Sharon Feingold left the world of academia (a degree in psychology from George Washington University then on to an MBA in marketing from Georgia State) for a career in voice over. She used her business savvy to propel her forward in this competitive industry. Not only did she find a way to be a very successful voice talent, she also found a way to make it more meaningful helping to start a charitable initiative and association- Stars at Bedtime. Sounds like a couple of slices of voice over life! Here is part 1 of my blog interview with Sharon Feingold.

-Tracy Pattin

TJP: You were on a different path getting your degree in psychology from George Washington University and then on to an MBA in marketing from Georgia State. What made you take a different turn getting into voice over?

SF: I’ve always been more of an artsy/creative soul and largely had given that up to pursue an MBA. As a child I played violin and piano. In high school I became obsessed with theater. By the time I was in my MBA program, I was really missing that inner artist. When I heard about a voice over class, I thought it would be a fun way to recapture my love of acting and prepare myself better in business situations- Such as public speaking and presentations. Once I stepped foot in a studio and started reading copy, I experienced that “aha” moment where I realized I had to give voice overs a try. As I began to book jobs, my goal then became a full time career in voice overs.

TJP: How have you used your MBA in marketing to propel your career? Any tips?

SF: Once I realized I was going to try and get “just one commercial” (that was my initial motto) I tried incorporating what I was learning academically into my career.

TJP: How did you do that?

SF: I began to see myself as a micropreneur. A miniature business, not just an actress. I tried to make sure all my “departments” were working seamlessly together. Just like any big business, my marketing department included promotions, public relations, sales and brand management. My research and development department was always looking into investing in the latest technologies for my home studio. These are just two examples.

TJP: You’ve voiced projects for Coca-Cola, Ford, MTV. What do you do to win so many jobs in such a competitive market?

SF: I guess it’s that magical combination of hard work and luck. It’s good to always be building relationships with potential clients and nurturing existing ones. Of course having the right representation is also a huge part of it. I’m represented by Atlas Talent in New York and SBV in Los Angeles.

TJP: How did you get the “Dancing with the Stars” promo?

SF: I initially booked an ABC promo through my agent. Later on I met another great producer who has continued to keep me in mind for other promo work. The “Dancing with the Stars” promo was a cross-promotion with T-Mobile. I voiced a similar cross-promotion for Ugly Betty and one with the Oscars leading up to the most recent one for “Dancing with the Stars.”

In part 2 Sharon talks about giving back and her Stars at Bedtime association and how voice actors can get involved.

-Tracy Pattin