Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elise Taff. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Elise, appreciate you joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Earning a full time living from Voice Over was a slow process. Despite studying acting in college, Voice Over is a world in and of its own, so it took time to learn about the industry and build up the experience and clients necessary to be able to go full time. My very first VO job was in 2016 – a radio commercial that ran in Alaska. Along my journey, someone told me that I needed to be auditioning so much that when I booked a job, I forgot auditioning for it! That stuck with me – and I slowly built up to auditioning 5-10 a day. For a long time, I worked in restaurants while dabbling in VO on the side, and slowly each year I started making more and more income from VO. In 2021, I was working as an Event Manager for a restaurant group, and started to realize I was making more money from VO than my day job. I left that job in the fall of 2021, and never looked back!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I grew up doing theater from a very young age, and I was always talking. Who knew that it would become my career? I’d like to think this career truly brings out my inner child, which is why it feels not like just a job, but a calling.

After high school, I went to college for Musical Theater. When I graduated, I wasn’t quite sure where I fit as an actor – I needed to find my niche. I moved to New York and tried lots of different things – on camera, sketch comedy, improv, web series, producing my own cocktail show…the list goes on. A friend of mine from college told me she was doing Voice Over in her closet! I started learning more about the industry and slowly over the years I gained experience. Voice Over takes a lot of persistence. I booked my first radio commercial in 2017 and it was a slow and steady race until then when I went full time in 2021.

The world of Voice Over is so varied – I work in a number of different industries and have a variety of clients that I find on my own, as well as commercial jobs that I get from my agents and managers. Its truly a jack of all trades business. I think the edge that I bring to my clients is my background in hospitality. I know how to give great service but also how to be honest and forthright if something doesn’t go well, too.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I first came to Voice Over thinking that it would be more like a “side job”. I thought I could do Voice Over to make money, and that I could do my other creative endeavors in addition. In order to make steady money doing anything creative or entrepreneurial, you have to give it all of your time and energy. Sure, Voice Over can be a side hustle for some, but for me, I started seeing results when I gave it my all. A teacher once told me that I needed to audition so frequently that when I booked a job I forgot auditioning for it. That was where I had to get to start really booking consistently. I really hit a turning point when I joined online communities for Voice Actors. I wish I had found those communities right away, and maybe I would have learned all of those things sooner! (Hindsight is 20/20, I guess). But you have to meet people who do what you want to do and learn from them. They are your best teachers.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is being my own boss. I feel a sense of pride knowing that I built this on my own for myself and for my family. Sometimes it can be difficult being your own boss – especially on days where you lack motivation. But my clients, my reps and my family help give me that motivation. This field takes a lot of resilience and has given me strength in all aspects of my life. Working for myself has given me the freedom that I craved for so long. I tried desk jobs, and I worked in restaurants for over a decade, and I knew that traditional work wasn’t for me. I’m proud that I’ve built something for myself and can set a good example for my son.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://elisetaff.com
• Instagram: elisetaffvo
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elise-taff-ab400068/

Image Credits

Headshots – Matthew Murphy
Man of La Mancha Photography: Kirk Miller