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Is the Golden Age of Voice Over Gone? Part Two: Here Comes AI

Is AI going to replace real life voice over actors?

That’s a question that’s consistently popped up over the last several years, and a good question to explore in the second part of this blog series. Part one of the series looked at a voiceover talent’s transition into the digital era.

In part two, we’re diving into artificial intelligence (AI), the impact it’s having on the industry, and the idea of synthetic voices replacing real life actors. While we can never really know what the future may bring, I am inclined to say no, AI will not replace real life voice over actors.

There are several reasons I feel this way:

  • AI-generated narration can instantly kill all the drama and excitement when used for a full-length documentary-type TV show (as evidenced by one we ran across a few weeks back).
  • Certain AI-powered robot vacuums have voices that are annoying enough for people to return the product based on the voice alone.
  • No client has ever told me “We’re going to hire AI to do your job.” And if they did, I have enough work and clients coming in to wish them luck and move on.

And those are just a few of the reasons off the top of my head. I’ll go a bit deeper later in this article, right after we flesh out what’s going on with AI in the world of voice over.

AI and Technology in Voice Over

Voice technology has gotten more sophisticated, something I’ve touched on in past blogs. Examples include:

Synthetic Voices

Artificially produced replications of the human voice, such as simple commands on automated messages.

Text-to-Speech (TTS)

Text-to-speech transforms digital text into human speech. Google’s text-to-speech is a prime example.

AI Voices

Type of synthetic voice that uses deep learning to:

  • Transform text into human-sounding speech
  • Transform speech into text
  • Identify a person by their voice command

Voice Assistants

Voice assistant software can perform tasks or answer questions in response to a person’s voice. Think Amazon’s Alexa or Apple’s Siri.

Synthetic, On-Demand Voice Overs

Today you can actually find software that produces text-to-speech (TTS) voice overs as needed. The TTS voices are often synthetic voices generated by AI and other technology to help them sound less robotic and more human.

If you’d rather start off with a real voice, other technologies let you create a voice bank of a real person’s voice that can later be used to create synthetic speech. Here the voices originally come from human actors, but the sounds are broken down and then put together to produce the desired order needed for the project.

On the surface, it may appear as if technology is rapidly honing in on the voice over industry, ready to replace the real life actors. And for some uses, perhaps it has. But that doesn’t mean game over.

Downside of Artificial Voices

True, starting costs for using synthetic voices might be lower than hiring a professional voice over actor. You may also get a rapid-fast turnaround time, along with the ability to endlessly manipulate the recording as desired. But the pros have yet to outweigh the cons.

The cons of using synthetic voices include:

  • No unique sound. You may be purchasing a synthetic voice that’s used by dozens, or even hundreds or thousands, of other companies. Not only may the voice be mundane and overused, but it also runs the risk of sounding monotonous.
  • Limited library. While you may find plenty of voices speaking standard, non-accented English, you’ll likely be at a loss if you need regional accents or a less common language.
  • Endless manipulation. The ability to manipulate the recording to add pauses and other elements may be a plus. But you may also find yourself manipulating the recording to fix errors with acronyms, abbreviations, ambiguities, missed cues, bad flow and other issues that make the recording less than stellar.
  • Lack of humanness. The lack of humanness is the greatest downside. No matter how advanced artificially reproduced voices may be, the human brain can pick up the difference.

Why the Human Touch (and Sound) Matters

Even though they try to make a variety of different sounding AI voices, there is really no way to direct to the nuance that some clients desire.
When you take the humanness out of voices, you take away what connects us to our audience: human emotion.

Marketing relies heavily on human emotion, as up to 90% of our decisions are based on emotion. In fact, emotional branding has become one of the foremost ways many brands attempt to connect with their audience.

Real voice over actors are still the only way to provide the emotional connection that synthetic voices have yet to master. Hiring a seasoned voice actor also brings on added benefits, such as getting guidance on the script, receiving input based on their expertise, an opportunity to provide vocal direction and feedback on the delivery of the copy, and connecting with a real person to develop a professional relationship.

End of the Digital Era?

Voice technology has gotten better – but it’s still not to the point where it can substitute for a real person with real emotions. And even though advances may continue to be made, experts like author Greg Satell say we’re looking at the end of the digital era.

That doesn’t mean we’ll stop using digital technology. But it does mean we won’t necessarily see the same massive explosion of new technologies that we’ve seen of late.

“We’ve spent the last few decades learning how to move fast,” Satell notes. “Over the next few decades we’re going to have to relearn how to go slow again.”

Slower and more in-depth, using all this technology for meaningful projects that go beyond automating robo calls or shutting off porch lights with a voice command.

“We are awash in nifty gadgets,” Satell writes, “but in many ways we are no better off than we were 30 years ago.”

Voice Over: Greatest Challenges, Greatest Joys

This all brings me to one final thing I noticed as I was thinking and writing about the changes in the voice over industry. It can be summed up with a quote from French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr (written in 1849):

“The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

No matter what has changed in the voice over in the way of technology and work methods, two fundamental elements remain the same. One is the greatest challenge and the other is the greatest joy.

  • The greatest challenge is still finding and securing work. Finding people who are doing the hiring and getting in front of them. True, you now get in front of them with an email instead of an in-person connection, but you still need a way to stand out from the crowd.
  • The greatest joy will always be connecting with clients and delivering exactly what they’re looking for.

Another thing that has stayed the same is the suggestions I give to new talent looking to break into the industry. The most important thing is a good, clean sound – and the willingness to work hard for what you want.

Just because technology has made some things faster and easier doesn’t mean technology does everything for you. People still have to put in the legwork if they want to succeed – in anything.

I feel lucky to have entered the voice over world when I did, as it’s given me a chance to embrace a wide range of different experiences. While I miss the in-person work with other actors, (even though we have ways to live-connect digitally with each other now, via Source Connect, Zoom and other methods), I also love the ability to be around my family working from home. Not to mention living anywhere I want and still being able to get a steady stream of work.

