Chris Turbiville: Transforming the Voice Over Industry

My father was a radio DJ turned voice actor. Back then, there was no such thing as voice over artists. The radio DJs did voice overs, so you could say he was a pioneer of the industry. He was also an audio engineer for many renowned bands and was heavily involved in the audio arena, so I grew up with a deep appreciation for the craft. When my father was on the tail end of his career, he had made enough to retire early and encouraged me to pick up the baton and get involved in a burgeoning voice over industry. That was 23 years ago.

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Continuing a Legacy

At the time, just like anyone in the growing industry, I had a full-time job while working on my voice over career. But it quickly took over completely. The voice over industry was a different world two decades ago. We worked through talent agents who would deal with the clients, and the talent pool was a lot smaller, so I was able to book work quickly without having to audition repeatedly.

When the internet came into play, I remember having a website and mailing out CDs to agencies as it was the only way to get our recordings out there. Work rolled in faster as talent agents booked me for union campaigns and network TV jobs. I was working full-time in a role I was passionate about and continuing my father's legacy as a voice over artist. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to work with all of the largest ad agencies in the world, and I still do a lot of TV promo, TV network, and TV commercial work.

The Voice Over Revolution

When the digital era arrived, we started to notice changes in the industry slowly. The very first online voice over platform was established in 2003 and, to be honest, we laughed at the thought of booking work online. Getting work through talent agents was the only way to go at the time, and it was unthinkable that someone could book work without an intermediary. But, by the mid-2010s, some online platforms received large amounts of funding from multinational conglomerates investing in emerging startups.

This had a massive effect on the industry as anyone with a microphone could now connect with clients and get booked for work. It essentially meant two significant things: 1) Professionals were now competing with complete beginners on the same level, and 2) Clients were realizing that they could book work directly with artists instead of going through talent agents. I call this extreme shift in the industry 'the democratization of voice over.'

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Embracing and Leveraging Change

When I realized that the industry was changing fast, I took the decision to evolve with it. I refused to be left behind in my comfort zone. I adopted a 'learner attitude' and tried to immerse myself in this new world early enough to capitalize on new opportunities. I started exploring Fiverr in 2016 out of curiosity, but I only really got involved in opening gigs on the platform in 2017 when Fiverr Pro was launched. I received an email about joining Fiverr PRO, and the idea of having the top 1% of sellers vetted, and their experience authenticated so they could work with professional buyers was something that I took great interest in. I applied for Fiver Pro and was accepted about two weeks later. The pool of Pro sellers was small, and the application process was very stringent. Because I am extremely selective about my work, it made me feel proud to be part of a highly qualified group of sellers.

Today, I work with talent agents, ad agencies, production companies, and directly with a range of clients on Fiverr. About half of my Fiverr clients are regulars. One of the clients who approached me on Fiverr for their national TV spots, Electric Bikes, is one of the fastest-growing e-bike companies in the United States. They've been a regular client of mine for the last six months. The other half are new buyers who are excited to connect so seamlessly with a professional online. I'm constantly learning more about the industry, utilizing technology to maximize my efficiency, and adapting to new trends.

Booming with Fiverr Pro

When Fiverr Pro was introduced in 2020, it allowed me to work with more experienced buyers who know exactly what they want. When I started out on Fiverr Pro, buyers were still determining what to expect, and there was a lot of back and forth with questions and establishing expectations. Fiverr Business buyers, however, ask the right questions, they understand the workflow, and the process usually moves much faster.

Essentially, they come onto the platform expecting the process and quality they would get from dealing with an agent. Fiverr Business attracts more marketing agencies and businesses that are serious about finding freelancers to work with on a long-term basis as part of their external team. This is especially true after COVID, as more and more businesses are turning to remote workers to fulfill their projects.

Tips from an Insider

I would encourage Fiverr sellers to attempt to over-deliver. It's a work ethic I've carried throughout my entire career. Set up all your systems and workflows and have them ready so it makes it fast and easy for you to over-deliver. Do multiple versions of the voice over according to the brief, and then include some creative and innovative ideas that the client may not have thought of. Giving clients more than they ask for makes them feel like you take your work seriously. They have many options to choose from, and it minimizes requests for revisions.

I'd also encourage sellers to check in with their success managers at least every quarter. Days can get full, and you can be booked up with work, but as a self-proclaimed data nerd, I track all my metrics and really value the feedback I get from my success manager.

Ultimately, as a voice over artist, the beauty of Fiverr is that the client gets to interact with me directly and see my skill without wasting time, money, and effort auditioning for work. I can also work with clients on a global scale and have access to more jobs than ever before. It's been a fantastic experience, and I'm excited to see what the future holds for me as I continue to grow my presence on Fiverr Pro and Fiverr Business.

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