Real Bosses: Captain BOSS

6 hours ago

12 min read

with Tom Dheere

What do you do when you book a voiceover role you've dreamed about? Do you immediately share the news on social media? Tell everyone about the experience? Or keep it quiet until you're certain you have permission?

It's exciting to celebrate a big booking, especially when it involves a recognizable character or major brand. But there's a difference between sharing your success and protecting the professional relationships that made it possible.

In a recent episode of the VO BOSS Podcast's Real BOSS Series, Tom Dheere and I explored this question after he revealed some exciting news: he's the voice of Captain America in a Marvel HQ animated video!

It's an incredible accomplishment, and I'm genuinely thrilled for him. But what made our conversation especially valuable was how Tom approached sharing the news. His experience offers important lessons about voiceover NDAs, client confidentiality, social media marketing, and building a professional reputation that goes beyond the roles you book.

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Celebrate the Booking, but Think Before You Post

When Tom told me he'd voiced Captain America, I was so excited for him. He had sent me the finished video to watch, and I hadn't even realized I was listening to Tom until he told me.

I was paying attention to the story.

The video features Iron Man interviewing Captain America about leadership, communication, and trust. It's a fun concept with a meaningful message, especially for the young audience watching Marvel HQ.

Tom booked the project through his manager, who had also helped him secure previous roles, including Inspector Gadget and work on Red Dead Redemption 2. He auditioned, learned he'd been selected shortly afterward, and recorded the short project remotely from his home studio.

It's the kind of booking that would make almost any voice actor want to celebrate.

But Tom didn't immediately announce it.

He waited until the project was released and considered what he was allowed to share.

I think that's an important lesson because social media makes it incredibly easy to announce something the moment it happens. We see actors celebrating new roles, sharing screenshots, and talking about projects they're excited to be part of.

There's nothing wrong with being proud of your work.

But before you post, ask yourself whether sharing that information is appropriate, whether you have permission, and what you're hoping to accomplish by announcing it.

A great booking is worth celebrating, but protecting your relationship with the client matters more than getting immediate attention online.

Understand What Your Voiceover NDA Actually Covers

A non-disclosure agreement, or NDA, is something voice actors may encounter throughout their careers.

An NDA establishes confidentiality obligations around information connected to a project. Those obligations can vary depending on the client, production, and agreement.

For some projects, you may be allowed to discuss your involvement after the work is publicly released.

For others, certain details may need to remain confidential indefinitely.

Tom has worked on projects where he cannot discuss the recording process, even after the finished work becomes available to the public.

And that isn't limited to major entertainment companies.

A large part of the voiceover industry involves corporate narration, medical narration, e-learning, and internal training materials. Those projects may contain information that businesses don't want shared publicly.

Think about employee training procedures, internal systems, product development, or confidential company information.

As voice actors, we may have access to material that people outside the organization aren't supposed to see.

That responsibility doesn't disappear simply because we've finished recording.

I approach much of my own work as private client business. I record the project, deliver the audio, and move on. I don't necessarily need to tell everyone what I've worked on.

If you want to share something, review the agreement first.

Understand what information is protected, how long those restrictions apply, and whether you need written permission.

When you're unsure, ask the appropriate person before posting.

Remember That Public Release Doesn't Mean Everything Is Public

One of the most important distinctions Tom and I discussed is the difference between a finished project being public and the production process being public.

Those aren't necessarily the same thing.

A commercial might be available for everyone to watch, but that doesn't automatically mean you can discuss the audition, creative direction, recording session, or conversations you had with the production team.

Tom shared that his work on the Red Dead Redemption games came with confidentiality requirements that still affect what he can discuss about those recording sessions.

For his Captain America project, he was careful about what he shared even after the video was released.

He also obtained written permission to promote his involvement.

That's an important detail.

A voiceover project may involve several parties, including a casting company, production studio, agency, and the final client.

The person who directed your recording may not be the person authorized to approve publicity.

Before sharing information, make sure you're getting permission from the appropriate source.

And if you're planning to use part of a finished project in your portfolio or marketing materials, confirm that your agreement allows it.

The safest approach is to understand the restrictions before you need to make a decision about posting.

Protect Confidential Material When Using AI Tools

There's another issue voice actors need to consider when working with confidential projects: artificial intelligence.

AI tools can be useful for research, writing, editing, and other business tasks. But you need to think carefully about what information you're uploading.

If you've received a confidential audition script, internal training document, or unreleased commercial copy, putting that material into an external AI platform may create confidentiality concerns.

You may not know how the platform processes, stores, or uses the information.

Even when privacy settings are available, that doesn't automatically mean the tool has been approved for handling your client's material.

I think it's important to treat confidential scripts, recordings, and project details with the same care you would give any other private business information.

