It’s been a while since I told someone new about what I do for work. I knew the question was coming, and even so, I didn’t prepare an answer past the first line. I could feel my fingers clench my glass a little tighter, my eyes wandering anywhere but here.

“I’m a writer and voice actor”

“Oh wow! Cool. Anything I would know? I mean, would I recognize your voice anywhere?”

You? Recognize me? What have I done? Where could one hear me? Is there anything to speak of? “Uhh uhh no, probably not, uhm…”

I watched myself spiral in slow motion. I wanted to stop it, but I couldn’t find the brake. I went to push my hair back. Oh yes, it’s in a tight bun. Before I knew it, I had a story about how I’m still building a name for myself and have been lucky with a few big projects, “you wouldn't know any of them, would you? No, I didn’t think so, no. Unless you read romance and smut? Or peruse random websites? No, of course not.” I answered my own questions.

Don’t give him time to respond, I kept thinking, he doesn’t give a shit anyway. You’ve already lost him by not finding something he’d recognize. Hurry, find a way to loop it back to something he can grasp and understand. The thoughts took over while I spewed something out of my mouth that had no time to form into what I wanted.

“That’s really nice you’ve been able to have this pause from work and figure out what you really want to do!”

His face was kind, his eyes not breaking from mine. I could tell he felt like he really saw me. But all that lingered in my mind was what you really want to do.

really

want to do.

Am I not proud of what I’m doing? Do I not feel secure about the choices I’ve made and the stories I’ve brought to life? Or am I just unsure of how to navigate that conversation with those I have already labeled as “not caring”?

I’ve had some time to digest this conversation, and, of course, overthink all the conversations I’ve had with others about my work. My first reaction was, say it with me, a mental breakdown. Yes yes. But now I’ve come to the conclusion that this, too (like everything else), was a learning moment.

As a freelancer, especially one early in their career, I’ve realized that I need a bit of a script when meeting new people or discussing new work with established connections. The exciting (insert scary, sad, stressful) truth is that with creative work like voiceovers and writing, anyone is a potential client.

“Oh yeah, my cousin just started her own business and needs help with her website.”

Or

“Ah! My company is looking for an American voiceover artist for their new marketing video.”

Fumbling on words and talking myself out of my own craft is not an option. Not to mention, I have about 200 business cards sitting in a box that are crying to see the light of day.

So, I have now decided that alongside working on being proud of the projects I’ve accomplished thus far, I will also be clear about what I do, how I do it, why I do it.

And, when the question comes up again, “Anything I would know?” My response will be, “I’m not sure, but here you can find my website and see if you recognize my voice from anything.”