Episode 369: How Actors Actually Change Their Year
Acting Business Boot Camp
Actors often think a new year will change things. New calendar, new energy, new motivation. But real change doesn’t come from dates. It comes from how you structure your choices, your habits, and your expectations. In this episode of the Acting Business Boot Camp Podcast, Peter Pamela Rose breaks down the five shifts that actually help actors change their year, not in a dramatic, overnight way, but in a grounded, sustainable way that builds real momentum. This conversation is about business, nervous system regulation, consistency, and self leadership. It’s about how actors move out of...
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Episode 368: Two Tabs, One Artist- Keeping Your Spicy Work Separate (and Safe)
Acting Business Boot Camp
The Art of Keeping Things Separate This topic comes up more than people admit. Usually in a whisper. Or an email that starts with, “This might be a weird question…” It’s not weird. It’s just complicated. A lot of actors are working in NSFW or spicy spaces. Erotica audiobooks. Adult games. ASMR. OnlyFans. Patreon. Sensual storytelling. And at the same time, they’re booking e-learning, commercials, family-friendly narration, children’s content. The work itself isn’t the problem. The overlap is. So I want to talk about how to keep those worlds separate in a way that’s...
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Episode 367: Utilize Invisible Guidance
Acting Business Boot Camp
Listening to Invisible Guidance I’ve been thinking a lot about how guidance shows up. Not in big dramatic flashes, but in the tiny whispers. The quiet nudges you feel before anything becomes a full blown lesson. And honestly, the more I look back on my own life, the more I see how often I missed the first whisper. When the Whisper Becomes a Shove I cannot tell you how many times I’ve thought, oh, I already learned this. Except I didn’t. Because the message comes back. And when I still don’t listen, it comes back again, a little louder each time. It’s not punishment. It’s just the...
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Episode 366: The Power of Yes
Acting Business Boot Camp
The Word That Changes Everything I’ve been rereading Larry Moss’s The Intent to Live, and there’s a line that stopped me. He calls “yes” the most important word in acting. It sounds simple, but the more I sat with it, the more true it felt. Why We Default to No I notice how quickly I say no in my own mind. No, I’m not ready. No, someone else deserves that more. No, they’d never want me. It feels responsible. Really, it’s fear. Fear of being seen trying. Fear of messing up. Fear of stepping into something bigger than I’m used to. What “Yes” Actually Means I’m not...
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Episode 365: How to Handle Difficult Family Members Over the Holidays
Acting Business Boot Camp
Family gatherings can be beautiful. They can also feel like emotional landmines, especially when you’re an actor. One minute you’re passing the mashed potatoes. The next you’re answering a pointed question about your career from someone who hasn’t watched a show since 1998. In this week’s episode of the Acting Business Bootcamp Podcast, I talk about how to stay calm, centered, and grounded as you navigate family dynamics. These tools help you protect your energy so you can enjoy the holiday instead of getting swept up in other people’s anxieties. The Question Doesn’t Require a...
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Episode 364: Choice, Habit, Love: How Actors Build Real Momentum
Acting Business Boot Camp
Actors often wait for motivation. We hope a burst of inspiration will get us moving, keep us consistent, or push us to the next level. But real growth rarely starts with motivation. It starts with one small choice. In this episode of the Acting Business Bootcamp Podcast, I talk about the simple cycle that has changed my life many times over. Choice. Habit. Love. It’s a framework you can use in your acting career, your training, and your personal development to build strength and momentum in a way that actually lasts. The Moment I Realized Something Needed to Change A few years ago, I was...
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Episode 363: The Power of Slow as an Actor
Acting Business Boot Camp
Why Slow Is the New Secret Weapon for Actors The entertainment industry glorifies hustle. Fast auditions, faster turnarounds, constant pressure to keep up. But what if slowing down is the real secret to booking more roles and building a lasting career? In this episode of the Acting Business Bootcamp Podcast, I talk about the power of slow and why being intentional, grounded, and patient can make you not only a stronger performer but also a more fulfilled human being. The Myth of Hustle: Why Speed Doesn’t Equal Success We’ve been conditioned to think that “busy” means...
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Episode 362: Paywalls, Performances, and the Price of Transparency
Acting Business Boot Camp
The Irony of Paid Transparency I saw a post the other day that made me stop mid-scroll. An actor—let’s call him Workshop Guy—was going viral for saying he was “tired of gatekeeping in the industry.” He wanted to break down the walls, create transparency, build community… all that good stuff. And then, at the end of his video, came the link. A $200 workshop. I laughed out loud. Because, honestly, that’s not transparency. That’s marketing. Let’s talk about why. The Anti-Gatekeeping Paywall Here’s the thing: if your solution to exclusivity is to sell tickets to your...
