Sometimes, the little wins matter most. Yesterday, I completed two Fiverr orders and received 5-star reviews for both. On the surface, they might not seem like a big deal — neither order paid much, and they weren’t for my main, general voiceover gig. But here’s why I think they’re worth celebrating:

Both came from specialized gigs I had created a long time ago but had almost given up on, since they’d barely gotten any impressions or clicks.

     - One was from my Commercial Voiceover gig — to specifically focus on clients looking for that kind of service (even though I already can and have done that kind of voiceover with my generic gig)

   -The other was from my Halloween Voiceover gig, where I get to use my creepy, spooky character voice. Originally, I promoted this for fun projects, like haunted house effects or Halloween parties. But this client used it in a totally different way: they had me record a promo for their horror book. That was a cool reminder that my skills can be applied far beyond what I first imagined. While the orders were small, I see them as tiny sparks of momentum.

Every 5-star review helps boost visibility in Fiverr’s algorithm, and I’m hoping these are signs that those specialized gigs might finally start to get pushed out in search results. And with more visibility comes the chance for more clients, more projects, and hopefully some bigger opportunities.

If you’ve been following my career, you know it’s been a rough stretch lately — slow progress, plenty of rejection, and moments of doubt. But sometimes, even the smallest wins can be a reminder that the work is out there, and that persistence pays off.

So here’s me, clinging to that little bit of hope. If you or anyone you know needs a voice — whether it’s for a commercial, an audiobook, a character, or something completely out of the box — I’d love to bring it to life.

Check out what I have to offer here:  https://www.markjohnbowen.com/voice-over.html

After all, even the tiniest sparks can light the way forward.

I’ll be honest: business has been slow lately. I’ve been grinding away on Fiverr, hoping to connect with more voiceover clients, and sometimes it feels like every inquiry is precious. But sometimes, the best business decision is the one where you walk away.

Recently, a potential client contacted me with a specific expectation: he wanted me to record live over Zoom, on his schedule, whenever he arranged it. Now, I don’t mind being flexible—I understand that some projects require live direction, and I’m happy to create custom offers for those situations.

The problem? He kept changing the times. He’d request that I block off a slot for him, only to not accept the custom offer… or stand me up. Then, instead of acknowledging that he had wasted my time, he’d just keep pestering me about when we could “try again.”

After multiple rounds of this, I realized something: this wasn’t a partnership. It was me being treated like an on-call employee for someone who didn’t value my time or effort. And that’s not why I became a freelancer.

So yes, I blocked him. Even in a dry spell where I’m craving more work, I have to remind myself that I chose this career because I wanted the freedom to work on my terms. I’ll gladly make exceptions for clients who respect my schedule, but it can’t be a one-way street where I’m expected to always bend to someone else’s whims.

At the end of the day, dignity matters more than one more frustrating “opportunity.”
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Because let’s be real: if I wanted to commit to working around someone else’s schedule, I’d still have a 9-to-5 job instead of pursuing my dreams as an actor and voiceover talent. And if I wanted to be hounded 24/7 with unreasonable demands from people who have no appreciation for me… I’d still be in teaching!!!

It’s been a long, stagnant stretch in my acting and voiceover career.

No bookings. No callbacks. Just an uncomfortable silence that’s been hard to shake.

I won’t sugarcoat it—this has taken a toll on my mental health. The depression has been heavy.

But this past week… something shifted, even if only slightly.

I had four self-tape auditions—three of them from my agent, which is huge because these were for projects you can’t just self-submit for. They were real opportunities, the kind that make you feel like you’re still in the game. Will anything come of them? Honestly, I don’t know. But it’s the first time in a long time I’ve felt the door crack open.
It’s not a “big break” yet. It’s not even a “small break.”
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But it’s movement. And for the first time in months, I’m allowing myself to hope that maybe this is the beginning of something turning around.

To my friends, family, and the few followers who’ve stuck with me through this: your encouragement matters more than you realize. Please keep cheering me on—I need it. This path can be brutal, but knowing people believe in me keeps me putting one foot in front of the other.
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Here’s to silver linings, however faint they might seem.