On Combating Frustration

So, both my audio books are out.  I am very proud of them, these books. A few hundred hours went into their development.  I am marketing the heck out of them on Facebook, this website, twitter, and Soundcloud. I've contacted reviewers.  I have free coupons. I've contacted friends and family. And no one is listening, and I have no one following, no one really seems to care. This should make me very upset. It does, a little. However, it really doesn't. 

And I'll tell you why. Because I truly believe that this is a calling of mine, a rediscovered part of me that needs to be brought out.  I want to share my voice and characters with the world. I think I can give something of  my art and expressiveness. It's just being drowned in the clash and din of the VO world, and the competitiveness of life also. I am also learning. To develop an art and craft takes time.  While I think my efforts are very good ones for first and second (really simultaneous efforts), I also know I will keep getting better. So I know, it's nothing personal, and not necessarily an indictment on my art, which I believe in both now and my growing skill set.

I have to realize I'm paying now for future results. I need to get my words out there, and I need to do it a lot. After that I need to do it more. I need to finish my all my basic demos (which are almost there) to the best of my ability, and then showcase those abilities. 

I'm also not bitter because I have learned so much in the last 6 months, and I'm motivated every day to do more and more! I wake up thinking about VO and go to bed thinking about it. I still take the time to go out and enjoy life in a balanced manner, but I don't sleep 10 hours a day because now I have something to get up for. I get to play characters and voice peoples dreams in the products they have created. I get to act and sing and be an artist! I am grateful for the chance to do this, money or not, listeners or not. 

I understand I do want to make a living from this, someday, and the sooner the better. But it's not just about money except that if I can do this, I can do this on a full time basis which allows me to create more. So this downtime in the final analysis is a gift. I can continue to learn and develop, and learn more in my art, my business and marketing skills and get to know cool people in the process.

And I am writing this down, because I truly believe that I will be a success in this field. And I want to remember this. And if anyone reads this in the future, I want them to see that this is a long road. I have put probably 600-700 hours into this endeavor in the last 6 months (learning how to use software, voicing and producing 2 audiobooks, creating many individual tracks, listening to at least 200 hours of podcasts and videos, reading, networking, creating my own website, learning social media, taking improv classes).

And still: I am just barely off the ground!  I am like a newborn, just wiggling his legs and opening his eyes. This is what many of you will have to do. For some it may be easier, if you are a trained actor with connections and do good work. For others it may be harder. 

But always, ALWAYS assume it will be harder. This is a marathon, not a footrace. You must be able to take punches, and learn to love the process. You must shrug it off, laugh, and do it again and again because you believe it's just a matter of time.  

You have friends and fans of your work. They just don't know it yet.

It's up to you to let them know.