Featuring Bruce Nix
FOR ALL THE VIWERS READING PLEASE KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF?
Hey what's up everyone! I'm Jane Aquino and I'm a voice actor based in Vegas. Thank you for having me
PLEASE TALK ABOUT HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUS- TRY?
My path is a little different than most. I didn't dream of becoming a voice actor nor do I have a background in acting or theatre.
I discovered the voice industry out of cu- riosity, and it was a blessing in disguise. A year before the world shut down due to the Covid pandemic in 2020, I was already feel- ing unstable at my day job, my youngest son was in and out of the hospital, and my mom's Parkinson's Disease Dementia ac- celerated causing me to miss a lot of work. When she passed in late 2019, I wanted to find a hobby or change careers. I needed to shift my mindset and look forward to doing something for myself.
I started noticing voiceover videos on YouTube on audiobook narration and just started watching and learning from what I could and was interested in enough to look deeper. I found a Groupon in my email for an Intro to VO workshop for a local VO studio that my older son took a few years back (but didn't pursue). He encouraged me to check it so, I signed up.
PLEASE SHARE A MOMENT IN WHERE YOU FELT YOU WANTED YOU GOT INSPIRED TO BE A PART OF THE VOICE OVER INDSUTRY?
I realized there is a whole voiceover com- munity rooting for each other. In-person meet-ups, virtual meet-ups and social media groups. Clubhouse was my first interaction with other professional voice actors where industry topics where being shared during the Covid shutdown. I'm inspired by many kind, informative and caring voice actors who also teach and lead by example. I'm also a part of a small ac- countability group and we're from all parts of the U.S. They all keep me motivated and I appreciate them so much. The idea of hav- ing a voiceover career where it's your sole career is also inspiring.
PLEASE TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES
YOU FACE IN THIS INDUSTRY AND HOW YOU OVER COME THE CHALLENGES?
There are many challenges. The #1 challenge is overcoming the imposter syndrome for me. Having the courage to market myself and not feel the pressure of if I'm doing something wrong (or right). There is high-level competition out there that are always booking. I have to keep reminding myself, we're all human and it's all about the selection not rejection. I continue my performance trainings and try to get in front of casting directors and voice buyers by ways of classes and networking. It's not easy as just having a cool voice or a mic that sounds decent.
IS THERE ANY PROJECT OR PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH OR COLLABERATE?
I just want to work with cool, kind, and down-to-earth people. I'm a team player and I love to collaborate. I would love to lend my voice on issues around human rights, women's rights, and healthcare. A Super Bowl commercial would be a dream, a Cirque Du Soleil commercial/promo/ trailer, a true-crime or nature documentary would be so fun.
PLEASE TALK ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF WORK YOU ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSED?
This year my focus is to book commercial projects while continuing to voice for eL- earning, explainers and corporate narration for companies. I've been training, I've got- ten great feedback from coaches. It's time. But I also want to work on in-show narra- tion performance and build that knowledge as well.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD VOICE ACTOR?
Professionalism, talent, resiliency, good at- titude, be early, take chances. As one of my coaches would say: Don't be mean
NOW IN TODAYS SOCIETY EVERYTHING IS DONE BY REMOTE WORK, DO YOU EN- JOY THIS PROCESS OR DO YOU PERFER TO SHOW UP AT THE STUDIO?
I'm able to work remotely out of my home. It's convenient for me. But any chance I get to work in studio, I'll take it. I always ask if we can record in your studio (in and around Vegas). I love it. Gives me time to bond a little with the engineer, directors and everyone face to face.
WHAT TYPE OF SPECIALTY IN VOICE OVER WORK YOU LIKE TO FOCUS OR DO YOU HAVE SEVERAL TYPES?
I enjoy working in the explainer, casino, in- dustrial, corporate narration genres but will be expanding into commercial and in-show narration hopefully in the near future.
WHATS A TYPICAL DAY IN THE DAY OF A VOICE OVER ACTOR?
A voice over actor with a non-vo job's typical day starts with checking emails and setting the day's priorities around audition- ing and submitting way before the dead- line. Cuddle and then feed the dogs. Feed myself. Then get to whatever is priority and flow. I have a little ADHD so I can get distracted and jump from the day job to handling the voice over business.
WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR ANY- ONE THAT IS INTRESTED IN VOICE OVER WORK?
Do your research into the industry and different genres, attend an Introduction to Voice Over workshop and ask questions, take group performance classes (learn w others), take private coaching, and learn how to run a business (accounting, brand- ing, marketing), specifically for voice over. Invest in gear and demos after. Follow professional voiceovers, engineers, casting directors, etc on social media that provide value and resources. Give yourself 2-5 years and never stop learning.
YOU ARE CURRENTLY ACVTIVE AS A VOICE OVER WHAT ARE YOU PLANS FOR 2025 WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU FOR 2025?
I will continue improving my processes and work flow and honing the craft. I'm looking forward to more agency representation and I hope you get to hear more of me in 2025!
IF SOMEONE WANTS TO HIRE YOU FOR ANY VOICE OVER WORK CAN YOU PLEASE LIST YOUR WEBSITE AND HOW PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU?
Thank you! Yes, please reach out. You can find me at www.thejaneaquino.com