Daniel O'Connor

Voice Actor at Bear Dan Voiceovers 🐻 | Always ROARing in the Den | Moose Cree First Nations Native American | Canadian | Australia-Based | Source-Connect

[Daniel O'Connor @beardanvo]

I carry my business with me on the hike.

If you'd like to join me on the trail with your journey, message, email, or have a listen.

[email protected]

https://t.co/WgWMiGdXId

[Daniel O'Connor @beardanvo]

Day One, the morning of a new job, new role...
it's something different.

My routine is the same.
For now, this is what I'll do today and every day I go to the work that helps provides the sustainability.

My system runs on coffee, voice warmups, checking in, following up, marketing. Sometimes switching up the order.

Walk to the new job.

Do the work.

Walk back, switch my system back on. Voice warmups, checking in, following up, marketing.

In my mind and body I am a full time voice actor. That won't change.

I am running a business, Bear Dan Voiceovers.
Incorporating my being, and my system into helping other creatives, businesses, companies, agencies, with their ads, commercials, narrations, documentaries, narrations, audiobooks, and assisting in any way I can.

More is added into my day, but it doesn't affect the work I can do for you.

This is part of the trail, it's a journey of adventure.

That's how I work.

DM me.

#videoproducer #videomarketing #creative #castingdirector #agent #business

[Daniel O'Connor @beardanvo]

I fully support the fight against AI voices.

But can we also start a support group for the fingers scrolling through endless AI posts?

Some days that's actually a real workplace injury and time waster to get to the real work.

I need my index finger at full capacity for highlighting mouth clicks and sibilances. =)

As a voice actor, seeing AI posts/videos is usually a turn off for me to work with you, as you seem be more inclined to use AI for voices.

I am not afraid to say. Many feel that way too.

#voiceover #ai #supportforfingers #videoproducer #videoproduction #support #nava #aava #cava #wovo #gvaa

[Daniel O'Connor @beardanvo]

Since Qantas now has Sydney to London non-stop flight.

What year will the non-stop flights be for Melbourne to New York, Toronto or Montreal?

L.A already covered, 14 hours.
Vancouver already covered, 17 hours.

Good length of flight times for hibernating then grabbing a taxi / uber for some studio time.

Is that still a dream or may happen?

Even though I live in Melbourne, around with some great studios. I also have my own home studio hooked up with Source Connect for remote sessions.

Still a dream of mine to touch down and do some studio sessions in the above cities.

That's what I want to check off on my list.

#voiceovers #castingdirector #studios #commercial #animation #character #audiobook #narration #qantas

[Daniel O'Connor @beardanvo]

Doing the uncomfortable things I used to think were too difficult, too hard, or too tough on my emotions.

Eureka!
Nothing bad happened when I finally did them.
Not to me.
Not to my business.
Instead, good things started happening.

The more you train your mind to tilt into discomfort, the more interesting life becomes. The adventure picks up. Doors open. Opportunities appear where you never expected them.

And eventually, you stop worrying so much about what other people might say.

Because it's not for them.

It's for you.

And for the people, clients, and opportunities that are looking for exactly what you have to offer.

That's what I discover on my trail.
There isn't much traction on flat ground.
The growth happens on the climb.

Keep climbing.

#voiceover #business #growth #mediaproducer #videoproduction #GoGetIt #casting #agent

[Daniel O'Connor @beardanvo]

Three reads with Whiskey.

A script I took off @Voquent voice reels.

I start reading normal. Add accent. Then add character

That's what I enjoy about voice acting, always getting to be creative.
#character #whiskey #commercial #brand #voiceover #videoproducer #castingdirector

[Daniel O'Connor @beardanvo]

We're a business.

We're actors.

Don't let anyone say otherwise.

#voiceovers #videoproducer #videomarketing #castingdirector #mediaproducer #socialmedia #connect

[Daniel O'Connor @beardanvo]

From Kingston to Melbourne.

Time comes and goes. Make sure you're spending it on the things you want to do.

If you're having a bad day, remember that is just a day. It will pass.
#voiceovers #mediaproducer #videoproducer #castingdirector #citizenship #melbourne #australia

[Daniel O'Connor @beardanvo]

Does your post really have to be perfect...

What does your post have to be about anyways, a project you are working on? An award you won, nominated? Got to Audition 10, 20, 30, 40x today? Got hired, booked, represented.. those are all great, but those don't happen everyday.

What about the days when you have no projects, no award seasons, auditions not coming in, haven't been booked/hired in quite awhile. Those are the hard times of being solopreneur. But these are the times you need to keep posting and showing up.

