"How do I get into voice acting?" The mega-thread
Sept 24, 2017 2:09:57 GMT -8
sonicmega, James, and 24 more like this
Post by Lady Stardust ★ on Sept 24, 2017 2:09:57 GMT -8
“How do I get into voice acting?”
First off: There is no real definitive, simplified answer to “How do I break into voice acting?”
So you’ve been told you have a great voice for radio, or you can do impressions of a bunch of different cartoon characters…
Many people lead with this type of statement, because they’ve been told they have a great voice and they simply just need to be discovered! Now, these aren’t necessarily bad things, but let’s get something out of the way first and foremost: The most important part of voice acting is ACTING, and virtually any actor or teacher you talk to will tell you this. Having a good sounding and/or versatile voice is a bonus, but these are skills that can be honed over time---it’s most important to be able to portray characters believably and bring them life.
There's also a common myth that being able to do a bunch of impressions will make you a good voice actor. While impersonating existing characters can be a way to learn certain vocal placements and give you inspiration to create new voices, those characters are already voiced by existing actors. When you do an audition or go to a session, unless it's specifically for a voice matching job, you won't have an existing English voice to copy---you're going to have to bring a voice to that character yourself. Impressions have their own place as they can be a useful starting point for expanding your range (and after all, the best actors do "steal" inspiration a little bit from all sorts of different sources), and voice matching can be a useful niche skill, but these things should not be your first focus nor should they be something that you send out as a general-purpose voice reel.
Finally, many of the characters you will get cast as won’t be wacky voices---they will be real-sounding people in a range that’s already similar to yours, and plenty of times you’ll only be recording for a single character anyway. That’s not to say that it’s not worth expanding your range, because it most certainly is---but if you are new to voice acting, doing a lot of different voices should not be your first priority. Your main priorities should be learning how to act and taking direction. After you've got your foundations down, you can then work on becoming more and more versatile.
But how do I work on my acting?
How do I practice/start doing this as a hobby?
You’ll also want to download a copy of Audacity, which is free but a great all-purpose recording software. If you want to mix and master audio down the line, you might want something more fancy such as Adobe Audition, Reaper, or Twisted Wave, but for recording and basic editing, Audacity will do just fine.
Play around with the recordings. Learn where to set your input volume levels. Try recording various lines or pieces of scripts from whatever sources you can find, and just try to get comfortable with the process.
...Okay, I recorded my voice, but I hate the sound of it. Does that mean I’m not cut out for this?
Have no fear, it’s extremely common for people who aren’t used to hearing their voice recorded to feel appalled when hearing it played back. The best way to get over this is to just keep recording, listening and practicing! You’ll eventually get used to it as you’ll be spending a lot of time reviewing and editing your auditions and recordings.
There’s also a myth that if your natural voice sounds dull or not particularly pleasant to listen to, you’re not cut out for voiceover. But the reality is that people with all different voice types are able to make it into this field, even if there isn’t anything particularly “interesting” about their voices... as mentioned before, it’s more about bringing life to the copy than how the tone of your voice actually sounds.
Want your voice to instantly sound more professional? Try these two basic tips.
I like doing this experiment with people on panels, but you can do it on your own, too: Find a paragraph or two to read out loud (can be anything, such as a newspaper or instruction manual) and record a first pass the way you would normally talk. Then, record a second pass where you consciously slow down your pace a bit and enunciate clearly. Listen to them both side by side. See how much more professional you automatically sound just by making a couple adjustments? Now imagine what else you can do by constantly practicing reading out loud and recording.
Cold reading is an absolutely essential skill for voiceover.
We are spoiled in a sense that we don’t have to memorize lines like on-camera and stage actors do, but we have a different type of challenge to contend with: Most of the time, we don’t get scripts in advance to practice with. You go in, sometimes with no idea of what you’re even going to be recording, and have to read the lines off the page/screen in real-time. This involves quickly scanning for context and making a split-second decision about how you’re going to approach the line---you don’t have the time while you’re actually in the booth to study it over, and if you’re doing something like anime, you have the added difficulty of matching the timing, too!
Some people are naturally good at cold reading, but for most, this can be quite daunting, and the way to improve at it is simply by practicing. Read everything you can out loud---it can be a book, newspaper, or even an instruction manual. Don’t despair if you make a mistake; that’s natural and will happen to even the most experienced actors. Take a deep breath and start the sentence or paragraph over. Once you are comfortable with reading dry copy out loud, you can move onto more exciting stuff to test your acting abilities on the fly. Record yourself if possible so you can listen back and identify any bad habits you may have. If you have difficulty reading or pronouncing a lot of words, this is something that will need to be worked on. (Side note: If any voice actors reading this have dyslexia, I’d love to hear your input on how you deal with this in the booth as it’s something that gets asked from time to time. This also ties into the following point…)
Is a speech impediment or a strong foreign accent a huge roadblock for getting into voice work? What about physical or mental disabilities?
I’m not going to lie: Strong accents and speech impediments will be a hindrance. However, it doesn’t mean it’s impossible. There are speech therapists and dialect coaches who specialize in working with actors. And there are casting calls for characters that ask for AUTHENTIC foreign accents or regional dialects, so you may have some jobs where you get to use your regular voice! But most English-language voiceover jobs do tend to ask for neutral American or British accents, so those are good to learn to do if at all possible.
There are actors with various degrees of mental health issues, as well. Again, it can make things more difficult, but it’s certainly not impossible. If you have organizational issues, keeping a strict calendar, setting alarms, and double/triple checking session times and due dates will need to become routine. If you have social anxiety, give yourself buffer time whenever possible between engagements so that you don’t burn out. If you tend to lack tact or social awareness, you may want to ask a trusted friend to be candid with you about how you come across in e-mails or meetings so that you don’t unintentionally sabotage networking opportunities or give off bad first impressions. If you suffer from depression, you'll especially need to be prepared to find healthy ways to deal with rejection and jealousy (which are quite common in the entertainment business but can be even more difficult to deal with when you've got mental illness on top of it.)
Do I need a college education or degree to pursue voiceover?
Not necessarily. Skill is looked at much more than education; for instance, someone could have a degree in theatre and still have terrible auditions, or someone could have no formal training but still have amazing acting instincts. The quality of the acting in the audition tends to book the part as opposed to the talent's background.
If you do wish to pursue a degree in theatre, it can help you in the sense that the classes you take in pursuit of that degree will likely make you a better actor. But if you're not interested in theatre, it's wise to major in a field, even unrelated, that will get you a job where you can earn a living. As covered in other sections, it can be difficult to break into voiceover and especially earn a stable income, so having a "backup plan" can only help you. However, if you don't have the interest in going to college or cannot afford it, it's better not to rack up debt that you'll spend years trying to pay off. You can acquire a skill or trade that will help you land a "pay the bills" type of job in the meantime, or work in the hospitality industry. Once you're at the point of booking a fair amount of work but not enough to make it your full income, part-time jobs like retail or food service can actually be a good idea because the schedules are flexible enough that you won't be locked out of sessions and in-person auditions due to not being able to come in during business hours.
