I Made $107,000 Last Year Doing Voice-overs. Here's How I Started With An Online Course And Grew To Doing Work For Warner Bros, Pepsi, And Google

 

I Made $107,000 Last Year Doing Voice-overs. Here's How I Started With An Online Course And Grew To Doing Work For Warner Bros, Pepsi, And Google.

Christopher Tester, an actor, started offering voice-overs on Fiverr in 2017 as a side hustle.

Within six months, he was making more from his voice-over work than in acting and producing.

He told Insider about his brand deals and how he had changed his work in response to AI.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Christopher Tester, a 42-year-old voice-over actor and producer in London. Insider has verified his job and income. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Actors used to get voice-over work in traditional ways, through their agent. You'd wait for the phone to ring.

I graduated from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London in 2008. I spent a decade as an actor, mainly on the stage, and as a producer for theater.

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I'd done a couple of voice-over jobs that I got through my acting agent. They were for video games and commercials, but I wasn't doing it consistently.

I did a voice-over course

I found an online course in 2016 called Voiceover Kickstart. It made me aware that doing voice-overs from home, with equipment you could buy, was possible.

The course showed me people were looking for freelance voice-over talent. It also taught me how to speak well for voice-overs and record from home on a budget. I spent £400 on a microphone and the software for my home studio. My soundproofing was a duvet propped up over my head.

I tried everything they taught us in the course, from creating a website and marketing to joining casting websites where you pay a subscription to access auditions, which cost me a few thousand pounds in my first six months.

My Fiverr earnings outstripped my theater work in 6 months

I set up profiles on freelancer websites such as Fiverr, Upwork, and PeoplePerHour in January 2017.

I got the most consistent traction on Fiverr. I started with low rates. In 2017, I set up a profile offering one gig — voice-overs, for $5 per 100 words. After two weeks, I got my first job, which was to narrate an English course. That was about $50 for 30 minutes of work.

It was the first job that I got myself. I gradually built my clientele from there.

Within six months of landing my first gig, I was earning more through Fiverr than all other sources, including theater work and working in bars and the box office. I made $26,400 in my first year on Fiverr.

I cut back on my other work and became more selective about the theater work I took on.

I scaled my rates and upsold

I've been able to scale my rates. Now my minimum price is $20 to read 100 words and $5 per 25 additional words. Beyond that, it's all about what the voice-over will be used for. If it's a global ad campaign, that's worth more than narrating a local video. I work that out with the client.

I upsold by offering gig extras, such as additional sounds, proofreading, and audio editing.

I found a niche in corporate voice-overs

Through trial and error, I found out what I was good at. I had no idea my voice would attract a lot of corporate work, but it did.

When I was getting consistent corporate work, I was able to build my brand in response to that, both on and off the platform.

I added a picture of me in a suit with a teacup. It's a bit tongue in cheek, but I was leaning in to that corporate sensibility. It was fun and made me more memorable. It emphasized the authority, clarity, and trust of my voice in all communication.

I focused on offering quick turnaround and directing my own sessions, rather than using a director. For this, I'd self-record multiple takes, which I'd send to the client.

I worked with international brands

I was approached by different brands on Fiverr. I voiced a six-month international ad campaign for BMW in 2018, which showed mainly in Asia.

Outside Fiverr, I voiced several characters in 2017 for video-game franchises owned by Warner Bros., such as Lego and Marvel superheroes. I worked on a 10-hour internal training program for Pepsi in 2019. I worked for Google that year on a project explaining how people could get their Google business profiles working.

I think working with those high-profile brands helped give other clients confidence in me.

Last year, I made $107,800 on Fiverr — after its 20% fee — and I've made $63,400 this year.

I've learned more about what work I'm passionate about and want to pursue, such as nature documentaries and video-game acting.

I've deprioritized work that AI will likely replace

Within two or three years, I don't think anyone will be hiring for voice-over work that can be turned over quickly and without much performance — such as phone messaging and e-learning. They will just use artificial intelligence.

To make sure I have longevity in my career, I need to be aware of choosing work in which people will still want a human voice.

AI is already a problem for me. Numerous people have cloned my voice without my permission. I had three cases this year alone of people using my voice for AI voice-overs. I found out when I was tagged on social media.