It is very easy to be forgotten in this landscape, that's why it's great to connect, network, branch out, follow up with previous clients, potential clients. This is the advantage you have from building your foundations, it's always accessible. And seriously this should be part of your daily activity, connecting and following up, those connects will come in handy at some point in time.

All you need to do is say Hello. Your profile should already say what you do, and what you can do. Even a conversation can lead to something you need to hear, to be heard and respected as another person. No business needs to be discussed, just discovery. How hard is that?

I'm still showing up every day, building my foundations every day. I haven't booked, been hired, not been able to invest money into my VO business for coaching, demo productions, mentorship, training, but I am still here connecting, posting, being myself. On top of that, looking for a full-time job.

Times are tough, but that's every where.

That's how I am working through this.

#vo #voiceovers #connect #showingup #moosecree #firstnations #solopreneur

[Daniel O'Connor @beardanvo]

Even when nothing is coming your way.

No job interviews.

No projects incoming.

No help.

You still need to bust your ass to get moving,
and treat each day as a building block,
to add on to the days, months, years before.

Keep relentlessly showing up.
No matter what.

It's so easy to be forgotten.
You're letting your dream, your goals get sidetracked and dwindle away.
Post, email, connect, message, and then follow up.

Stop letting that stupid fear get in your way.
Business needs proactivity.
And you need to live.

I plan to keep on building.
Bear paw over bricks.

One missed day, is one less person that will notice you.

What about you, need a voice to act for your project?

DM me.

#videoproducer #videomarketing #videoproduction #mediaproduction #creativedirector #moosecree #firstnation #business #fear #voiceover

[Daniel O'Connor @beardanvo]

Do you ever notice when you speak your voice carries a melody.

There's different tones, pauses, pitches.

And it's all dependent how you're feeling in those moments.

Try speaking while smiling, you'll notice a difference.

Try speaking while frowning, you'll notice a difference.

Try speaking teeth clinched, you'll notice a difference.

Really think of your speaking voice like an instrument.

Part of putting something together while you read. Your mind and body composing with the words, shaping them to fit the emotion in front of you.

Whether you're musically inclined or not, even just listening to music to implement your mood can help you find that tone.

You may think just speaking into a mic is that simple, hitting the record on the spot, but you have to still grasp the words that are being said.

This is part of the work, the practice and the every day training, and also the fun part of picking and adapting to the written words and doing it intentionally, or making it into your own.

What say you, would you lend me your words to act for your project?

DM me.

#videoproducer #videoproduction #mediaproducer #creativedirector #producer #castingdirector
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I am just a Bear in the world making a living on my voice.
A den, a mic, your words, your direction. That’s all that’s needed.
Bear Dan Voiceovers.

[Daniel O'Connor @beardanvo]

Hi, I am a voice actor. A full-time business owner, solopreneur.
There are many different types of voiceovers; commercials, radio, explainers, elearning, documentaries, medical, non-fiction and fiction audiobooks, audio dramas, ADR, dubbing, promo, trailer, animation, video games, apps, devices, toys... announcer for sports, planes, trains, automobiles, voice of god for award shows, conferences, monster truck rallies.. I am sure I'm missing some.

I post on social media platforms. It's easy to directly connect with people that provide services that I've mentioned. That alone is a vast network to get into, with so many different branches that reaches globally.

I post to advocate myself and for people to know me, so I'd want them to connect with me and have some conversations. Creative ideas, furry family and learn a bit more about each other specialties, past, current, future projects, and go from there.

I send out connects / friend invites to people I want get to know and possibly collaborate in the future. Or maybe there's someone they know in need of a voice like mine.

I don't do this to stack numbers of connects, followers, friends, that'd be way too easy, I could randomly spam and hope for the best. I send out actual connect messages especially on LinkedIn hoping we can share our network resources.

Send that connect, follow, friend invite if you're a creative director, casting director, in video production, agent. I don't bite, but I will say hello and start a conversation and see if I fit into your roster.

Stay Consistent.

That's how I run my business.
#creativedirector #creatives #writer #videoproducer #voiceagent #roster #weightloss
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This is Bear Dan.
I won’t bite you.
But I’ll take a strong bite out of your project and leave a lasting mark.
Let’s connect and chat.

