a coach to learn. Spending $180 on a one-hour session would be wasted if you’re asking your coach to walk you through a signal chain. If you need to learn the fundamentals of the entire industry, a course is probably a better way to go. I built the Voice Acting Academy with that idea in mind- a soup to nuts approach covering how you can get started in voice acting.

If you’ve got a good sense of the industry and want to work on some coaching with that $500, see if the coaches you’re interested in have workshops or group workouts you can attend. They tend to cost less. You won’t get as much time on the mic, but you can see how others approach their copy, learn from the feedback they get, and even get your moment in the proverbial spotlight. I’ve seen fantastic coaches offer workout opportunities for as little as $39.

I booked my first job on a $67 XLR microphone. No joke! Some of my students have recorded national gigs on that same model of microphone. How? By focusing on the important stuff first: their space. I hate to break it to you, but the flashy gadgets usually don’t work, and you’ll end up spending more on gadgets just to need to get the basics of sound treatment anyway. A ball of foam around your microphone will do little to nothing if your room isn’t treated. You can achieve great sound without breaking the bank, just be smart about it. Good sound is a 360 degree solution, enveloping the mic and the source (you). A closet full of clothes and a thick blanket covering you will do way more than a little shield behind the mic- and it’ll be more comfortable than a box you put over your head. Same concept applies to the mic itself- USB mics just don’t last. Not that it’s going to break on you, but you’re going to outgrow it quickly. USB mics don’t capture the detail that a large diaphragm condenser or shotgun mic will, and as you grow in your career, you’re going to need that level of performance. USB mics might seem like a life hack, but you’ll get much more mileage out of an XLR mic and an interface.

That being said, getting a high-end mic without treating your space is a recipe for disaster. Treat your space first, then upgrade your mic once you’ve got a great space to record in. PVC booths with moving blankets, for example, are a great way to treat the space around you.

The third piece of the puzzle is broadening your horizons. In my academy, I preach the gospel of gig-getting: direct marketing, casting sites, and agents. Since you can’t exactly purchase an agent (and really shouldn’t), let’s focus on the other two avenues. Not on a casting site yet? Buying a membership is a smart way to spend your cash. Already there? Consider upgrading or branching out. If your profile isn’t filled out, or you’re not utilizing all the tags on your demos, then you’ve got some tasks to do, and that’s a free ticket to more auditions.

Direct marketing is another avenue worth exploring. Investing in a mailing list service can pay dividends. Remember, your contacts on social media and casting sites aren’t really yours—they’re on loan. A mailing list is your direct line to your client base, so start building it yesterday.

And if your website looks like it’s stuck in the dial-up era, it might be time to call in a web designer. Or maybe commission a graphic designer to craft a logo that really pops. You won’t get the Sistine Chapel for $500, but you can definitely start laying the foundation for a brand that stands out.

Not feeling any of these options? No problem. Consider starting a voice acting fund. Save up for that dream booth, primo equipment, or next-level coaching. Financial stability means you can wait for the right moment to make your move.

Lastly, don’t forget to treat yourself. Money isn’t just for making more of it—it’s also for enjoying life. Take someone special out for a memorable meal, pamper yourself, or give yourself the gift of legroom on your next flight. After all, if you can’t enjoy the fruits of your labor, what’s the point?

In the end, whether you’re reinvesting in your business or indulging in life’s luxuries, remember that balance is key. Rest is productive, and using that $500 to enhance both your personal and professional life is the real jackpot.

Thanks for reading my two cents! If you want some more advice that won’t cost you a penny, you can pick up my free eBook here.