I sacked three clients this month. Find out why...

I sacked three clients this month.

Why?

The holy trinity:

1) Lack of 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆
2) Lack of 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁
3) Lack of 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁

𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝟭:

I had to go away for a week to look after my mum.
Notified everyone immediately.
92 of my clients had no objection.
But the 93rd said it was unprofessional.

I wasn't even going to debate the issue with them.
If looking after my family is a problem to you... 👋

𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝟮:

A retainer client had a change of management.
They now want to use AI instead 🤖
The alternative was to do the same work for half the rate.
So I noted their prioritisation of human connection and... 👋

𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝟯:

The classic unpaid invoice.
No response to email reminders, phone calls or DMs.
Finally had to contact the end client and tell them I hadn't been paid.
Things are moving now, but I won't hold my breath.
And this person has a healthy following on LI so... 👋

I'm a 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 to work with.
My priority is always serving clients in the best way I can.
But the toughest job as a freelancer is that you have to stand up for yourself,

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴?

THIS is the reality of that process.
Have boundaries and be willing to stick to them.

#freelancelife #clientrelationships #voiceover #mediaproduction

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🎙 Need an assured, engaging and relatable voiceover for your project? Feel free to DM or check out my work on my profile.

Stop trying to be perfect.

Stop trying to be perfect.

Just stop it already, alright?

I’ll let you into a little secret - there is no perfect!

It doesn’t bloody exist.


The only thing we can be, is ourselves. In all our messy, funny, ambitious, troubled selves.

Let’s all, collectively, get over perfection, shall we? And start taking off a bit of that pressure. And relax a little bit.

Happy Friday all! Hope you enjoy this little snap from my recent holiday!








#FridayThoughts #NewWeek #NoPerfection

What do I do? Good question! I still ask myself that, all the time.

What do I do?

Good question! I still ask myself that, all the time.

In a nutshell, I help you tell stories. Important stories. This could take the shape of;

-Your brand. Commercials, for instance, need voices that don’t just tell the story, but fully embody the brand, too. No mean feat.

-A video game. Entertainment is vital to our quality of life. And games wouldn’t be the same without the graphic and voice talents that bring a fantastical world to life.

-Your favourite book. Being able to listen to a book, or a podcast for that matter, has meant I ‘read’ SO much more. I am very partial myself to having a story-telling voice that’s compelling, but doesn’t detract from the story in any way.

-A documentary that you get swept up into. It’s one of my favourite things to do. AND I know how to pronounce ‘penguins’ properly.

This is what I help breathe life into, literally. Have you got a project in mind that doesn’t quite fit into the categories I’ve listed above?

I’m always available for a quick catchup to find out more about what you need. Feel free to get in touch!


 
#Gaming #VoiceOver #Audiobooks #Penguins

The importance of believing in yourself, especially as a business owner.

The importance of believing in yourself, especially as a business owner.

Now, now….don’t start to gag just yet at that old trope. Hear me out….


Your mindset is a huge part of growing your business.


You’ve got to have the chutzpah to reach out to those big clients, and pitch yourself as the best person for the job.

You’ve got to keep going for bigger commissions. Not just because your skillset is growing, but your market rate is, too.


Don’t get stuck playing it small. You’ve got too much to offer.

You’ve got to believe it, though.






#BelieveInYourself #Monday #Growth

What you'll hear vs what you may not clock...

What you’ll hear: a clear, characterful voice that delivers your message, but also engages.

What you may *not clock:
- Vocal articulation drills. Countless, endless articulation drills
- Vocal health habits, to make sure my voice can take anything from extreme voicing, to long days in a recording studio
- Liaison with directors and/or producers, to make sure I fully understand the brief and know what they have in mind
- Script reads and character prep, to make sure I’m fully across the character and the storyline BEFORE I come to the studio
- If I’m recording something from my own studio, making sure my equipment is in tip-top shape and ready to go, to avoid any gnarly technical glitches
- Getting myself out there and in view of potential clients. I do heaps of self promotion to make sure the right people find me

It takes a lot of prep and after thought to deliver something that may sound so easy.

I’d love to hear whether you find this to be the case for you and your job remit, too…please let me know in the comments.



#MondayThoughts #Preparation #Dedication

How do you know you're ready to go freelance?

How do you know you’re ready to go freelance?

Spoiler alert - ya don’t! And you never will.

There’s never a ‘good’ time
You’ll never be fully prepared
There will always be situations you’ll not have encountered before, that you’ll now have to navigate. Pronto.


