Post by Lady Stardust ★ on Nov 21, 2023 23:28:48 GMT -8
[Editor's Note: The original version of this article appeared on the forums in 2017. It has since been significantly revamped and will likely continue to evolve to reflect the ever-changing landscape of our industry.]
“How do I get into voice acting?”
It’s the question that’s most asked of any working voice 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 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.
Chances are, you’ve either found or have been referred to this article because you are interested in becoming a voice actor. Maybe you observed your favorite voice actors on a convention panel and thought it would be a fun career path, maybe you watch cartoons or play video games and learned about the people who do those voices for a living, or maybe you’ve always loved acting on stage and want to know how it can translate into voiceover. Whatever your background, we hope that this article will give you some actionable steps to get started.
Do I need to have a “good voice” to get started in voiceover?
People with all sorts of voices end up becoming voice actors. A common myth is that if someone is told they have a “voice for radio” or sound like a cartoon character, that they’re automatically cut out for voiceover (and that they simply need to get discovered!) While voice print obviously is a factor in casting, there’s no one specific sound that everybody is looking for. Characters in shows and games and commercials can sound all sorts of different ways, just like real people do.
Being a good voice actor has much less to do with how your voice sounds and more about how you interpret a script. Does what you’re saying sound authentic and believable, or does it sound like a person reading words off a page? Building solid acting foundations and getting yourself to those believable reads is what you will want to focus on for the most important part of your journey.
Recommended supplemental reading / things for you to bookmark later
- "I Want To Be A Voice Actor" by Dee Bradley Baker (this is a highly recommended guide for a reason!)
- Crispin Freeman's Voice Acting Mastery
- The VoiceOver Collective
- Global Voice Acting Academy - Resources
- The VO Meter (A Voice Over Podcast)
- Booth Junkie YouTube Channel (Tech Tutorials)
- FAQ/Intro pages by other industry pros: Kyle McCarley, Steve Blum, Morgan Berry
- The #resources channel on our Discord server
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!
Initial notes, disclaimers and reality checks
There is no singular path that works for everyone.
If you were to ask 100 currently working voice actors how they got started, chances are you would get 100 different answers. Some people started by acting in plays or musicals growing up, some came from film or TV acting, some came from content creation, others came from radio or TV broadcasting or working behind the scenes in production, and yet others learned by watching shows or playing games and imitating the voices. There will be exceptions to every rule, and you will of course find people who got into the business "by accident", but given how saturated the current market is, it's best to prepare yourself as well as possible by learning to be a great actor.
There is no “magic formula” for getting into voice acting.
When you ask a working actor “how do I get into the field?” there is usually not a short answer, because it involves a lot of hard work and a lot of patience to be able to make this a full-time career. No one can magically get you “in” through some secret door - and even if you could somehow get an audition with a major studio tomorrow, chances are you wouldn't be as ready as you think they are. When people tell you to follow the steps below, it’s because they had to do the same things!
Every industry professional will have a different perspective.
It’s important to be open to learning as much as you can from various sources. Every actor has experienced a different journey which will affect how they approach the industry and how they advise others, and this article is no exception. It’s worth looking into as many resources as you can if this is something you’re serious about.
This article is written from the perspective of an English-speaking voice actor living in the United States.
While many of these concepts apply universally, each country will have their own cultural and industry norms that may differ from what you read here. If applicable, look into resources for your local region and/or language to supplement the ones here. You may even be able to join a voiceover community specific to your area.
You must be okay with the “odds being against you” if you wish to pursue this as a career.
Most working actors love what they do and couldn’t imagine doing anything else, but they’ll also be honest with you that it was a long and hard road to get to the point where they could do it as their full time job. Just like with most other careers in arts and entertainment, it takes time, hard work, financial investment, and other sacrifices. It’s great to follow your dreams, but it’s also important to be practical if you wish to make this your livelihood. This article is not meant to discourage anyone, but rather to encourage you to be realistic with your expectations.
Realities of the industry that you must accept if you want to make this your career:
- Voiceover is an incredibly competitive field filled with thousands of skilled actors looking for jobs.
- Voiceover is not a quick and easy way to make money (and you may not make a lot of money, especially at first).
- You’ll almost certainly have to spend money in order to make money.
- No one is guaranteed success (or even a job).
- You will audition for many projects you don’t book, and it’s common to have periods of time where you don’t book anything at all.
- If you don’t live in a major hub such as Los Angeles, fewer professional work opportunities will be available to you.
- There are many aspects of the job that are not related to performing, but that are crucial to running a business.
- The industry is often not fair.
If you are okay with the realities listed above, and you still want to pursue voiceover as a career, then keep reading!
If not, there is no shame in simply trying it out as a hobby first—-in fact, doing so is encouraged before investing too much money, so that you can make sure that acting is something you’re truly passionate about. We have a separate article on that HERE. However, the same basic starting tips below will apply.
This is not optional. Learning to be a good actor is the single most important part of learning to be a good voice actor.
It’s great if you have a nice-sounding voice, or can do a lot of funny cartoon voices, but that’s not what’s going to get you hired. What will get you hired is being able to believably interpret a character using the script given.
Ideally, your first step will be acting classes. These don’t even need to be voiceover-specific classes—-something like a school or community theatre class can be a great starting point. What you want to focus on is character and scene study. How to get into a character’s head, how to break down a script, and how to interpret a scene to give a believable performance that brings out what the writer or director envisioned. Even if you have no interest in doing stage or screen acting, concepts you learn in those classes can carry over to how you approach a voiceover script.