A lot of people ask if there is a "school for voice acting", but there isn't really such a thing in the United States. However, there are intensive workshops that can teach you about voiceover and will be helpful to put on your resume.
Am I too young or too old to pursue voiceover?
Generally, no! There are people of all ages, from children to the elderly, doing voiceover. Some people worry that because they didn't start when they were young, they missed out on a lot of opportunities, but there are plenty of people who decide to go into this field in their 30s, 40s, or even 50s! There are voice jobs out there for all age ranges, and it can help if you are that authentic age (as in, most people would prefer hiring an actual older man for an "old man" role rather than a young actor pushing his voice to try to sound old).
Don't get hung up on people much younger than you being successful---everyone moves at their own pace, and remember, it's always better to try now then to wait another ten years wondering "what if?"
If you are under 18, you can have an advantage in that many producers are looking to cast authentic children and teens. The flip side is that you may be limited from working certain jobs due to legal restrictions involved in hiring minors. But have no fear, you have plenty of time ahead of you!
About networking
Professional attitudes and etiquette
Voiceover is going to be a learning experience no matter what, and we all make mistakes. But keep in mind that you are not just an actor, you are a businessperson. When you start getting professional voice auditions and work, the following skills will be important:
Being humble and courteous are the key personality traits that a successful actor should have, as no one likes to deal with big egos, diva behavior, or rude attitudes. But keeping all the above in mind, remember that we are all unique people with our own quirks, and it’s okay to be your authentic self rather than a put-on “actor” persona. In addition to being skilled at your job, being great to work with will keep clients asking you back.
What about agents? Unions?
A demo reel is a voice actor’s most important marketing tool and is absolutely essential to success in this business.
Just like a film actor’s headshots or an artist’s portfolio, a voice actor’s demo reel is what potential clients will often use to get an idea of what they can do and whether or not they’d be a good fit for a given project. The two basic demos every actor needs are a character reel and a commercial reel, but more demos can be made later on to cover specific markets (narration, promo, video games, on-hold messaging, etc.) If you’re just looking to make a demo in the meantime for amateur/Internet projects, you can find some tips on making your own here, but if you wish to submit to actual studios or agencies once your career takes off, you’ll need to have a reel that is professionally produced and directed. I know it’s easy to get impatient and want to have your demo right away, but don’t rush to get a demo produced until you have had at least some formal training; you will only waste your money and potentially create a bad impression by sending out a demo that isn’t competitive. Also, demos aren’t cheap. Which brings us to…
You need to spend money in order to be able to make money.
Voiceover is a large financial investment, and there really isn’t any way around this. Some of the many expenses that go into being a voice actor include:
With all that in mind, please do not put yourself into debt trying to do this. Take care of yourself, your bills, and your family first---and then set aside what you can towards your voiceover goals. Even if that means you just have to put it on the back burner for a while and do it more as a hobby, the industry will still be there once you get back.
However, be careful with where you spend your money.
If an opportunity sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of any coach or teacher that promises you a spot on a casting roster or guarantees demo production after just a few weeks. A good teacher will be honest in their assessment of your skills and let you know if you aren’t yet ready for a demo---and while some do keep their students in mind for casting referrals, they won’t promise you auditions or work. Research credentials and read testimonials of others who have taken the class, or ask your other actor friends in the area for recommendations on who to study with. If you’re new to voice acting, it’s a better financial investment for you to start off by taking group classes and then work with a private coach to refine the areas you need to work on. And whatever you do, don't fall for one of those scam sites that claim you can make a ton of money by recording your voice from home if you just make a "one-time investment" in their specific online course. Trust your gut when it comes to these things---if an opportunity seems too good to be true, it probably is.
More about finances
On the surface, voiceover jobs seem like they pay very well, and it is true that some people are able to make a decent or even handsome living doing this job. But there’s no true estimate of how long that’s going to take---there are people who manage to make a full-time income doing voice acting after merely a year, while others work for ten years and still are not able to use it as their primary source of income.
One of the key things to keep in mind is that unlike a traditional job where you are hired by a company as an employee and go to work every day, voice acting is a freelance job and there is virtually no job security. You may have contracts with different clients or studios for ongoing projects, but those aren’t going to last forever, and you’ll need to know where your next job is going to come from afterwards. Slow periods can cause anxiety in even those with otherwise very steady careers.
Another important thing to note: at least in the United States, you as an actor are considered an “independent contractor” rather than an employee, meaning that (at least for non-union jobs) taxes don’t get taken out of your paycheck and you’re responsible for paying them yourself every year. It can be a rude awakening to have a very good year in voice work only to find yourself suddenly owing thousands of dollars in taxes! Actors often keep meticulous records of any career-related expenses in hopes of mitigating some of the extremely high self-employment tax rates.
It’s been said by many professionals: if there’s any other field you’d be happy working in, go into that field instead.
That doesn’t mean you can’t still voice act as a hobby! It simply means that if you're not 100% sure this is what you want to do with your life, it’s better to focus on having stable employment and maybe pursue voice acting on the side, unless you simply can’t imagine yourself being fulfilled doing any other career whatsoever. And even if that’s the case, do be prepared with a backup plan. Many actors (voice, stage, and on-camera) make ends meet when starting out by working jobs with flexible schedules such as serving, bartending, and retail.
I see many people who don't understand how difficult it is to get into this industry say things like "maybe I'd like to dabble in voice acting on the side to make some extra cash!" without realizing what an investment and commitment they'd actually have to make to get to that point. The harsh reality for those who think that way is that if you aren't willing to put the work, time and money in, don't bother---there are thousands of others jumping at the chance to get their foot in the door and who are willing to do whatever it takes. With the industry already being oversaturated with new and existing talent, voice acting is no longer a niche job and the people who are going to work for money are the ones who really work hard and commit to it. If this isn't you, voice act for fun in online/hobby projects instead.
If you want to do things like anime, Western cartoons, and video games, living where the work is is mandatory.
The majority of the voiceover work in North America is done in the Los Angeles area. This includes most video games, a good amount of anime, and most pre-lay animation. There is also, of course, pretty much every other type of voiceover there too such as commercial and promo work, ADR for movies, documentary narration, and so on.