Freelance life won’t be for everyone, either. But here’s the thing….

It’s the best thing I ever did for myself. Despite the years of hard work I’ve had to put in.

I’m convinced I wouldn’t have been able to do HALF the things I now have under my belt, if I’d taken the safe route. If I hadn’t made the jump for myself.

So if waiting for the right time is holding you back…don’t let it.



#FridayThought #YouOnlyLiveOnce #FreelanceLife

I hate this.....Ever thought this while trying something new at work?

Ever thought this while trying something new at work?

That was my reaction the first time I tried to do an audio book.

There's a quick test that seasoned narrators will recommend to new talent to see if they have the stamina for it:

-Pick your favourite book, and read it aloud for at least ten minutes.
-Every time you make a mistake, take a beat, then pick it up from the last sentence.
-If you don't want to burn the book after this, you 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 have potential.

For years I turned down audiobooks for exactly this reason.
It requires an exceptional amount of self discipline and preparation,
yet often pays considerably less compared to commercials and video games.

But this year - I've said yes to three of them.

Why?

Well... part of me enjoys the pain.

I associate it with growth, not resting in my comfort zone.
But it's also got me working in a much more rigorous and structured way.
It's demanded I use different aspects of my voice.

Do you ever take pleasure in the pain of doing something new at work?

#freelancelife #videomarketing #voiceover #skillbuilding

You're worth it. You are

You’re worth it.

This isn’t meant as a rip-off btw of *that commercial, usually featuring a pretty lady who flips her hair when she utters those lines…

It’s the truth. You are.


You’re worth charging market rates for your services, without feeling you’ve got to drop your prices as soon as a client makes a disapproving noise after you’ve given them your quote.

You’ve got to at least consider raising your rates in line with rising prices, without feeling your pricing yourself out of the market.


You’ve worked hard to acquire the skills you bring to the table. You deserve to be properly paid for them without being sent into guilt-ridden downward spiral.

Know your worth.

And then ASK for what you’re worth.



#HotTake #YourWorthIt #KnowYourWorth #FreelanceLife

How long are you prepared to wait?

How long are you prepared to wait? ⏰

My journey into voiceover didn’t bring instant recognition.
It required patience.

I devoted countless hours to refining my skills,
studying the industry,
building relationships with other creatives.


I've found that game development also thrives on patience.
This video encapsulates the span of my full-time VO career, from 2017-2023.

The start is from my self-tape audition, 6 years ago.
Next is the scene in the finished game, released last week!

The game in question?
🎮 Tin Hearts by Rogue Sun 🎮

To say that director Kostas Zarifis and his team have had to be 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵... would be an understatement.
But they've created a beautiful game,
telling a wonderful story that I'm proud to be part of.

The painstaking attention to every detail, each line of dialogue and chord of music is a testament to the virtue of patience.

Similarly, in the realm of marketing,
successful campaigns aren't achieved overnight.
It requires patience to
• understand your audience,
• perfect your message,
• and execute a campaign that genuinely resonates.

So here's a reminder to all my fellow dream-chasers - don't let the journey's length dishearten you. Whether you're perfecting your artistry, creating your next game, or strategising your marketing campaign, remember, success isn't a sprint; it's a marathon.

#voiceover #gamedev #freelancelife #videogames

How do you stop from feeling overwhelmed?

How do you stop from feeling overwhelmed?

These couple of years have been tough. Really tough.

Things continue to be really challenging, with an economy that’s still in a tailspin, global conflicts, and household bills still spiralling up.

Freelance life especially can be tricky, even at the best of times. And I’ve been incredibly lucky on that score, compared to many others.

I’m in a position where I can take breaks, and reset.

I like to spend time with my cat, who despite all her judgemental looks and demands, gives me lots of cuddles too (only when she feels like it though).

I like to spend time outside, in nature. Even if it means spending a quick half hour strolling a city park, flanked by office blocks and tall hotel buildings.

You’re not alone, if you’re feeling overwhelmed. And I hope that you get to find the space and time to do what you need to do, to recuperate.



#FreelanceLife #SelfCare #TakeTime

Being a creative isn’t a straight line.

Being a creative isn’t a straight line.


Some days you’re just in the zone. Things come easy. You are on a high. You’re on fire!

Other days you can’t for the life of you remember how to log back into your computer, coming back to your desk after making your third cup of coffee that morning…

It happens. (Happened to me only the other day, in fact.)

The trick is to remember that that’s perfectly natural.

We can’t expect to be running around at full pelt, all the time.


