Usage Conversations: The Problem with “In Perpetuity”

There is a common discussion found in voiceover circles...the “in perpetuity” discussion. Non-Broadcast work doesn't have the same usage concerns as broadcast as there is generally little need for exclusivity and few conflicts. Broadcast however, requires a limited usage agreement (timeline, end date, etc.) to prevent a voice actor from facing future conflict; or the loss of work due to a preexisting contract. Genres like audiobooks, videogames, and animation are generally in perpetuity. Commercials, promos, social, and radio ads are not.

If a major brand hires a talent for a broadcast project they won't want that same actor voicing a spot for their competitor during the time their spot airs. The voice is part of the brand in that moment. This also applies to online ads, even more so as their reach goes farther (worldwide), and they can bring plenty of financial gain for a client.

It makes sense.

It's still a constant conversation in the voice over world and one we have to keep having.

There are MANY projects out there that are looking for all media in perpetuity for broadcast work. Truthfully voice actors know this could lose them money in the future if a client in the same market offers them work. If it is in perpetuity the buyout should be high enough to cover all possible lossses for the years the spot airs as most companies will NOT hire an actor voicing their competitors’ ads.

Clients can always negotiate a shorter usage for multiple spots or a longer usage with fewer spots to balance the needs of their budget. Have more questions? Feel free to reach out and I’m always happy to continue the conversation.

Voiceover Tips for Daily Life: Body Language Matters

There have been years I was hidden. Not onstage, not in front of the camera; invisible to the industry. Throughout those years the training I received in performance continued to be an asset in my mom life, in homeschooling leadership roles, and as a workshop provider. Why do I say this? Performance training is an asset to anyone who needs to show up confident, strong, and ready to work. Every voice has a purpose.

What does voiceover offer the everyday professional? What can it teach each of us about how to utilize the tools we need daily? Confidence often begins with posture and body language. When entering a room the individual who walks in with a comfortable gait, shoulders back, loose arms, and open physical presence comes across as strong and on point. Voice actors learn that physicality informs everything. Physicality also informs a crowded room who you are without even saying a word.

A voice that is supported by body language with its own message of strength can do more than just be heard. It commands, no… demands attention.

Tips for presentations, speaking, and meetings:

*When you need to project confidence in any situation change your posture and your body language first. Head held high, shoulders back, stand straight, hands at your sides, clear voice.

*Observe the room/situation with a memory of something you are amazing at. Hold that memory in the space you are in and think, " I know how to do this and I'm the one who will."

*Believe it or not even if you're still learning you already have the tools to accomplish it if someone has trusted you to be there, so the more you practice confidence the more confident you will become.

When I wrangle a large group of children for any event I use this plus a whistle.

Works like a charm.

Let’s Walk

“The future starts today, not tomorrow.”
St. John Paul the Great

She fell on her head. Every. Single. Time.
When my daughter was learning to walk, she didn’t fall forward onto her hands like most kids.
Nope.
She’d tip straight back and crash her head into the floor like a tree being cut down in the middle of the forest. It wasn’t graceful, but it was her trying to figure it out. Doing the hard toddler work. And eventually… she learned. Of course we supported her and guided her to find the way to her newfound freedom, her exciting adventures in roaming...and getting into stuff (that we now had to keep her out of!!!)

Honestly? That’s kind of how I’m building my voiceover career.No dramatic debut or instant success—just small wins and steady effort.
(Rocked out a goal this week!) I’m doing this part-time right now, squeezing in sessions between mom life, chaffeuring teens, and another job, learning by doing (and even MORE doing). Early morning work. Late night work. Whenever I can...doing the work.

One script, one audition, and one new skill at a time. And the best part? I’ve discovered work that uses my voice, my training, and my creativity to help you tell your story—whether it’s a warm corporate narration, an engaging eLearning module, narrating a fiction book, or something unexpected.

I'm embracing each step. I’m still at the beginning, but after my years of performing this already feels like a lived-in home. Cozy. (Or maybe that's all the acoustic foam?) Like the place I belong and only just discovered. (Should I start singing "I've Got a Dream?")

I'm building something real, something joyful, and I’d love to collaborate with clients who value clarity, connection, and a little bit...or maybe
a whole lot... of heart. 💜

Let's walk together.