If you are looking to do anime specifically, Texas may be a good option as the cost of living is cheaper than LA and there are plenty of shows recorded in the Dallas area (Funimation) and Houston area (Sentai). Keep in mind however that the rates for anime are lower than for other types of voice work, so it is going to be difficult to make this a full time career if you just want to do anime. Many voice actors who live in Texas also do writing and directing to supplement their income. It is also important to keep in mind that there is no guarantee you will get in with either of these companies just because you happen to move to the target market.
A handful of animation work is recorded in Vancouver, British Columbia, but unless you are already a Canadian citizen, looking for voice work in the United States is probably going to be a better option. I believe there is also some work in London for those who are currently UK citizens.
Most other major cities will have some type of commercial work available, even if character work is scarce. There are agencies in places like Seattle, New York City, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and Atlanta that handle things like commercial and promo voice work, and (very occasionally) some video games. If you live near one of these markets, it might be good to see about starting off in that scene first and getting some real-world experience before taking a big plunge and moving somewhere like Los Angeles.
It’s true that a lot of voice work is being done remotely now, but that rarely happens for big video games (indie and certain mobile games aside) and especially not for anime. The clients and director want to be in the room with the talent, they want everyone recorded on the same mics and in the same studio space, and for anime in particular where everything needs to be synced precisely to picture, it is extremely difficult to do remotely. Plus, keep in mind that outsourcing to studios in other locations usually means additional costs for studio time and engineering, plus the hassle of scheduling out-of-town talent. Even if people are willing to fly in on their own dime, scheduling is often done very last-minute and projects are on tight deadlines, so they can’t risk the potential of someone having a missed or delayed flight or their character coming back way down the line and them not being able to fly out again. Also, the timeline for recording a series could mean you'd be flying out every couple weeks to record one or two sessions and then flying back, which just isn't practical for most people.
It is very rare that exceptions will be made to this, and if an exception is made, it’s usually for a prominent actor who has already made the right connections to even be considered in those circumstances. For instance, you may see actors who fly between California and Texas for work but that is usually because they got established in one of those places, moved, and then come back occasionally to do work for repeat clients whom they have already proven themselves with. Even if you say "but SourceConnect and ISDN exist!", it's a needless hassle on the studio's end when they could simply bring in one of the hundreds of actors who are already local.
But remember, don't get too hung up on just wanting to do anime---and remember that not all the work you do is going to be glamorous.
Thanks to the extreme popularity of anime, many people are introduced to the world of voice acting, hearing their favorite dub actors and thinking it's something they'd like to do themselves. Maybe they attend a convention where a voice actor gives a talk about their career and think it seems like the ideal dream job.
Anime can certainly be a fun and rewarding part of the industry to work in, but it's only a small portion of the type of work that's out there. There are a couple caveats, mainly being that the standard rates for anime/dubbing are lower than practically everything else, and it requires an extremely technical skill set and ability to multitask (you have to look at both the script and the video essentially at the same time, make the line match the picture, say the line correctly AND act all at once!) And if part of your desire to do anime is because you want to make it "more true to the original Japanese version", the reality is that just like with most media, the voice actors have very little control over those choices. Your work is going to be subject to approval by the director and client, the script is already translated and adapted, and sorry, but you're not going to have a say in how the names are pronounced or what direction they want to take the character in. If things like that are your focus, going into localization or script adaptation might be a better option for you. tl;dr: Wanting to do voice acting for anime is fine, but don't make it the only thing you want to do.
The fact is, not all jobs you do are going to be fun or fulfilling. For every session where you get to have a blast yelling out attacks as a video game character, you might be spending hours on dry narration for corporate training videos, reading lines in poorly written English for children's e-books, or doing 50 different takes of the same line for a commercial. But being open to all different types of work is important because it's very difficult to make money doing only one facet of voiceover. The wider and more adaptable your skillset, the better.
If I want to work from home in the meantime, are pay-to-play sites legit/a good option?
If you’ve spent any time researching how to get started in voiceover, you’ve probably come across people talking about sites such as Voice123, Voices dot com, etc. How these sites work is that you pay a (monthly or yearly) membership fee to be able to access the auditions on these sites. Once you’ve paid your fee, you can see and submit yourself for these auditions by recording and submitting your mp3s from your home studio. You can also build a profile for yourself which theoretically can help clients request you for bookings.
Now, there are pros and cons to pay to play sites. I will discuss both of those here in the most unbiased way possible so that you can make your own informed decision about whether or not you want to use p2p as an avenue to pursue voiceover. P2P sites are not a scam, but they are also not a “get rich quick” plan and the people who do make a good living from them also have to put in a lot of work in order to be able to do so.
The pros:
The cons:
If you’re interested in researching more about the pros and cons of p2p sites, there’s plenty out there on the web that covers these topics in detail.
How much money do people make doing voice acting?
That all depends significantly on how much you are working and what type of work you are doing. There are industry standard rates for certain types of projects that are done in-studio, but especially when you get into freelance work from home, the rates vary widely. As mentioned before, you could work on a job with a great hourly rate but if you only record for 2-4 hours on that project and then don't find work for another few weeks, you're going to have to budget your spending accordingly. Similarly, if you're doing lower paying jobs but are working consistently nearly every day, you might make pretty good money. Because you're not working a set number of hours each week or days each month, the amount you make varies based not only on each project's pay rate (usually paid by the hour) but how much/often you are booking work.
Some people make fantastic livings doing voiceover, buying houses and supporting families. Some struggle and barely make anything, so they continue having day jobs. Many people are somewhere in between, making decent money doing voiceover but also doing part-time jobs or other freelance work until they are able to support themselves regularly.
What other ways do people find work?
There are many avenues of finding voice work and I like to consider it a "snowball effect": it's very hard to get that ball rolling initially, but as you build up more and more connections, that snowball gets bigger and bigger. Ideally, you want to have a wide variety of sources for work and auditions to come in from because it, quite simply, ups your chances of booking more. Some of the ways voice actors find work include, but are not limited to:
Okay, I read through all this and to be honest, it sounds pretty discouraging. Is it really worth pursuing this?
If it’s something you love...then absolutely yes! This guide isn’t meant to be pessimistic; it’s meant to show the realities of what it actually takes to make a living doing voiceover. It’s easy for people to say “Pursue your dreams!”...but I’m saying “Pursue your dreams, just be smart about doing so.” And remember, even if you decide not to pursue VO as your main career avenue, you can always do it for fun online via sites such as this.
Best of luck in your endeavors, and please feel free to post tips and questions here for other members of the community to weigh in on! Also, please check out the Help, Tips and Advice board for more guides and answers to questions you may have.
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All of the guides and resources on this forum are provided on a volunteer basis. However, if you find them helpful, please consider buying me a coffee!