[Daniel O'Connor @beardanvo]

Using a professional will always be hands down the best way to go.
Someone who focuses on their craft. Someone who gets into the crevices, where the real work happens beneath it all. Strips all down and builds it back up.
There are many branches to swing your project on. Will you choose the right one?
The same goes for coaching.
Who are you going to for advice?
Is it just based on budget?
Or are you learning from someone who has been doing what you want to do for years. Someone who knows what works, what doesn’t, and why.
Are they legit?
Do they have the background to back it up. The experience. The proof.
There is nothing wrong with YouTube, tutorials, or even *cough* AI tools. They all have their place.
But they don’t see you. Nor can they.
They won't hear or see your gaps. They won't be able to adjust in real time.
A professional does.
Voice acting is a perfect example.
You can have a great mic. A clean setup. Even a solid read.
But without the direction, tone, pacing, intention… it will always fall flat.
A good coach or director will catch the small things. The breathing, the emotion, what to think about when you're acting, finding adaptation in those moments.
I am not a coach.
But I have been lucky to learn from some great ones so far. Voice acting and marketing, so I can be heard more easily, learn how to network, putting myself forward and building a foundation.
And I am still working at it. Learning from people who are ahead of me, so I can bring that into your projects. Researching and finding ways to be able work with them.
Refining my trail. Sharpening my teeth. Keeping it moving. The progression never stops.
If you want to move faster, cleaner, and with fewer bad habits to undo later, it matters who you learn from.
And your project deserves someone who has invested and put in the work.
Serious about your sound?
Let's get to work.
#voiceovers #videoproducer #videoproduction #videomarketing #castingdirector #coaches #coaching #professional
-------------
This is Bear Dan. I won’t bite you.
But I’ll take a strong bite out of your project and leave a lasting mark.
Let’s connect and chat

[Daniel O'Connor @beardanvo]

Technology and the internet are pretty great, aren't they?

I can speak with clients on the other side of the world like they’re in the Den with me. 1 on 1.

Most of the time, it’s my early mornings while they’re deep into their day, ready to go.

We can jump on Zoom, Source Connect, Teams, even a phone call… do a sample, go over the details, check the copy, tighten anything that needs attention, and possibly record on the spot.

Need some tweaking after? Easy enough.

Tight timelines? I’ll get started right away.

Got a pitch on the line? Let's win it together.

Commercial, documentary, technical narration… some character work too.

If it’s a longer narration, that works as well. While you go about your day, I get locked in and focus on the project.

Then it’s delivered clean, along with paperwork and invoice… raw files if you need them, ready to drop straight in.

No borders. No time zone headaches.

That’s how I work.

#videoproducer #mediaproducer #videoproduction #mediaproduction #communication #vo #voiceover #voiceactor
-------------
This is Bear Dan.
I won’t bite you.
But I’ll take a strong bite out of your project and leave a lasting mark.
Let’s connect and chat.

[Daniel O'Connor @beardanvo]

Ahh I forgot the coffee.. shit

[Daniel O'Connor @beardanvo]

It's hard innit..

Waking up 4 am...

Refreshing and reestablishing yourself for the day.

Check the notifications.

Reply to them.

Then go into the booth, warm up, shake off the grog if you can.

Morning voice, humming, trilling, low to high pitches.

Yawning countless times, grinning, stretching, loosening your muscles.

Projects, sample call outs, auditions in the inbox.. prioritize or is it prioritise?

Organize, research and find new leads, connect with them.

Check-in, nudge previous contacts, see how they are, see what they're up to.

CRMing, compile lists, mark down the projects, auditions, samples given, contacts created. Fix the website, create new samples, add new samples to the list.

Oh did I forget to push out those emails?

Create new ones, send them out.. what time is it?

Did I eat?

Oh another audition came in... pounces on it.

Watch videos, training sessions, looking for any thing to up your game.
Find ways to optimize the system.

Check out coaching, check out other VA tips, always stay on a learning curve.

Constantly pushing to rise to any occasion. A quick radio, commercial, narration, spot, line, word, yell, scream, grunt...and even a sigh.

Better for me,
Awesome for my clients.

The phone is always on.

The mic is always ready to be baked in the Bear Den.

It's Monday morning 6:16 am here in Melbourne.

Nahh it's actually Sunday afternoon in North America..
Europe just going to bed.
Asia sleeping and waking up.

It's a global attention. Without borders.

That's how I work... everyday.

#voiceovers #videoproducer #mediaproduction #videomarketing #castingdirector #business #CRM #global

-------------
This is Bear Dan.
I won’t bite you.
But I’ll take a strong bite out of your project and leave a lasting mark.
Let’s connect and chat.

