- How to break into the Voiceover Business - Short List

The main question I get all the time is how does one break into voiceovers.

It’s not surprising because every year it’s a multi billion dollar industry.

Think about it. All of those off camera voices that sell you cars, insurance, laundry detergent, TV shows, cartoons, and tell you in movie trailers when the next film is coming out. Science channel, history channel, Corporate narratives and audio books. An endless stream of projects that need an off camera voice.

There are so many ways to give advice about how to start. There are many ways to look at how one begins. A lot of it depends on your personality and how one deals with the unknown. Having said that, here are some thoughts to encourage and support you in this wonderful world of voiceovers.

Do not over estimate everyone else's intelligence. I tweeted last week that an old time voiceover guy told me when I was 22 years old and nervous about trying to get into voiceovers, " People dumber than you are making a fortune, just get out there and do it."

Never worry about what everyone else is doing or what "the odds are" it's completely besides the point. The question is do you love it enough to develop a great set of reading skills and start doing it.

Training and great reading skills are how professional voiceover artists make all that money.

Training is the first and most important place to start. No one in a recording studio is there to run a trade school. You have to know what you're doing.

 It's been my experience that a lot of people seem more interested in how to network than they are in developing the skills necessary to be hired and then re hired because they've done a good job. Learn the trade and what’s required. That is the first thing you’ll need to have a voiceover career.

So, you’ll need training. You’ll need a great voiceover demo. You’ll need a good computer and internet connection. You’ll need basic recording and editing equipment

These are some things you should know in order to break in and have a voiceover career. I’ll also tell you where work comes from and where to look for work when you’re starting out.

It’s true its just talking, but there is way more to it than that. You have to know the different styles for different products. For example cheaper cars are sold in more of an excited voice  Hurry on down zero percent financing!! Luxury cars are sold in a more relaxation audio book voice..the new infinity QX 4…its all the best thinking”

You have to develop your breathing and phrasing, because a lot of voiceover copy is pretty awkward.

On longer narrations like corporate or audio books, you’ll have to train your eyes to read about 3 words ahead of where your speaking so everything will sound idea driven. That means it should sound like you’re talking to a best friend and not just plodding through  like you’re just reading copy. When you take a catch breath you should dart your eyes to the right so you know whats coming up next. Voice and breath development is essential so your voice always sounds fresh and never tired.

You must a have a great voiceover demo. Casting directors only want a 60 second demo, Corporate video and other media producers often want 2 minutes because they sometimes feel tricked by people that only have 60 second demos.

Peoplesometomes send me terrible demo pieces auditioning saying “I know the audio is bad but hope you’ll like my voice” That is truly insane!!!  Don’t teach people that you have no idea what to do.

You have to have a computer that is new enough to handle media. If it’s no older than 5 years it should be ok. Mac or PC is fine. Everything is cross platform nowdays.

Recording equipment is very cheap now days. You can get completely set up for roughly $500 to $1200 depending on how you configure it all Check out ProTools

We use ProTools with United Audios Apollo for the hardware connection.

Also check out Audacity software its free and is ok to start with.

How to find those first jobs??? Once you have your voiceover demo you can call video production companies and ask if you can send them your vo demo to be on file for their corporate narratives. Do no, I repeat do not send your voiceover demo to anyone without asking permission. Most demos are sent by email as an MP3. Some companies will still ask for a CD but there are fewer of these every year. Media production companies do an endless series of Power point Presentation that all need to have voiceovers.

If you’re interested in audio books, sign up at audible.com ACX and look for books you’d like to voice. Pick books that have topics you’re interested in and your reads will be more naturally convincing

You can post your voiceover demo on internet casting sites like Voice Registry. It’s under the umbrella of voicebank.net which is one of the largest voiceover talent sites.

This is a great place to start and has a lot of support services as well. I like these guys a lot.

Alright, that’s the quick tour of how to break in. Get training, get your voiceover demo ready and don’t rush to put it together. It has to be authentic and not go outside the compass of your voice or personality. If it’s not great it’ll just convince people they don’t want you.

And finally do lots of searches on the internet on all aspects of voiceover. You have to become familiar with whats out their so you can form your own opinions based on your personal experiences. Other peoples advice is just a starting point so be curious, find out all that you possible can. And practice endlessly. Pick up a magazine and read out loud to practice your cold reading skills. Take the time you need to read it perfectly.

Look at it as an adventure a career puzzle that you can and will solve

And remember, people dumber that you are making a fortune.
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