It’s the question that’s most asked of any working voiceover actor on podcasts, panels, interviews, or even by random strangers or friends of family members. As voice actors - and by extension, the voice acting profession - have gained more notice and prominence especially in media such as video games and anime, many people are interested in what they can do themselves to get into this career.
Please keep in mind that everyone's journey and experience is different. Also note that this is written primarily from my own perspective (seeing as I get asked questions about this on an extremely frequent basis) and from what I’ve heard over the years talking to many others, but there are other voice talents who have more experience in the business who may tell you different things---so it’s worth reading up on everything you can about the subject if this is something you’re serious about. Please feel free to add any additional tips or information in the comments below so that we may continue to build a database of resources!
**Recommended supplemental reading / things for you to bookmark later**
In addition to this guide, I recommend looking into the above resources as well so that you can hear other industry professionals' viewpoints on the subject. You'll notice a few differences here and there, but you'll also start to notice a lot of common themes in all of our answers. With that said...let's get started!
First off: There is no real definitive, simplified answer to “How do I break into voice acting?”
Many people ask this question expecting some sort of magic, catch-all answer...but the reality is, everyone’s path is extremely different. It's true that "luck" and "knowing the right people" do play a part to an extent, but you also must be a skilled and trained actor. There's not some easy shortcut one can take to get themselves into the business immediately, especially given how saturated and competitive the market currently is.
Some actors come from an on-camera or theatre background. Some come from radio, music, or TV broadcasting. Others know they want to get into voice acting specifically and may start by doing hobby work and indie projects online, working with VO coaches, and submitting their demo to studios and production companies. There are so many different paths and variables, but the only thing you are fully in control of is you.
What this means is that breaking into voiceover requires you to be proactive. Most of the time, you can’t just sit back and let the work come to you...you must be skilled and prepared as well as willing to hustle and market yourself. Being a voice actor is much, much more than just getting "paid to talk". Just like being a musician or artist or any other freelance career, it's not a quick and easy way to rake in cash---you have to build a business from the ground up.
So you’ve been told you have a great voice for radio, or you can do impressions of a bunch of different cartoon characters…
Many people lead with this type of statement, because they’ve been told they have a great voice and they simply just need to be discovered! Now, these aren’t necessarily bad things, but let’s get something out of the way first and foremost: The most important part of voice acting is ACTING, and virtually any actor or teacher you talk to will tell you this. Having a good sounding and/or versatile voice is a bonus, but these are skills that can be honed over time---it’s most important to be able to portray characters believably and bring them life.
There's also a common myth that being able to do a bunch of impressions will make you a good voice actor. While impersonating existing characters can be a way to learn certain vocal placements and give you inspiration to create new voices, those characters are already voiced by existing actors. When you do an audition or go to a session, unless it's specifically for a voice matching job, you won't have an existing English voice to copy---you're going to have to bring a voice to that character yourself. Impressions have their own place as they can be a useful starting point for expanding your range (and after all, the best actors do "steal" inspiration a little bit from all sorts of different sources), and voice matching can be a useful niche skill, but these things should not be your first focus nor should they be something that you send out as a general-purpose voice reel.
Finally, many of the characters you will get cast as won’t be wacky voices---they will be real-sounding people in a range that’s already similar to yours, and plenty of times you’ll only be recording for a single character anyway. That’s not to say that it’s not worth expanding your range, because it most certainly is---but if you are new to voice acting, doing a lot of different voices should not be your first priority. Your main priorities should be learning how to act and taking direction. After you've got your foundations down, you can then work on becoming more and more versatile.
But how do I work on my acting?
The most important step that any professional will give aspiring actors is to take classes. If you don’t live in an area that offers voiceover-specific workshops, fear not---there are coaches and studios who offer online workshops, OR you can simply take a community theatre or school acting class. Even if you’re in a class that’s focused on acting for stage or film, many of the same principles apply---getting into the character’s head and giving a performance that brings out what the creator or director envisioned. No one is “too good” to learn---even regularly working pros still take classes to improve their skills. Even if you have some experience or think you know a good deal about voiceover already, leave your ego at the door and do your best to listen and learn in every way possible. Our Discord server is also a great resource for asking questions and getting feedback (read the rules upon joining, please!).
And of course, I highly recommend starting out by doing voice acting online as a hobby, even if it’s just ”for exposure” when you’re a beginner.
How do I practice/start doing this as a hobby?
One of the first things you’ll need to do is get yourself a decent microphone for your computer. If you aren’t very experienced with audio tech, a USB condenser microphone will be the simplest option for you. (Examples of this include, but are not limited to, the Samson C01U, Blue Yeti, or the AT2020 USB---but check out our Technical Guides or ask for personalized recommendations in the #audio-and-tech channel on our Discord server.) You can always upgrade your setup later (XLR + interface) if you start consistently doing professional voice recordings from home, but a USB condenser is for all intents and purposes fine for beginners when doing online voice acting especially in hobby communities. Do NOT use a headset mic or karaoke-style mic, your phone, or heaven forbid, a built-in laptop/webcam mic. Headset mics work fine for gaming and Skype calls, but they are terrible for voiceover. And while karaoke mics may work fine for live performances, any mic you plug directly into the computer’s audio jack (rather than a USB port or preamp/interface) is probably not going to sound very high quality when recorded.
You’ll also want to download a copy of Audacity, which is free but a great all-purpose recording software. If you want to mix and master audio down the line, you might want something more fancy such as Adobe Audition, Reaper, or Twisted Wave, but for recording and basic editing, Audacity will do just fine.
Play around with the recordings. Learn where to set your input volume levels. Try recording various lines or pieces of scripts from whatever sources you can find, and just try to get comfortable with the process.
...Okay, I recorded my voice, but I hate the sound of it. Does that mean I’m not cut out for this?
Have no fear, it’s extremely common for people who aren’t used to hearing their voice recorded to feel appalled when hearing it played back. The best way to get over this is to just keep recording, listening and practicing! You’ll eventually get used to it as you’ll be spending a lot of time reviewing and editing your auditions and recordings.
There’s also a myth that if your natural voice sounds dull or not particularly pleasant to listen to, you’re not cut out for voiceover. But the reality is that people with all different voice types are able to make it into this field, even if there isn’t anything particularly “interesting” about their voices... as mentioned before, it’s more about bringing life to the copy than how the tone of your voice actually sounds.
Want your voice to instantly sound more professional? Try these two basic tips.
- Slow down. When we get nervous, we tend to speed up our words without realizing it. It’s not a big deal when you’re just talking to someone in real life, but when you’re reading a script, going too fast (unless the direction specifically calls for it) makes it easy to stumble and trip over your words, which can be frustrating when trying to record. You still want the pace to be natural and conversational rather than painstakingly slow, but chances are you’re actually talking faster than you think you are. If nothing else, slowing down will help you not "trip on" the copy and allow you to speak more quickly and comfortably on your next readthrough.