I’d also say it’s actually easier for me to find work today than it was when I first started. I have a lot of fingers in a lot of different pools. I have a variety of auditions coming to me from many sources. And, clients can find me by searching for female voice talent (or something related) online. SEO is a wonderful thing, and optimization of one’s website is very important these days.

And I have a large stable of clients I built up over the years that I stay in touch with. Once again, the human connection comes into play. Like any meaningful career, it’s not only about the work you do but the relationships you develop… Relationships you just can’t get from technology, no matter how fast, cheap or accessible it may be.

Thank you for reading this post! Let me know when you need a custom audition or voice over quote for an upcoming project.

Is the Golden Age of Voice Over Gone? Part One: Into the Digital Era

Will things get better or worse? That’s a question people consistently ask about everything from the economy to the voice over industry to a change in their favorite restaurant’s menu. While we could sit around discussing the question for hours, or even days, I recall a very short answer that summed it up best:

“Things don’t get better or worse. They get different.”

And that’s exactly what happened in the world of voice over. While some may pine for what might be considered the Golden Age of voice over, others say a new Golden Age may be upon us.

Either way, I have used a few key strategies over the years to sustain my own voice over career through whatever comes across my path. For others facing significant changes in their own careers, or those embarking on the VO bandwagon, perhaps these strategies can help you, too.

The Early Days of Voice Over

While the definition of voice over’s Golden Age may vary, I feel it’s an era reserved for some true veteran voice actors. I don’t consider myself part of the Golden Age, although I have been in the business for more than 25 years.

When I entered the scene in the 1990s, in-person studio recordings were the norm. If you wanted any level of notable voice over work, you needed to live in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles or Southern California where the big studios and the big jobs were.

An average day in the voice over world for me included spending a lot of time attending live auditions, doing in-studio work – and being stuck in Southern California traffic.

Commercials made up the bulk of my work, mostly local commercials for businesses in the area. Yes, the work was exciting. And yes, I had a lot of fun.

I remember working at a studio in Irvine, California, with another OC native; Scott Rummell. He’s one of the top people in the voice over world, with a body of work that includes movie trailers, network promos, and commercials for national and regional TV, and gave me a valuable leg up in the beginning of my career. We used to record spots together, acting as husband and wife for local supermarkets or copier companies.

My background was acting, so I was used to working with other actors and creating believable dialogue. That was always the most fun… getting to work with other actors in a live situation.

A Voice Over Career in the 1990s

  • Live auditions
  • In-person studio recordings
  • Often recording with other actors in the studio together
  • Getting work through casting and talent agents
  • Voice over actor’s job was to read and interpret the copy
  • Engineers and production crew took care of the recording, editing, sound quality, and everything else that went into the finished, delivered product
  • In-person marketing – where personality played a huge role
  • Printed headshots
  • Demos on cassette tapes and then CDs, which were always cheaper if you bought in bulk. I still have a box of CDs left over from 20 years ago!

The early days were exciting. I was getting paid to be an actor – and that was my goal. Some people never get near that. Sure, I had some side jobs at the beginning, like working at a florist and marketing a murder mystery dinner theater, but I was driven to make acting my full-time career.

At one point, one of my side jobs ended. I saw it as a turning point. I knew I could draw unemployment for about six months and use the time to get all the pieces together to really focus on what I wanted to do.

From there, I just took one step after the other. The work got better. I made more money. Time is on your side. If you can stick out the tough stuff in the beginning, it does start to get a little easier.

And although I do miss certain aspects of the early days, I also know things tend to appear rosier in hindsight.

  • What I miss most: Working in-person with other actors.
  • What I miss least: Being stuck in the Southern California traffic. I can get so much more work when I’m not wasting time on the freeway.

The Digital Age of Voice Over

When the digital age began to unfold, my initial reaction was less than thrilled. It was more like: “Oh my gosh. What the heck is this technology, and how am I going to work with it?” And I might not have, if I had not met my husband.

I was not a computer person AT ALL, and he was the one who really nudged me into the computer and internet age. The transition has been challenging to me, but I’ve been able to learn what I need to know – and usually hire people to help with the rest.

There are people who are more adept than I am with technology, but that doesn’t mean I’m not proud of the progress I’ve made. I still sometimes go through everything I’ve learned and pat myself on the back. These days, technology is wired into younglings, so it’s mostly a breeze for them. They have other challenges.

Technology aside, the biggest challenge in the digital age has been connecting with potential clients; the people who are going to hire you. The current mantra is that anybody and everybody can be a voice over talent – which also comes with a downside.

Now you’re not just completing with the people in L.A. you see in the audition waiting room. You’re competing with people in every state… in every country. You’re competing with the world.

Voice Over Experience Matters  

Seasoned voice actors do have the advantage of experience and the ability to say no to jobs that are not a good fit. Examples being clients who may have not directed a lot of voice over recordings and put you through the mill, asking for multiple free auditions or even recordings. Sorry, no.

Seasoned actors can end up with a disadvantage in certain cases. Sometimes a client may be looking for a voice that is unrefined, very raw and not polished. When you’ve been doing voice acting for so long, it’s kind of hard to turn off the polish.

A Voice Over Career in the 2020s

  • Digital auditions
  • Digital studio recordings
  • Usually alone in home studio
  • Getting work through voice over marketplaces, casting agencies, talent agencies, pay-to-play platforms
  • Voice over actor’s job is everything related to the craft: recording, editing, marketing, maintaining a website, the whole kit and caboodle
  • Online marketing where voice over websites and other savvy digital assets play a huge role
  • On-demand digital samples of work
  • Digital demos

After all these years, voice over work still brings me joy. My biggest joy is pleasing a client… when you get to hear something like, “Gee, that was really fantastic. It’s great working with you.”

I experienced one of those sessions recently, where we just whizzed through a series of difficult recordings for a major university fundraiser. In many cases, they were satisfied with the first take. It’s so freeing to work with someone who has such confidence in my abilities… someone who can just let me go and do my thing.