Some days, you’ve just got to admit defeat, and reset your damn password.



 
#MidWeek #Reset #SlowDays

The bucks stops with YOU as a freelancer

The bucks stops with YOU as a freelancer.

There’s no way around that.
 
You’re the one calling all the shots. Learning all the lessons. Making all the decisions. Making all the mistakes.

And that can be really scary.


Especially in the beginning of our careers, we’re still not sure exactly of the kind of work we want to produce, and the kinds of clients we want to work with. We’re still discovering ourselves.

Even taking time off can be difficult.

SO many of us start out saying yes to anything and everything.

I get that - when you’ve got bills to pay, sometimes you’ve just gotta do what you’ve gotta do to make ends meet.


But the sooner you can become crystal clear on what you bring to the table, and who you’d like to have at your table, the sooner you can get laser-focussed on putting out the right kind of invitation, for the right kind of client.

You can shape your website. 
You can tailor your social media content.
You can target your outreach.

And attract the right client, for you.


How have you found what’s right for you, as a freelancer?



#FreelanceLife #BeingAFreelancer #MondayThoughts

English Literature is no longer in the top 10 of most popular subjects studied at universities

English Literature is no longer in the top 10 of most popular subjects studied at universities, according to last year’s figures.

For the first time ever.

Students are favouring STEM subjects more and more, along with the promise of higher salaries at the end of their studies.

Given the current cost of living crisis, and our government’s policies, that’s hardly surprising.

To someone who champions the humanities though - hell; I’ve made my living out of using language, and creating performance pieces for all kinds of industries - this is incredibly worrying.


Even if you’re not a performance artist, or even a thespian for that matter, do we really want the next generation to throw out;

Ethics,
Creativity, 
Or even morality?

I don’t think we do.

Creativity and communications are some of the most prized skills in any business. Let’s not forget that!


#Humanities #NextGeneration #MidWeekMusings

I know, I know...selling yourself has huge ick energy.

I know, I know…

Selling yourself has huge ick energy.


Does the thought of putting yourself forward for a job, or taking credit for a piece of work you’ve created make you want to duck underneath your desk, and stay there?

I know what that feels like.

But if you want to get noticed, and noticed by people who could really use what you have to offer to make their lives better, you better get used to that feeling.

Selling yourself has connotations of insincerity, and not without reason. But shouldn’t this all depend on what it is that you’re selling?

Be proud of what you bring to the table. Don’t batt away praise if it’s lavished on you.

Value your own work, so others will too.

Look at it this way - if you don’t, how will people be able to find you and what you can uniquely offer, in amongst all the noise that the cacophony of digital platforms brings? 


#FreelanceLife #ValueYourWork #SellYourself

Are we all about to be replaced by binary code?

Are we all about to be replaced by binary code?

Is that really what’s happening?

Will a programme pip us all to the post, moving forward?

Soon, will all the images we see and voices we hear be concocted by computer programmers?

I’m not so sure.


Freeing up capacity can only be a good thing, of course. Anything that’s mundane, repetitive and leaves vital skillsets to rusticate, could, and perhaps even should, be picked up by software.


But what do we stand to lose, if we lean too much towards convenience?

If we listen only to the words, and ignore the warmth in a voice?

If we value a quick turn-around, over plummeting the depths of the human soul?


There is a reason why we all turned to Netflix, podcasts and streamed theatre when the lockdowns first hit. And I’ve got a feeling that ones and zeros had very little to do with it.

What do you think?

Is the text you’re writing maybe not flowing the way you’d like it to?

Here’s a top tip from a Voiceover Artist that’s made a huge difference for me and the way I write just about anything;


Read it out loud for yourself.


I know, that might sound a little irksome, or even a little odd.


But by reading any text out loud, you very quickly realise when;

Your punctuation isn’t working, and needs a tweak. 

You’re using words (or dare I say, jargon) that is jarring and stops the reader from even reaching the end of a sentence. 

You’re waffling without getting to the point. Good luck hanging onto your reader then, too.


So next time you’ve got some content to create, just give this a bash. It’ll do the world of good to your words on paper.



#ContentCreation #Voiceover #MondayTopTips

Have I improved? Am I doing things better?

Have I improved? Am I doing things better?
Am I treating myself with the same kindness I try to offer others?

Those are three questions I asked myself in a post 11 months ago...

To rewind, it was after the One Voice Awards, which are the voiceover industries equivalent to the Baftas, or the Oscars, or summat like that...