If you do decide to go for voiceover-specific classes, make sure they are taught by reputable, working industry professionals. Don’t fall for the “get-rich-quick” demo mill schemes that claim you'll make tens of thousands of dollars in your first year or that promise you’ll be ready for an agent by the end of their six-week workshop—-organizations like this often take advantage of hopeful new actors by pressuring them into spending money on demos before they are ready. There is no “fast track” to success, and while it can be argued that some people get lucky and book their first big role with minimal training or experience, there is by and large no substitute for simply putting in the work.
Private coaching can be valuable too, but when you’re just starting out, group classes will be a better investment. Plus, group classes will enable you to learn even more by observing your classmates perform and listening to the feedback they get from the instructor. Once you feel you’ve mastered the foundations, you may then wish to consider booking a few sessions with a voiceover coach who can give you focused one-on-one guidance. Again, make sure to go to a reputable coach that understands current industry trends, who is invested in your growth as an actor, and who is willing to give you actionable feedback and critique. There are plenty of people who will be happy to take your money to tell you what you want to hear or try to hook you into continually buying more sessions. Trust your instincts as to whether or not the relationship is working out before committing to future coaching sessions.
People who balk at the idea of taking acting lessons may point out examples of well-known industry professionals who claim they have never taken a class. It’s true that some people naturally have great acting instincts, just like some singers may have never taken vocal lessons or some artists may be entirely self-taught, but these people tend to be the exception more so than the rule. 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!)
Regarding college/university: There is no specific degree or course needed to become a voice actor. Skill is looked at much more than education; for instance, someone could have a theatre degree and still submit terrible auditions, or someone could have no formal training but still have amazing acting instincts. Being a theatre major can help you in the sense that the classes you take in pursuit of that degree will likely make you a better actor. If you want to go to college but 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" is helpful. 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. Once you're at the point of booking a fair amount of work but not enough to make it your only income, part-time jobs like retail or food service can actually be a good idea because the schedules are flexible enough that they won’t conflict as much with session bookings.
Don’t have the money for classes? Take advantage of free resources online! There are plenty of podcasts, YouTube videos, articles and websites that talk about acting fundamentals. You can even rent books from your local library. Another great tool is to observe good performances in media you consume (such as watching a movie or TV show or playing a video game). Learn how to approach comedy vs drama, action vs slice-of-life, etc. Get an idea of different character archetypes and use them for inspiration. Ideally, you should study performances from different genres of shows and games (not just anime and JRPGs, for example) to help make you a more well-rounded actor who is able to adapt to different styles.
There is a reason that virtually every professional actor will tell you “learn to act” when asked for advice on how to get started! Remember, the most important part of voice acting is ACTING. Having a “nice-sounding voice” or being able to do a bunch of different voices can be a bonus, but it doesn’t matter if the words you’re saying aren’t believable to the audience (or the director).
#2: LEARN HOW TO USE YOUR VOICE.
You’ve probably heard the saying “your voice is an instrument.” If you wish to make a living using your voice, it is essential to care for it properly.
The same techniques that singers learn apply to voice actors, as well. Your voice should be supported and projected from your diaphragm (not your throat). Learn about the various resonances and placements (chest voice, head voice, etc.) Breath control is also an important part of voiceover just as it is for singers, too. If you’ve taken singing lessons, chances are you already have a good foundation for these things.
Doing vocal warm-ups may be helpful before recording or independent practice sessions, especially if you expect the session to be high-intensity. This can be something as simple as singing scales. You can find examples of vocal warmups freely on YouTube.
Resist the urge to do voices that hurt your throat. There are safe ways to do things like battle yells and creature voices, and there are specific lessons and video resources on those. In the meantime, if you’re using your voice in a way that feels painful, stop and allow your voice to rest properly. This also goes for if you are sick and have a sore throat and/or hoarse voice. Pushing through can cause more problems and lengthen your recovery time.
Remember that straining your voice doesn’t just apply to acting situations. Shouting in the audience at a concert, talking loudly at a bar or convention so your friends can hear you over the crowd…all those things can cause vocal strain. It’s not always possible to avoid it completely, but being mindful of supporting your voice properly when you must project it can help you keep it healthy.
Taking care of your body is also a good way to take care of your voice. Rest well and stay hydrated.
#3: PRACTICE READING OUT LOUD (AND THEN RECORDING IT).
The majority of voice acting involves cold reading, meaning it’s relatively rare to get scripts ahead of time. Sometimes, professional voice actors won’t even know what they’re working on until they get in the booth! Therefore, it’s important to be able to quickly look at and interpret a script, even if you’re reading it for the first time.
Practice reading anything you can out loud—-a book, a manga, a news article, dialogue from a text-only game, etc. When starting out, it’s good to do this when you’re by yourself so that you’re not pressured by the idea of having to perform for other people.
You’ll probably find that your first readthrough is a little rough. Chances your enunciation isn’t always great, and you may tend to speak too quickly and trip over your words as a result. That’s okay—-it happens to even the most seasoned pros! If you mess up, just pause for a moment and then restart from the beginning of the section you area reading. Over time, you will find yourself getting more comfortable and confident reading out loud, which in turn will help you when it comes time to read a character or narration script.
Remember to slow down and enunciate your words properly—-it’s very common for new actors to get nervous when reading out loud, and those are some of the first things to go out the window. However, observing these two tips will almost instantly make your reading sound more professional.
It’s a good idea to then start recording yourself and listening back. This can be something simple like recording on your phone using the voice memo app, or on your computer using free recording software like Audacity. You don't have to post these recordings online, so try not to feel nervous. Just play around and have fun. 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.