- Enunciate your words. When we talk in everyday conversation, it’s easy to get lazy with our speech because after all, people can usually still understand us. But when someone is watching or listening to media, they want to be able to hear what is said without having to hit rewind because the person was mumbling or slurring their words. You don’t want to sound like a robot or otherwise unnatural, but focus on articulating your words clearly and properly and you'll be surprised how much more professional your recorded speech immediately sounds.
I like doing this experiment with people on panels, but you can do it on your own, too: Find a paragraph or two to read out loud (can be anything, such as a newspaper or instruction manual) and record a first pass the way you would normally talk. Then, record a second pass where you consciously slow down your pace a bit and enunciate clearly. Listen to them both side by side. See how much more professional you automatically sound just by making a couple adjustments? Now imagine what else you can do by constantly practicing reading out loud and recording.
Cold reading is an absolutely essential skill for voiceover.
We are spoiled in a sense that we don’t have to memorize lines like on-camera and stage actors do, but we have a different type of challenge to contend with: Most of the time, we don’t get scripts in advance to practice with. You go in, sometimes with no idea of what you’re even going to be recording, and have to read the lines off the page/screen in real-time. This involves quickly scanning for context and making a split-second decision about how you’re going to approach the line---you don’t have the time while you’re actually in the booth to study it over, and if you’re doing something like anime, you have the added difficulty of matching the timing, too!
Some people are naturally good at cold reading, but for most, this can be quite daunting, and the way to improve at it is simply by practicing. Read everything you can out loud---it can be a book, newspaper, or even an instruction manual. Don’t despair if you make a mistake; that’s natural and will happen to even the most experienced actors. Take a deep breath and start the sentence or paragraph over. Once you are comfortable with reading dry copy out loud, you can move onto more exciting stuff to test your acting abilities on the fly. Record yourself if possible so you can listen back and identify any bad habits you may have. If you have difficulty reading or pronouncing a lot of words, this is something that will need to be worked on. (Side note: If any voice actors reading this have dyslexia, I’d love to hear your input on how you deal with this in the booth as it’s something that gets asked from time to time. This also ties into the following point…)
Is a speech impediment or a strong foreign accent a huge roadblock for getting into voice work? What about physical or mental disabilities?
I’m not going to lie: Strong accents and speech impediments will be a hindrance. However, it doesn’t mean it’s impossible. There are speech therapists and dialect coaches who specialize in working with actors. And there are casting calls for characters that ask for AUTHENTIC foreign accents or regional dialects, so you may have some jobs where you get to use your regular voice! But most English-language voiceover jobs do tend to ask for neutral American or British accents, so those are good to learn to do if at all possible.
In terms of physical disabilities and challenges: Studios should generally be able to make reasonable accommodations---for example, most booths are large enough to fit a wheelchair. Many studios will have a chair or stool available if you have a condition that prevents you from standing for long periods of time. A lot of scripts are digital now, meaning there is a screen in front of you in the booth and they can magnify the text for you if need be. I’ve even heard of actors reading scripts in Braille! Hearing impairments will make this job more difficult as it does require a lot of listening-based skills, but if it’s something as simple as needing the volume turned up because you’re a little hard of hearing, it shouldn’t be a problem. If you're worried about accessibility, simply e-mail the studio or your agent in advance so that they can be aware of any special accommodations you may need.
There are actors with various degrees of mental health issues, as well. Again, it can make things more difficult, but it’s certainly not impossible. If you have organizational issues, keeping a strict calendar, setting alarms, and double/triple checking session times and due dates will need to become routine. If you have social anxiety, give yourself buffer time whenever possible between engagements so that you don’t burn out. If you tend to lack tact or social awareness, you may want to ask a trusted friend to be candid with you about how you come across in e-mails or meetings so that you don’t unintentionally sabotage networking opportunities or give off bad first impressions. If you suffer from depression, you'll especially need to be prepared to find healthy ways to deal with rejection and jealousy (which are quite common in the entertainment business but can be even more difficult to deal with when you've got mental illness on top of it.)
Do I need a college education or degree to pursue voiceover?
Not necessarily. Skill is looked at much more than education; for instance, someone could have a degree in theatre and still have terrible auditions, or someone could have no formal training but still have amazing acting instincts. The quality of the acting in the audition tends to book the part as opposed to the talent's background.
If you do wish to pursue a degree in theatre, it can help you in the sense that the classes you take in pursuit of that degree will likely make you a better actor. But if you're not interested in theatre, it's wise to major in a field, even unrelated, that will get you a job where you can earn a living. As covered in other sections, it can be difficult to break into voiceover and especially earn a stable income, so having a "backup plan" can only help you. However, if you don't have the interest in going to college or cannot afford it, it's better not to rack up debt that you'll spend years trying to pay off. You can acquire a skill or trade that will help you land a "pay the bills" type of job in the meantime, or work in the hospitality industry. Once you're at the point of booking a fair amount of work but not enough to make it your full income, part-time jobs like retail or food service can actually be a good idea because the schedules are flexible enough that you won't be locked out of sessions and in-person auditions due to not being able to come in during business hours.
A lot of people ask if there is a "school for voice acting", but there isn't really such a thing in the United States. However, there are intensive workshops that can teach you about voiceover and will be helpful to put on your resume.
Am I too young or too old to pursue voiceover?
Generally, no! There are people of all ages, from children to the elderly, doing voiceover. Some people worry that because they didn't start when they were young, they missed out on a lot of opportunities, but there are plenty of people who decide to go into this field in their 30s, 40s, or even 50s! There are voice jobs out there for all age ranges, and it can help if you are that authentic age (as in, most people would prefer hiring an actual older man for an "old man" role rather than a young actor pushing his voice to try to sound old).
Don't get hung up on people much younger than you being successful---everyone moves at their own pace, and remember, it's always better to try now then to wait another ten years wondering "what if?"
If you are under 18, you can have an advantage in that many producers are looking to cast authentic children and teens. The flip side is that you may be limited from working certain jobs due to legal restrictions involved in hiring minors. But have no fear, you have plenty of time ahead of you!
About networking
Unfortunately, as much as talent is important, many voiceover opportunities come to talented actors by way of being connected with people in the industry---such as other actors, casting directors, engineers, voice coaches, etc. Friendships and business connections should happen naturally. It’s okay to introduce yourself to people or even send cold emails (avoid unsolicited phone calls), but always be polite and non-intrusive. Do not attempt to forge a “friendship” with someone for the sole purpose of hoping they’ll cast you in something or recommend you to a studio, or send a Facebook message to another actor you don’t know asking them to do you a favor. People who have been in the business long enough can sense this a mile away, and it comes across as rude to only communicate with people in hopes they can do something for you. Many connections will simply be formed over time by people you happen to work with and/or hang out with, and if it’s meant to be, it will happen.
