Josh Elledge - Chief Executive Angel
If you've ever been told that you should be the voice on commercials, or that you have an interesting voice, using that talent to bring in extra income could be a good fit for you. With the availability of higher quality equipment for home use, recording your voice for a career as a voice-over artist is better than ever.
Breaking into the voice over business is not as complicated as it used to be. Voices.com is a good place to start when you're brand new. They provide a trusted platform to set up an online profile, make some demos, and look for possible starting opportunities, all for a low starting investment. Their website is a paid service, of only $1 a day to get going. And there is no long-term commitment. It's month-to-month.
Starting with a website like Voices.com is a cautious way to delve into the world of voice-overs. You can avoid the expense and frustration of the traditional route of making a demo ($1000+ to produce), sending numerous demo copies all over, and finding an agent. By starting online, you can see if doing voice-overs is really for you, whether or not people seem to like your voice (and even want to hire you), and whether or not you are able to be versatile in your voice talents. All from the comfort of home, and with a much lower starting investment.
Although you can do much of the work of a voice-over career from the comfort of home, realize that the actual jobs may or may not be from home. As you audition, you may need to travel to a nearby radio station, or television studio to actually do the recording. Be sure that you understand and are willing to abide by any travel needs prior to auditioning for a spot.
To get started with voice-overs, you should consider the following:
Taking an acting class. If you've never taken any kind of acting lessons, or aren't naturally expressive without using your body, an acting class is a good investment in yourself. You have to be able to convey a huge range of emotion doing voice-overs, all without anyone seeing your body language or facial expressions. Your voice has to say everything alone, without the body and face to help.
Securing good equipment. You'll need to make some investment in good voice-capturing equipment and computerized editing equipment. This includes a high quality microphone; a computer with both the capacity to handle editing software easily without freezing up, and good speakers; and easy, but excellent equipment for editing your recordings.
Making numerous recordings. Putting a lot of time and effort in up-front will be necessary for success. It may take you dozens of times to get a quality recording that's only 10 seconds long. You'll also need to have a profile and electronic portfolio that shows wide range of ability and styles.
Gathering some critics. Your family and friends may be able to help you here. Have them listen to your recordings and give feedback. How accurately can they pinpoint the emotion you were trying to convey? Do they enjoy hearing you tell about a product? Do they find anything off-putting or even irritating? Use feedback to improve your recordings until you have a set of stellar performances that truly showcase you as a talent.
Researching and setting your rates. It might be tempting to really low-ball starting out, but be careful that you don't start so low that raising your prices later will scare off potential employers. You'll need to set your prices for both growth and for getting your name out there. The goal is to get repeat customers for your voice, but if they always think they can get you on the cheap, it will become difficult to make more money later. What you charge also needs to be in accordance to what you're providing. To get an idea, Voices.com has a rate sheet you can use for reference. For example, a telephone system recording may pay as much as $100 per minute. Bear in mind, however, that a one minute recording could take you hours to produce.
Creating a smart profile. Be as thorough as possible in your online profile, without narrowing yourself too much. Both being too general, and too specific, could result in less job offers. Whenever possible, be sure to include life experience, such as having medical training or knowing a lot about a particular sport. These types of details can help potential employers know you could be a great fit, because you have a personal connection.
Investing in your craft. Even though stating online is a much lower start-up cost alternative to traditional routes to voice-over work”¦ it isn't going to be free. In addition to having an online subscription and profile with a company such as Voices.com, you may need to travel to jobs you've landed, invest in good home equipment, and more. Be sure you are able to handle any financial investments you'll need before getting started.
After you've gotten started:
Update your profile and practice, practice, practice. Keep your profile fresh and active. Don't let it sit stale and expect the calls to come rolling in. You need to stay active, making practice recordings and honing your craft.
Audition. A Lot. You're likely to go through numerous “no” responses before you get a “yes”. Don't be discouraged. Employers looking for voice talent usually have a specific style or voice-type in mind to bring their product or message to life. Sometimes it will be yours, but much of the time, it won't. Don't give up. Keep auditioning to find that perfect spot. And the next perfect one. And the next.
Consider signing with an agent. After you've gotten your feet wet, and landed a few jobs on your own, consider signing with a talent agent. A reputable agent will never ask for any money from you up front, so signing with them won't cost you anything. They only get paid a percentage of your earnings when you get paid. This could help you land more spots, and an agent can help negotiate higher rates for your talent, off-setting their fees.
Providing voice-overs is a varied and exciting field, with plenty of room for unique talent. From cartoons to medical information, employers are looking for a wide range of voices to bring their products and information to a listening world.
Will your voice be the one that everybody recognizes?
