Being a professional voice actor is a juggling act. Between deciding what jobs to audition for, taking care of the business side of your voice over career, and managing to fit in some well-deserved self care and downtime, it’s a tough job! Thankfully, there are productivity apps and tools out there to help you get it all done.
But which ones are worth the download?
In this article
- Be Focused
- QuickBooks Self-Employed
- Productive
- Hootsuite
- Breethe
- Voices Mobile App
- Take Advantage of Pre-loaded Apps
- Go ‘Old School’ with Notebooks and Lists
- Productivity Tips from the Voices Insiders
- Set a Goal
- Make a Checklist
- Set a Routine
- Focus on Your Craft
- Be More Productive in 2022
With nearly 2 million apps offered on the App Store, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the choices available—especially when the last thing you want to do is add another task to the list. That’s why we went straight to the experts, the Voices Insiders, to find out what productivity apps and tools they use and recommend as voice actors to save time and get more done in their day. The Voices Insiders are a team of voice over professionals who share their insights and advice with the Voices community to help talent at all stages of their career grow in their craft.
Read on to find the best productivity apps and tools recommended by professional voice actors.
Be Focused
Publisher: Denys Ievenko
Availability: Mac, iOS
Price: Free, Pro version $2.99
Rating: 4.7
Be Focused is a Pomodoro-style productivity app that helps you get things done by breaking up tasks into manageable blocks of time with set breaks. Using the Pomodoro Technique helps to cut down on distractions by focusing on one task for 25 minutes, followed by a five-minute break, and then as many sets, or pomodoros, as necessary to complete your tasks with a longer break after every four pomodoros. If you’re constantly distracted by incoming emails, chats, or text messages, you might find this system works for you.
Be Focused makes it easy to track tasks and intervals, and to manage breaks within the app without the kitchen timer. Beyond the timer function, Be Focused allows you to customize reports and track your goals and progress so you can focus on what really matters.
Key features:
- Manage tasks and set breaks with customizable timer settings
- Keep track of your to-do list and add new tasks with ease
- Track daily, weekly, or custom progress with customized reports
“I highly recommend Be Focused, one of the many apps that use the Pomodoro Technique. It gives you 25 minutes of focused time, followed by a five-minute break, then repeats as many times as necessary. 25 minutes is just the right length of time to work without a break—without the temptation of checking emails, phones, etc., and without losing concentration or getting too tired. Perfect for tasks you know you can do when you put your mind to it!”
Be Focused is available for download on the App Store.
QuickBooks Self-Employed
Publisher: Intuit
Availability: iOS, Android, and web app
Price: Monthly plans starting at $15
Rating: 4.5
A successful voice acting career takes more than skill—it requires having a handle on the business side, too. That’s where QuickBooks Self-Employed can help.
QuickBooks Self-Employed is an expense tracker, invoice generator, and tax deduction estimator geared to those who are self-employed, freelancers, or independent contractors. This app, also available online, makes it easy to keep a pulse on your finances so you can spend more time in the studio—not crunching numbers.
Key features:
- Keep track of receipts and log expenses with the receipt scanner
- Easily generate reports to see where your business stands
- Create and send professional-looking invoices on the go
“The one computer program I use to help me with my voice over business is QuickBooks Self-Employed. It helps me keep track of how much money I make each week/month.”
“QuickBooks Self-Employed allows me to scan receipts and send invoices easily and receive payment.”
QuickBooks Self-Employed is available for download on the App Store and Google Play.
Productive
Publisher: Apalon Apps
Availability: iOS, Android
Price: Free, in-app purchases
Rating: 4.6
Productive is a daily habit tracker that can help you build new habits and set personal goals. With smart reminders that can be set to go off throughout the day using the app, users can stay on top of healthy habits and stay focused on their goals.
If you need regular reminders to drink more water or want to set aside time in your day to meditate, Productive might be what you’re looking for.
Key features:
- Create, complete, stop, or pause your habits when needed
- Stay motivated with smart reminders scheduled throughout the day
- Analyze progress and track your habits with statistics
“It’s a nice, simple to use productivity app that keeps me on track every day for my main to-do list.”
