What to Do on Slow Days as a Voice Actor
What to Do on Slow Days as a Voice Actor
What to Do on Slow Voiceover Days: Turn Downtime Into Future Work
Every voice actor has slow days.
You know the kind. You check your inbox, look at your schedule, and realize the work just isn't coming in as quickly as you'd like. Maybe you had a job or two in the morning, and then suddenly...crickets.
It's tempting to call it a day and go do something else. And sure, sometimes that's exactly what you need.
But a slow voiceover day can also be one of the best opportunities to work on your business instead of simply working in it.
There are several productive things you can do during downtime that can improve your business today—and potentially generate more voiceover work tomorrow.
Here are some of my favorites.
Slow Days Are Part of the Voiceover Business
First, understand that slow days happen to everybody.
I don't care how long you've been a voice actor or how successful your business becomes. There are going to be days when your phone isn't ringing, your inbox isn't filling up, and clients aren't beating down your door.
That's normal.
The mistake is assuming that because there isn't paid work to record, there isn't any work to do.
Instead of thinking, "There's nothing happening today," try thinking, "What can I do today that could create opportunities later?"
That completely changes how you approach a slow day.
1. Get Your Voiceover Business Organized
This may not be the most exciting item on the list, but slow days are perfect for catching up on organization.
Voice actors accumulate a lot of files—auditions, client projects, demos, invoices, scripts, finished audio and multiple versions of projects. If you don't stay on top of it, things can get messy pretty quickly.
Use some of your downtime to make sure your files are properly named, categorized and stored where they're supposed to be.
I also like to jump into my CRM and make sure I'm caught up on client follow-ups.
Are there people I was supposed to contact this week?
Are there previous clients I haven't spoken to in a while?
Are there prospects who need another follow-up?
Sometimes simply getting organized reveals opportunities you've forgotten about.
2. Catch Up on Invoices
You did the work. Make sure you got paid for it!
A slow day is a great opportunity to open your bookkeeping software and review your outstanding invoices.
I use QuickBooks and periodically check to make sure nothing has slipped through the cracks.
Fortunately, it's pretty rare for my clients to become seriously past due, but it does happen occasionally. An invoice might hit 30, 60 or even 90 days without payment.
If you're busy recording all day, it's easy to overlook something like that.
Downtime gives you a chance to clean up the financial side of your voiceover business.
3. Do Some Social Media Networking
Another great use of downtime is social media.
This doesn't mean you need to spend three hours mindlessly scrolling. Use social media strategically to remind people that you're a working voice actor.
You might share a recent demo, talk about a project you just completed, highlight a new client you're allowed to mention, or share a finished video or commercial featuring your voice.
You can also interact with producers, agencies, other voice actors and people working in industries that regularly hire voice talent.
The goal isn't necessarily to get a job immediately.
You're staying visible.
And visibility can create opportunities later.
4. Work on Your Voiceover Skills
If you're enrolled in a voiceover training or coaching program, slow days are perfect for training.
Go back through lessons you haven't watched in a while. Practice different types of scripts. Work on your conversational delivery. Study a genre you're interested in pursuing.
If your coach is available, you might even schedule a one-on-one session.
Voiceover is a performance business, and your skills need maintenance just like anything else.
Don't wait until you're struggling with an audition to start practicing.
Use the quiet periods to stay sharp.
5. Clean Your Voiceover Booth
Yes, seriously.
If you're spending hours every day inside your recording space, it can get surprisingly cluttered.
Dust builds up. Papers accumulate. Cables get messy. Random things somehow migrate into the booth and never leave.
I'm a bit of a neat freak, so I'll occasionally use a slow day to clean everything up.
It may not directly book your next voiceover job, but having a clean, organized workspace makes it a lot nicer to get back to work when things pick up again.
6. Do More Voiceover Auditions
This one should be obvious, but it's important enough to mention.
If work is slow, audition more.
Whether your voiceover auditions are coming from pay-to-play sites, agencies, direct clients or other sources, make sure you're taking advantage of the opportunities already sitting in front of you.