I used to be thrilled to hear my voice on TV or on the radio. My voice would come on while my kids were watching TV and they’d say, “There’s mom!”

Now I do a smattering of commercials, and the bulk of my work is long-form narration. E-learning and similar projects, along with some phone prompt work. I got into voice over narration very quickly, which perfectly aligns with the demands in the digital age.

And yes, my work is still fun. It’s like a game for me. Every morning I wake up, see what’s in my email inbox. I’m scouting possible jobs not just for me, but also for my college-age daughter who also does voice over work. I meet with her over Zoom once a day to do whatever auditions and client work she has in between her other work and classes. It’s a sneaky way for me to be in constant touch with her while she’s away at college…and she still makes a nice purse from her work too, which helps to pay for it all.

I have a set routine and a speed. It energizes me to think, “There’s another audition, there’s another opportunity.” You never know which one is going to hit with a client. When you do get the job offer, it’s a big win. Fortunately, I put enough spaghetti on the wall so some of it does stick!

  • What I enjoy most: Ease and speed of my daily routine.
  • What I enjoy least: Dealing with finicky technology. Nearly all of the most memorable scary moments in my career involve technology failing at extremely inopportune times.

How to Keep a Voice Over Career Going

Even though I miss some aspects of the earlier days of voice over, and I am still not a big fan of technology, at no point did I ever want to throw in the towel to pursue another career. As with any type of freelance career, voice over income can fluctuate. But even during years where we didn’t make as much money as we’d hoped, I’m still making more than I would at any other job that uses the education, experience and skills I have.

The strategies I used to keep my voice over career going can be used by anyone in any career. They are:

  • Look forward, not back: Remember the past is always rosier in your mind and new things can be even more exciting.
  • Know your limitations: There was no doubt I was not a computer person, and I never pretended to be.
  • Learn and adapt: I was willing to learn what I needed to stay in the game. This reminds me of an Eleanor Roosevelt quote: “You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” And I certainly thought I couldn’t do all those computer tasks!
  • Get a game plan: Those six months of preparing for a voice over career gave me a solid path and foundation for moving forward.
  • Keep your eye on the prize: Voice over work was and is my passion. No matter what challenges I need to face, I remind myself daily how lucky I am to have a job I love.

Will I still love voice over with artificial intelligence (AI) honing in? Ask me again in two years (kidding)! Actually, you can check out my take on voice over and AI in my next article: “Is the Golden Age of Voice Over Gone? Part Two: Here Comes AI.” Stay tuned!  

Voice Over Trends 2022: Hottest Marketing Trends You Don’t Want to Miss

Hop on your computer or smartphone, and within seconds you’re sure to end up running across a video. Or two. Or three. Voice over trends in video has been steadily gaining steam as one of the most popular ways to connect with your target audience. And the audience loves it, too.

In fact, 99% of the respondents to a video marketing survey said they enjoy watching online video content from brands.

That said, it’s no surprise that three of the top voice over trends for 2022 all happen to be related to video. They are:

While brands can certainly DIY with video, it’s imperative they deliver quality. That means quality content, quality footage and quality audio. A seasoned voice over pro can contribute greatly to the latter, helping to transform a run-of-the-mill vlog, social or interactive video into a compelling piece that perfectly speaks for and aligns with your brand. Here’s how.

Voice Over Trends & Vlogs

We all know about blogs (you’re reading one now). Since their introduction in the mid-1990s, blogs have become one of the most common ways for both businesses and individuals to share information. But with more than 600 million blogs currently on the internet, getting people to pay attention to your blog may be no easy feat.

Video blogs, or vlogs, can help gain new attention. Instead of reading words on a page, your audience is treated to a video on the screen. And if you want it to succeed, it needs to go beyond a video of you just sitting there reading your blog. A vlog script is going to be written a lot differently than a straight-up blog post.

Vlogs present a prime opportunity to:

  • Showcase your brand style and personality
  • Create a human connection between your business and your audience
  • Keep people coming back for more

Why You Want It

Vlogs have become a hot commodity, and with good reason. They get results.

How Voice Over Contributes to Vlog Success

The tone and style of your writing gets your brand personality across in your blogs. The right voice over artist does the same for your vlogs. That means you want to pay careful attention to the voice you choose. Sure, you need just the right tone and style. But you also need just the right sound.

A rugged, masculine brand, for instance, may lose credibility if the voice in your vlog sounds like a preppy, 20-something barista. And your peppy, energetic brand may lose customers if you deliver a vlog with an overly mature and/or serious voice.

The main aim of a vlog is to build a friendly, trusting relationship with your viewers—and the voice you use can play a huge role in making this happen. You want a casual and welcoming tone that reflects the style and personality of your brand. While this may be a tricky task for some, it’s a regular part of the job for voice over artists.

You can also look for voice over talent who not only have experience reading scripts, but editing or even writing them as well.

Social Video Marketing 

Social media videos can be posted on your social feed or as a social media story, on platforms that range from Facebook to Instagram, from TikTok to Twitter. Where you post your video depends on where your target audience hangs out.

You can also use a variety of different video types to meet a wide range of goals. These include:

  • Explainer videos that explain how a product or service works
  • Educational videos for providing tips, guides and other info while creating brand awareness
  • Brand history videos that outline your brand’s origin and creation
  • Behind-the-scenes videos that give viewers a sneak peek into your company
  • Brand anthem videos, which outline why your brand exists

Why You Want It

When done right, social video marketing is incredibly effective for grabbing attention—and results.

  • Social video generates 1200% more shares than images and text combined.
  • People retain 95% of a message when they see it on video, compared to the 10% retention rate of text.
  • Brands that use video grow revenue 49% more quickly than those that don’t use video.

How Voice Over Trends Contribute to Social Media Video Success 

People tend to barrel through their social media feeds at rapid speeds. The only way to gain any attention is to deliver something that grabs and holds their attention. A high-quality video can be that something.

