The Acting Business Boot Camp Podcast

Voiceover is a beautiful and rewarding field. But if you’re not protecting your energy, creativity, and finances, it will eat you alive before you ever find your footing.

I’ve seen too many talented actors get burned out because they thought VO was just about having a “great voice.” It isn’t. It’s a craft and a business rolled into one. And if any of those three pillars is running on empty, your career won’t last.

Energy: Your True Currency

Behind every polished 30-second spot is hours of research, auditions, editing, outreach, marketing, and more. Without systems to replenish your energy, you’ll be running on fumes—and microphones always reveal fatigue. Protecting your bandwidth isn’t optional, it’s part of the job.

Creativity: More Than Output

Turning your art into your business can drain your creativity if you’re not careful. Output without input leads to burnout. I share ways to keep your “creative bank” full so your performances stay fresh, inspired, and bookable.

F...

In this episode, I talk about mottos. Those little slogans or mantras that can actually keep you going in a business that is often messy, unpredictable, and overwhelming.

A motto is not just decoration. It’s a tool. It helps you:

• Stay grounded when the industry feels chaotic.

• Filter choices and make better decisions.

• Communicate your identity and values quickly.

• Build momentum through small daily actions.

I’ll share a quick history of mottos, what makes a good one, and a few of my favorites like:

• Grow through every no

• Truth over performance

• Consistent action, creative life

• Bring light to every role

But here’s the most important part. A motto has to fuel action. It should connect to something small you can do each day. Even five minutes counts. That could be:

• Sending one outreach email

• Researching a casting director

• Tracking your auditions

• Posting or reposting content

• Reviewing your goals

When you tie yo...

Why Learning the “Language” Matters

Actors spend years honing their craft, but many miss one critical piece: learning how to communicate in the Language of the Agents and the Casting Directors. This isn’t just about vocabulary. It’s about aligning your training, business practices, and mindset so the industry sees you as the solution—not the problem.

As a casting director, I see it firsthand. Actors who know how to speak this language get representation, book roles, and build sustainable careers. Those who don’t? They’re quickly overlooked.

The Three Pillars of a Successful Acting Career

A thriving career rests on three equally important pillars:

1. Training – Building your instrument as an actor so you know you’re good at your craft.

2. Business – Getting your materials, schedule, and communication in order.

3. Core Energy Work – Tackling mindset blocks like procrastination, perfectionism, and fear so you actually do what you know you need to do.

Neglect any one of t...

This week’s episode is all about documentary narration. Voiceover actor Paula Tiso joins me to share her journey from sketch comedy in Los Angeles to working steadily in promos, radio imaging, true crime, and documentary series.

We talk about training, the shift from “perky” reads to grounded storytelling, and what it really takes to support a story with your voice.

About Paula:

Paula Tiso is a veteran voiceover actor whose work spans documentary narration, true crime, television affiliates, video games, and more. She’s voiced Smithsonian Channel documentaries, Oxygen and ID series like Living with a Serial Killer and The Devil Speaks, and brought characters to life in games including Final Fantasy X, No More Heroes, and Fallout 76.

Whether narrating history, guiding audiences through true crime, or connecting viewers to their local TV stations, Paula’s voice combines warmth, authority, and authenticity.

From Comedy to Narration

Paula started out in sketch comedy and found ...

Today’s episode is called “Your Audition Superpower.” We’re talking about what really makes an audition competitive, not just good. Because in a crowded industry, good auditions disappear. Competitive ones get remembered.

Whether you’re stepping into the booth, walking into the room, or recording a self-tape at home, these five elements can transform how casting directors see you.

Why “Audition Superpowers” Matter

Every actor has talent. What separates the hobbyists from the professionals is how you show up under pressure. Casting directors don’t just want a great read. They want someone they can rely on, someone who takes risks, and someone who knows how to communicate humanity through their choices.

That’s why these five aspects aren’t just skills. They’re your audition superpowers.

The 5 Audition Superpowers

1. Confidence

Not the fake-it-till-you-make-it kind. Real confidence is clarity and control, the ability to deliver without obsessing about what the casting director w...