When it comes to reaching out to actors who are much more established than you for advice or guidance, please remember that you are asking them to take time out of their workday to answer questions that they probably get asked on a constant basis. While many of them will be happy to help where they can, please remember the following:
1. Do your own research first. Don't reach out to an established actor asking "How do I get into the business?" or "How do I get an agent?" or "How do I make a demo?" There are many guides available on these topics, including here on this forum (or even via a simple Google search). People will be much more willing to help you if you've already done your homework.
2. Be specific in your questions. "Do you have any tips for a new actor?" can be a little too broad. A lot goes into acting technique, and there are many classes on the subject. If your question requires an essay to answer, people may put off responding to you.
3. Think about why you are reaching out to that specific person for help. Does your question require an answer from them specifically? If not, try asking in our Discord server or here on the boards, where people who have a free moment will be able to give you a quicker answer.
4. Always thank the person for taking the time to respond and be gracious when accepting the advice given to you.
Professional attitudes and etiquette
Voiceover is going to be a learning experience no matter what, and we all make mistakes. But keep in mind that you are not just an actor, you are a businessperson. When you start getting professional voice auditions and work, the following skills will be important:
- E-mail communication (as in, a business e-mail you write to a casting director is going to look different than a text you send to your friend)
- Prompt responses to e-mails and phone calls (check multiple times a day)
- Ability to organize and keep track of your schedule and availability (try Google Calendar)
- Being courteous, prompt, and directable
- Keeping project and client information confidential when under NDA, including on social media
- Limiting followups and unnecessary e-mails to a reasonable amount so as not to be annoying or off-putting
- Submitting auditions and work (if working from home) by or before deadline
- Exhibiting grace and good sportsmanship even when disappointments occur, such as losing out on a role you really wanted
- Reasonably professional demeanor when interacting with others in the industry (as in, not acting like a total fanboy/fangirl when meeting other actors and directors---it’s okay to admire and compliment others, but just like in dating, appearing too desperate or over-eager is a turnoff!)
Being humble and courteous are the key personality traits that a successful actor should have, as no one likes to deal with big egos, diva behavior, or rude attitudes. But keeping all the above in mind, remember that we are all unique people with our own quirks, and it’s okay to be your authentic self rather than a put-on “actor” persona. In addition to being skilled at your job, being great to work with will keep clients asking you back.
What about agents? Unions?
If you are just starting out, it is too early in your career to even be worrying about these things. Many actors do not get an agent and/or join SAG until they are well into their careers and already have some experience. If you’re not sure whether you’re ready to submit to agencies and studios, ask a trusted teacher or mentor. You don’t want to risk jeopardizing your career by sending amateur materials.
Once you have professionally produced demo reels and a resume with some type of experience and training, you can start by attempting to submit to an agency in your local market. Keep in mind that an agent isn't going to magically get you tons of work---they are only one piece of the puzzle. (See our guide on agents for more info.) Most agents deal primarily in commercial work, so it's good to have at least some type of commercial training before you even think about submitting.
A demo reel is a voice actor’s most important marketing tool and is absolutely essential to success in this business.
Just like a film actor’s headshots or an artist’s portfolio, a voice actor’s demo reel is what potential clients will often use to get an idea of what they can do and whether or not they’d be a good fit for a given project. The two basic demos every actor needs are a character reel and a commercial reel, but more demos can be made later on to cover specific markets (narration, promo, video games, on-hold messaging, etc.) If you’re just looking to make a demo in the meantime for amateur/Internet projects, you can find some tips on making your own here, but if you wish to submit to actual studios or agencies once your career takes off, you’ll need to have a reel that is professionally produced and directed. I know it’s easy to get impatient and want to have your demo right away, but don’t rush to get a demo produced until you have had at least some formal training; you will only waste your money and potentially create a bad impression by sending out a demo that isn’t competitive. Also, demos aren’t cheap. Which brings us to…
You need to spend money in order to be able to make money.
Voiceover is a large financial investment, and there really isn’t any way around this. Some of the many expenses that go into being a voice actor include:
- Recording hardware and software (microphone, preamp/interface, headphones, a good computer, pop filter, stand/shock mount, cables, etc.)
- Home studio/recording space (This can be anything from as simple as hanging blankets up, to as advanced as building a full booth. Pre-made booths are available but extremely expensive and should mainly be considered if you are doing a significant amount of recording from home which requires broadcast quality. There are also less expensive DIY options which can be found on YouTube and Google.)
- Marketing materials (demo reels, website, business cards, etc.)
- Classes, workouts, and private coaching
- Gas/transit/vehicle expenses involved in commuting to studios for jobs, workshops, etc.
- Moving to/living where the work is, and the financial sacrifices made in order to do so
- The incredibly high tax rates that freelancers are required to pay (more about that in a subsequent section of this guide)
With all that in mind, please do not put yourself into debt trying to do this. Take care of yourself, your bills, and your family first---and then set aside what you can towards your voiceover goals. Even if that means you just have to put it on the back burner for a while and do it more as a hobby, the industry will still be there once you get back.
However, be careful with where you spend your money.
If an opportunity sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of any coach or teacher that promises you a spot on a casting roster or guarantees demo production after just a few weeks. A good teacher will be honest in their assessment of your skills and let you know if you aren’t yet ready for a demo---and while some do keep their students in mind for casting referrals, they won’t promise you auditions or work. Research credentials and read testimonials of others who have taken the class, or ask your other actor friends in the area for recommendations on who to study with. If you’re new to voice acting, it’s a better financial investment for you to start off by taking group classes and then work with a private coach to refine the areas you need to work on. And whatever you do, don't fall for one of those scam sites that claim you can make a ton of money by recording your voice from home if you just make a "one-time investment" in their specific online course. Trust your gut when it comes to these things---if an opportunity seems too good to be true, it probably is.
More about finances
On the surface, voiceover jobs seem like they pay very well, and it is true that some people are able to make a decent or even handsome living doing this job. But there’s no true estimate of how long that’s going to take---there are people who manage to make a full-time income doing voice acting after merely a year, while others work for ten years and still are not able to use it as their primary source of income.
One of the key things to keep in mind is that unlike a traditional job where you are hired by a company as an employee and go to work every day, voice acting is a freelance job and there is virtually no job security. You may have contracts with different clients or studios for ongoing projects, but those aren’t going to last forever, and you’ll need to know where your next job is going to come from afterwards. Slow periods can cause anxiety in even those with otherwise very steady careers.
