We had the good fortune of connecting with Heidi Rew and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Heidi, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
At first, my husband and I just wanted to open up a voiceover studio outside of our home. We had a home studio but I wanted a way to see more people. A lot of our on-camera acting friends didn’t have home studios and we didn’t want them to miss out on a voiceover opportunity. We thought we could open up a small (I mean real small – 100sq ft space) studio where they could record their auditions and I could see people. Honestly, we were just hoping we could cover our rent each month.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Atlanta Voiceover Studio (and now ProVoiceoverTraining.com as well) has grown from that 100sq ft space to sharing a 3200sq ft space with Matt & Brooke Cornwell of Get Taped and we keep growing. I’m so grateful for all of that growth, in such a short time, but it has come with growing pains.
I have bawled at my desk so many times because it felt like too much. To feel the burden and responsibility of taking care of your employees, students, instructors and clients is so great. When we started AVS, I had no idea how much it’d grow or what type of leadership role it would put myself and Mike in. I feel so inadequate many days. But the crazy thing is that each hard or bad day brings with it a new lesson.
Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way:
1| Never Assume. Ask questions to get at the heart of the matter. Give your empoloyees, customers, client the benefit of doubt.
2| Create a set of core values to filter decisions by.
3| Over communicate…and then over communicate more.
4| As an owner/leader of a business…your health is vital to the health of your company – mental, physical, spiritual
Overall, my goal is to keep listening and learning every day.
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.
The outdoor activities Atlanta has to offer are endless! I’d take my friends on a hike along one of the many Chattahoochee River trails, a relaxing tube float down the Chattahoochee or stand up paddleboarding at Morgan Falls. We’d grab food at one of our favorite Atlanta hole in the wall places – Hankook Taqueria! I’m a huge fan of healthy restaurants and some of my favorite Atlanta picks are Souper Jenny, Karma Farm and Arden’s Garden.
For an evening cocktail, we’d hit up the rooftop at the Clermont or 9 Mile Station at Ponce City. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I could spend pages saying thank you to all the people that have given me a chance, advice and help along the way. There are two specific people/groups to shoutout for the success of Atlanta Voiceover Studio (outside of my husband & co-owner Mike Stoudt):
1| Shawn Haywood of Liberate My Life Business Coaching (https://www.liberatemylife.com)
She coached Mike and myself through the foundations of our business. If it wasn’t for her guidance, I’m not sure the business would be going as well as it is.
2| Our Atlanta Voiceover Studio Team
Hunter, Rochelle, James and ALL the instructors and coaches – Jill, Trevor, Brian, Sally, Steve, Aaron, Dan, Thessaly, Donovan, Julie, Casey, Smith, Angela, Adam, Curt, Jon and many more. Atlanta Voiceover Studio is nothing without their dedication and love for students, each other and the mission of elevating, equipping and inspiring.
Website: www.AtlantaVoiceoverStudio.com | ProVoiceoverTraining.com | www.HeidiRew.com
Instagram: @atlantavoiceoverstudio @heidirew
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atlantavoiceoverstudio/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidirew/
Twitter: @atlvostudio | @heidirew
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AtlantaVoiceoverStudio/
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/atlanta-voiceover-studio-atlanta
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYwd8G0-JJP-wi9Sd56JWjw
Image Credits
Atlanta VO Studio Morgan Beatton