It’s a simple next step to make sure the voice aligns with the type of video and information being presented. Common sense can assist in matching the right voice with the right product or service.

And just because you have a variety of different video types doesn’t mean you need to hire a variety of different voice over actors. The most skilled voice over performers are able to match their tone and style with the type of video and information at hand. Once you find a voice that aligns with your brand, you may be able to use that same voice for every video project in the hopper.

Interactive Videos  

Unlike linear video where the viewer passively watches the video on the screen, interactive video (IV) invites people to click or otherwise make selections that make an action occur.

Interactive video quizzes are a good example. Depending on the answer you provide, they either move to a screen that says you’re right or one that says you’re wrong.

A more advanced example would be an interactive video in which you are able to choose different pairs of shoes, shirts and other apparel…that completes with a model wearing the items you selected.

Interactive video has the power to:

  • Make your video more compelling and effective
  • Draw the viewer into the content
  • Make a memorable impact, particularly for training and learning videos

Why You Want It

Just how much more compelling and effective is interactive video? Interactive video:

  • Delivers up to four times more engagements and conversions over linear video
  • Averages a click-through rate that’s 10 times higher than passive video
  • Increases the completion rate of watching the entire video by 36%

How Voice Over Trends Contribute to Interactive Video Success 

One of the greatest allures of interactive video is giving control to the viewer. It’s the viewer who makes the decisions and determines where the interaction will take them. With this in mind, you need a voice that is friendly and welcoming but in no way pushy or overbearing.

Some may also incorrectly believe that interactive video dumbs things down, or makes things too simplistic. Although it is true that IV is a staple in the gaming and K-12 e-learning environment, the concept can be effectively used for many other applications.

Interactive videos can deliver complex information in a way that’s both compelling and sophisticated, providing an experience that’s on the same knowledge level as the viewers. In this case you’d want a voice that’s again welcoming, but not too causal or overly enthusiastic. A voice that feels like it’s actually speaking to the viewer/listener one-on-one, in a real conversation, keeper the viewer engaged for the entire video.

In short, your interactive video is best poised to get the results you want if it has the voice you need. And that voice had better be consistent. Unlike linear video that can be recorded in one fell swoop, interactive video is typically made up of several different components.

The video may have different branches, events and overlays that pause for a viewer to make a decision—and then resume down the selected path once the decision is made. Your voice over needs to be consistent throughout all the different components, even if those components are recorded at different times.

For viewers in a hurry, providing a downloadable audio summary of the video can deliver an overview of all the info the video contains. Of course, your voice over talent could record that, too.

With vlogs, social video marketing and interactive video topping the list of voice over trends for 2022, there’s no doubt video will continue to explode in the marketing world. As more and more brands produce it, the stiffer the competition becomes. It’s become more essential than ever to give your videos the edge that make them stand out from the pack. Adding professional voice over video narration can be just the element to make that happen.

How Do I Get Started in Voice Over?

You want to learn how to get started in voice over. You are certainly not alone.

In fact, the query “How do I get started in voice over?” is one I get so frequently that I’m compiling some basic information and advice. This way anyone who lands on my site with this question can check out this blog – instead of sending an email – for an overview of what I recommend.

You’ll find my advice may differ from other voice over actors, so you’re free to take it for what it’s worth. After spending nearly 30 years in this business, I’ve learned a lot and seen many changes from when I began.

Getting started or becoming proficient in voice acting is not as simple as it may seem. Contrary to what you may have heard or think:

  • You need MUCH more than just a voice and a microphone.
  • All the people and sites promising an “easy way to make money from home doing voice over” are way off-base.

Like any entrepreneurial venture, you have to be smart, and tenacious, and creative, and talented, and WORK hard. Yes, hard work is part of the deal.

It’s not an easy or obvious road to navigate and, for most, the challenge is simply more than they’re up for. Often, it takes years figuring out the right paths, and putting it all into play to actually start making money.

No “Get Rich Quick” scheme here. It’s all about building a business and career. Like anything worthy, it doesn’t happen overnight. But, like any venture, it can be done with proper commitment, talent, desire and some luck.

There are more voice over opportunities than ever these days, but the competition is formidable.

I don’t coach talent, but will pass along a link from a VO Pros group on Facebook. The link comes from a fellow voice over actor, based in Los Angeles, and offers a crash course in what to do to get started in the industry:

Crash Course for Getting Started in Voice Over

And here comes my take on what it takes to get started in voice over, with eight tips I freely share with anyone who asks.

1. Do Your Research

When I started, the internet did not yet exist (yes, I’m a dinosaur!). Now, it serves as a treasure trove of information – which can be a double-edged sword if you fall into the trap of information overload.

You don’t have to figure it all out overnight. But you will have to figure out what is helpful information, and what applies to you in whatever stage you’re in. There are lots of books, webinars, blogs, podcasts, groups, and on and on.

There is no ONE approach. It’s up to YOU to do your homework, and figure out what seems a good fit for your situation, your particular vocal strengths and what you’d like to focus on.

You’ll find a bunch of links throughout this piece, that I’ve personally selected from trustworthy sources, packed with solid information.

And remember, it’s a marathon. You have to take small steps and reward yourself along the way. Otherwise, it can all just be too much.

Do your due diligence, to see if it’s even something you truly want to pursue.

Making a Move

Many people have very limited knowledge about all that voice over entails. They may also not understand that most big commercial, animation and gaming work comes from talent agencies and casting companies in large markets, such as LA, NY and Chicago.

Your overall goal may be one that requires a physical move to get to the place where you can actually pursue the niche you want. (But I wouldn’t suggest making a big move until you’re truly ready and committed with your goals in place.)

Working from Home

A lot of VO work these days is done from home studios across the globe. That means it is possible to book work from anywhere—although it’s probably a lot less glamorous than what you might think. But you have to establish yourself first, and that can be the tricky part.

