We were lucky to catch up with Ashley Chaney recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’ve love to hear an interesting investment story – what was one of the best or worst investments you’ve made? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

When I first started getting into Voiceover work, I was using a $50 microphone, and draping a comforter over my head to drown out background noise. As you can imagine, this did not result in my the best performance or audio quality. I went to a workshop where the instructor made it very clear that if I wanted to get paid to do this work, I needed to a professional setup. Microphones themselves can cost thousands of dollar, and the same goes for isolation booths. I started with the highest quality microphone my budget would allow at the time ($250) and wouldn’t you know it, I booked a small gig using that microphone! I used the earnings from that job to upgrade my microphone, and then eventually after a few more bookings, I was able to afford a used, sound proof booth from Facebook Marketplace. Investing in high quality equipment was investing in my craft, and it has paid for itself several times over.

Ashley , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve always known I wanted to be a storyteller in some capacity. My journey began in high school, where I was part of a special program for mass communications. At just fourteen years old, I was learning how to hold a microphone and interview notable public figures, like the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Although I graduated with a degree in Broadcast Journalism, my first pivotal role was in the world of animation.

Working in production at Lucasfilm Animation, I learned the ins and outs of the industry from the ground up. I sunk my teeth into everything from story development and script writing, to budgeting and building a production pipeline. That knowledge has been invaluable in every role I’ve taken on since, whether I’m behind the scenes or in front of the camera.

It was also at Lucasfilm where I discovered the world of voiceover, as animators often needed stand-in voices (that’s called “scratch” in the ‘biz). I had the incredible opportunity to lend my voice to characters in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, under the direction of Dave Filoni. This experience was like a masterclass in performance and sparked my passion for voice acting.

Today, I’m proud to wear many hats in the entertainment industry—Producer, On-Camera Host, and Voiceover Artist. What truly sets me apart is my holistic understanding of the production process. I don’t just see things from a performer’s perspective; I see the bigger picture, which allows me to bring a unique depth and understanding to every project I’m involved in.

I’m particularly excited about the latest chapter in my career—developing my own travel show with the amazing team at Onomy. It’s a dream come true, combining my love for storytelling, travel, and using my voice in a way that feels entirely … Ashley.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

The pandemic forced us all to be online more than ever before, which is how I first came to know about TikTok. Unlike Instagram, where everything seemed to be a curated highlight reel, TikTok seemed to a place where the more unpolished you were, the more success you had. Still, it took me about a year of silently watching content before I was brave enough to post anything myself. Everything changed when I posted a 10 second clip from my doorbell camera that went massively viral. From that one video I jumped from 400 followers to over 4,000. It was exciting to see so much growth, and it inspired me to do a ‘one-post-a-day for 30 days’ challenge.

One of the videos I posted during the challenge went viral – again! This time, I was getting major media outlets calling to interview me about the trend I had started. (It’s called microfeminism, for those curious minds!) My account sky-rocketed to over 10,000 followers overnight and I had people tagging me from all over the world. Truly, one piece of content changed the whole game for me.

My advice to those just starting out is nothing you haven’t heard before, because as unexciting as it sounds, it’s true: consistency is key. Posting regularly gets you on the good side of the algorithm gods and more importantly, forces you to create something. Follow what genuinely interests you, make content that aligns with your curiosities, and post without attachment to how many people like it. Oh, and enlist an accountability buddy to keep you honest!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I’m a recovering perfectionist. Ones of the hardest lessons I’ve ever learned is “done is better than perfect.” What’s so crazy is that, especially on social media, people are exhausted by the perfectly curated still frames being shoved down their throats.

I have been producing TV and movies for giant Hollywood studios for nearly two decades. I’m used to a whole team of world class talent working together for years to create a literal cinematic masterpiece. So, for a really long time, I believed that what I put on social media needed to be a masterpiece too.

But ask me what my best-performing piece of content is to this day, and I’ll tell you it’s the one where I’m laying on my bed, without a drop of makeup on, talking to my iPhone in my pjs. That one little video changed my life, and if I had allowed perfectionism to take the wheel, it would have never been posted.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ashleychaney.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamashleychaney/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-chaney-58804818
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ashleychaney
• Other: TikTok
  https://www.tiktok.com/@iamashleychaney?lang=en

Image Credits

Headshots by Tom Ivicevic