Remember: There is a Top for Every Pot and a Voice for Every Spot! That voice could be yours. If you are interested in becoming a voice actor, but don’t know how to start, keep reading for my voiceover tips for beginners!
- Find a local class.
- Join a class in your local community. Look for a voiceover 101 course. Here you will learn about the professional recording studios, agents, and you will find out where local talent get their demos done.
- Create a demo or a sample of your voice.
- You should expect to leave the class with 2 important items – scripts that you have practiced, and a studio that can record your first demo. A demo should have 5-6 commercial spots and be 1 minute or so.
- Set up your home studio.
- You will need a powerful computer and recording software (i.e. Garageband, Audacity, Reaper, Adobe Audition)
- You will need a microphone (Rode Nt1a, Audio Technica 2035a are great options. NO YETI SNOWBALL.)
- You will need a pop filter, a mic stand, and soundproofing materials for your recording area.
- You will need XLR cables and headphones.
- Audition to get jobs.
- Easier said than done! Start with a pay-to-play (like voice123.com’s free membership – it’s a good way to get your feet wet, you will only be able to audition when you are invited on the free version)
- Food for thought: If you pay for a membership tier, you get more access to more auditions and higher-paying opportunities.
- Easier said than done! Start with a pay-to-play (like voice123.com’s free membership – it’s a good way to get your feet wet, you will only be able to audition when you are invited on the free version)
- Practice and take notes.
- The only way you become good at this is to practice. Read scripts daily. Record yourself. Audition. Practice commercials. Learn how to navigate from emotion to emotion: happy vs. bubbly, sad vs. serious, annoyed vs. concerned. Master the conversational read.
- You auditioned… now what?
- Once you audition, you need to write up a small proposal. There are a few key things to know – how much to get paid is a big one! Go to the rate guide on globalvoiceacademy.com to see industry averages.
- Include the number of edits that come included with your rate and how quickly you can do the work. Typically, 24-48 hours is the norm, although you will get brownie points for same-day turnaround!
- As a general rule, avoid jobs with usage defined as perpetuity.
- Join the VO Community!
- There are a lot of groups out there for beginners.
- Get involved on Facebook pages like JMC voiceover group or Marc Scott’sVOpreneur.
- Attend the big conferences. These conferences can change your voiceover career overnight. Research the One Voice Conference, VOAtlanta, MAVO, and SOVAS.
- Want to learn more from me? Stay connected! My class will be out soon.