Mike Cooper, is a British voiceover artist, based in London who came to voicing via work in radio and TV over a number of years. He put together his first makeshift studio about two-and-a-half years ago just to see if he could make a bit of extra money voicing from home. When it took off he rebuilt his studio about a year ago and decided to take the plunge and invests in both ISDN and Source-Connect. He now voices TV documentaries in the U.S. market for History, National Geographic, Bio, the Crime & Investigation Network and others, radio commercials, training, eLearning and corporate/industrial films. He also has done VO projects other countries as well. Check out Mike’s blog.

TJP: As voice talent in the UK, what is the climate like today? The opportunities in the UK for voice talent?

MC: It really seems to depend on who you talk to. I do hear long-established VOs on UK online forums saying things are very quiet, and wringing their hands over how little they seem to be earning. On the other hand, just because the waters are shallower doesn’t mean that you can’t go looking for the point where they broaden out a little. There are more opportunities out there in terms of the spread of work available; you just might have to go looking for it in places you haven’t before. I’m prepared to see myself in different roles and try new things, and I think that’s important.

TJP: What is the media landscape like in the UK?

MC: We have a very rich media landscape in the UK with hundreds of TV channels, commercial radio, corporate production, new media – and the ability to reach out to the world via the internet and ISDN both to market and deliver our product. The people who seem to be riding this out seem to me to be the ones who are embracing the changes we’re going through,rather than resisting them and trying to play the new game by the old rules.

TJP: How did you get the National Geographic, History channel, Bio, and other documentary projects? What is your marketing plan?

MC: C’mon! If I told you that I’d have to shoot you.Truthfully? A lot of it’s done by cold calling, pure and simple. I’m stunned by how many of my colleagues won’t pick up the phone and call people. I don’t think sending an email, a CD, or a postcard, is enough. You’re selling your voice after all, and the person you’re trying to pitch to needs to hear that and be able to make a judgement on how confidently you can use it. If you can’t win them over on the phone, why should they trust you to win over their audience?

TJP: What is your marketing strategy?

MC: People seem mortally scared of potential clients saying “no”, but there are far worse things in life than that, surely? It’s like flipping coins: if you want more coins to come up heads, there’s only one thing you can do to guarantee that outcome – and that’s to flip more coins! Plus (and please forgive a second truism, but…)if the phone’s not ringing, then that’s a great time to make outgoing calls, right?

TJP: Any difference between the U.S. and UK in terms of marketing?

MC: One thing I really admire in the US talents I see is their attitude to marketing themselves. They’re not afraid or ashamed to shout about their achievements, and it’s an approach that I’ve come around to myself. It’s just not very British – as a nation we prefer to look down at our shoes and shuffle uncomfortably whenever praise is heaped on us – and that’s something we need to change too.

In Part 2 Slice of Voice Over Life, Mike talks about how he is able to maintain his voiceover career “across the pond” in the U.S. with ISDN. He shares insights and equipment advice.