Today we’d like to introduce you to Catherine Jordan.
Hi Catherine, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I used to be really shy as a kid so I was very much fearful for being myself authentically when I got to school. That’s because I was an only child and I grew up socially awkward. The only time I was able to socialize was at filipino parties- I am Filipino and White. So I grew up with kids that looked like me that were on the military base when I grew up. That’s where I am able to be myself the most. That didn’t last long until I entered school. Reflecting back since no one else was like me, I knew I was very different from the other kids because I wanted to be a kid. A lot of the kids around me wanted to grow up fast. I was also mixed so I was bullied for it too. So ended up being a people pleaser to fit in, I wanted to be what people expected me to be. Until a few years ago as I worked on myself, my own growth and how my authenticity is great and I don’t have to be like someone else…I can just be me and not care what anyone else thinks because their opinions have nothing to do with me it has everything to do with them.
I moved from Watertown, NY to Las Vegas, NV at age 12. So new beginnings was what I needed from the close minded north. In my teens I gained a lot of confidence being in Improv Comedy Sports and theater in high school along with joining Softball. I was living my Troy Bolten fantasy, I was Troy Bolten! Try different medium of hobbies grew seats of confidence and drive into the unknown which was risky…because all those things I did in high school I’ve never done before and I proved that I could overcome my shyness and be anything I wanna be! Sometimes it’s upsetting that we have to be the ones to give ourselves permission to do the things we love, or what to try because of the expectations from other people. But I’m saying this, because I’ve been there I’m 23 and I still feel like I’m healing from that. But people’s dreams come true everyday, why couldn’t I let mine?
I loved anime so much, I knew at 16 I wanted to be a Voice Actor. It made sense I also loved improv and theater. I didn’t know how to be a Voice Actor and when I told my dad- he said “oh no you’re gonna do something more practical”. My dad is a realist and that’s okay it hit my “reality” but I knew that dream wouldn’t be to far. I knew that I wasn’t made for a traditional job at all ever since I was young I loved creating videos, playing pretend, drawing, playing with dolls, just creating. I’ve always created something! I was an only child, the world was my canvas. I also did a lot of social media fan pages online at a young age too. Which is ironic because I ended up majoring in Media and Communications at Lander University. I minored in Speech & Performance and Entrepreneurship. The traditional dreams ran out the door!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has not been smooth at all. There are many times that I could consider myself a failure. But that’s life, you fail then you have the choice to try again and pick yourself up, that’s what my dad taught me.
I thought I was a failure when I was rejected from every single university I applied for (even Lander). Despite doing many activities in school, despite being in sports, despite having a 3.2 average in high school. I was only accepted to community college.
I thought I was a failure because I got 70+ rejected applications for jobs I was qualified for.
I thought I was a failure because I wanted to be a creative and not a nurse, doctor or lawyer like my parents wanted me to.
You can only fail so many times at life, but what happens when you choose to just take a left instead of a right?
The reason why I am still striving to be eventually a seasoned Voice Actor is because I was taught early in the industry that the journey is meant to be long, and it’s meant to be a journey if you choose it to be your life. And I chose voice acting, and it has chosen me and I think I am meant to be where I am in that part of my career.
My “failures” opened the doors for my success!
I finally got a dream job that I didn’t even know was dream job!
I graduated college TWICE, with an associates and a BS.
I got to witness my own successes from changing perspectives and giving gratitude.
I am a voice actor.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have 3 jobs, that are my dream jobs. The Front of House Coordinator for Newberry Opera House, Voice Acting, and Producer of the podcast The Adventures Alcove.
I am the Front of House Coordinator at Newberry Opera House located in Newberry, South Carolina. To summarize what I do, I manage the front of house when events/shows are happening in the opera house. Newberry Opera House is a 501(c)(3) organization operated by Newberry Opera House Foundation. It is considered a non-profit and a community institute. So also add a part of my job, I also coordinate over 80 ambassadors that donated so many hours into the opera house’s operations. I started this job in January. After job hunting for 6 months. Over those 6 months I’ve received over 70 rejections.
The opera house is very hands on; I was welcomed with open arms. My team has uplifted me starting in the middle of a season. I love it so much! If you would’ve told me 6 months ago that I was going to be working for an opera house that is over 100 years old…honestly, I’d believe you because my history of theater and entertainment. I’m very proud of our mission and just what we do. Newberry is a very large community, so you feel the love for the opera house as well.
You’re probably wondering, why aren’t you just a voice actor? Well- I was taught very early to not quit your job to pursue anything risky like voice acting or acting because 1. You’re gonna spend more money investing on your business than making money. 2. You’re gonna start off just auditioning a lot. 3. It’s a journey that you can’t have with ignorance or bitterness for other people’s success. That was the foundation and the expectation, and everyone in the industry will tell you the same I promise. I have spent more time educating myself on the industry than voice acting. So far I have been in radio spots for Lander University’s XLR Lander Radio, Greenwood’s Wesley Commons Rehabilitation Center’s voice for recent commericals, I was in the demo of a video game called Wildwood Down, Studio Baku’s Stardew Valley Animation on YouTube, various audio dramas from Lander’s Audio Drama Club, and The Adventures Alcove where I got my first IMDB credit. Every voice actor’s story is different, I promise. I was lucky enough to take these classes by the help of myself, and my parents because that’s what I’d ask for my birthday, voice over classes! Other than that I have used my own money to invest in this. But I I have the support systems others may not have or had. I am so lucky and have so much graitude because it took me so long to get their approval.