If you’re not used to hearing your voice recorded and played back, chances are you won’t like what you hear. You may even be horrified, thinking “is that really what I sound like?” Rest assured that the majority of people actually have a similar response to hearing their own voices - there’s actually a scientific reason for it, as we hear ourselves differently in our heads than how we sound to other people. 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.
Even if you hate the sound of your natural speaking voice and think it sounds terrible, appreciate your voice for what it can do for you. You can train your voice over time to achieve various pitches and resonances, but you’ll be surprised at how often bookings these days call for “real people voices” rather than cartoon characters. People with all different voice types are able to make it into this field, even if they’ve never been told by a stranger that they have a “great voice for radio”. As mentioned before, it’s more about bringing life to the copy than how the tone of your voice actually sounds.
The idea of posting recordings online can be intimidating, especially considering people on the Internet are often unkind in their comments. Unless you’re sure you can handle comments from strangers, you can start by sending the recordings to trusted friends and asking them for their input. Learning to take feedback and criticism will be important to your growth as an actor, but this feedback should be constructive—-if someone is commenting just to be mean, no need to take what they say to heart. You can also try posting on Discord servers or fandom communities that you know have good moderation and a welcoming vibe.
If you do decide to post your voice recordings on places like YouTube or TikTok, don’t expect to get a lot views right away. Some people may be fortunate enough to have “impressions videos” that go viral, but remember you’re in a sea of tons of other people making similar content. Your goal when posting should be gaining confidence and perhaps getting feedback, not getting tons of likes or views.
#4: GET A HOME RECORDING SETUP (EVEN A BASIC ONE).
While many professional voiceover projects require physically going to a recording studio and attending a session in-person, home recording is common for auditions, independent projects, narration (such as audiobooks), some commercials, and much of the work outside of the major VO markets such as LA and Dallas.
If you wish to put together a full home studio for voiceover, costs will add up quick. You can easily be looking at spending five figures for a “broadcast-ready” setup. The good news, however, is you don’t have to do that when you’re just starting out. Your home studio is going to be a constant work-in-progress that you will upgrade over time as your finances allow and as your career demands it.
It's important to note that equipment isn't everything, and a good microphone won't magically make you a better actor. Your early-on investments are better spent on acting training rather than buying super expensive gear. You can get something functional in the meantime to get you started.
There are already many free tutorials and resources online that go into extensive details on home recording equipment and how to treat a recording space, so we will simply cover the basics here. These are the things you should have if you wish to record voiceover for paying clients from home.
A quiet, well-treated recording space.
Your recording environment is just as (perhaps even more) important than the microphone you are using. If you have ever tried recording or filming a video in a large, open space such as a living room or bedroom, you’ve probably noticed how your voice sounds “echoey” on the recording. These reverb-like qualities are called “room reflections” and they are undesirable - in fact, too much of them can render a recording unusable.
Ideally, you want to record in a relatively small space (but not TOO small) that is acoustically treated to absorb these reflections. You can buy premade booths from companies such as VocalBooth, Whisper Room, StudioBricks, LA Vocal Booth, etc - but be aware that these booths can easily run you $5,000 to $10,000 USD or even more. Unless you have loads of disposable income, you don’t need to invest in a full booth until you are seriously working at the level where one is required or you can realistically make back your investment. Luckily, there are do-it-yourself solutions that have been employed by many actors, such as using a walk-in closet as a recording space, or putting together a structure made from PVC pipes and hanging thick moving blankets over it to absorb sound. You can find free tutorials for these methods online.
Read More: Your recording environment
A computer.
This can be a desktop or laptop, Mac or PC—-the important thing is, you need a workstation to record and edit your files. Unless you regularly record resource-heavy sessions from home (such as dubbing projects), you don’t need anything fancy and can probably start off using whatever you have.
“What about a phone or a tablet?” While it can do in a pinch for practicing on your own, making a meme, or recording a quick-turnaround audition in your car, the recording quality on these devices is generally not sufficient enough for most projects. Additionally, it can be much more cumbersome to edit, save, and submit your files this way, not to mention multitasking by both recording and reading a script on the device at the same time. Try to get access to some type of computer if at all possible.
If your computer has a noisy fan that often runs while you’re recording, this can be an issue as such fans are usually audible. Workarounds can include using extra-long cords to move the computer outside of the booth/recording space while mirroring the screen on an external monitor or even a tablet, and using a wireless keyboard and mouse in the booth. If cost is not an issue, you can consider upgrading to a designated “booth computer” such as a Mac Mini.
Recording software.
This is commonly referred to as a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). Believe it or not, you don't need something fancy to record auditions and do basic editing. Even for jobs, it's common for clients to request the voiceover raw (meaning, no processing or plugins have been applied to the audio.)
If you're just starting out, Audacity is a free, simple program to record and export your audio files. You can also do general editing such as cutting takes together, removing unwanted parts of the recording (such as long silences, mistakes, or extra noises), and changing or normalizing the volume of the audio. Get used to looking at the waveforms of your recording and get an idea of where to set your gain knob (input volume).
If you want multitrack projects or more extensive editing/mixing options, Reaper is a great option. It's an affordable one-time purchase, and you can try it for free ahead of time. Twisted Wave and Adobe Audition are also favored by a number of voice actors, but be aware that they operate on a subscription model. (Read More: Reaper for Voiceover)
You may have heard people mention that ProTools is considered the industry standard software that recording studios use. This is true, but it is way overkill for what you will need as a voice actor. Remember that studios are doing extensive post-production work such as mixing and mastering, and many do music recording as well. Unless you are also seriously interested in becoming an audio engineer or opening your own recording studio, you probably don't need to buy a subscription to ProTools.
