Podcast Length: 4:42

The holidays are calling. We’re moments away from family reunions, vacations, long weekends, and some well-deserved time off. So, here’s a bit of advice that will keep you in your talent agent’s good graces all season and well past the holidays. If you know the dates you won’t be available for auditions or jobs, then it’s your responsibility to be sure to book out.

‘Booking out’ is done throughout the year, not just during the holidays, but any time you know in advance you won’t be free to accept a job. It’s usually done via e-mail or online, depending on your agent’s specific policy preferences. So, whenever possible, let your agents know at least a week in advance of the dates you won’t be available to accept auditions or bookings. Otherwise, your agents will assume you’re available and count on you.

Additionally, if you know you won’t be available for the dates of a shoot or recording session, do not accept the audition. In fact, never audition for anything unless you intend to accept the job. That’s standard professional conduct whether you’re a union talent or not, and regardless of the time of year.

So, the next time you schedule a dentist appointment, do your agents (and yourself) the courtesy of letting them know you won’t be available.

Otherwise, just like clockwork, if you don’t take the time to book out, it never fails a major project will come calling the moment you head out of town. It’s Murphy’s Law.

Certainly, as a voice talent, there are portable recording options, provided, wherever you may be going, you’re absolutely certain you’ll have:

a) A quiet place to record, such as a walk-in closet full of clothes

b) Access to stable Internet service

c) A reliable computer and mic

d) The skills and experience to execute a professional audition or remote recording session

Keep in mind finding a local studio, wherever it is you’re headed while you’re away, may not be a viable option, unless you know them well and they’re experienced with voiceover needs and expectations!

However, it’s still far safer and affordable to be self-reliant even when you’re out-of-town rather than depending on a local recording studio, even if they swear to you how professional and reliable they are. You’re not cutting an album. And an untested recording studio is exactly that—untested and out of your control. Also, be sure to consider if you’d only making $350 for the job and it costs you $300 to book the studio. Is it honestly worth the time and trouble when you could be spending quality time with your family and friends for $50?

Sometimes you’re better off simply making yourself scarce and simply book out.

Just remember one of the reasons your agents appreciate you is the fact they can confidently rely on you being available and ready to work at a moment’s notice, and you keep them informed when you’re not. This is why they consider you reliable as well.

Are you talented? Of course. Trained? I should hope so. Prepared? Consistently. Available? Almost always—unless you’ve booked out. It’s the responsible thing to do!

If you neglect to book out, you’ll end up making everyone associated with the project miserable, and you might even destroy your professional credibility because you “didn’t think booking out mattered that much”.

Again, check with your talent agency well in advance to determine their preferred booking out policies and procedures, then follow that to the letter. Regardless, make sure you put in writing when you’ll be gone and when you’ll be available again in an email. That way it’s documented, timestamped, and done well before your departure.

Whatever your plans, be sure to take some well-deserved time off, if not some much-needed digital downtime. It’s vital you ‘feed your read’ by getting out there and living your life to the fullest!

Suffice it to say, you’ll enjoy yourself that much more if you keep your agents in the loop.

It’s simply the professional thing to do.

Copyright © 2023 by Kate McClanaghan. All Rights Reserved.