Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Megan Selke. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Megan, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I can’t honestly say that I had some major “aha” moment or lightbulb go off. I don’t know exactly if I am fulfilling my purpose on this earth, but I am doing a job that I love. When others are going “ugh, tomorrow’s Monday, I don’t wanna go to work!” I’m going “Tomorrow’s Monday! I can’t wait to work!” And if that’s as close to my purpose I get, well, that works for me! So, then, to the question, how did I get there? For me and my journey, I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for the support and encouragement of my family. I was burnt out from my past profession and looking for a new direction. To be very honest I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I wasn’t sure what I was or would be good at. How I could contribute to society while also still being present for my family AND earn an income that would help us financially. So to make a long story short, during my perusals I stumbled across something about voice acting. I always wanted to be an actress growing up, but it seemed so impractical. It still seemed impractical. But hey, if you never ask the question, the answer is always no. So, I contacted a coach to see if it was even remotely realistic for me to start pursuing a career in voice acting at my current age and skill level. While I do still get nervous and have self doubt, everything about it feels so right, even the anxiety. Okay, maybe not all of the anxiety, but I genuinely feel like I’m doing what I was meant to do.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Well, I’m a voice actor. Which doesn’t just mean doing funny voices or playing cartoon characters. It’s so much more! In a nut shell, any time you hear a voice and don’t see the person behind it, that’s voice acting! That message telling you what buttons to press on the phone or “thank you for holding”, yeah, that’s a voice actor. The voices that talk over the training videos you watch for work, voice actor! Audiobooks, PA system announcements, tv and radio commercials, apps, video games, and of course cartoons and dubbed movies/shows. There are so many things voice actors voice that no one really even thinks about! Most of the work I’ve done is commercials, explainers, narration for apps, dubbing, and video games.
I, personally, find all of it exciting. I love working with repeat clients and new ones. I haven’t had a job yet that I didn’t love. It is so much fun to dissect a script and look for little ways to make your read unique and pull the listener in or try to sound human while fitting a long script into a 30 second time slot. Every job is different and requires a different approach. I love voice PSAs and of course character work, whether it’s a hero, villain, or something in between, is a blast. The narration I do for Shaka Guide (a GPS Guided Tour app) is always fun and I learn a ton! And I’m a big board game nerd and have done a few explainer trailers for my favorite board game developer, Stonemaier Games. I also have a couple of dubbing projects, but they aren’t out yet.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Oy, well, I took a lot of acting classes and performed in plays as a kid. That definitely helped me get the ball rolling, but it’s not necessary to start acting as a kid. Regardless of when you started, humbleness goes a long way too. I know there is A LOT I don’t know and there is always room for growth. Feedback is rare from auditions and even booked work, so coaching, workshops, and workout groups were and will continue to be very important in keeping my skills sharp and relevant. Trends change and it’s important to be willing and able to change with them. I guess my last little tidbit would be, do your research. That one is applicable to any field. The internet is a blessing and a curse. There are pros who have gone before you and know what they are talking about and there are newbies who know less than you, but speak with the confidence of decades of experience. Before giving anyone your hard earned money, do your due diligence to make sure you’re getting the services your paying for and you’re getting them from someone who actually knows what they’re talking about.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
Well, the ongoing constant obstacle of a voice actor is the ebb and flow of work. You’ll have spells where business is bombing and them WHAM, nothing, nothing, nothing. I happen to have an amazing husband with a steady job, three kids, and am relatively decent at being financially responsible, so when work is slow we still do ok bills wise and I am never short of something to do. If I’m not running around with the kids I have a never ending to do list of chores!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.meganselke.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganselke_vo/?hl=en
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/megan-selke-167a79207