Do a Google search on “How to break into VO” and you’ll have thousands of links to peruse. You’ll also find tons of information on the topic on my own blog, so check it out for more specific details.

Here are two pieces you may benefit from right off the bat:

Knowing the Players

Part of your job is knowing who the players are. That’s the research I’m talking about.  Here are a few links for some basics to get you started. Bookmark them and visit often:

  • Vo Buzz Weekly: GREAT information from Chuck Duran (hottest VO demo producer in LA) and the incredible guests he has on this weekly show. There are archives of shows with VO actors, agents, casting directors and coaches. You’ll see some of the same names in links I personally recommend further down the page.
  • Voice Over Resource Guide: Extremely up-to-date information on casting companies, talent agencies, union rates, training, and demo production in the Los Angeles and NYC areas.
  • Global Voice Academy Rate Guide: This is a great guide for VO rates and other pertinent info on upcoming seminars, workshops, conventions, coaches and more. I use it all the time, to reference to clients, so they know I’m not just making up my rates out of thin air.
  • Nethervoice Blog: Get on the subscriber list for this blog. Paul Strikwerda is one of the most eloquent and astute bloggers on topics related to VO. I agree with nearly everything he writes.
  • Debbie Grattan Blog: And if you haven’t already checked out my website and blog, then bookmark that as well

2. Attend a Voice Over Workshop

Once you’ve done some research, seek out a good workshop. A good workshop is one that:

  • Is led by a true professional in a real recording studio (if possible)
  • Contains actual commercial and narration copy
  • Teaches you about interpretation, trends, working with a microphone and taking live direction

There is a lot of skill involved in voice over…more than one might think. It’s not as easy as it may seem. Kinda like when you watch a great golfer take a swing. It looks effortless. But of course we know the years of coaching, detail and practice that went into getting it just right.

An industry professional will share current vocal trends in the market, such as today’s focus on conversational, real-person voice overs. This may be trickier than expected to deliver in an audition, when the copy is often not written in a very conversational style.

Niche Markets, Major Markets

Certainly, it’s possible to be proficient in many VO niches. But each requires not only different skills in interpreting copy, but also variations in audio editing, marketing, demos, gathering prospects and clients and follow up.

You’ll find many more workshop classes in major markets, but there can also be offerings in smaller markets as well.  Even a community college might offer a class. Try it out somewhere to see what it’s all about. Your first encounter will give you a better idea if voice over is something you think you want to pursue.

Voice Over Workshop Benefits

Workshops also allow you to network with other VO actors, and find out what they’re doing to promote themselves and get connected in the industry.

Some examples of recommended workshops for VO in LA and vicinity:

  • Kalmenson & Kalmenson: Definitely one of the best in town. Also, watch Cathy and Harvey “Da Harv” Kalmenson on VO Buzz Weekly to get a personalized interview to hear what expert advice they have to offer.
  • Wallis Agency: A nice list from a Hollywood agent with several VO workshops in town.
  • Braintracks Audio: Super- hot VO coach Nancy Wolfson. You can learn a lot just from watching her videos.

Schedules may be different or on hold due to COVID, making patience a key.

One more important note:

The vast majority of working VO professionals have a rich background in performance, so it’s a BIG plus to have training or experience in:

  • Acting
  • Stand-up comedy
  • Improvisation

If you are lacking in these skills, best to get some basic training or brush up on techniques.

If you choose to pursue voice over as a career, you will be competing with top-notch actors. A background in performance will help you greatly.

3. Be Coach-Able and Be Patient

Allow your mind to embrace new ideas.  Don’t get in your own way with negative thinking. Any career in the entertainment industry is highly coveted and fiercely competitive.

You need to maintain your own personal support system to help you roll with the rejection that’s a day-to-day part of the job. Be kind to others and to yourself.

The truth is:

The actual recording part of a VO pro’s day is only a very small part.

  • 5 to 25% of the day: Time spent recording
  • 75 to 95% of the day: Time spent FINDING the work (especially in the early days)

That’s the challenging part.  And no matter how good you get, you’re still going to have to be your best cheerleader, your best salesperson, and learn to enjoy the challenge. Find the things you like about it, and celebrate when you’ve hit a goal or had a success!

4. Learn What It Takes to Run a Business

Most people find it hard being an entrepreneur, which is what you have to be as a VO actor. It’s a rare few that make it past the hurdles to actually make their living in VO or acting.

You must:

  • Take charge
  • Wear many hats, and be good at most (if not all) to succeed
  • Make up the rules as you go
  • Discern what’s working and what’s not
  • Be creative in your approach
  • Be tenacious

Whew. If that’s not enough, you must also keep going and going – even when the going gets tough.

While there are suggestions from everywhere, there is no ONE road to success. It’s different for everybody, and it’s up to you to find what personally works for you.

5. Invest in Yourself and Your New Career Path

You’ve heard “It takes money to make money?” Well, that’s definitely true in a voice over career.

You have to be willing to invest in your career. You will be required to spend money on the things that are vital to getting you up and running.  Think in possibility.

My order of spend for your career over the first year or two:

In-person or remote VO workshops or coaching sessions

  • Cost: $250 to $500+ depending on location and instructor

You’ll probably want to take more than one before moving on to the next step.

Home studio setup

  • Cost: $1,000+ for adequate studio setup

Essential for your own practice and ability to learn the basics of recording and editing. You’ll find tons of online info to help with home studio setups. Don’t invest in a WhisperRoom or a super expensive mic just yet.

A quiet place like a closet or corner you can treat with a noise dampening technique is a good place to start. When or if it becomes clear you want to pursue this venture further, you can upgrade your studio setup as needed.

Joining a pay-to-play (P2P) site

  • Cost: $199 to $300 per year to join at a beginning level

P2P sites let voice seekers post auditions for voice actors to submit. Major sites, like Voices.com, Voice123, VO Planet and others will have an annual membership fee. Since you won’t yet have your own professional website at this stage, P2P sites are a place to set up a temporary web presence with a bio and some demos of your work.