Regarding formats: Auditions and demos will typically be exported in MP3 format, whereas files for actual jobs will typically be exported in WAV (uncompressed) format. 24-bit 48 khz WAV is a standard setting that many studios and clients request for final deliverables, but be sure to follow any specific instructions given.
Read More: How much should you edit your auditions?
Headphones.
Being able to accurately listen to your recording is crucial for evaluating your performance and sound quality and pinpointing any issues, as well as editing your audio for auditions and jobs. The best type of headphones to use for recording are wired, over-the-ear headphones (try to avoid wireless headphones, earbuds, or built-in computer speakers.) It is standard in studio sessions to monitor your recording in real-time using headphones, although you can adjust the playback volume to your liking. If you do choose to monitor, make sure the sound from your headphones doesn’t “bleed” into your recording (closed-back headphones are often preferred for this purpose.) You may also need to purchase a plug converter (1/4 in to 1/8 in or vice versa) depending on how you plan to connect your headphones. Popular brands for studio headphones include Behringer, Sony, Sennheiser, and Audiotechnica.
A microphone.
One of the biggest questions that understandably comes up among new voice actors is, “What type of microphone should I use to record?”
The answer is, it depends!
If you are just starting out and mostly doing unpaid projects, a simple USB condenser mic is usually fine for this purpose. USB microphones are often favored by online content creators for their “plug and play” functionality (no need for a separate preamp or audio interface), lower cost, and relatively decent quality for the price point. Examples include the AT2020, Blue Yeti, Apogee HypeMic, Samson C01U, etc.
However, if you are at the point where you are regularly auditioning for and recording projects for paying clients, it’s customary to use a microphone (usually a large-diaphragm condenser, though shotgun mics are sometimes used) that connects to a separate audio interface via an XLR cable. This can give you a cleaner, more professional sound as well as more control over your audio.
Read More: USB vs. XLR - what's the difference?
Professional recording microphones come at all different price points. While a common industry standard microphone used in actual recording studios is the Neumann U87, these cost well over $3000 USD and - while they sound nice - are frankly more than what most voice actors will need for a home booth. You can buy the similar sounding Neumann TLM103 for about half the price, or go with one of the U87 clones (such as S87 Mic Parts) or a different brand altogether (Sennheiser, Rode, AKG, Warm Audio, Microtech Gefell, etc.) You can hear samples of different recording mics online or perhaps even try them out yourself at a local music supply store.
The following types of microphones are NOT recommended for voiceover: Built-in mics from a laptop/camera/phone, headset mics (such as those found in gaming headsets), handheld "karaoke style" mics, desktop mics that connect directly to a computer's audio jack, and cheap mics meant specifically for streaming (particularly anything with omnidirectional input). These are fine for independent practice if they're all you have access to, but it will be difficult to get cast in a lot of projects with them.
You should also buy a microphone stand (and shock mount, if recommended) for your microphone to hold it in place while you record. Attempting to hold it with your hand will be distracting and cause noise in your recording. A pop filter (which can typically be found for around $20 online) will also help your recordings sound more professional by reducing certain unwanted breath sounds.
There are many free resources online which provide microphone recommendations for voiceover. You can also ask in the #audio-and-tech channel in our Discord server to find a mic that fits your current needs and budget.
An audio interface.
*NOTE: If you are starting off with a USB microphone, then skip this step as those do not work with separate audio interfaces.
The audio interface is what you plug your XLR microphone and headphones into. It’s also what you will use to control your gain (recording input level), headphone monitoring volume, and playback volume. Some interfaces even come with fancy plugins and effects, though you probably won’t need those for raw voiceover recording. The interface will typically connect to your computer via a USB cable.
Read More: Gain, and why it isn't a volume knob
Common budget-friendly (but quality) audio interfaces include the SSL2 and the FocusRite Scarlet series. Popular interfaces at slightly higher price points include the Universal Audio Apollo and Audient series. Just like with microphones, feel free to do your own research and read reviews from other voiceover talent.
If you are just starting out in voiceover and exploring options, do not feel the need to spend thousands of dollars on equipment. Get something functional and try it out for fun first. If you decide to seriously pursue it as a career and get to the point where your current setup no longer serves you, then you can make the investment. It’s true that you have to “spend money to make money” in this business, but don’t go broke doing it!
#5: START AUDITIONING FOR HOBBY PROJECTS ONLINE.
A great, low-stakes way to continue learning and practicing your craft is to audition for and participate in online projects. In fact, many currently working professionals started off doing things like student projects, game jams, Flash animations, comic dubs, YouTube series, indie visual novels, etc.
Most hobby projects are volunteer-based—-they’re often made by a small a group of people wanting to collaborate to make something creative together. There is usually little or no budget, but it can be a great way to practice and get some experience, especially if your skills aren’t at the level yet where you have access to the bigger paid opportunities. (That being said, if the creators intend to make a profit off of their project, they should be paying their team members too.)
You don’t need to invest in a bunch of expensive equipment just to get started in hobby work - generally, a USB condenser microphone and a quiet space to record will be considered sufficient. You can work on upgrading your setup once you start getting some paid work and higher-profile opportunities.
Open casting calls for hobby projects can be found on places like the Voice Acting Club Discord server, Casting Call Club, Twitter, and YouTube. Fan-related projects may be found on fandom-specific Discord servers, subreddits, Facebook groups, or Tumblr communities. (Note: Fan work can be fun and a valid way to practice your skills and meet new people, but fan projects shouldn't be included on a professional resume or as part of a professional voice acting portfolio.)
