We were lucky to catch up with Kelli Winkler recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kelli , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?
I’ve been self employed/business owner since 2009. In 2009, I started a cleaning and organizing business and at one point even had a wait list for clients. I absolutely loved my flexibility and control I had over my schedule and especially the clients I served. It was difficult to budget ahead of time or take any kind of vacation but going to work every day to a job I loved felt worth it. Then, in 2017 I had my second child and also simultaneously felt like I couldn’t keep physically going in that job forever and a unique opportunity came to me. I went back to my broadcasting roots and started as a voiceover artist. It took a few years to build to full time status but now as a single mom, I’m able to support myself and kids, bought my townhome and work from my master closet (recording studio). I consider it my dream job. The only fear I have is the power of AI taking away my clients and leaving me with less work, perhaps forcing me to supplement my income at some point. But, staying with positivity, I continue to work to adapt to the changing times and keep going with this amazing career that I absolutely love.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m a Freelance Voiceover Artist, working from my professional in home studio. I have a few demos on several different portals and websites that content creators, business owners, and casting directors can contact me about performing a voiceover for their business and I provide it to them. This includes tv/radio commercials, e-learning or tutorials, YouTube voiceovers, audio books, telephone voicemail systems and on hold messaging, in store announcements, or even personal projects. It’s never the same day to day and the industry is always changing.
The one thing that sets me apart besides my own custom voice that no one else has, is my background in customer service. So, when you work with me, you aren’t just getting a professional voiceover product but I’m also providing “over the top” customer service to my clients because it’s something that I feel strongly about and love to provide.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
This is absolutely a side hustle/passion that turned into a full time career and I’m so grateful. I started with some lower quality podcast recording equipment and was recording for “royalties only” audio book projects. I had an agent but wasn’t booking through them. So, I went on a mission to figure out this unique career and what it took to succeed. My initial “continued education” actually included just following professionals in the industry and taking in their free advice.
Slowly, I was able to upgrade my equipment and add some new demos to a few new websites and continued growing my clientele list. Every year, my business has grown over the year prior in terms of sales $ and even though the industry changes and I work to adapt to it, it continues to bless me beyond what I expected.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
This particular career isn’t for the easily discouraged. I get told “no thanks” daily through several auditions I send out there and never see a return on. That’s the nature of it. It’s like an actor’s life where I submit several auditions before seeing one get shortlisted and ultimately booked. It’s important that I have stayed diversified so I have multiple ways of work/income flowing. For example, as a freelancer, I have several websites that I have my demos on so people can order from me. Plus, my own website that I use marketing to promote. I also have a few different agents in different markets and even a list of direct clients that come straight to my email for incoming work versus through a platform or audition process.
It takes a tough skin for sure but I wouldn’t give it up for anything.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kelliwinklervoice.com/
- Instagram: I’m on Threads as @kelliwinklervoice. Install the app to follow my threads and replies. https://www.threads.com/@kelliwinklervoice?invite=0 https://www.threads.net/@kelliwinklervoice
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelliwinklervoiceactor?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Other: Feel free to reach out directly at [email protected]
Image Credits
Marissa Webb Photo