Before uploading material to a third-party service, check your agreement and confirm that the client permits that use.

If you don't have authorization, don't assume it's acceptable.

The convenience of a tool isn't worth risking a professional relationship.

Be Careful About What You Share on Social Media

Social media can be an effective marketing tool for voice actors, but it also gives potential clients a window into how you conduct yourself professionally.

We've all seen posts where someone announces, "I'm so excited about a project, but I can't tell you what it is!"

I understand the excitement. I really do.

But if you're not allowed to discuss the project, why create a conversation around information you're supposed to keep private?

Even when you don't mention the client's name, small details can sometimes reveal more than you intended.

People may ask questions, and before you realize it, you've shared information that wasn't meant to be public.

The same caution applies to complaining about clients, criticizing projects, or discussing difficult professional experiences online.

Tom and I talked about situations where comments shared in supposedly private online groups eventually reached the people being discussed.

A private group doesn't guarantee that your comments will remain private. Screenshots can be shared, and information can travel beyond the audience you originally intended.

I think voice actors need to remember that their online presence is part of their professional reputation.

Clients aren't only evaluating your demos and performances. They may also be considering whether you're reliable, respectful, and trustworthy.

Before posting something about your work, consider how it might look to a current or future client.

Make Your Success About More Than the Booking

One of my favorite parts of Tom's approach is that he doesn't want his Captain America announcement to be entirely about himself.

Of course he's excited. Who wouldn't be?

But instead of simply posting that he booked an iconic character, he's thinking about what people can learn from the project.

The Marvel HQ video focuses on leadership, communication, and trust.

Those are topics that extend well beyond the entertainment industry.

A business owner, manager, teacher, or parent could find something valuable in that message.

I love that approach because it gives people a reason to engage with the content beyond congratulating the actor.

Tom shared another example from his audiobook work.

He narrated The Long Distance Teammate, a book about working effectively with colleagues who aren't physically in the same location.

When remote work became especially relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic, he used that experience to share useful information with his professional contacts.

Instead of focusing on the fact that he'd narrated an audiobook, he introduced the book as a resource that could help people navigate working from home.

His clients learned about the project, but they also received something relevant to their lives.

That's a much more thoughtful form of marketing.

When you're promoting a voiceover project, ask yourself what makes the content interesting or useful to someone else.

Maybe the recording explains an important subject, tells a meaningful story, or offers a different perspective.

You can celebrate your role while also giving your audience something worth their attention.

Think About Who You're Trying to Reach

Another consideration is where you share your work and who will actually see it.

Voice actors often spend a lot of time connecting with other voice actors online.

I value that community. We learn from one another, share opportunities, and support each other's careers.

But if your goal is to attract new clients, you also need to think beyond your immediate voiceover circle.

A post celebrating a new role may receive plenty of congratulations from fellow actors without reaching many people who actually hire voice talent.

That doesn't mean those connections aren't valuable. Referrals from other voice actors can lead to work.

It does mean you should consider your audience before deciding how to present a project.

For example, Tom's Captain America video could become a LinkedIn post about leadership lessons rather than simply an announcement about booking a Marvel character.

Someone interested in leadership or workplace communication might discover the post without actively looking for voiceover content.

And that creates an opportunity for them to learn something about Tom's professional work.

Think about the subjects your clients care about.

If you've voiced an educational project, can you share something useful about the topic? If you've narrated an audiobook, could its central message interest your professional network?

The point isn't to turn every project into a marketing campaign.

It's to recognize that the work you do may connect with audiences outside the voiceover industry.

Respect the Client's Content When Promoting Your Work

Once you have permission to discuss a project, you still need to consider how you're going to share it.

A publicly available video doesn't automatically mean you have the right to download it and upload it to your own website or social media accounts.

The finished production may belong to the client, and there may be restrictions on how it can be reused.

Tom and I discussed why linking to the original content is often a better starting point than copying and reposting it.

For his Captain America role, that means directing viewers to Marvel HQ's official YouTube video rather than assuming he can distribute the recording independently.

If you want to use a clip in your demo, portfolio, or promotional materials, make sure you have the appropriate permission.

You should also think about how you're presenting the content.

On platforms such as LinkedIn, Tom considers whether placing an external link in the post itself or in a comment makes more sense for his marketing approach.

Platform behavior changes, so there isn't one method that guarantees better reach.

The more important question is whether your post offers something valuable to the audience and makes it easy for interested people to find the original work.

And when you're working with a major client or recognizable brand, being careful with their intellectual property is especially important.

Remember That Trust Is Part of Your Value

There's a bigger lesson here that goes beyond social media.

As voice actors, we sometimes focus so much on the quality of our voices that we forget about everything else we're providing to clients.

We're offering a professional service.