READ MORE: How to Voice Act Online as a Hobby
You can also look into creating your own content! Making short videos or audio projects with your friends or doing a live stream can be a fun, low-pressure way to try new things and get your voice out there. Plus, you’ll gain valuable experience learning how to manage projects and deadlines and work on the editing side.
Nervous to start auditioning? This is common---putting your voice out there for the first time can be scary, especially if you're worried about the idea of rejection. But the best way to practice and gain confidence is to dive right in and go for it. Audition for anything and everything you think looks interesting. While plenty of hobby projects fizzle out and never end up being made, auditioning is not a waste of time---it'll hone your acting skills and help you discover new ideas for performances. Even the top working professionals still audition all the time!
Once you have a solid acting foundation, some experience, and a decent home recording setup, you can progress to auditioning for paid work online for projects such as indie games. Many of these projects will post open-call auditions on places like Twitter or the VAC Discord. However, be aware that these projects are extremely competitive, and often get hundreds or even thousands of submissions. Do not feel discouraged if you don’t get cast; auditioning is not only valuable practice but can also help the casting director keep you in mind for future roles or projects.
#6: WHEN YOU’RE READY, LOOK INTO GETTING A VOICE DEMO DONE.
A demo (sometimes called a demo reel, demo tape, voice reel or showreel) is a voice actor’s most important marketing tool. Quite simply, a demo is an audio showcase that shows samples of what the actor can do. A typical character demo is an mp3 file around one minute long and will contain a handful of short snippets that show off different character archetypes and voices. It’s important to remember that a demo should showcase your acting skills, not just the voices you can do. Each character should be distinct and fleshed out.
Contrary to popular belief, you do not need a demo reel when first starting out. When you are brand new, your focus should be on learning acting techniques, practicing independently, and auditioning for open-call projects as outlined above. The demo doesn’t come in until you already have a decent acting foundation and feel confident interpreting a script and making strong character choices.
If you’re mostly just auditioning for online projects, then making your own demo is acceptable, as is commissioning others to write scripts, mix and direct a demo for you. Once you’re at the level where you’re truly ready to submit to professional studios and agencies, then it is advisable to invest the money in getting an industry-level, professionally produced demo.
Read More: When am I ready for a demo?
Some teachers or coaches, particularly if they are also demo producers, may try to pressure you into spending $2,000+ on a demo early in your career. Remember that a demo is intended to be a longer-term investment—-if you spend that kind of money before you’re truly ready, chances are you will outgrow that demo, and you probably won’t be at the level where you’re submitting to rosters where you would truly benefit from such a demo. Investing in a professional demo is important, but only make that investment when it’s truly going to benefit you to the point where you see returns from it.
If you are looking into making your own demo for online work, check out this article: Creating a Demo Reel for Online Voice Acting
Finally, when it does come time to get a professional demo done, make sure you are going to a reputable producer who is knowledgeable about current industry trends. There is no shortage of demo producers out there who are happy to take money from hopeful new talent, regardless of whether they are ready skill-wise, get them to reads that are “passable” but that would be hard for the actor to replicate quickly during a live session, and/or write or direct them into scripts and read styles that end up sounding dated or off the mark for what modern casting directors and agents are looking for. Ask around to your colleagues and mentors and see who they’d recommend, and if a partnership doesn't feel like a good fit, save your money and walk away.
The time you spend outside of the booth can be just as important to your career as the time you spend inside it. As nice as it would be to just “play pretend” all day, being a professional voice actor also essentially means running your own business. You’ll need to learn about accounting, scheduling, taxes, money management, negotiating rates and contracts, client relationships, marketing, and more.
While there are classes that teach this information, much of it can be found online for free. For example, here are some of the business-related articles available right here on VAC:
In addition to business skills, managing relationships with clients, potential clients, and industry colleagues is also important to succeeding as a professional actor. You’ll need to be able to communicate promptly and professionally via e-mail, turn in auditions by or before the due date, show up to sessions on time, observe industry etiquette norms, and be pleasant to work with both in and out of the booth. Many directors have stated that they’d rather work with a mediocre actor who’s a nice person than a great actor with an ego!
#8: GET OUT THERE AND WORK.
A burning question that always comes up is “how do I actually find work?” This is where things can get difficult, and where patience and perserverance come in. Contrary to popular myths, most actors do not achieve overnight success. It is common to work for many years at getting one's career off the ground.
One thing that’s important to keep in mind is that you must be proactive when seeking out work opportunities. Unless you’re already well established in your field, most work isn’t going to come to you, because clients don’t know you exist yet. This doesn’t mean you should be obnoxious about promoting your work, but it does mean that you should start thinking about strategic ways to market your business.
Just like with hobby work, open casting calls are a great way to find auditions. Many indie casting directors and game devs post open auditions on social media sites such as Twitter, and you can often find daily postings on the VAC Discord Server.
When you are ready (you’re a skilled actor, you have a good home studio and competitive marketing materials), you can also search online for open talent rosters. Certain recording studios and production companies will sometimes have a voice talent submission form on the FAQ or Contact pages of their website, or the casting directors may even post an open roster call on social media. These forms typically require you to fill out some basic information about yourself as an actor, as well as uploading or linking to a demo and resume and sharing your home studio specs. If you know you’re not quite there yet, resist the urge to do studio submissions because as they say, “you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.”
Read More: A guide to submissions + When are you ready?
