Conversations with Sheli Baez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheli Baez.

Hi Sheli, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Though my grandmother loves to say that I simply managed to monetize my personality trait of being talkative, I began my voiceover career while working as an Ad sales assistant in 2008 for the Spanish television Network Univision. From the first commercial I recorded in the booth, I was hooked and by 2015, I decided to take my career further by taking acting classes. From that point on, I started collaborating on projects with major companies such as Amazon, Warner Bros Pictures, and Chase Bank. I’ve been fortunate enough to have a diverse resume that includes animated projects, feature films, commercials and even a toy! 2020 brought a boost to my business due to the bittersweet rise in demand of COVID-related projects and my bilingual abilities. Since then, I’ve begun long-term projects with Kroger, the Department of Education of Colorado and as the brand voice for a few NPR stations. The journey has had many twists and turns but I’ve loved every moment so far.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No journey is smooth if it’s worth it. As a performer, you face rejection on a daily basis and over time, you learn to detach your emotions from the auditions. I believe in the mantra, ‘ Let it out and then Let it go” when it comes to auditions and potential opportunities and it has worked out well for me so far. 2020 brought some challenges and opportunities when the world-and major studios in the city- shut down. I had invested some money and energy setting up my home studio and it gave me a leg up when clients frantically searched for remote voice actors.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Some people like to say I get ‘paid to talk’ but, my career involves far more than that. Aside from bringing characters and words to life, I often have to do the audio engineering, accounting, marketing and HR department in my one-woman company. I was lucky enough to be raised Bilingual in English and Spanish thanks to my family’s Dominican background so having no discernible accent in either language makes me an asset to clients that want the same voice for projects that require both languages. My love for voiceover stems from my love of animation so, working on animated projects always fills my heart and my background in Television and Radio advertising helps inform my performances on commercials. However, I have found my strength in the corporate and e-learning field of voiceover and I love the clients that I collaborate in that community.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
That when I’m not in the booth, you can find me behind a sewing machine. My grandmother was a seamstress and in 2020, I decided to learn the skill she mastered. Since then, I’ve made tons of garments for myself and loved ones. My wardrobe is slowly becoming more and more handmade.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shelibaez.com
• Instagram: @shelibaez
• Twitter: @shelibaezvo