Today we’d like to introduce you to Susie Dryden.

Hi Susie , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

I returned home to the Monterey Bay Area in the early ’90s after leaving college at SFSU. I was in my early 20s, working in restaurants, and had no direction or any idea of what I wanted to do with my life. While waiting tables, an on-air radio opportunity happened to fall in my lap. I submitted a writing sample, did an audition of sorts, and I was behind the mic within a week, delivering news live on our local talk station during afternoon drive time. After about two years there, I moved to the Bay Area and landed a job at KCBS helping produce the news. I felt like I’d finally made it to the big leagues, so I spent the next several years working and learning new broadcasting and writing skills. Fast forward to 2013, when I was hired by Total Traffic, the iHeart Media-owned provider of traffic, news, weather, etc. for Bay Area and smaller market stations central and northern California. I flew in a Cessna to learn airborne traffic reporting; I learned improvisation skills since I wasn’t working from a news script anymore; I learned how to run a board; and I achieved a major goal of being part of a classic rock morning show for seven amazing years.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 sent us all home. I quickly learned a new skill set and built a home studio in the corner of a room. When I fell victim to budget cuts in 2023, I signed up for voiceover coaching while slowly improving the studio. I took acting classes, mastered my DAW (digital audio workstation), recorded some demos, built a website, and started auditioning. My skills have come in handy for several small projects like voicemail systems and podcast intros, breaks, and outros. I also co-host a comedy podcast on plant-based living and animal rights with a friend who runs an animal sanctuary, and I’m helping them plan Santa Cruz VegFest, a massive event set for May 31 that attracts thousands of vegans and the vegan-curious to the Monterey Bay Area. I’ll use my skills that day as the PA announcer and emcee for the entertainment stage, which I’ve always wanted to try.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Life after radio was a struggle. It’s a niche market so jobs were scarce and compensation was low. Voice acting seemed to be the next logical step, but it wasn’t a smooth transition. I hear many people say they’ve been told they have a nice-sounding voice and should do voiceover work, but a nice voice is the least important part of the job. You’re not going to have a career in voice acting overnight no matter how dulcet your tone is, though I completely understand since those were my first thoughts, too. It’s an investment, but what you’re investing in is yourself. I can’t think of a more important thing to support than ourselves.

I also had to retrain my brain so my recordings sounded less like a sales pitch and more like a natural conversation. That’s the acting part of voice acting and it takes work.. My VO jobs are still few and far between but I’m in this for the long haul, even if it will always be a side hustle. I always identify as a voice actor whether I’m booking a lot of jobs or just a few.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

My favorite work right now is doing the podcast. It’s the perfect combination of radio morning show humor, news reading, listener interaction, and voiceover. I get to be myself, and I’ve gotten quite the education with some unexpected results. I’m not vegan because cheese exists, but I have eliminated anything that had a mother from my diet.

I’d say what I’m most known for and most proud of is just being a funny person. I heard from a lot of radio listeners after my layoff who said they loved my humor and missed hearing me on the air. I’ve also increased the podcast audience since most of the people I meet are amused enough by my absurdity and witty repartee that they want to hear more.

The best part of it all is that I can utilize my voiceover skills to promote sustainable living and save the animals. I feel fulfilled.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?

The only time I recommend that someone lower their expectations at first is when I talk about VO. Your business is like Rome – it isn’t built in a day. Don’t join a voiceover subreddit or something to ask how to get started. The industry is loaded with supportive people who want to see you succeed, but it’s better to do the research yourself. Everything you need is online and no amount of advice from strangers on social media can match up to learning from the pros. One of my first stops was Dee Bradley Baker’s website called I Want to be a Voice Actor, which provides an honest look at what to expect. Next, be aware that you’re not going to find an agent immediately. I still don’t have an agent, but I’m working on it.

Hire that acting coach. Go online and find classes and information on building a professional home studio with the right equipment and sound treatment for the job. Voice acting schools typically offer the whole package, including demos, but if you prefer to learn step-by-step on your own, YouTube has a lot of resources. Check out other voice actors’ websites, listen to their demos, and figure out how to make yourself stand out from the rest. Then go out and work it!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://susiesaysvo.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susiesaysvo/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susie-says
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SusieSaysVoiceovers
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/discover
• Other: https://littlehillsanctuary.org/little-hill-podcast/