Productive is available for download on the App Store and Google Play.
Hootsuite
Publisher: Hootsuite
Availability: iOS, Android, and web app
Price: Free, monthly professional plans starting at $49
Rating: 4.6
Staying up to date on what’s happening on social media and connecting with your network can take up a lot of time in your day. Hootsuite can take care of a lot of the work for you.
Hootsuite is a social media tool that allows you to create, schedule, plan, monitor, and engage with your audience across most social platforms all in one place. With Streams and Inbox, you can easily monitor topics, hashtags, and mentions and join in on the conversation without the need to switch between platforms and endlessly scroll. Plus, you can schedule your content to go out when you want, where you want.
Key features:
- Create, edit, review, and publish posts from one central location
- See your content calendar at a glance and identify gaps
- Monitor conversations happening around your industry and interests
“Hootsuite is a fantastic social media scheduling tool that lets me publish throughout the day when I’m not always available. I’ll post ‘Things I Learned in VO this Week,’ testimonials from clients, and samples of the work I’ve voiced. This helps keep me visible in the voice over community and allows me to connect with industry folks and potential casting directors.”
Hootsuite is available for download on the App Store and Google Play.
Breethe
Publisher: OMG. I Can Meditate! Inc.
Availability: iOS, Android
Price: Free, offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.7
Life as a voice actor can be non-stop, so it’s important to take the time to wind down and practice self care. Breethe is a meditation app that can help you de-stress, practice mindfulness, and feel inspired to take on the day (or night!).
Breethe features a catalog of over 1,500 stories, meditations, and sounds to guide you on your path of wellness—with topics ranging from stress reduction, to insomnia, relationships, and more.
Key features:
- Hundreds of guided meditations to help you relax
- Hours of curated playlists to fit your mood, plus the ability to create your own
- Breathing exercises and videos to help you quickly calm down
“It’s a simple to use meditation app that takes you on a daily journey with your meditation.”
Breethe is available for download on the App Store and Google Play.
Voices Mobile App
Publisher: Voices
Availability: iOS, Android, and web app
Price: Free
Rating: 3.2
We included the Voices mobile app in our list of top 10 mobile apps for voice actors, but it also doubles as a productivity app! The Voices app is a complement to our web app and is a helpful tool to stay on top of things when you’re on the go and can’t get to the computer.
With the Voices mobile app, you can instantly respond to messages, review VoiceMatch™ scores, and stay up to date with job details, statuses, and payments no matter where you are—so you can spend your time in the studio focusing on your vocal performance instead of catching up.
Key features:
- Instantly access new job postings in real-time
- Record, upload, and manage auditions from anywhere
- Stay on top of your inbox and respond to messages within the app
“Voices has had everything I’ve needed to keep track of the jobs I’m working on.”
The Voices mobile app is available for download on the App Store and Google Play.
Take Advantage of Pre-loaded Apps
When it comes to productivity apps, sometimes the basics are all you need. Most phones come pre-loaded with the essentials, like note-taking apps, calendars, and timers to help you stay organized and on track.
“I really love the iOS apps that come with the iPhone. Calendar is critical to me for scheduling appointments and other commitments, so I can work my voice over around them (I work a full-time day job). It’s fantastic for adding in voice over job deadlines. I also love the Notes app for quick access to my voice over audition letter templates.”
“I use a few simple apps on my phone, like Calendar and to-do lists.”
Go ‘Old School’ with Notebooks and Lists
Notebooks, whiteboards, and lists are classic productivity tools. If you find that apps don’t fit your style, go old school! What’s important is finding the method that keeps you consistent.
“I love having a physical list. Every morning I write out what I need to accomplish and slowly check off each item as it gets done. I keep the notebook right next to me all day and it really helps keep me on track.”
“I am a little old fashioned and keep a daily/weekly calendar book that I take with me wherever I go. I use it to keep track of life (kids, appointments, etc.) and my bookings for each week. I’m also a chronic list maker, so it gives me space each week to keep track of my to-do list. I’m sure there are online apps that can do the same thing, but good ol’ pencil and paper works for me!”