You may be tempted to sign up for a “pay-to-play” site such as Voices or Voice123 to help you find jobs. While some talent find tremendous success on these sites, they charge a hefty yearly membership fee and are also extremely competitive. If you are new, the return on investment may not be worth it. Furthermore, you will need to beware of exploitative rates and AI voice training jobs. Please read this article if you are thinking of joining p2p sites to help you make an informed decision.
Generally speaking, we do not recommend using online freelancer sites such as Fiverr. The reason is because sites like this market towards clients who are looking to pay as little as possible for voiceover. Talent are pressured to set their rates well below market value in order to book any jobs, which in turn can drive down rates for everybody by teaching clients that they don’t have to pay creative talent fairly. Sites like this will also take a hefty commission from your pay, leaving you with even less than the already-low rate, and furthermore it can brand you as a “cheap” voiceover talent. And to make matters even worse, lowball clients often make unreasonable demands for revisions and expect editing services such as file splitting for free.
Direct Marketing is how many actors get the bulk of their work, especially those without agency representation. Direct marketing means finding the clients you want to work for and reaching out to them to offer your services, such as by contact form, email, Twitter, or LinkedIn message (avoid unsolicited phone calls or messaging people’s private Facebook accounts.) This is also commonly referred to as “cold calling”. There are entire classes on how to do this effectively, but generally speaking, you find a company who realistically might require your services and reach out to them in a professional manner. Note that many times, you won’t hear back. Do not follow up repeatedly or excessively as this can annoy people and potentially even cause them to blacklist you from future opportunities with them.
Talent agencies are another major source of auditions for voice actors. However, agencies are very competitive and difficult to get into, especially if you are still relatively new. You may have more luck starting out at a smaller regional agency as opposed to a national one, but even then, you’ll be expected to have great demo reels, solid acting skills, and usually some professional work experience before they’ll consider taking you on.
Read More: So you want to get an agent
Referrals will be a big help in terms of opening doors to new opportunities. A referral might come about by a client or director you worked with at one studio bringing you on for a project at a different studio, another actor recommending you for an audition they feel you’d be a great fit for, or a casting director noticing that you always turn in awesome auditions and recommending that one of their clients bring you in. While it’s true that many voiceover opportunities come to talented actors by way of being connected with people in the industry, friendships and business connections should always happen naturally. Don’t put people on the spot by asking them to refer you to an agent or studio (this can make them feel uncomfortable especially if they don’t know you well or don’t feel you’re ready yet, OR they may not even be in the position of being able to recommend someone else), and don’t attempt to forge a “friendship” with someone in hopes that they can give you a leg up in your career. Additionally, never use another person's name as a referral without their explicit permission. Be kind to those you meet, and treat everyone with respect regardless of their status in the industry. If you are great to work with AND you do great work, word will get around.
What about joining the actors’ union? Generally speaking, you don’t need to worry about this until you are at the point where you actually book a union job and become eligible. You can still audition for SAG-AFTRA projects as a nonunion actor; producers will simply have to fill out a form (called a Taft-Hartley) to book you on the project, after which you will gain your eligibility. If and when the time eventually comes, you can research information online about how it works and what is required.
Read More: Putting the cart before the horse
Above all, please try to remember that things take time. Especially in the age of social media, it can be so easy to compare yourself to your peers and feel as if you aren’t working enough or aren’t achieving things fast enough. But there’s no magical secret to overnight success (and that’s not how it works for most people, anyway.) Ultimately, the best way to get more work is to be a great actor.
Protecting yourself from scams, raw deals, and bad clients
Unfortunately, not everyone who approaches you with a job offer is going to be legitimate or have your best interests in mind. Actors can and do encounter everything from nightmare clients who demand endless revisions, clients who ghost on payment (or take way too long to pay), contracts with unreasonable terms, or even outright predators and scammers. We have articles on specific things to look out for (links below), but here’s a quick rundown:
- You are not obligated to say yes to a project where you are uncomfortable with the content or you feel disrespected by the director or client. You can choose to leave gracefully to avoid burning bridges, but one bad client does not have the power to blacklist you from the entire industry regardless of what they say.
- Beware of any project which asks you to wire them money (including the notorious “game show host advert project”; this is a persistent scam that’s been around for years.) Most clients who hire you online will be willing to pay via a secure method such as PayPal or international bank transfer. If a client is overly insistent on getting financial details up front, asks you to communicate with them only via a third-party messaging app, or asks for money to be converted into gift cards or cryptocurrency, chances are it’s a scam and you should run. Some scammers will use the names of well-known agencies or production companies to attempt to con people, so take note of anything that seems suspicious and (if need be) reach out to the company via their official website to confirm whether the offer is legitimate.
- For projects where any significant amount of money is changing hands, we highly recommend a contract is in place to protect the interests of both parties. This will help ensure you are compensated for your work as well as allowing the client the legal rights to use your recordings.
- As artificial intelligence technology continues to improve, this has caused massive concern among actors. Resist the temptation to sell the rights away to your voice print for a one-time buyout in text-to-speech projects, unless you have very clear usage restrictions in place. Read this article to learn about ways to protect yourself against having your voice used to train AI without your consent.
- Know how to charge appropriately for your work. There are established industry standard rates for studio projects, but the Internet is the Wild West. Context should always be looked at when coming up with a quote (What type of project is it? What is the workload? Are live sessions required? How will it be used/distributed?) but the GVAA Rate Guide has just about every type of project you could imagine and can help give you ideas on a ballpark if clients ask you to come up with a quote. Bear in mind that many smaller teams, online animators and indie developers genuinely do not always have the budget for industry rates, which is why the VAC came up with the Indie Rate Guide as a supplement for smaller projects. When determining if a rate is worth it to you, consider what the workload would entail. If the client has approached you directly for the job, you can try negotiating the rate if you do not feel that what they're offering is fair.