One of my first voice acting coaches Melissa Moats took her demo as a caset tape and traveled around to businesses, or radio stations to deliver her demo physically. I know another voice actor who did Uber and Lyft full time until 2 years later they took off that sticker and was able to be full time. One of my dear friends and mentor Monqiue Sacay-Bagwell is a professor and a voice actor. My other mentor Melique Berger grew up in the acting industry since she was a little girl. Everyone’s journey is different, and it will never be linear either.
I’m so proud that I took the long way to get to where I am now. I think what sets me apart of my own voice over journey is that I took my time learning the craft for so long because I was a student already at the time. It had to be inconsistent. Voice acting classes cost so much money and equipment. I’m so proud of my own journey it’s slow because I’m learning and dissecting everything I can so I don’t suck at voice acting.
My 3rd job was given to me recently and is still in the pre-production stages. I am the producer and owner of The Adventures Alcove. The Adventures Alcove is a DND TTRPG podcast. I was first hired on to be a Voice actor in it and I knew I’d be apart of this project. Somethings came to be inconsistent and I stepped up to own it now we are restarting, rebranding, everything! I have a team of my friends I met in college to help with marketing, video editing and copy writing for our new future website. The original cast still wants to be involved even if there’s no money involved currently! This is a new journey for me but also not because I’ve learned my mistakes in college and now I can implement success in this project and I’m confident in that. I think there are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to not being able to have a business with your friends- you can have a business with your friends…I was lucky enough to make these friends because we met on projects! So I know their work ethic, they know mine, and it makes it better because we became friends because of it! I have so much gratitude for these people they want to succeed in this so BADLY. The original cast wants it to succeed so much we are still going and we are restarting. We have nothing to lose anymore, I would say what we have cooking up but you’ll have to follow us to find out!
Overall, I ended up at non-traditional jobs they may or may not break me! But I have came this far, I have a support system and I’m not going to stop.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I took the risk allowing pursue my dreams to be a Voice Over Artist, to graduate college in Media and Communications which is known to be a lack of money major-, but also producing and owning a Table Top RPG Podcast called The Adventures Alcove. My day job, I am working at the Newberry Opera House as the Front of House Coordinator because of my major and skills I’ve gained from college.
To achieve is to have grit, and say yes to any opportunity that comes your way if it’s meant to be yours. But you have to risk your comfortability. I’ve gained a lot of opportunity by risk and being outside of my comfort zone. That’s how I got to play Softball in high school without expirence prior I had grit, and I wanted to do it! But I got insecure about playing with girls from the south so, I ended up not being Softball player in college. (West coast Softball and Southern Softball are two different playing fields).
I was offered to go to Voice Over Atlanta in college which is the largest voice over conference in Atlanta, GA where I met so many big people in the voice acting industry. Without a demo, just a business card and a dream! In college I achieved multiple awards including the Speech & Performance honor award, 1st Place in Character Voice Over at the South Carolina Speech & Theater Association, as well as the honorable Dean’s Award which is given to a student that excels outside of the classroom. I was being recognized for Voice Acting with that award particularly as I spent late hours in our university’s voice over booth recording my podcast’s episodes. But also everything I’ve done! At Lander University I did over 3 club and organizations because I wasn’t going to miss out in things I wanted to do for myself. I did production for the E-Sports program and played for a short time, I was secratary of the Table Top Association where I created and solidfied their brand with social media marketing. I was heavily involved with Lander’s Audio Drama Club as I was lead of SFX for 2 consecutive years, and president. I also had the privilege to created Lander University’s Improv Club where I’ve created 2 shows along with my past officers (granted i created the club the semester before i graduated) This club is still successful since I have graduated Lander. They hosted their 3rd show in April. I was leader in college. I loved my college expirence. I would never change anything even my mistakes! I was always busy, but it was because I said, “Yes” to opportunity.
I did it all because I just wanted to do it all. If I didn’t do the things I wanted, then who will? I wanted to grow, I wanted to create, I wanted to achieve and feel good when I did! I wanted to make college worth it. A lot of people in Media say “college isn’t worth it” it only isn’t worth it if you don’t make it worth it.
A lot of people now know me as the person that just gets something done because I’ve done it all! And I love creating, I love making things possible for my friends, and also for my own ideas. That is just truely me, and taking risk is always my gateway to freedom.
Pricing:
- Voice Over Promo (Local) – $150-$200
- Voice Over Commerical – Contact for Custom Quote
- Voice Over Character – Contact for Custom Quote
Contact Info:
- Website: https://catherinejordanportfolio.wordpress.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinejordanvo
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinerj
