Check Out Joshua Alexander’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Alexander.

Hi Joshua, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My voiceover artist roots began at a marketing company in Seattle, where I sold PSAs to businesses and voiced those spots on the radio.  I remember saying, “this is pretty cool,” and the rest was history because I found my calling.

Truth be told, I’m actually a former traveling singer/speaker/performer and have received airplay on KCMS 105.3FM in Seattle.  I love my wife and two boys and love Jesus. I live a life of deep gratitude and joy because I’m content and found my calling.  I’m a big fan of Superman, in case that wasn’t clear already. Oh yeah…and I’m deathly afraid of spiders. No really.  Deathly.  Don’t judge me.

I have done radio broadcasting, PSAs, and video production incorporating voice acting work in a career serving clients all over the world. I’ve also done jingles because I used to be a singer. I have a storied career from the comfort of my home, and I truly love what I do. I live to serve because being chosen is very important to me. I audition like a superhero, and the numbers show it.

I am a full-time voice talent and in love with what I get to do every day.

I contribute heavily to the VO community through my book series at www.supervoiceoverbook.com, weekly encouraging edutainment from The Voices In My Head Blog (https://www.itsthevoicesinmyhead.com/), networking through the Global Voiceover Artists Network on Facebook (www.gvoa.net), VO business coaching through Super Voiceover Coaching (www.supervoiceovercoaching.com), and training through the “Super VO Series” video courses (www.supervoiceovertraining.com).

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Voiceovers, like any freelance endeavor, is an entrepreneurial pursuit. Many people treat it like a hobby, and in so doing leave a lot of money on the table. I like to think of myself as “a businessman who just happens to do voiceovers.” Thus, I would never treat it like a hobby. It’s far too lucrative and enjoyable to do so and thus shortchange myself.

However, running a business comes with its own set of unique challenges and pitfalls that need to be treated with discretion. Charging market rates. Properly approaching agencies and clients. Working with the online voiceover marketplaces to bid correctly. Networking with other talents. Coaching ethically. Investing back into the business. it’s been a learning curve, exponentially at times, but overall 150,000% enjoyable. I LOVE what I do. I’ve been signed for contracts to voice something, and then they have changed their minds and decided to go with a female voice. I’ve had clients who don’t pay on time. I’ve experienced breaches of usage and contracts. I’ve had to really toe the line – and preach the same – in terms of communicating what I’m worth and charging market rates so that clients know what they should pay for any genre, term or usage of voiceovers – and that this is the rate that they should pay ALL of us. It’s a hard road to navigate because the fly-by-nighters, the hobbyists who don’t understand their inherent value nor fair market rates, set a really unfortunate precedent that voiceovers can be obtained on the cheap. I and so many others have to combat that and say, “actually, I’m a professional voice talent who charges fair market rates as established by SAG-Aftra and other equally-inspired rate guides for voiceovers, and I’m worth every penny of those rates.”

Malfunctioning equipment, audio interference from passing planes, trucks, or from military bases, lawnmowers, leafblowers…or my KIDS! These are also challenges I face in producing great-quality audio on a consistent basis. Thankfully, they are super rare where we live now.

I consider myself to have a well-oiled machine that is highly functional in terms of marketing, coaching, auditioning, recording, producing, and delivering, and it’s all set on a great business model with the mantra “Your focus determines your reality.” My focus has determined my reality, and I’m exceedingly grateful.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an experienced Voice Talent since 1993. I am no hassle and have under 1 hour turnaround time depending on length of script, which not a lot of artists have. Excellent pricing. Broadcast-level home studio quality. Many clients have chosen me to tell their story: Nutrisystem. Uber. Zillow. Cadillac. Wrangler. Microsoft. John Deere. 4Ocean. Ecolab. Unicef. Deloitte. Enterprise.

My specialties are Corporate/Commercial, E-Learning, Instructional and Explainer Videos, Narration, Movie Trailers, Documentaries, Educational, and Podcasting. I’ve got a diverse voice portfolio available. My vocal influences include Jason Hildebrandt, Stephen Russell, Mike Rowe, Peter Cullen, Sam Elliott, and David Attenborough.

I am a blogger, author of five voiceover books, business coach, and trainer. I run the Global Voiceover Artists Network on Facebook at www.gvoa.net, and maintain large followings across Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

I am most proud of how I have treated this utterly like a business…not some throwaway temporary craft on the way to “bigger and better things.” This IS the bigger and better thing.

I am most known for, perhaps, the voice of GreenDot Bank in commercials during Ellen Degeneres’ holiday shows, the voice of Discover Long Island, the previous voice for Nutrisystem and 4Ocean, and for a massive production entitled “The Complete Sayings of Jesus” on YouTube.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I am deeply in love with what I do. I cannot believe I make what I make…cannot believe I get the enormous privilege of voicing for top Fortune 500 companies around the world…cannot believe I get to coach clients…cannot believe I get to pay for our house, our cars, put our kids through college, etc., all from voiceover revenue. How cool is that?!?!? It’s a dream come true, and I am VERY grateful for all that God has granted us through voiceover work.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.supervoiceover.com, www.joshygram.com
  www.joshyface.com, www.joshytweet.com, www.joshyvids.com
• Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/seattle-voiceover-talent-seattle
• Other: www.itsthevoicesinmyhead.com 

Image Credits
Mike Wilson w/NowhereMan Photos Joshua Alexander Voiceovers