That includes our ability to interpret scripts, communicate clearly, meet deadlines, respond to direction, protect confidential information, and make the production process easier for everyone involved.

A client may hire you because they love your voice.

But their experience working with you can influence whether they hire you again.

Are you easy to communicate with? Do you understand what they're trying to accomplish? Can they trust you with private information? Do you respect their creative work and business decisions?

Those things matter.

Tom's Captain America booking is an exciting career accomplishment, but I think the way he's handling the announcement says just as much about his professionalism.

He waited until the project was released, considered his contractual obligations, obtained permission, and thought carefully about how to share the work.

He also recognized that the video's message could be useful to people beyond the voiceover industry.

That's a thoughtful way to approach a professional success.

You can be proud of your accomplishments without making every announcement entirely about yourself.

Celebrate the opportunities you've earned. Share your work when you're allowed to. Give people something useful when you can.

And remember that the relationships you build along the way may be just as important as the roles themselves.

The takeaway is simple: post responsibly.

For more insights, join Tom Dheere and me on the VO BOSS Podcast's Real BOSS Series as we discuss his Captain America role, voiceover NDAs, professional relationships, and how to promote your work without compromising client trust.

10 Key Takeaways

Celebrate your accomplishments thoughtfully. A major voiceover booking is exciting, but consider what you're allowed to share before announcing it publicly.
Understand your voiceover NDA. Confidentiality agreements can restrict what you disclose about projects, clients, auditions, and recording sessions.
Don't assume public release means unlimited permission. Even when a finished project is available online, behind-the-scenes information may still be confidential.
Get approval from the appropriate people. A project may involve several companies or decision-makers. Confirm who has the authority to approve promotional use.
Protect confidential material when using AI. Don't upload private scripts, audio, or project information into external AI tools without the client's authorization.
Treat social media as part of your professional reputation. Avoid sharing confidential details, complaining publicly about clients, or assuming private online conversations will remain private.
Make your marketing useful to the audience. Instead of simply announcing a booking, consider sharing the message, lesson, or value behind the project.
Think beyond your voiceover network. Present your work in ways that may interest potential clients and professional contacts outside the voice acting community.
Respect the client's ownership of finished content. Link to official releases when appropriate, and obtain permission before downloading, reposting, or using recordings in promotional materials.
Remember that trust is part of your service. Professional communication, reliability, confidentiality, and respect for clients can help build lasting working relationships.

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Tom Dheere Becomes Captain America: Anne celebrates Tom's new Marvel HQ voiceover role and introduces the conversation about sharing professional accomplishments responsibly.
02:06 – How Tom Booked the Marvel HQ Role: Tom explains how the opportunity came through his manager and shares details about the booking and remote recording.
04:30 – Leadership Lessons from Captain America: Exploring the animated video's message about leadership, communication, and trust.
05:56 – Understanding Voiceover NDAs: Why confidentiality agreements matter and how restrictions can vary between entertainment, corporate, and educational projects.
07:22 – The Risks of Sharing Confidential Work: Anne and Tom discuss how seemingly harmless social media posts can reveal information that clients expect to remain private.
10:16 – Social Media and Your Professional Reputation: Why the way voice actors discuss their work and clients online can affect future professional opportunities.
12:33 – When Can You Share a Released Project?: Understanding why a project's public release doesn't necessarily mean every detail can be shared.
16:42 – Protecting Confidential Scripts and Audio When Using AI: Anne explains why voice actors should be cautious about uploading private client materials into external AI tools.
17:26 – Getting Written Permission to Promote Your Work: Tom shares why he requested approval before promoting his Captain America role.
19:30 – Promoting Success Without Making It All About You: Considering how to celebrate a professional achievement while giving the audience something meaningful.
20:54 – Turning a Booking Into Helpful Content: Tom shares how he promoted an audiobook by focusing on useful information for his professional contacts.
25:28 – The Value You Bring Beyond Your Voice: Anne and Tom discuss why communication, professionalism, reliability, and client trust are important parts of a voice actor's service.
27:10 – Reaching Clients Beyond the Voiceover Community: Exploring how thoughtful social media content can connect with potential buyers and other professional audiences.
30:25 – Sharing Client-Owned Content Responsibly: Why voice actors should obtain permission before downloading, reposting, or reusing a client's finished production.
31:13 – Post Responsibly and Protect Client Trust: Anne and Tom close with practical reminders about confidentiality, thoughtful promotion, and professional relationships.

Listen to the Episode

Join Anne Ganguzza and Tom Dheere on the VO BOSS Podcast's Real BOSS Series for a conversation about Tom's Captain America voiceover role, navigating NDAs, sharing professional accomplishments, and using social media thoughtfully. Discover why protecting client relationships and promoting your work responsibly are essential parts of building a sustainable voiceover career.

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