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Episode 361: Self Tapes That Book Part II
Acting Business Boot Camp
The Heart Behind a Great Self-Tape I’ll be honest—I couldn’t even remember how I start my podcast today. “Hello, I hope you had a great week?” That sounds right. Anyway, welcome back to Self-Tapes That Book, Part Two. Last week we talked about tech and mindset, about creating a space that supports your confidence instead of draining it. The kind of space that makes you feel like you just slipped into your favorite outfit—the one that makes you feel unstoppable. That’s exactly how I want your self-tape setup to feel: effortless, energizing, and completely you. Four Keys...
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Episode 360: Self Tapes that Book Part 1
Acting Business Boot Camp
In this episode, I’m diving into one of the most important topics for any working actor today: self-tapes. They’re no longer an occasional request or a pandemic workaround. Self-tapes are the audition room now. That means your setup, your mindset, and your energy have to communicate professionalism and confidence before you ever say a line. After losing my voice for a few weeks (and getting some incredible help from Mandy Fisher, Rose Marie, and Taylor), I wanted to come back with something that felt useful and practical. Because here’s the truth: the actors who treat...
info_outlineIf you’ve ever gotten an email offering $850 for 45 minutes of voice work and thought, huh, that sounds… generous—you’re not alone.
Today I’m walking you through one of the most common and dangerous traps voice actors fall into: the voiceover scam.
Let’s talk about how to recognize one, why we fall for them, and how to protect yourself.
These Scams Are Getting Smarter
I’ve seen so many of these land in my inbox or get forwarded from friends and students. And honestly, they’re getting better. Better design. Better phrasing. More personal.
But when you know what to look for, the patterns start to repeat.
Here’s the kind of language I often see:
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“We came across your demo…”
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“We’re excited to offer $850 for a quick project…”
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“A studio will be rented near your location…”
They sound legit. But when you look closer, there’s no company name, no usage terms, no specifics—and that’s your first red flag.
Why It’s Easy to Fall For
Let me be clear: falling for one of these doesn’t make you gullible. It makes you human.
We’re trained to get excited when someone wants to hire us. So when you get a message that sounds like your SEO efforts are working or your voice finally got discovered, your brain lights up.
But scammers know that. They prey on that excitement, that desire to get booked, and that dream of breaking through.
And because so many actors are navigating financial stress, looking for validation, or craving that first big break, the offer feels like a miracle. That’s by design.
Real vs. Scam: What to Look For
Let me give you a side-by-side.
Here’s a real email I received:
“Hi Mandy, we’re currently casting a series of short-form e-learning modules for a corporate client in the healthcare space. We heard your narration demo and would love to invite you to audition. If selected, the rate is $450 per finished hour for internal usage. Remote recording is preferred.”
Notice the difference?
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There’s a category (e-learning).
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A rate and usage clause.
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A clear, grounded tone.
Now contrast that with a scam version that said:
“We have a voice-over assignment with a copyrighted script to be recorded at a studio near your location. Your emotional readiness is crucial.”
Um… what?
Common Red Flags I See Over and Over
I’ve seen these pop up again and again. Here are the top ones:
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Too much money too fast. Real jobs involve negotiation. Not just a flat $850 for 45 minutes with no questions asked.
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No company name. Or they use a real one but spoof the email (like "creta.net" instead of "creta.com").
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No contract or NDA. No paper trail. Nothing to protect you.
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Weird language. “Emotional readiness”? “Check your email frequently”? No legitimate producer talks like that.
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Fake check scam. They’ll send a “check” to pay a studio, ask you to forward the money, and when it bounces—you’re the one out the cash.
And sadly, they’ve even impersonated real companies like TransPerfect or Creta. They pull real employee names from LinkedIn to make it look legit.
What I Recommend You Do Instead
Here’s how I keep myself (and my students) scam-free:
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Google the sender. If they’re real, they’ll have some kind of digital footprint.
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Ask questions. Who’s the client? What’s the usage? Where will this air?
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Book your own studio. Or ask to record from home. If they refuse, walk away.
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Never deposit a check from a stranger. Ever.
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Reach out to SAG-AFTRA. Even if you’re not union, they have resources and will help.
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Keep good records. Save your emails, contracts, and create a CRM to track inquiries.
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Join VO red flag groups. There’s strength in community.
And above all—trust your gut.
Final Thought
I love this industry. Voiceover has changed my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined. But it also comes with risks. If something feels weird… pause. Screenshot it. DM a friend. Or send it to me.
You’re not alone in this.
If you want to talk more about your VO goals, I’d love to help. You can always reach me at mandy@actingbusinessbootcamp.com or schedule a free 15-minute session here.