If you’ve ever gotten an email offering $850 for 45 minutes of voice work and thought, huh, that sounds… generous—you’re not alone.

Today I’m walking you through one of the most common and dangerous traps voice actors fall into: the voiceover scam.

Let’s talk about how to recognize one, why we fall for them, and how to protect yourself.

These Scams Are Getting Smarter

I’ve seen so many of these land in my inbox or get forwarded from friends and students. And honestly, they’re getting better. Better design. Better phrasing. More personal.

But when you know what to look for, the patterns start to repeat.

Here’s the kind of language I often see:

• “We came across your demo…”

• “We’re excited to offer $850 for a quick project…”

• “A studio will be rented near your location…”

They sound legit. But when you look closer, there’s no company name, no usage terms, no specifics—and that’s your first red flag.

Why It’s Easy to Fall For

Let me be clear: falling for one of t...

If you're a creative who rolls their eyes every time someone says, “You should be on TikTok,” I get it.

I did too.

But I’ve also seen firsthand how a free platform with a low barrier to entry can quietly change your entire business.

Not overnight. But steadily. Strategically. Without becoming someone you’re not.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on how I use TikTok to stay visible, book clients, and build trust—without filters, dances, or pretending to be an influencer.

So, why TikTok?

I never expected to like it. I don’t love being on camera. I don’t enjoy over-polishing or oversharing.

But I do love showing up for my community. I love talking shop. And I really love when a new client says,
“I found you on TikTok… I just felt like you got it.”

They didn’t care about my résumé. They didn’t go through my website.
They watched a few videos, got curious, and reached out.

That’s the power of visibility.

Why Visibility Matters More Than Ever

I set a personal go...

Episode Summary:

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on something I think we all struggle with at some point—especially if you’re a voice actor, on-camera actor, or creative trying to “make it”: shiny object syndrome. You know the feeling. You see someone post about a fancy new mic, a game-changing workshop, a big booking, and suddenly you're wondering… should I be doing that too?

I’ve been there. I’ve spent the money. I’ve chased the dopamine hits. And I want to talk honestly about how jealousy, comparison, and impulse spending can quietly erode your confidence, your clarity, and your career.

This one’s for the overthinkers, the late-night scrollers, the folks who are constantly trying to prove they belong. You don’t need to spend your way into success. You need a strategy. And maybe a little tough love. That’s what this episode is all about.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why shiny object syndrome shows up so often in creative careers

• How to tell the differ

  ...

How to Land Acting Work in Smaller Markets (And Why It’s More Accessible Than You Might Think)

Have you ever thought that real acting work is only found in big cities? Like you have to be in New York or LA to make it? I used to think that too. But my conversation with actor Aaron Marcus on the Acting Business Boot Camp podcast really shifted that perspective.

About Aaron Marcus
Aaron Marcus has been a full-time actor for over 40 years, with nearly 1,300 bookings across film, TV, commercials, and more. You might have seen his scene with Tom Hanks in the film A Man Called Otto. Aaron started his acting journey in a small market, with no connections and no clue how to break in. After figuring it out through trial and error, he dedicated himself to helping others avoid those same pitfalls. He’s led over 800 workshops on three continents and offers private virtual coaching sessions to share his hard-earned wisdom.

You can learn more about Aaron’s work, watch his free quick-tip videos,...

🔊 Episode Summary

Hey hey! It's Mandy Fisher here, and in this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on something I see way too often in the VO world—over-relying on email templates to do your marketing. Especially the kind that demo producers hand out like candy.

If you’ve ever sent one of those plug-and-play emails and heard crickets, this episode is for you. I’m digging into why that approach might be sabotaging your chances—and what to do instead. Because while templates can save you time, they can also strip away the one thing that books the job: your voice.

So let’s get into how you can show up more authentically in your outreach, stand out in a sea of sameness, and most importantly—build trust.

🧠 What You’ll Learn

• Why those “proven” VO templates often fall flat

• How sounding like everyone else kills your shot at connection

• The real reason you're not getting replies (and it’s not your talent)

• Why your unique voice is your superpower in cold outreach

...