I, of course, don't get paid for it, and there are implications for my voice being associated with something I haven't chosen.

Becoming a TikTok creator has given me new opportunities

I've become a content creator on TikTok. I do my own versions of speeches or dialogue, and I ask my audience for suggestions about what I should perform.

I've got 250,000 followers on TikTok. From that, I've been getting unexpected opportunities in types of work that I'd never thought I would be doing, such as audiobooks.

Industry Minister Calls Out No-shows Pepsi, Coca-Cola After Meeting With Manufacturers Over High Food Costs

Canada’s industry minister made a point of calling out Pepsi and Coca-Cola for not sending representatives to a meeting he convened on Monday with manufacturing companies to discuss stabilizing grocery prices.

Francois-Philippe Champagne singled out the two companies when asked by a journalist what the consequences would be if major industry players did not succeed in stopping high inflation.

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“This morning, (their CEOs) did not attend the meeting,” Champagne said of beverage giants Pepsi and Coca-Cola.

“I intend to call on them and I will continue to do so. … I don’t stop,” he told reporters.

The Canadian leaders of seven international manufacturing companies, including Nestle and Kraft Heinz, met with Champagne.

He summoned them to answer to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s call earlier this month for Canadian grocers to come up with a plan to stabilize prices by Thanksgiving.

If major grocers fail to deliver ideas, Champagne said, “the consequence is for all 40 million Canadians because we will be able to see who is taking action and who is not.”

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Trudeau gives major grocers until Thanksgiving to come up with plan to stabilize food prices

A government source told The Canadian Press that the CEOs of Pepsi and Coca-Cola responded to the federal government summons by stating they were not available Monday. The source was granted anonymity because they were not allowed to speak publicly about the matter.

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It’s unclear, however, whether another meeting between major food companies and the government will take place.

Monday’s meeting brought together top Canadian executives from McCain, Unilever, Nestle, Lactalis, Lassonde, Kraft Heinz, and Smucker Foods.

All avoided speaking with journalists. The CEO of the Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada association, Michael Graydon, attended the meeting and agreed to answer questions on their behalf.

Graydon called the meeting “very productive.”

“We’re very much about co-operation and support, collaboration,” he said. “It’s an industry that needs to align and work collectively to find a solution.”

He said manufacturers want to collaborate with other players in the supply chain, such as major retailers like Loblaw and Costco, whose leaders Champagne met with one week earlier.

In a statement, Pepsi said it is open to meeting with Champagne.

“We are pleased that our industry association, FHCP, led a productive conversation with the government and representatives from industry today,” it said.

“We were not able to attend today’s meeting, but we offered to meet with the minister. We are committed to collaborating with the government to identify solutions during this challenging time for Canadians.”

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Trudeau has said that if the government isn’t satisfied with what major grocers come up with to stabilize prices, he would intervene, including with tax measures.

Graydon said it remains to be seen how detailed the plans will be by the government’s Thanksgiving deadline.

“We’ll have to see whether, you know, the detail of how much completeness can be done by that time. But I think everybody’s working very hard to achieve that,” Graydon said.

Champagne said he is happy Graydon “wants to do something,” because “it’s a gain for Canadians.”

“It’s clear that what’s important is that we have timelines, work plans, and obviously concrete actions,” the minister said.

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From Rhymes To Recipes: 2 Chainz Teams Up With Pepsi Dig In For A Culinary Residency In Las Vegas

Having done a musical residency in Las Vegas, 2 Chainz is back for culinary residency with Pepsi Dig In to amplify Black-owned restaurants.

In the neon-lit heart of Las Vegas, where the city’s entertainment prowess knows no bounds, 2 Chainz is retaking center stage in a new way. Instead of performing his chart-topping hits, the Atlanta rapper is turning up the heat in the kitchen.

2 Chainz x Pepsi Dig In Restaurant Royalty Residency (Photo courtesy of Pepsi)

This fall, the Grammy-Award-winning rapper is trading clever verses for recipes as he joins Pepsi Dig In’s culinary residency program. Starting Sept. 30, fans visiting MGM’s Resorts Mandalay Bay and Luxor will be able to explore a selection of exclusive dishes from six Black-owned restaurants from around the country, including 2 Chainz’s Esco Restaurant & Tapas.