Beware: You may audition for hundreds of jobs on sites like these and not book one for a very long time – or ever! You have to not only be patient, but also get feedback from a coach or other industry professional to tell you what’s working and what’s not in your auditions.

Professional demo production

  • Cost: $200 to $2,500+

Many newbies want to make a demo right out of the gate. I don’t recommend doing so, as you have to learn and grow as a voice actor before your demo is competitive in the market.

Certainly you can DIY, but most professionals will hire a demo producer to take you from beginning to final. Don’t spend on the high end at this stage.

Many auditions want a custom demo, with their script. That means having any type of premade demo may not even be requested or needed anywhere else but your web page.

At least one professional demo, and perhaps several, will be imperative once you reach the point where you decide to make voice over into something more than a hobby. You’ll need demos if you wish to pursue agency representation, which is not necessary but helpful for bigger jobs.

6. Regularly Read Industry Blogs to Stay in the Know

The internet is your friend. It provides answers to nearly all of your questions. There are TONS of books, articles, blogs and other content about the business of voice over. Read something by Marc Cashman, for sure.

Once you start familiarizing yourself with industry pros, you’ll find those with whom you resonate. You’ll be able to keep up with industry happenings by continuing to branch out with those in the know.

7. Join Social Networking Groups for Voice Over

From Facebook and LinkedIn to Twitter and Instagram, get on the social networking platforms. You’ll find TONS of VO groups, with all sorts of advice on everything from where to get a demo to how to set up a home studio, to what producers you want to avoid.

Helpful links to get you started:

  • VO Peeps: Meetup group delivering resources and info about the industry. Great for networking and ongoing learning.

Search around for more group on all the social platforms. But be careful to not waste too much time chatting or posting. Like most social media, it can be a huge time waster if you get sidetracked. If you stay on track, it’s a fantastic way to get connected to others in the industry and LEARN.

You’ll find the VO community to be among the warmest and most helpful out there. Everyone was once in your shoes. They all had to figure a way to get wherever they are.

If you’re not in-person in a workshop, then interface with the VO community online:

  • In groups
  • Chat rooms
  • Podcasts
  • Webinars
  • Wherever you can

Keep in mind they are doing a favor in handing out any advice (unless you’ve hired them for coaching services). That means you don’t want to over-impose. And never send a one-line note asking, “How do I break into the VO industry.” That’s just a big turn-off for most VO pros.

8. Study Successful VO Talent in Your Chosen Category

Identify and study your competition. It’s really simple to do that nowadays, with that fancy little laptop or smart phone you have. Or just watch and listen to commercial spots to hear what’s current.

Google is your gateway to the world. Research other VO talent. Take notes on what you like about their demos, websites, communication, blogs and other content. Then use it to assist you in your journey.

You need to be aware of who you are competing with. You also need to find your own unique way to stand out amongst the competition. That’s something you’ll have to do with EVERY audition, so get used to it!

Summing It Up for New Voice Over Talent  

The MASSIVE amount of voice over information out there can be overwhelming, especially at first. But literally any question you can ask will have an answer – or multiple answers.

Podcasts to put on your list:

As mentioned, I personally do not coach talent, but there are many VO professionals who do. Marketing oneself as a coach for actors is an entirely separate business from acting and VO, and I only have the time and energy to devote to one. But there are good teachers out there.

If you follow through with the slate of info in this article, it will surely lead you to other important sources of information and the next step on the ladder. You’ll find many more steps past those listed here. In fact, the steps are never ending.  But if you enjoy what you’re doing, then it will always be a fun ride.

Just keep swimming!
Best of Luck!

Are You Willing to Do What It Takes to Succeed at Voice Over? – Part 3

The idea of a voice over career can be alluring indeed, especially when many people think it automatically delivers easy money, fun work and maybe even a chance to voice famous characters or worldwide campaigns. Here are a few tips to help you succeed at voice over.

For starters, it doesn’t always deliver those perks. True, a small percentage of voice over artists get to voice famous characters and worldwide campaigns – but they’re typically well-known actors to begin with. And thinking that any career automatically delivers easy money and fun work is an erroneous thought across the board.

Making it as a voice over artist takes a lot of proverbial blood, sweat and tears, along with the willingness to endure many things people may not even think about before they dive headfirst into the industry. As the third and final part in my blog series about launching a voice over career, this article is going to expose those things.

Part One of the series asked you to go deeper into your reasons for choosing a VO career. Part Two of the series asked you to determine if voice over delivered the legacy, mastery, freedom and alignment you need out of a career. Part Three is again going to ask a question, but only a single practical question:

Are you willing?

Are you willing to go to the lengths needed to make an honest attempt at voice over success? Before you answer, you probably want to know what those lengths would be. You’ll find them in the questions below.

Are You Willing to…

Give up that thing called job security?

Like any form of self-employment, especially in a creative field, the workflow tends to fluctuate. You may be overloaded one month, and get barely any jobs the next. You’ll also be paying for your own health insurance, sick days, vacation time and other expenses a full-time position would normally cover.

Even once you build up your voice over career with regular clients, monthly income can vary widely. But that doesn’t mean the monthly bills can go unpaid. Wise creatives save during the rainfalls so they’re properly prepared for the droughts.

Build your skills before you even begin?

Your first step in a voice over career is not to record a demo. It’s to strengthen your skills so you’re ready to record a demo. No matter how good your neighbor thinks you are at funny accents or character voices, unprofessional demos can be spotted a mile away. They can also work against you in the long run.

Building skills involves:

  • Hiring a voice coach
  • Attending voice and acting workshops and classes
  • Doing daily technical exercises to warm up your voice and improve control
  • Learning how to analyze scripts
  • Recording and listening to your voice with a critical ear
  • Practice, practice and more practice

Spend money (and more money) before you start making money?

Starting a voice over career is a big investment. Really big. In addition to the coaching, workshop and course fees, you’re going to need to invest in a lineup of other start-up expenses.