It's surprisingly easy to let auditions pile up in your inbox, especially when you're distracted by other parts of the business.
A slow day eliminates that excuse.
Go through your available auditions and submit the ones that make sense for your voice and your business.
Don't rush through them simply to increase your audition count. Quality still matters.
But if you've got the time, use it.
Today's audition could become tomorrow's paid job.
7. Double Down on Email Marketing
I've saved what I consider the most important one for last:
Direct email marketing.
There is a prerequisite here.
If you're brand new to voiceover and you're still working primarily through freelance platforms—and you don't yet have a professional demo and a solid website—you're probably not ready for direct email marketing.
But once you've built those foundational pieces, email marketing should be one of the first things you switch to when business slows down.
In fact, this topic came to mind because I recently had one of those days myself.
I had a couple of jobs in the morning.
Then...nothing.
So instead of sitting around waiting for something to happen, I switched gears and started marketing.
My assistant already handles email marketing every day, but when I jump in myself, we're essentially doubling our effort. That day, I personally reached out to about 20 potential clients.
Did I expect 20 people to immediately respond with jobs?
Of course not.
That's not how email marketing works.
Email Marketing Is About Planting Seeds
This is one of the biggest mindset shifts you can make when marketing your voiceover business.
Don't send an email at 10:00 in the morning and get discouraged because you don't have a new client by noon.
Think of each email as planting a seed.
Some people might respond immediately.
Others might respond next week.
Someone else might save your information and contact you six months from now when the perfect project comes along.
You don't necessarily know when your marketing will pay off.
That's why consistency matters.
Instead of judging your marketing based on what happened today, judge it by whether you're consistently creating new opportunities for the future.
Don't Waste Your Slow Voiceover Days
A slow day doesn't have to be a wasted day.
When the recording work isn't coming in, switch from fulfilling work to creating opportunities.
Get organized. Check your invoices. Follow up with clients. Network on social media. Improve your skills. Clean your studio. Submit more auditions.
And when you're ready for direct marketing, send more emails.
The work you do during today's slow period may be exactly what prevents another slow period a few weeks or months from now.
That's how you build a sustainable voiceover business.
What About the Summer Slump?
Voiceover can also experience seasonal slowdowns, particularly during the summer months.
If you're experiencing a slower stretch rather than just an occasional quiet day, don't automatically assume something is wrong with your business.
Instead, use that time strategically.
Keep auditioning, keep marketing, keep developing your skills and keep putting yourself in front of potential clients.
Because when things pick back up, you'll be in a much better position than the voice actor who simply waited for the phone to ring.
Want to Learn How to Start a Voiceover Career?
If you're curious about voiceover and aren't sure where to begin, I host a free Voiceover Blueprint webinar every Tuesday at 6:00 PM Pacific.
We'll talk about some of the steps involved in getting started in voiceover, and you'll have an opportunity to ask your questions live on the call.
Just for attending, you'll also receive a digital PDF copy of my book, The Voiceover Blueprint, the audiobook version, plus four additional bonus gifts.
It's completely free to attend.
The important thing to remember—whether you're brand new or already working professionally—is that building a voiceover career isn't only about what you do when you're busy.
It's also about what you do when you're not.
Ready to take the next step? I'm hosting a free 1-hour webinar this Tuesday night at 6:00 PM Pacific / 9:00 PM Eastern where I'll go deeper into everything it takes to start a voice acting career from home—including how to land your first gigs with little to no upfront cost. Plus, everyone who shows up gets a free copy of my book, The Voiceover Blueprint (audiobook and ebook). Sign up using this link.
Download My Latest Beginner Mistakes in Voice Over - Quick Start! https://thevoiceoverblueprint.com/beginner-mistakes
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The content on this channel is for educational and informational purposes only. While I share tips, strategies, and guidance based on my experience as a professional voice actor, there is no guarantee of earning income or securing voiceover work by using the information provided. Results vary depending on individual effort, skill level, market conditions, and other factors. Viewers should use their own judgment and take personal responsibility for their voiceover career decisions.
