Making Money In Your PJs is the new book by author and veteran voice actor Paul Strikwerda. Subtitled Freelancing for voice-overs and other solopreneurs, it offers a unique look at what it takes to be and stay in business as a voice actor or other type of creative freelancer.
Voice acting is hot at the moment, and year after year, thousands of hopefuls are led to believe that they can build a lucrative career as a narrator using a cheap microphone, a computer, and an internet connection. Others invest a hefty sum in expensive studio equipment, coaching, and demos, only to get nowhere. Making Money In Your PJs takes a revealing look into this booming industry where many are invited and very few are chosen.
Strikwerda:
“Every day, I see aspiring voice-overs treat their new dream job as a hobby and fail miserably. It’s not as easy as it seems. People need more than pleasant pipes to make a living as a voice actor. They have to have business acumen in order to succeed. It’s the stuff nobody teaches you in voice-over school that can make or break a career. That’s precisely the focus of this book.”
“Making Money In Your PJs” covers topics such as:
– Transforming a hobby into a profession
– Successfully promoting a business online and offline
– Turning potential customers into clients
– Pricing services for profit
– Getting paid on time, every time
– What to do when business is slow
– How to stand out from the competition
These are topics that not only voice actors need to address. They apply to practically anyone who is self-employed. Although this book is written from the perspective of a voice-over, any solopreneur will benefit from chapters on freelancing, marketing, handling clients, and money management.
Making Money In Your PJs is neither a get-rich-quick by doing voice-overs guide, nor a step-by-step course that will take the reader from voice-over novice to top talent in three days. Rather, it is a practical, personal, and often humorous account of what life is like behind the mic. It’s written with insight, intelligence, and a healthy dose of realism.
The sheer depth, breadth, and quality of the information on the pages of Making Money in Your PJs makes this book an obligatory resource in your library of voice-over and freelance success-building. More info and free sample chapters at:
Born and educated in The Netherlands, writer, coach and voice-over professional Paul Strikwerda started working the mic for Dutch national public radio at the age of 17.
After a career in international broadcast journalism (BBC, Radio Netherlands), he became a sought-after media coach. In 1999, Strikwerda moved to the United States where he founded Nethervoice, providing voice-over services in his native Dutch, neutral English, and sometimes even in German.
In his studio in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, Paul records audio books, videos, virtual tours, commercials and documentaries for major clients on all continents. His weekly blog deals with issues facing voice-overs and other solopreneurs, and is read by thousands of people every month.
Previous books include “Building a Vocal Booth on a Budget,” and “Boosting your Business with a Blog.”
For Paul’s blog, audio samples and more, please visit nethervoice.com.