These include:

  • Home studio and equipment
  • Online or industry subscriptions
  • Demos
  • Website and marketing

Dedicate a portion of your pay to your team? 

Behind many successful voice over actors is a team of players. And those players need to get paid. Key players on the team can include:

  • Your agent, who typically gets about 10% of your pay
  • Your manager, who gets around 15% of your pay
  • Your marketing team, with a budget dependent on how much work you give them
  • Subcontractors, who handle the work you don’t have the time or skills to do yourself
  • Suppliers, who provide things you need on a regular basis (like your monthly subscriptions) 

Be a highly disciplined and strict boss – to yourself?

If you’re the type that needs a boss breathing down your neck, you’re most likely not going to cut it in the world of voice over. This profession demands that you BE that boss, pushing yourself to get things done. To be successfully self-employed in any profession, you need to be disciplined, self-motivated and strict enough to keep the ball rolling forward – even if it appears it’s going nowhere.

Learn how to run a business?

Being your own boss also means running your own business. A profitable business. In addition to the discipline and self-motivation mentioned above, running a profitable business takes plenty of know-how about the technical ends of things. These include invoicing, getting paid, balancing budget, providing optimum customer service, connecting with prospects and clients, and many other tasks. You’ll find the bulk of voice over work is often behind the scenes, rather than behind the microphone.

Spend more time trying to get work than actually doing the work?

Auditions. Marketing. Prospect and client correspondence. Follow-up and more follow-up. Only a small percentage of your time is apt to be spent actually recording jobs. Savor that time, but don’t get too used to it.

Sell yourself in the marketplace?

A voice over career is not for the weak. And it’s not for the meek. You’ll need to get out there and sell yourself. Marketing is a huge and necessary part of the job to get your voice heard above the fierce and never-ending competition. It’s vital to create a strong presence in the marketplace, and equally as important to nurture relationships with existing clients. This takes time, effort, professionalism and a service-oriented mindset. 

Embrace rejection?

While you most likely won’t be able to count on a steady paycheck, you can always count on a steady stream of rejections. Taking them personally will tank your career before it even gets off the ground. With so much competition, it’s only natural that rejections are the norm, not the exception. Grow a thick skin. A really thick skin. And use the rejections to make you stronger.

You can also do what I’ve learned to do. I submit an audition and forget about it, moving on to the next one. If it comes back with an offer, great. If not, I am not crushed or disappointed.

Sit alone in a booth for hours on end?

Some people need ongoing interaction with others throughout the day. You’re not going to find it with a voice over career. Any interaction is typically via email or an occasional business phone call. You’ll be spending lots of time alone, in a booth, with no one else around.

Sitting (or standing) alone in a booth for hours each day is just one of the potentially stressful aspects of the job. Unpredictability and ongoing rejection can end up getting to some people as well. If that’s the case for you, this may not be your best career option.

Enter a field that gives you no guarantee?

Even with the proper pieces in place, there is no guarantee you’ll get any voice over work at all. Ever. Hard work, determination and perseverance all play major roles when it comes to attaining voice over success, but there’s also a bit of luck involved. Being at the right place at the right time. Meeting the right people. And many other factors far beyond our control.

If you’re willing to endure the behind-the-scenes elements that come with a voice over career, you may have what it takes to make it work. That is, of course, if you’re willing to do one more thing:

Get up and do it all again tomorrow.

While the stakes are high and the return can be low, a voice over career can be a highly rewarding career. I know I’d have it no other way. I also know one of the most important aspects of the journey is to ensure you’re ready, willing and able to do what it takes before you even begin.

Points to Ponder before Zooming into a Voiceover Career – Part 2

So, you want a voiceover career. Cool.

Often people may (mistakenly) regard voiceover work as a career that delivers fast and easy money, and maybe even with a bit of glamour too. Who doesn’t want to hear their voice on TV and radio, or even a video game, or wow – an animated movie!?

Unfortunately, the truth is that it’s a competitive and challenging industry. Folks who may think it is just about creating silly character voices come to a very rude awakening when they realize the long and arduous road that lies ahead for any real measure of success.

Even if the unemployment stats of actors at around 90% don’t scare you off, other aspects of a voice acting business most certainly can.

We discussed several of those aspects in Part One of this blog series, where we also talked about ways to determine if a VO career path may be the right path for you. Here in Part Two of the series, we’re going to dive even deeper with another big question:

Will a VO career give you what you really want out of a job?

Put the ideas of fast money and glamour aside, especially since they may not even be possible until much farther down the road of your career. Let your pride and ego move out of the picture.

Open your heart and check out four points to ponder to help you determine if voiceover could be a meaningful career choice for you.

Legacy

Legacy refers to what you leave behind once you’re gone. It can be thought of as what you did, and what you’re remembered for.

Why Legacy Matters

Your legacy is what you leave behind as a contribution for future generations. When people think of you, what will come to mind?

It’s easy to see what great artists and writers left behind as their legacy. Others still learn from their work today. Notable architects and scientists also leave an obvious legacy. I realize that even this collection of blogs is a bit of a legacy for me. But you don’t need to leave behind remarkable buildings, literature or works of art to pass something on to future generations, or to feel that your life mattered.

Does a voiceover career align with the way you want to be remembered?

When it comes to the legacy of a voiceover career, it goes much deeper than just a library of recording projects on YouTube or your website.

For me personally, the bulk of the recordings I do for my voiceover work consists of content that is pretty boring. True. Some clients even apologize to me in advance about how boring their script content is. In fact, from an artistic perspective, there are a very few projects out of the thousands I’ve done that would be terribly impressive to anyone.

Most of the time, I’m using my vocal skills to sell a product, explain how to do something and/or enhance someone’s service or brand. It’s rare that I actually get the chance to play a real character in a situation with any true depth of emotion.

