Networking is non stop in the VO world mixed with everyday life

My journey in voice acting should be a movie. I actually have written a screenplay about it, my life, the ups and downs the triumphs and setbacks. If anybody thinks they can be successful at this voice acting business without marketing and networking, keep reading. When I first started out, after a year of VO classes, creating the demo, setting up my home studio, I started the networking journey. Cold calling was not fun, I was constantly faced with the "Huh?!" when I would ask for the Creative Team, Production department at any corporation or production facility. Trying to give my 30 second elevator speech: "Hello, I'm a voice actor with a home studio with classes taught by the Masters under my belt and a terrific booking record, I have a demo I would like to get to the right person, I also have a website, who can you direct me to?"...Silence...Me squirming and praying I have the in. It then is logged as a contact and the follow ups and networking now begins. I attended an Open House over the week end at Giraffe Space in Livermore. A cool visual concept created by 2 Producers I have voiced for. I knew it was the right thing to do to attend, though I was totally exhausted from prepping my house for a sale, living in a staged home for a week, and voicing in between the nails being pounded, painting being done and phone calls of endless appointments. The creators of Mitch Eason and Tito Hamze deserved to be honored as they used my voice talents for a few projects in the past. I drove on out and entered their space. There they were: Mitch- Multi Media Producer at Robert Half and Tito, who not only provided the food, the beverages and the tour, but reconnected Me with mutual colleagues! Jody Amos - Production, doing the sound, who I voiced an apartment complex tour, Jerry Pentin - Producer/Director who I voiced a few 30 second cable TV spots for, Chad Caines-Multi Media producer who I voiced the awards for the California Independent Film Festival, Steve Alt- Director Media Services at Robert Half who I have been reaching out to for years to get in that production studio door. There it was, all the hard work I have done to stay top of mind. Will it be a one time gig or will they hopefully be new gigs from reconnecting? I don't know. I do know it is so cool to know all these talented people and I know it was the right thing to do. So if you think you can sit back and hope the gigs come to you, I don't think it's true..It's allot of work, and perseverance and hope to land that next gig. I still love my craft and know networking is the right thing to do. Thanks guys for the gigs, I hope you know how much I appreciate them and you appreciating my talents