We were lucky to catch up with Gary Lyons recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Gary thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Above all else, success, in my opinion, requires an unwavering work ethic. Talent can only get you so far and I’m sure we all know talented people who don’t really put the work behind using their talent to become successful. Even the most seasoned voice actors get passed over for jobs. It’s just a part of the business but you have to have tough skin and keep working at it. Studying your craft and always being open to learning is also important. There’s no one way to run a voice acting business and it’s pretty much impossible for one person to know everything there is to know about it. I always have to be open to new ideas, and information about voice over and all the equipment I use daily.

Gary, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Gary Lyons, and I am the owner and operator of Lyons Roar Voice Talent LLC. I’ve been around microphones all my life starting with singing in multiple ensembles from a young age. I’ve done some stage acting, and a lot of radio work, but only started voice acting a little over a year ago in my late 30s. I started this business because I wanted to get serious about creating a great life for my family and I thought I might have what it takes to do well. I stayed because I fell in love with the work. I have to audition for 80% of my work, but every audition is an opportunity to perform. Most recently I’ve worked with clients like The ACLU, AriZona, Rémy Martin, Hellmann’s, and the New England Air Museum. Each job is unique and that’s what I love about this line of work. It’s exciting to be able to lend a voice and breathe life into these characters and narrations. I pride myself on being prompt, professional, and easy to work with.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

When I started down the path of voice over, I was comfortable with the aspect of getting a couple of small jobs a month. I knew that I was, and still am, new to the business and it takes time to build up clientele. As I gained knowledge of the business, confidence in my abilities, and repeat clients, it became apparent that this could be the career I’ve always wanted. I’ve only recently reached the tipping point where my old day job is now my part time gig and Voice Acting has taken its place. I came to this realization after reviewing last year’s profit and loss, and revisiting the list of clients I’ve built. It’s a scary and exciting place to be.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The most impactful resource for me has actually been a podcast. I am an avid listener to The Voiceover Gurus Podcast with Linda Bruno & JJ Wilson. I found the program about two years ago and it has been an invaluable wealth of information about voiceover. Linda has been a pro in the business since the 90s and gives honest and concise information that’s helpful and easy to digest. For anyone that thinks Voice Acting is all glamorous video game and cartoon characters, this show will quickly bring you back down to reality and is truthful about the immense amount of work it takes to be successful in this business.

Contact Info:

• Website: lyonsroarvoicetalent.com
• Instagram: lyonsroarvt
• Facebook: @garylyonsroarvt
• Linkedin: lynsroarvt
• Youtube: @Lyonsroarvt