It’s not that acting skills don’t come in handy. It’s just that there are much fewer opportunities to lend a voice to something with a real story, as in a feature film, animated series, or even a video game. That kind of work is coveted, rare, and often relegated first to the A-list actor pool, with any remaining scraps being highly contested through agency auditions.

That said, my personal legacy has more to do with pursuing and achieving a dream than showcasing a catalog of exciting work. From a young age, my dream was to be a working actor – to make my living in the industry. After decades of dedication, concentrated effort, good luck and the grace of God, I’ve ultimately found that success. I’m able to pass down the notion to my children: With focus, clear vision, and tenacity, dreams can come true.

Would that be a legacy worthy of your efforts in a voiceover career? Ask yourself what matters to you.

Mastery

Mastery involves using strengths you want to improve, and employing those strengths in a way you find rewarding.

Why Mastery Matters

Finding something you’re good at – and that you love to do – is one of the keys for creating a career that is more pleasure than work. While there will still be specific tasks within a career that are mundane or tiresome, selecting a career that allows you continuous use and improvement of your strengths is poised to bring ongoing rewards.

Does a voiceover career provide a rewarding way to use your strengths? 

With a history and degree in acting, along with a love of language, voiceover seemed a good match for me. It allowed me to use my skills and talent to bring scripts to life for my clients. I love the continuous improvement of my acting abilities through ongoing education, dialect work, and keeping up with the latest industry news, knowledge and trends.

I also enjoy the chase of the work – fielding auditions, inquiries and client requests – which is typically the day-to-day grind for most working actors. I like the organization of it all. I take pleasure in the challenge of starting each week, and each new day, with nearly a clean slate I am tasked to fill. Most of all, I absolutely love the work.

Realizing that the vast portion of your workday will NOT be filled with creating goofy character voices behind the microphone is something would-be voice actors need to accept. Your average day is instead apt to be filled with much more mundane and repetitive yet important tasks that bring you paying voiceover jobs (that are likely to fall into the “unglamorous” category).

Will that be a good use of your personal strengths? More on what those specific tasks are in Part Three of this series.

Freedom

Freedom can mean different things for different people. Some may view freedom as having all the money they need to travel the world or buy extravagant luxurious. Others may define freedom as flexible hours and the ability to work from home, wherever that home may be.

One of my agents has a great way of defining my home studio: it’s my own personal ATM which can generate as much income as I choose. How many jobs or careers can say that?

Why Freedom Matters

When related to a job, freedom can be thought of as the benefits, flexibility and salary you need to live the life you desire. It matters a lot for your overall life satisfaction levels. You can keep freedom front and center by thinking of the lifestyle you want, and then choosing a career that will help you lead that lifestyle.

Does a voiceover career deliver the freedom you want?

Freedom for me is the ability to spend lots of time with those most important to me, live in a gorgeous state with changing seasons, and have the opportunity to do what I love while making a living. Voiceover fits the bill on all of the above.

Unlike working as a stage or screen actor where geography matters, voiceover work can be done from anywhere in the world with the right equipment.  In my early days, it was beneficial for me to start in the LA market, which afforded me the chance to build a business. Once established, I was able to move out of that market to a Midwest haven, where we had room to breathe and grow as a family.

Especially as a woman in the modern acting world, it’s not easy to find a career that is as accommodating to motherhood as being a VO-preneur – especially when your husband is handling a lot of the business end of things.

I love being my own boss, making up my own rules, setting my own schedule, and creating something from nothing, every day!  But I must add that building any business to this level, and keeping it there, is a huge task, and not without enormous ongoing effort, tenacity, and continuous navigation in a ever-evolving market.

Alignment 

Alignment relates to feeling like you belong. It refers to the values, culture and priorities of the place you work or the field you’re in.

Why Alignment Matters

Anyone who has tried to work in an environment where they don’t feel comfortable with the overriding beliefs or treatment they get knows the major importance of alignment. When you’re aligned, walking into your workplace feels like walking into a place where you’re welcomed, needed and respected. It also feels like a place where you’re being challenged, growing and becoming the person you were meant to be.

Do you feel like you belong in a voiceover career?

Alignment with a career in voiceover is particularly important, since you’re mostly working alone in a highly competitive environment. You need to ask yourself if you’ll be comfortable working alone in a small booth most of the time – or will the solitude drive you crazy? Are you the type that can get things done on your own, or do you need consistent outside motivation, feedback and encouragement?

A voiceover career can be a lonely one. Unless you’re part of a live or in-person acting hub in a major city, your interaction with others is typically limited to emails or occasional phone calls. (Even the acting hub interactions have diminished during COVID-19.)

No one is looking over your shoulder to make sure you get things done. You have no bantering colleagues or built-in support system. Most of the time, no one is directing you in your auditions or recording work. And as with any artistic career, rejection rates are high and competition is fierce.

The alignment works for me, provided I balance out the solitude (which I enjoy) by spending quality time with family and friends. I also seek out other outlets when I’m not working.

Over the years, I’ve also learned to grow a thick skin when it comes to rejections. I don’t take them personally, and literally forget most auditions the moment I submit. If I do get the booking, it’s a nice surprise. (And secretly, most of my work doesn’t come from auditioning anyway…but that’s another blog!)

I also view my work as something more than just a job. As mentioned in Part One of this series, voiceover to me is about serving others. My role is one cog of a collaborating effort of the team, pulling together the final project. Our efforts ultimately help support the business we’re working for, our own livelihoods and, in the broader sense, the entire happiness of the world.

Maybe that sounds cliché, but these connections in our lives do have a way of branching out in ways that can be very meaningful.

My enjoyment of my career and track record of success over the past 20+ years helps me recognize that I belong in this field. It’s a good fit for me.

If you believe a voiceover career would bring you happiness in the way of legacy, mastery, freedom and alignment, perhaps it’s time to move forward. But there’s still one more aspect of the business to explore. Stay tuned for Part Three of this series where we’ll look at the practical side of the equation to see if voiceover work is truly something you want to pursue.