Another important thing to note: at least in the United States, you as an actor are considered an “independent contractor” rather than an employee, meaning that (at least for non-union jobs) taxes don’t get taken out of your paycheck and you’re responsible for paying them yourself every year. It can be a rude awakening to have a very good year in voice work only to find yourself suddenly owing thousands of dollars in taxes! Actors often keep meticulous records of any career-related expenses in hopes of mitigating some of the extremely high self-employment tax rates.
It’s been said by many professionals: if there’s any other field you’d be happy working in, go into that field instead.
That doesn’t mean you can’t still voice act as a hobby! It simply means that if you're not 100% sure this is what you want to do with your life, it’s better to focus on having stable employment and maybe pursue voice acting on the side, unless you simply can’t imagine yourself being fulfilled doing any other career whatsoever. And even if that’s the case, do be prepared with a backup plan. Many actors (voice, stage, and on-camera) make ends meet when starting out by working jobs with flexible schedules such as serving, bartending, and retail.
I see many people who don't understand how difficult it is to get into this industry say things like "maybe I'd like to dabble in voice acting on the side to make some extra cash!" without realizing what an investment and commitment they'd actually have to make to get to that point. The harsh reality for those who think that way is that if you aren't willing to put the work, time and money in, don't bother---there are thousands of others jumping at the chance to get their foot in the door and who are willing to do whatever it takes. With the industry already being oversaturated with new and existing talent, voice acting is no longer a niche job and the people who are going to work for money are the ones who really work hard and commit to it. If this isn't you, voice act for fun in online/hobby projects instead.
If you want to do things like anime, Western cartoons, and video games, living where the work is is mandatory.
The majority of the voiceover work in North America is done in the Los Angeles area. This includes most video games, a good amount of anime, and most pre-lay animation. There is also, of course, pretty much every other type of voiceover there too such as commercial and promo work, ADR for movies, documentary narration, and so on.
If you are looking to do anime specifically, Texas may be a good option as the cost of living is cheaper than LA and there are plenty of shows recorded in the Dallas area (Funimation) and Houston area (Sentai). Keep in mind however that the rates for anime are lower than for other types of voice work, so it is going to be difficult to make this a full time career if you just want to do anime. Many voice actors who live in Texas also do writing and directing to supplement their income. It is also important to keep in mind that there is no guarantee you will get in with either of these companies just because you happen to move to the target market.
A handful of animation work is recorded in Vancouver, British Columbia, but unless you are already a Canadian citizen, looking for voice work in the United States is probably going to be a better option. I believe there is also some work in London for those who are currently UK citizens.
Most other major cities will have some type of commercial work available, even if character work is scarce. There are agencies in places like Seattle, New York City, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and Atlanta that handle things like commercial and promo voice work, and (very occasionally) some video games. If you live near one of these markets, it might be good to see about starting off in that scene first and getting some real-world experience before taking a big plunge and moving somewhere like Los Angeles.
It’s true that a lot of voice work is being done remotely now, but that rarely happens for big video games (indie and certain mobile games aside) and especially not for anime. The clients and director want to be in the room with the talent, they want everyone recorded on the same mics and in the same studio space, and for anime in particular where everything needs to be synced precisely to picture, it is extremely difficult to do remotely. Plus, keep in mind that outsourcing to studios in other locations usually means additional costs for studio time and engineering, plus the hassle of scheduling out-of-town talent. Even if people are willing to fly in on their own dime, scheduling is often done very last-minute and projects are on tight deadlines, so they can’t risk the potential of someone having a missed or delayed flight or their character coming back way down the line and them not being able to fly out again. Also, the timeline for recording a series could mean you'd be flying out every couple weeks to record one or two sessions and then flying back, which just isn't practical for most people.
It is very rare that exceptions will be made to this, and if an exception is made, it’s usually for a prominent actor who has already made the right connections to even be considered in those circumstances. For instance, you may see actors who fly between California and Texas for work but that is usually because they got established in one of those places, moved, and then come back occasionally to do work for repeat clients whom they have already proven themselves with. Even if you say "but SourceConnect and ISDN exist!", it's a needless hassle on the studio's end when they could simply bring in one of the hundreds of actors who are already local.
That being said, don’t move before you are ready. The cost of living in a major market is very high, and many people burn through their savings and feel increasingly discouraged because of how long it can take to make things happen. If you have no real voiceover experience, it’s best to do what you can from home and in your current location (even if work is scarce) until you build up experience, make connections, and have a game plan for how you are going to make money in the meantime. Be prepared for it to take at least a year to get your foot in the door, and five years to be working on a consistent basis in that market. These timelines of course vary from person to person and may be longer or shorter, but many people do not realize how long it can actually take to get “in” with places, and that it usually doesn’t happen overnight. If you're not an American citizen, there is the major added hurdle and expense of dealing with getting a work visa.
But remember, don't get too hung up on just wanting to do anime---and remember that not all the work you do is going to be glamorous.
Thanks to the extreme popularity of anime, many people are introduced to the world of voice acting, hearing their favorite dub actors and thinking it's something they'd like to do themselves. Maybe they attend a convention where a voice actor gives a talk about their career and think it seems like the ideal dream job.
Anime can certainly be a fun and rewarding part of the industry to work in, but it's only a small portion of the type of work that's out there. There are a couple caveats, mainly being that the standard rates for anime/dubbing are lower than practically everything else, and it requires an extremely technical skill set and ability to multitask (you have to look at both the script and the video essentially at the same time, make the line match the picture, say the line correctly AND act all at once!) And if part of your desire to do anime is because you want to make it "more true to the original Japanese version", the reality is that just like with most media, the voice actors have very little control over those choices. Your work is going to be subject to approval by the director and client, the script is already translated and adapted, and sorry, but you're not going to have a say in how the names are pronounced or what direction they want to take the character in. If things like that are your focus, going into localization or script adaptation might be a better option for you. tl;dr: Wanting to do voice acting for anime is fine, but don't make it the only thing you want to do.
The fact is, not all jobs you do are going to be fun or fulfilling. For every session where you get to have a blast yelling out attacks as a video game character, you might be spending hours on dry narration for corporate training videos, reading lines in poorly written English for children's e-books, or doing 50 different takes of the same line for a commercial. But being open to all different types of work is important because it's very difficult to make money doing only one facet of voiceover. The wider and more adaptable your skillset, the better.
If I want to work from home in the meantime, are pay-to-play sites legit/a good option?
If you’ve spent any time researching how to get started in voiceover, you’ve probably come across people talking about sites such as Voice123, Voices dot com, etc. How these sites work is that you pay a (monthly or yearly) membership fee to be able to access the auditions on these sites. Once you’ve paid your fee, you can see and submit yourself for these auditions by recording and submitting your mp3s from your home studio. You can also build a profile for yourself which theoretically can help clients request you for bookings.