[Daniel O'Connor @beardanvo]

There's so many undiscovered talent, I don't mean just for voice acting.

Talented artists, crafters, painters, drawers, musicians, singers, actors, dancers, even cooks, bakers, across so many different mediums, instruments, bases.

I am of Moose Cree First Nation, Treaty 9 territory in Northern Ontario. Moose Factory more specifically. When I see my family and community on Facebook, Instagram, other social medias, they're all really talented... they show off their work, they sell their work locally, create lotteries, draws for people to win. It is such a small population, you probably don't see or hear much from there unless you really search for it, pin point looking. Even I have trouble.

But here's the thing many from similar communities, whether you're First Nation across Canada, Australia, U.S, Mexico, and other nations, many don't know there's actual programs that can help elevate the arts. This is even true across BIPOC.

I've been researching for the last while, applying and asking the questions needed to boost my business. Because of my location, (Australia) it is harder for myself to take advantage of Art Councils across Canada. Or get a boost from my local reserve MCFN.

But least I can still get the word out for others that are in similar situations, looking for a way to make a living from their creativity. All it takes is a little push, maybe some are stuck and didn't know they can actually look for this kind of help.

Remember arts can be business. Business is also the arts. That's another avenue to look to. If that's a dream, or a goal you'd strive to, there are ways.

So please keep showing up every day and keep going.

That's how I am working everyday, so let's continue together.

If you know of programs available to help boost the Arts, business for many small communities, BIPOC or not. Let's shine a spotlight on those communities and let them know there's always a way. Give confidence a boost, and show up.

#voiceovers #arts #media #business #BIPOC #FirstNations

[Daniel O'Connor @beardanvo]

Hello Monday!

Start every day like a fresh loaf out of the oven.

Yeah... take that however you want.

Warm. Ready. Full of potential.

Start every week with a new game plan.
Make it better than the last.

Small improvements. Consistent effort.
That’s how momentum builds.

That’s how I work.

#mondays #mediaproduction #videoproducer #marketing #voiceover
‐------------
This is Bear Dan.
I won’t bite you.
But I’ll take a strong bite out of your project and leave a lasting mark.
Let’s connect and chat.

[Daniel O'Connor @beardanvo]

Most nights, I’m asleep by 10pm.
Up at 4am. Teeth brushed, face washed, coffee on… straight into the den.

But the nights I’m still awake at 2 or 3 am?
That’s for clients.
Training.
Workshops.
…or the occasional binge of something great... or absolutely terrible.

This is the reality of being a voice talent.
A solopreneur.
Someone chasing something bigger.

You become relentless.
You make the sacrifices.
You go all in.

Because when someone works with me, I want it to be easy.

Easy for them.
Easy for me.

No stress.
No chasing.
No second guessing.

Just clean, dependable, professional VO... delivered when you need it.

So you can focus on everything else.

Leave it to the bear.

That's how I work.

#voiceover #vo #actor #videoproduction #videoproducer #videomarketing #mediaproduction #mediaproducer

‐------------
This is Bear Dan.
I won't bite you.
But I'll certainly take a bite out of your project.
Let's Connect and Chat.

[Daniel O'Connor @beardanvo]

It’s interesting, isn’t it.

Fear of fear.

A loop if you let it be.

A circuit that keeps running, until you decide to switch it off.

It’s something I think about a lot. You'd assume I would not feel it.

I joined the military knowing what that meant. To protect, observe, and if needed, go to war. To stand up for my country and its allies.

So why should I feel any fear stepping in front of clients?

Face to face. Camera to camera. Delivering their words the way they need to hear them, or the way I interpret the copy.

But I do.

And I do not.

Because there is something in it.
That edge. That pressure.

I actually enjoy it.

If you can call it that.

We always overestimate the “worst case” more than anything else.

A mistake? It happens.

A failure? Well...

It teaches you what doesn't work, and gets you closer to what does.

A feedback in disguise.

But in reality, nothing breaks you the way fear says it will.

What actually breaks the loop… is doing it anyway.

That’s when that switch flips.

Stepping into that pressure and delivering my voice, my interpretation, my uniqueness across commercials, documentaries, science, tech, and narration where the clarity, presence, and the intention really matters.

If you think this only applies to voice acting...

it doesn't.

That's how I work.

#fear #videoproducer #videomarketing #videoproduction #mediaproduction #voiceover #vo #voiceactor

‐------------
This is Bear Dan.
I won't bite you.
But I'll certainly take a bite out of your project.

Let's Connect and Chat.