Productivity Tips from the Voices Insiders
Productivity apps and tools can go a long way in making your life easier and more organized as a voice actor, but it all starts with good habits!
With enhanced statistics, we’ve made it even easier to keep track of your productivity and build good habits. Available exclusively for Premium and Platinum talent, the Statistics tab of your talent profile tracks the number of auditions you’ve submitted, the number of jobs you’ve been hired for, your booking ratio, and more.
Set a Goal
“When you are starting out, getting bookings is a numbers game (it still is, actually!) so set a reasonable audition goal each day and dedicate a chunk of time to meet that goal. Time your auditions! When I started I probably spent 30 minutes on each audition and was happy to submit a few each day. After chatting with the Voices folks, they told me that I should work towards only spending maybe five minutes on each audition! Yikes! So, I timed my auditions to see where I actually was and worked to streamline the process. I’m still not at the five-minute mark for all of my auditions, but I’ve gotten a lot faster and I am able to submit more each day!”
Make a Checklist
“Have a daily checklist. Before you dive into each day, take a bit of time to create a list of what you’d like to get done. It helps you get prepared for the day ahead and move forward with a more focused purpose. When there is a lull, just quickly scan your list to see what you can move on to. At the end of the day, whatever is left on the list, write out again for the next day on a fresh list. That way, the next morning you’ve already got your list started.”
Set a Routine
“Be vigilant with your time. Many people enjoy the performing side and spend too much time on that because it is way more fun. Assign time to the business side of voice over to reach out directly to clients, market yourself and keep on top of your financials. This always pays off in the long run.”
“Schedule yourself a voice over audition routine. Mine is first thing in the morning before I start my day job and in the evenings after my little guy goes to bed. Auditioning can be a bit of a slog, you will do a LOT of them! By keeping a routine, it allows you to get used to doing them and they become daily second nature.”
“If you’re a part-time voice actor, schedule in at least 1-2 hours a day after your job for auditions. If you’re a full-time voice actor, you still need to schedule in a couple of hours or so a day for auditions. Blocking the time on your calendar can be helpful for this because then you don’t ‘overbook’ yourself with another task.”
Focus on Your Craft
“I would suggest using auditions as good practice material when you first start and submit them. If you spend weeks or months just on practice scripts rather than real auditions trying to build up your skills, you’ll lose out and use up a lot of time. So get warmed up, make sure you are happy with your mic technique, and get going on the auditions. Worst case you’ll send out a few that in hindsight could have been better. Best case, you’ll start to win jobs sooner rather than later with a lot of practice under your belt!”
“Keep things simple. Start with thinking through your process and add just enough tools to cover your needs. It’s too easy to download all the shiny things you see and get distracted.”
“It’s very important to work on your craft every day: audition, attend webinars, read and watch tips from working pros to gain useful tips. As with any skill, to get really good at auditioning, you need to do it a LOT. Work on areas you need to improve, and you will get better. Try to learn something new every day.”
Be More Productive in 2022
Being more productive doesn’t mean overhauling your entire workflow. Start small and take the time to figure out what’s working for you right now and identify areas that can be improved. There’s an app for that!
Want to really amp up your productivity in 2022? Sign up for a Voices account and grow your voice acting career right from your home studio.
Did we miss your favorite app on this list? Let us know what it is and why you recommend it in the comments!
Comments
Hello ! My name is Pam. I have been a performer under SAG-AFTRA and AEA since 1966. I have also taught in the High Schools : Drama, Speech,English and Debate My husband Phil is now 82 and graduated with a PhD degree in Bio-Physics and a Post Doc.in Environment Studies. At 77, this senior was told she was told to NOT be in the business of VOICE OVER.After 50 years of marriage and both of us retired. I looked at this performer and said; ” Do you think performers like: Betty White, Al Pacino, Anthony Hopkins and on and on should just give up acting and performing because they are old ? Should all of us just quit ? Quite frankly, we LOVE to perform and with good health you should ! ” I then added , ” We still have a lot to contribute .” I guess that is where I am now. However,I look forward to your blog and possible newsletters. Thank you from all performers. I appreciate all your thoughtfulness and considerations in taking your time to start this venture. Most appreciative, Pam Cota