Now, there are pros and cons to pay to play sites. I will discuss both of those here in the most unbiased way possible so that you can make your own informed decision about whether or not you want to use p2p as an avenue to pursue voiceover. P2P sites are not a scam, but they are also not a “get rich quick” plan and the people who do make a good living from them also have to put in a lot of work in order to be able to do so.
The pros:
- Because you audition and record from home, your location doesn’t really matter. Some people who don’t live in major markets are comfortably able to do voiceover by living off these sites (there was a story on Reddit about a guy who lived in a boat, had a soundproof booth in there, and did all his voiceover recording from out on the sea!)
- Quite a few major clients are now recruiting talent from p2p sites (this is both a pro and a con for voice talents, which I’ll get into more later.)
- It’s a good way to gain work experience, and the sheer amount of auditioning you need to do in order to succeed on these sites can be good practice.
- It’s basically open to anyone as long as you’re willing to pay your way in, though I don’t recommend spending your money unless you’re convinced your skills will be reasonably competitive/on par with the majority of talent on the site. This can be an attractive option for people who are having trouble getting accepted into agencies or studios (which often don’t accept unsolicited submissions).
- Because payment is done securely through the website, you don’t have to worry about invoicing clients or chasing them down for payment after the fact.
- People who work consistently on these sites are usually able to make a decent income (usually a supplemental income in addition to another job or partner/spouse's earnings, but some are able to do it full-time.)
The cons:
- These sites are incredibly competitive. Hundreds of people will audition for a single job, and sometimes the client will only bother to listen to five or ten of those auditions. You may be competing against people who have decades of experience in the business and have actual recording booths set up in their home. And sometimes no matter how good you are, it comes down to luck of the draw based on which auditions the client heard first.
- Expected turnaround times are extremely quick, sometimes to the point of being ridiculous. Sometimes you’ll get a reasonable 24-48 hours to record your files, but other times you’ll be expected to record it in less than six hours. If you have a day job or any type of real-world commitments, as most people do, you’re not going to be sitting in front of your computer all day waiting for jobs to come in, and unfortunately the p2p business model seems to favor people who are able to do that. These online sites are setting a precedent that people can get their voiceovers for cheap and fast, but that comes at the talent’s expense.
- You'll need to have high-quality equipment and a good, fairly soundproof recording space to be booked on most jobs. These things are an important career investment anyway, but it's a lot of money when you're just starting out.
- Rates are often below industry standard. Sadly, clients are aware that they can post a job for a fraction of what it should pay---sometimes even to the point of the rate being insulting---and people will still jump at the chance to take it because they need the work and some money is better than no money. As a result, expected rates for voiceover are being driven lower because there is always someone who needs the job, and sometimes even high-profile clients are bypassing agencies and studios in order to get non-union freelancers for cheap and fast.
- These sites tend to take large commissions from the talent. For example, on a site like Voices dot com, you will not only be paying them hundreds of dollars in yearly membership dues, but they’ll take a whopping 20% of the paycheck from each job you book on there in order to pay their "escrow service". In comparison, a voiceover agent will only take 10-15% of your income, and you don’t have to pay any sort of yearly fees to be with them (an agency who actually charged fees for representation would be considered a scam, by the way.) Talent is also prohibited from contacting clients outside these types of sites as per their terms of service, so repeat clients are essentially locked in to using the service and having a significant portion of their budget for the job not actually going to the voice talent.
If you’re interested in researching more about the pros and cons of p2p sites, there’s plenty out there on the web that covers these topics in detail.
How much money do people make doing voice acting?
That all depends significantly on how much you are working and what type of work you are doing. There are industry standard rates for certain types of projects that are done in-studio, but especially when you get into freelance work from home, the rates vary widely. As mentioned before, you could work on a job with a great hourly rate but if you only record for 2-4 hours on that project and then don't find work for another few weeks, you're going to have to budget your spending accordingly. Similarly, if you're doing lower paying jobs but are working consistently nearly every day, you might make pretty good money. Because you're not working a set number of hours each week or days each month, the amount you make varies based not only on each project's pay rate (usually paid by the hour) but how much/often you are booking work.
Some people make fantastic livings doing voiceover, buying houses and supporting families. Some struggle and barely make anything, so they continue having day jobs. Many people are somewhere in between, making decent money doing voiceover but also doing part-time jobs or other freelance work until they are able to support themselves regularly.
What other ways do people find work?
There are many avenues of finding voice work and I like to consider it a "snowball effect": it's very hard to get that ball rolling initially, but as you build up more and more connections, that snowball gets bigger and bigger. Ideally, you want to have a wide variety of sources for work and auditions to come in from because it, quite simply, ups your chances of booking more. Some of the ways voice actors find work include, but are not limited to:
- Word-of-mouth/referrals from others (this is a big one)
- Cold emailing potential clients, production companies, etc.
- Having agents in different markets (you are generally allowed to have one agent per specific market/region - be sure to check your contracts, but the reason some people are able to have multiple agents are because the exclusivity will only be for a certain region)
- Mailing lists (some casting directors will have a mailing list where they send out all available auditions and people can submit if they think they're right for the part - it's a great idea to try to get on these lists whenever possible)
- Connections with people who work on the production side of things; for instance, having a friend who helps make games, or a relative owning a business who needs a commercial or phone greeting recorded...random things like that
- Talent rosters either on voice acting websites or private talent rosters maintained by casting directors
- Being scouted through demo reels posted on your own site, YouTube, social media, etc
- Forums and servers such as this one
(you can also check out Casting Call Club which is more focused on hobby work/small budget projects) - Sites and services meant for actors to connect with people in need of specific services (for example, there are websites where people audition to narrate audiobooks, or websites where businesses who need phone greetings can select from a number of voice talent who then record for them from home)
- Producing your own content online
- Open casting calls posted on Twitter or Facebook
- Getting "in" with local studios that handle voice casting and recording---some are referral only, others take submissions
(you can also check out Okay, I read through all this and to be honest, it sounds pretty discouraging. Is it really worth pursuing this?
If it’s something you love...then absolutely yes! This guide isn’t meant to be pessimistic; it’s meant to show the realities of what it actually takes to make a living doing voiceover. It’s easy for people to say “Pursue your dreams!”...but I’m saying “Pursue your dreams, just be smart about doing so.” And remember, even if you decide not to pursue VO as your main career avenue, you can always do it for fun online via sites such as this.
Best of luck in your endeavors, and please feel free to post tips and questions here for other members of the community to weigh in on! Also, please check out the Help, Tips and Advice board for more guides and answers to questions you may have.
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