Read More:
Let’s talk finances
You’re probably wondering how much money one can realistically expect to make doing voiceover.
To be honest, when you’re first starting out, the answer is likely going to be “not much.” Getting your footing in the industry and getting to the point where you are regularly booking paid work can take years. This is why you absolutely must be passionate about performing if you wish to make this your career. It can be a long and difficult road to achieve the goal of making it your living.
How much you can make doing voice acting all depends significantly on how much and how often 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. You could work on a job with a great hourly rate, but if you’re only booked for two hours of recording that week, it won’t go too far. Similarly, if you're doing lower paying jobs but are working consistently nearly every day, you might make pretty good money. Voice actors, at least in the United States, are considered freelance independent contractors—-they don’t work for one specific company as an employee, but rather are contracted on a per-project basis and may be working on multiple different projects at any given time (or even none at all.) You won’t have a set number of hours per day or week that you work, which is one of the reasons it’s so important to be constantly looking for work.
Many people who work in the industry supplement their income via other avenues in addition to acting. Some have traditional “day jobs”. Others may be script adapters, time coders, directors, casting directors, audio engineers, front-desk receptionists, production coordinators, etc. Some also work in other creative fields such as on-camera acting, music, or theme parks. Actors who do a lot of anime and video game work often rely on the convention circuit (selling autographs) for a significant portion of their income, as anime dubbing itself is one of the lower-paying forms of work in the industry. In addition to working on cartoons or games, many actors also do commercials, narration, audiobooks, and other types of work that may not get them fan recognition but helps them pay the bills.
The cost of living is also important to consider. Much of the work (especially character work) is recorded in the Los Angeles area, which is exorbitantly expensive to live in.
It is entirely possible to make a good living doing voiceover full-time, and plenty of people do it. However, it takes a lot of time and hard work for most people to get to that point. If you are just looking to make “quick and easy cash”, voice acting is not the career for you (despite what some ads for classes may say!)
Read More: Going full time as an actor
The good news is that voiceover can technically be recorded from anywhere in the world.
The bad news is that in practicality, a large majority of the English-speaking character voiceover work in the United States is concentrated in major hubs such as Los Angeles, CA and Dallas, TX. Most cartoons and video games are recorded in the general LA area (often split between the Burbank area and the Santa Monica area depending on the studio). Some dubbing work (such as anime) is done there too, but anime work is split between LA and Texas (primarily DFW, with some work in Houston). Many clients and studios insist that this work is done in-person.
When the COVID-19 pandemic became a global emergency in March 2020, many recording studios were forced to shut down for a period of time, with only the engineers allowed to come in and work while directors, clients, and even actors had to switch to joining sessions remotely. This resulted in a massive scramble to figure out how to suddenly do work from home that was traditionally done in a professional studio environment. While some actors already had broadcast-ready home booths due to previous remote work experience, others had to quickly invest a lot of money in equipment and even improvise acoustic treatment. Because so many productions were ongoing and had deadlines to meet, studios did not have the luxury of trying to get “perfect” audio quality and so the focus had to be on getting each actor’s audio sounding good enough to where it wouldn’t be distracting in the final product. Services such as SourceConnect Now, SessionLink Pro, and ipDTL were used to allow the studio to receive the actor’s raw audio in real time (while watching video reference on Zoom or Skype, if applicable.) Many dubs and game projects were recorded entirely from home during this time!
The two years (2020-2022) that remote work was prevalent offered many advantages to actors. It allowed for more crossover between the LA and Dallas markets, and it even allowed talents located outside of the United States to work more regularly. Agencies became increasingly willing to sign remote talent—-if most sessions were being recorded from home anyway with no end to the pandemic in sight, why did the talent need to be in LA? Perhaps the best part is it allowed far more opportunities for actors of marginalized identities to authentically represent themselves in media, and offered accessibility to disabled actors who couldn’t move to where the work was for any variety of reasons. While plenty of actors missed the ease of recording in-studio (and not having to worry about their own audio setups), many hoped that record-from-home would become a permanent option so that people could move out of expensive markets and be closer to their families.
Unfortunately, for all its benefits, remote work caused a slew of issues on the production side, and not all studios were eager to embrace the idea of continuing that model once studios reopened. The biggest complaints were the extra time and money spent in post-production. Even if every actor on a project had a home setup that could be considered “broadcast-quality”, actors recording on different equipment and in different recording environments meant mixers had to spend a lot more time equalizing audio to make it sound like all the cast members were actually in the same room. Despite the availability of high quality home booths, a small and boxy home booth was simply never going to sound as good as an acoustically designed room in a controlled recording studio. Actors having to control their own input gain meant levels weren’t always optimal, and unexpected background noise from neighbors, planes or construction would sometimes plague remote sessions—-not to mention Internet outages and other technical issues. For dubbing, sessions moved significantly slower as everything had to be moved into place and checked for sync. There was also a perception among certain clients that they were paying for an inferior product if the actors did not actually record in the professional studio that they were paying to handle production for them.
While the mandatory rollouts of “in-studio only” started popping up more and more in animation and video game auditions, it was easy for actors to feel discouraged that it would be difficult for them to have a professional career in voice acting if they weren’t able to move to the LA area. However, all hope is not lost. As of the time this article was published, a good number of studios will state in audition sides that they heavily prefer in-person recording but will still consider remote “for the right talent” contingent on home studio approval test. Some of the studios that mandate in-person only will still consider talent who are willing to fly in on their own dime. And finally, there still is (and always has been) plenty of work outside of animation and video games that allow remote recording—-such as commercials, promos, audiobooks, e-learning, explainer videos, and even some mobile games. Indie games often do not have the budget to rent a studio so will hire remote talent, which can be an opportunity to do paid work for games published on major platforms, regardless of where you live!
