10 Questions With Keith Kramer

I had the idea for the book - and from idea to reality took far far less than I'd imagined. Having said that, now the main goal is marketing the book. I'm finding out quickly, this is one of the most daunting task since the Egyptian pyramids.

I did hook up with a man who promotes books for people on certain websites - about books - and one of the things he does is interview the Author. So, I'm placing my 10 questions here, and when he publishes the article, I'll leave the link on all my socials.

1. “The Voiceover Hustle” has a bold and intriguing subtitle—The Good, The Bad, and The Money. Can you break that down for us? What does each part mean in the context of the voiceover industry?

Kramer: It's really to point out plainly that there is money to be made in this industry, but I'm going to tell you the truth - not just build people up with bullshit lies. I go to great lengths in the book to tell it all, put it all out there - the good, the bad, and yes the UGLY. That was my 1st subtitle, but it sounded so cliche'. I changed it at the last minute.

2. You’ve had a long career in radio and voiceover. What made you finally decide to turn your experience into a book? Was there a tipping point?

Kramer: My entire life, I've wanted to write a book. There's very little about my radio career in the book. The main reason for the book is, so many of my radio friends kept reaching out about how to get into the voice over business. Radio has fired thousands of people over the last few years. Those people will admit to you they don't have a way to eat. I spent a lot of time finding ways to make voiceover generate an income. There's plenty for all of us, so I felt like this could help. And not just radio people, but anyone who's ever thought about VO - I mean this thing takes you from the VERY beginning all the way up to advanced levels. It's also teaching you about the BUSINESS.

3. The title suggests this book doesn’t sugarcoat the industry. What are some of the most common misconceptions people have about voiceover work that you’re aiming to bust?

Kramer: It's hard. It takes a lot of rejection. It takes a lot of patience when things are quiet. It's not fast - yet. The biggest misconception is you have to have some big, outrageous voice. Nothing could be further from the truth.

4. One of the big appeals of voiceover is the promise of freedom and big money—but what’s the reality? How do you address that balance in the book?

Kramer: Oh, like everything, I tell the truth. MY TRUTH right now is I walk around the house in pajama pants - all day, every day. I DO have freedom. It's wonderful. I don't have a boss. I certainly wouldn't suggest buying the book if you've never done this before, and you're starting at the very beginning, to expect to make enough money to pay your bills for quite some time. There are a lot of things that have to come together before you're at that level. But if it's something you REALLY want to do, then all of the steps to get there will be worth it. When you wake up in the morning, your feet will hit the ground running.

5. Can you share a “bad” or humbling moment from your own VO journey that really shaped your perspective—and maybe made it into the book?

Kramer: YES! OMG YES! (I shared the entire story in the book) When I was first starting out, an Author hired me to read his gay novel. His instructions were to sound 'gay'. I did the whole thing - it must have taken me over a week JUST to read it. I sent him some sections and he said he was offended by the voice. I would have to do the entire thing over again. That's the elevator version, but I detail how that went down in the book. I was ashamed that I'd offended him.

6. You talk about the importance of hustle. What does hustle mean to you in today’s voiceover world, especially with the rise of AI and home studios?

Kramer: Hustle means most of your time will be spent trying to get work. The amount of time I spend sending emails, contacting agencies, etc. FAR outweigh my actual time in the booth. If you're not ready to bust your ass on the back end, building up your contacts and becoming a presence on message boards, socials, etc. - you've failed before you begin. AI is an invaluable tool to use for MANY things in the industry - more for the business side.

7. How do you hope this book helps both beginners and veterans in the industry? Is it more of a blueprint, a warning, or something else entirely?

Kramer: Warning? (laughs) I think it guides a beginner through every facet of everything they need to know. For Vets, I think it's packed with ideas of things that either you didn't know, or haven't thought about in a while. It's super SUPER comprehensive. I tried not to get too far in the weeds though because I didn't want to BORE people.

8. What was your writing process like? Did you approach it the same way you approach a voiceover gig—or was it a totally different beast?

Kramer: TOTALLY different. It was one of the most cathartic things I've ever done. When I finally made up my mind that I was really going to do it, there was this BURST of enthusiasm. I cannot sit still. I have to be doing something. A friend and I are starting a company, but we've been having to wait on some things, and I just couldn't sit here playing XBOX between orders. It was like a brand new me, sitting here with an outline and just letting this stuff pour out of me. It's truly one of the most gratifying things I've ever done.

9. The book includes talk of money—which many in creative fields shy away from. Why was it important for you to talk transparently about the financial side of VO?

Kramer: I love this question. It's one of the most mysterious things about the business. People need to know expectations, but they also need to know their worth. I've never read one thing about voiceover that actually gives out some of the numbers. It varies greatly based on experience, what the client needs and how big the client is - where the audio will be used, and many many other variables. In one years time, I made 3 to 4 times what I was making in radio - so let that sink in.

10. What’s next after The Voiceover Hustle? Are you planning more books, courses, or expanding your VO brand in a new direction?

Kramer: I'm without a doubt going to write another book. Not sure yet, but I do have a few ideas. I already offer a few courses on www.vohustle.com - and I'm so proud of those as well, because you'll work directly with me, and I will help you skip so many steps that I had to waste my time on in the beginning.

BONUS QUESTION - A.I. - talk about in relation to voiceover.

Kramer: It'll eventually get closer and closer to mimicking humans. It cannot replace a really well read human that knows emotions and can convey emotions with their voice. I cringe every time I land on a Youtube channel and they're using AI for the voiceover. It's so bad.