“I already had a residency in Vegas performance. So, to actually have one of my businesses making their rounds. I think it’s just a blessing, man,” 2 Chainz told theGrio. “’I’ve been an owner of a restaurant for going on seven years, and Lord knows that’s a lot. In the Black restaurant field, there are so many ups and downs, trials and tribulations. It’s really a roller coaster. So, I can honestly say it’s a blessing to be acknowledged, along with the other five restaurants.”

Celebrating its second year, the Restaurant Royalty Residency program is part of Pepsi’s Dig In initiative designed to drive access, business growth, and awareness to Black-owned restaurants. Pepsi Dig In serves a dual purpose of introducing diners to new Black-owned establishments and offering essential resources, mentorship, and training to Black restaurant owners with the support of PepsiCo. The Las Vegas residency was created in conjunction with MGM Resort’s pledge to enhance inclusivity and cultivate a diverse environment for its employees, guests, community collaborators, and stakeholders.

“Las Vegas provides a valuable culinary stage and unparalleled business opportunity for restaurateurs. In partnership with MGM Resorts International, the Pepsi Dig In Restaurant Royalty Residency Program is putting Black-owned restaurants and chefs in front of foodies from around the world,” said Scott Finlow, CMO of PepsiCo Global Foodservice, in a press release.

“No matter your background, building and running a restaurant is a constant grind but that’s what makes the rewards, like this residency, worth it,” 2 Chainz added. “Opportunities for this kind of exposure in Vegas can be life-changing for businesses. It’s great to see brands like Pepsi Dig In, and MGM put the power of their platforms behind these talented Black entrepreneurs, and it’s a privilege to be among them.”

Esco Restaurant & Tapas came to fruition nearly nine years ago while the rapper acquired residential and commercial properties around Atlanta. 2 Chainz revealed to theGrio that the idea to launch a restaurant came when his now co-owner, Mychel “Snoop” Dillard, reached out to rent one of his facilities to expand on one of her v previous projects. However, after several meetings and conversations, the two became partners. Merging Snoop’s expertise and passion for the restaurant business and 2 Chainz’s creativity, the pair worked together to create the name, concept design, menu, and overall vibe. Seven years after launching its first location in Atlanta, the restaurant-by-day and lounge-by-night now has locations across Georgia, Tennessee, and Ohio and offers franchising opportunities.

And from Sept. 30 to Oct. 27, Vegas foodies will be able to taste one of 2 Chainz’s favorites, the Blackened Salmon Alfredo Pasta, featuring Cajun-seasoned fish over classic alfredo along with 2 Chainz’s own cocktail.

Similarly, each of the participating Restaurant Royals will introduce a special menu item, only available during a three- to four-week timeframe, at Libertine Social located in Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and Public House situated at Luxor Hotel and Casino. So, as you plan for your next trip to Las Vegas, here are some dates to keep in mind for this residency:

Sept. 30 to Oct. 27, 2023: Cranky Granny’s Sweet Rolls, Owner Sianni Dean (Pflugerville, Texas)

Oct. 28 to Nov. 24, 2023: Taylor’s Tacos, Co-Owners Taylor and Maya Mason (Chicago)

Nov. 25 to Dec. 15, 2023: Blk Swan, Executive Chef and Co-Owner Saon Brice (Baltimore)

Dec. 16, 2023 to Jan. 12, 2024: LoLo’s on The Water, Executive Chef Raymond Mohan and Co-Owner Leticia Skai Young (New York, New York)

Jan. 13 to Feb. 6, 2024: Bridgetown Roti, Chef and Owner Rashida Holmes (Los Angeles)

Haniyah Philogene is a multimedia storyteller and Lifestyle reporter covering all things culture. With a passion for digital media, she goes above and beyond to find new ways to tell and share stories.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. TheGrio’s Black Podcast Network is free too. Download theGrio mobile apps today! Listen to ‘Writing Black‘ with Maiysha Kai.

The post From rhymes to recipes: 2 Chainz teams up with Pepsi Dig In for a culinary residency in Las Vegas appeared first on TheGrio.