Please note that it is important not to move before you are ready. Simply moving to Burbank or Dallas is not a guarantee that you will get auditions or work, and unfortunately there are plenty of situations where hopeful actors drain their savings to live in a high-rent area while only receiving sporadic opportunities. Before moving to a major market, it is wise to attempt to do everything you can in your current market to help yourself get on a competitive level, such as classes/coaching and whatever remote work is available to you. You can consider moving once you are already well-connected in your target market and you are at a point where you feel your career cannot progress further due to your current location.
Read More: Tips for stress-free home recording sessions
Voice acting and mental health
Even a “dream job” such as voice acting has its drawbacks and challenges. These include slow work periods, not booking (or receiving auditions for) projects you really want to work on, feeling like you're moving at a slower pace than your peers, or worrying about the future of the industry.
As you progress through your journey, it will be important to build up a support network consisted of people who help lift each other up. These can be family members, housemates, friends, mentors, people you meet in classes or on a project, and your peers online. It’s important to have friends outside the industry, too, as this will help your perspectives. If it’s affordable/accessible to you, therapy can also be very helpful for actors.
While social media is often seen as a “necessary evil” to market oneself, it can be greatly detrimental to one’s mental health. Actors on our Discord server frequently express frustration at the perception that their peers are all progressing upwards in their careers where they’re feeling stuck. Remember that social media isn’t reflective of reality, and that it’s completely okay to take a break if you need it. You also have the right to curate your feeds as needed and post as much or as little as you choose.
Above all, you must be in this field because you ultimately love performing. It’s normal and human to desire financial success and popularity, but you can’t let that be what drives you. Focusing on chasing those things will ultimately make you miserable, and cause you to burn out when things inevitably don’t happen as quickly as you hope. The most successful voice actors in the business love acting at its core, and everything else is just a bonus.
The following articles go much more into depth on mindsets in regards to voice acting:
- Physicalize & visualize. Put yourself in the scene. Don’t be afraid to use your face and body - it makes a difference in the read!
- Understand the 5 Ws and H. Who are you talking to, what do you want, when is this taking place, where are you, how do you feel about the other character you are talking to, why you are saying what you saying?
- Consume media of different genres. It’s totally okay to have your faves - maybe you really just love watching shonen anime or playing retro horror games - but if you’re mainly hearing one certain style of performance, it can affect how you approach your own reads. Mix it up occasionally - for example, if you want to improve your comedic reads, try watching a show or YouTube clips with actors well regarded for their comedy skills.
- Observe those who are doing what you want to do. There's a saying that "good actors borrow and great actors steal". While being able to do impressions isn't a substitute for good acting, they can be a useful tool to help you experiment with various voice tones, placements, and textures. Want to get better at playing a certain character type? Look up the work of your industry seniors and peers who are frequently cast for that character type to get ideas on what works.
- Know your archetypes, but don’t put yourself in a box. It's better to have a few things you can do really well, than to be mediocre at a lot of different things. Work on finding your strengths - what character types do you tend to get cast as most, and how can you improve and expand upon those even further? Once you nail your strengths, you can then focus more on exploring your weaknesses when it comes to certain archetypes.
- Connect genuinely with others. Voiceover can be isolating by nature - you're often recording by yourself and don't always get a chance to meet your castmates. Be open to exploring new friendships and meeting people. Make connections naturally.
- Go out of your comfort zone. Maybe you want to try playing a character type you’ve never even thought about before, or try learning a new accent or creature voice. Maybe you want to try character singing, or improv. While this doesn’t mean you need to work on something that makes you uncomfortable, learn how you can accept a challenge in a healthy manner. For example, sometimes you will have a session with a director or client who is difficult to please. Take away what you can from it as a learning experience and try to use it to grow.
- Be a well rounded person. There is a saying that “being a well-rounded person makes you a well-rounded actor.” The experiences and circumstances that make up your life all affect how you approach your reads. By learning a new skill, traveling to a new place or trying out an activity you wouldn’t normally do, you gain access to more experiences to pull from in the future.
- Always be open to learning. Even the best actors in the business are always expanding their craft. It’s always a good time to practice and try something new.
- Don’t forget to HAVE FUN. The business aspect of VO is important, but it’s easy to get so bogged down in that part of it that you forget why you wanted to do this in the first place! Reconnect with your roots as needed, and remember why you love performing.
“I still have questions”
It’s natural to feel overwhelmed even with all these resources, and chances are you still feel the need for guidance. Many questions can be answered via our Discord server, where we have actors from all different backgrounds who can give you input. There are also communities on places like Facebook and Reddit where people answer questions and discuss various facets of the industry.
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, it is important to do your own research first. People will be much more willing to help you if you've already done your homework. Never expect or demand a response, but if you get one, always thank the person for taking the time to respond and be gracious when accepting the advice given to you.
Your peers that you come up alongside (in classes, projects, and online communities) can be a great source of support and a good way to make lasting friendships while navigating the field of voice acting. It doesn’t come fast or easy, but if it’s what you love to do and want to do more than anything, you’ll find it’s more than worth it. Best of luck on your journey!
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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!
I’m a female voice actor with a High pitched, normal and robotic voice and I can also do British accents! I do murder drones and I could try any other and I can follow scripts! Send me an email if you need me! (Mahatareq09@yahoo.com)