The Mental Game of a Long VO Career

Anne Ganguzza and Tom Dheere share decades of combined experience in this insightful episode, dedicated to the long view of a voice acting career. Having been in the industry since the cassette and CD demo era, the hosts emphasize that longevity is achieved not through linear steps, but through resilience, strategic adaptation, and continuous self-improvement. The discussion provides a candid look at why the work never stops, the necessity of community, and the critical importance of mastering the mental game.

 

00:00 - Anne (Host)
Hey bosses, Anne Ganguzza here. Are you ready to take the next step in your voiceover career? At Anne Ganguzza Productions, I specialize in target marketed coaching and demo production that gets you booked. If you're thinking about elevating your performance or creating an awesome demo, check me out at anneganguzza.com. 

00:22 - Speaker 2 (Announcement)
It's time to take your business to the next level, the boss level. These are the premier business owner strategies and successes being utilized by the industry's top talent today. Rock your business like a boss a VO boss. Now let's welcome your host, Anne Ganguzza. 

00:41 - Anne (Host)
Hey, hey everyone. Welcome to the VO Boss podcast and the Real Bosses series. I'm your host, Anne Ganguzza, and I'm here with the one and only illustrious Mr Tom Dheere, real Boss. 

00:54 - Tom (Host)
Hi everybody, hi Anne hey. 

00:56 - Anne (Host)
Tom, how are? 

00:57 - Tom (Host)
you. I'm doing pretty good, if I'm not mistaken, haven't you, didn't you just have an anniversary? 

01:03 - Anne (Host)
I did Just celebrated 25 years with my hubby whoa. It seems like yesterday. I swear to god, 25 years just went so fast that's amazing and uh, and you, just, you just were telling me about your blogiversary how long have you been blogging? 17 years oh my god, tom that blogging, I mean I've been blogging for a you been blogging 17 years. Oh my God, tom, blogging, I mean I've been blogging for a while, but blogging for 17 years is insane. 

01:31 - Tom (Host)
Thank you. 

01:31 - Anne (Host)
Wow, you must have really good SEO. That's all I got to say. 

01:35 - Tom (Host)
I would like to yeah. Yeah, my SEO is pretty good. 

01:37 - Anne (Host)
Yeah, we would like to think that you have good SEO, but, wow, so long term relationships. You know it makes me think about voiceover, because I have been in voiceover just about as long Not quite as long as I've been married to my husband, but you know, 21 years, and it's. It's incredible. I feel like I just started, but yet I don't, because it is and we always talk about it being a marathon, not a sprint and I think you've been in voiceover longer than me. 

02:03 - Tom (Host)
Yes, I decided I wanted to be a voice actor in 1994. 

02:09 - Anne (Host)
Wow yeah. And then I got my commercial demo. Some people were born in 1994. 

02:14 - Tom (Host)
Not me, I know. 

02:17 - Anne (Host)
Yeah, some of my students haven't been born. 

02:19 - Tom (Host)
Some bosses listening to this are going to be like, I was born in 1994. I know, or 2004. And then I got my commercial demo in 1995 and I booked my first voiceover in 1996. And I went full time as a voice actor in 2005 and started coaching in 2011. So I've been-. 

02:39 - Anne (Host)
Oh, I started coaching just shortly before you. Yeah, yeah, just a little bit longer, because then we started coaching just shortly before you. Yeah, yeah, just a little bit longer, because then because we met shortly thereafter at Voice 2012. 

02:49 - Tom (Host)
Oh my goodness, we already knew each other, but I don't think we met. 

02:52 - Anne (Host)
Yeah, but I remember we. 

02:54 - Tom (Host)
I definitely remember we hung out at Voice 2012, which was 13 years ago. Oh my gosh. 

02:59 - Anne (Host)
Woo At Disneyland. You know so and it's funny because we talk about you know how long have you been in voiceover and how long did it take you to become successful in voiceover? Well, I always say you know, my overnight success took many, many years. So I think and I think it's something that a lot of people don't understand, especially those that are intrigued by this industry you know thinking that, oh yeah, it's, I can stay at home, I can do this. You know thinking that, oh yeah, it's, I can stay at home, I can do this. You know, I can buy the mic. It'll cost me a few hundred dollars and then I can just start booking jobs and making money. 

03:32
And I think really for I know we talk about all the time, but I think I want to have a whole episode dedicated to the realities of having a long view career and the fact that it is something that you have to be in for the long run if you truly want to be successf