Meet Melissa Del Toro Schaffner | Voice Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Del Toro Schaffner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa Del Toro, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I started my own business, I did not know what services I was going to provide. I only knew that I needed the ability to work remotely whenever needed, as I became a wife, a mother, and a caretaker. For the past 20 years in Corporate America, I had requested the ability to work remotely at least part-time from every employer. My job as a Project Manager and Electrical Engineer in the construction industry was 80% behind the computer and 20% in the field. Every time, the answer was no. The lack of trust that abounded in the office place was staggering.

Having married for the first time at age 40, and knowing I wanted to become a mother, I knew that I needed more flexibility, trust, and the ability to set my own terms on when I worked and how. Being a caregiver requires massive flexibility. And I knew if there was anyone who I could trust with my own future (not getting randomly fired or laid off) – it was ME.

Even though I knew NOTHING of what I was doing at the time – starting my own business was the only natural solution for me. My first offering was as a project manager to other online business owners, who ran their businesses 100% remotely. As I evolved and learned about conducting business in the online environment, and as I discovered my passions and strengths as a person – I gravitated towards my current Voice Acting career – which with A LOT of hard work, determination and behind-the-scenes preparation, has been successful and lucrative.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Voice acting is a very competitive industry. It’s important to cultivate an positive attitude full of personal power and resilience. Even your best audition may be passed over for another voice actor. Even your most reliable client may change their creative direction, and alter your ability to predict your earnings.

Being a Voice Actor in this age is about being an entrepreneur and building your business with intention, direction, mission and excellence. Having a “great voice” isn’t the determining factor for success. I love what I do because I get to connect with people’s creative visions and inspire others to employ their products and services. I get to support the causes I care deeply about like female empowerment, and create ways to support my overall objective as a business owner which is to empower women and children to live the life of their dreams.

I get to build a culture of happiness, fulfillment, and joy without consulting anyone but myself. I get to choose clients that resonate with my values, appreciate my work, and pay me sustainably for my services.

It is HARD to be a business owner. It is difficult to separate or balance life and work when you work from home and have to be “ON” for your clients and your family, what seems like all the time. It’s important to take care of yourself spiritually, draw clear boundaries, and take breaks / say “no” when necessary.

The one major lesson I’ve learned, building my business, is that I can not be everything to everyone. I have the joy to CHOOSE what gets my attention. So, I choose 3 things every day that I believe will most effectively move the needle forward in my business – helping me serve more people and make more money in the least time possible. I do not worry about auditioning for projects that are not a good fit for my voice, my portfolio, or my mission. I also make sure to schedule all phone calls and keep personal phone calls and errands to a minimum during the hours I have childcare.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Peoria, AZ. So, a fun itinerary for the day would involve at least one grilled meal at our home (I LOVE to cook!). Because of the heat most of the year, I prefer spending time in the AC – so a trip to Wonderspaces Arizona makes for a lovely afternoon! If my friend is sporty, we can visit the Ape Index gym for a little climbing. And if my friend is more inclined to “chill”, we have a couple great movie theaters near the Arrowhead Mall, as well as some great restaurants. It’s always fun to take a day trip to Sedona, and witness the majestic red rocks. When it’s mild outside, we also have some nice little hikes around the area that get the heart pumping and we can finish off with some Boba Tea at Teamania!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The primary organization that I attribute most of my success to is The Society Of Voice Arts and Sciences – Joan Baker and Rudy Gaskins. The first ever formal Voice Acting event that I attended was in New York City in 2014 called the “That’s Voiceover Career Expo”. Joan and Rudy compiled a number of scholarship opportunities, exclusive speed dating with casting directors/producers events, and a host of competitive audition opportunities that opened me up to a world of work, relationships, and friendships that has given back dividends over the past decade.

The second source of encouragement and support that assisted me into creating my Voiceover business QUICKLY was Mike Lenz’s podcast “A Journey Into Voiceacting” – where I essentially got the insight from very diverse segments of the Voiceover industry. Mike was also willing to listen to the audio of a complete NOBODY in the business, and give me very helpful, practical, open advice on where I stood and how I could do even better.

Thirdly, the coaching I’ve participated in for the past 20 years has laid the foundation for deeper and deeper understanding of the ACTING that goes into Voice Acting, which is very different and yet very much the same as on-camera acting. In these times of self-direction and self-coaching, the foundation that the following individuals has given me is UNPARALLELED: Tara Strong (Bubbles, Twilight Sparkle, Timmy Turner, Raven from Teen Titans), Tom Kenney (Spongebob), Tina Morasco, Anna Garduño, Lisa Biggs, Scott Parkin, Joan Baker, Paul Liberti, Kelly McGee, Mick Wingert, Roger Becker, Dialect Coach Tom Antonellis, and so many more VERY talented, working Voice Actors in the very competitive New York City and Los Angeles markets.

Fourthly, every client who has enlisted my voiceover services for their audiobooks, elearning and corporate narration videos, professional voicemails, radio and tv commercials, animations, podcasts, and other creative projects. It’s such a joy to “go to work” on something new every day!

And finally, but most importantly, my mother and my husband – who have kept me financially afloat as I build my business and pursue my dream Voice Acting career. They’ve kept a roof over my head, groceries in the pantry, and healthcare active while I raise our 6 year old daughter and build my business simultaneously. It takes sooo much more than a village of support to be a successful entrepreneur!

Website: https://www.melissadeltoro.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissadeltoro_voiceover

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissaideltoro/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/melissaideltoro?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissadeltorointernational

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MelissaDelToro

Other: Podcast: https://anchor.fm/untold-tales

Image Credits
Maddison Emma Photography Haley Zazueta Photography