On awards night, I'd come home empty handed despite my 10th and 11th nominations in the last four years.

Last week, nominations were announced for this year's awards.
I managed to get my twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth:

🏆 Best Video Game Performance
🏆 Best Documentary Performance
🏆 Best Male Voiceover of the Year

Now there's a lot about that which is gratifying.

Those first two nominations were in genres I'm hugely passionate about and had specifically targeted to work on in the last twelve months. Disciplined monologue practice has aided my gaming work a lot, and working with a great coach (Thom Pinto) and demo producer (J. Michael Collins) had led to my first documentary gigs.

But despite all of this, I almost didn't submit my work for consideration.

Why?

Because of imposter syndrome.
And also because I knew that the drive that had helped me achieve all this was also going to put me in a no-win situation.

If I don't enter the awards, I'll have FOMO.
If I do enter and don't get nominated, I'll feel I've slid back.
Now that i am nominated, what happens if I lose for the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth time?
And even if I do win, I know part of me will be asking 'But can you do it AGAIN Chris?'

Now let's not even begin to dig into the privilege behind such a mindset. I'm making a great living after all.

But from conversations with a few other people who have gone through similar, i wanted to take this opportunity to be transparent.

My feed is currently dominated by voice actors (rightly) celebrating their achievements. But I also feel the ones who get anxious about the next step, or those that weren't nominated and who are now beating themselves up.

It's all bound up in that entrepreneurial mindset.
That striving to keep pushing, keep improving, to hold yourself responsible.
It's the biggest reason for my own success, but that doesn't mean it can't be a right b*tch at times.

So I return to those three questions I posed last year.
While I feel I've answered the first two, that third - about treating myself with kindness - still poses the toughest challenge.

How do you find ways to give yourself a break?


#entrepreneurlife #voiceover #onevoiceawards #mentalhealth

Don’t under estimate the importance of going for a run

Don’t under estimate the importance of going for a run.

Of hitting the gym. 
Of going for that yoga class. 
Or simply going for a walk. We spend so much time rushing from one meeting to another, one email to another, one task to another, that it’s easy to lose track.

To lose track of what our bodies need to be able to function, and stay in good health. Before you know it, it’s 6pm, you’re staring at heaps of empty cups and plates next to your laptop, and you’ve hardly moved from your office chair all day. 

So take that time to eat a proper lunch, rather than scoffing your food quickly behind your laptop. Head over to the gym (or any other class or activity that floats your boat).

Your health should be at the top of your list.


#TakeTime #Selfcare #MondayMotivation

What reaction are you trying to get?

What reaction are you trying to get?

As I approach 120k followers on Tiktok,
I'm now getting frequent 'reaction' videos to my posts.
They've got me thinking about this question.

I don't offer a service tons of people need right now.
So rather than try a hard sell, I want to give you something memorable.

It might make you laugh.
It might make you sad.
It might make you think.

My only job is to be engaging enough so that when you,
or someone you know, DOES need a voiceover...
you can't think of anyone else

(Don't get me wrong, I'm also reaching out directly to decision makers every spare moment that I have.
But sharing creatively is what makes me tick, so here's where I'll mostly be!)

#videomarketing #videocontent #viralpost #contentcreation #voiceover

A Ghost(ing) Story - Voiceover Style

A Ghost(ing) Story - Voiceover Style

By Chris Tester - British Male Voiceover Artist

A Ghost(ing) Story 👻

Whether you're a freelancer, consultant, or business owner, it can be dispiriting when someone suddenly stops responding to your messages.

Being available for last minute jobs is essential for my business.
Voiceover often comes near the end of the production chain, so I HAVE to quickly respond to clients' needs.

When that level of consideration isn't reciprocated,
I'll be honest, it really sucks 🤷‍♂️

I know as a service provider, I'm not the most important cog.
And I also know deadlines make things frantic and busy.
But I didn't know professional courtesy was so expensive?

To mitigate against it, I'd recommend:

1️⃣ Setting clear expectations and deadlines: Make sure your client knows what to expect from you and when.
This helps to establish trust and accountability.

2️⃣ Communicate regularly: Keep your client informed about your progress and any potential roadblocks. This builds a strong relationship and reduces the risk of being ghosted.

3️⃣ Follow up: If you haven't heard from your client in a while, don't be afraid to follow up with a polite reminder. This shows that you're proactive and professional, and can help to keep the lines of communication open.

Do you just take ghosting as a cost of doing business?

#business #videoproduction #ghosted #communication #freelancelife