5 Quick Tips for New Voice Actors
Becoming a voice actor isn’t easy. It takes time, commitment, and patience. But it’s worth it. Here are five quick tips for new voice actors, to help you grow your voiceover career.
Do your research about the industry.
There are so many different types of voice over jobs. Your voice could be used in a commercial on television, radio, or the internet. It could be in an explainer video to promote a product or service for a company. You could narrate eLearning content for universities or other educational entities. Video sales letters, documentaries, meditations, apps, virtual assistants… anywhere you hear a voice, really.
Learn about the trends in the voice over industry, the types of jobs available, and where you might fit in by doing a little bit of research. The fact that you’re reading this article tells me your research phase has already begun. Great job! Keep it going.
Practice, practice, practice.
“You know how you get to Carnegie Hall, don’t ya?”
All jokes aside, practice is essential in voice over. If you’re still learning the ropes, grab a book off of your shelf and read it aloud. Read news articles aloud, or any other text you can find. You will then become accustomed to the sound of your voice, and you’ll be able to hear your unique vocal qualities. This is the good stuff; we all have our own unique sound, and that’s your big ticket. Hone that skill and develop your sound through effective practice.
Learn from experienced instructors.
Aside from practicing by yourself, it pays immensely to have a qualified instructor or coach guide you through your practice sessions and teach you the ins and outs of the business. It’s not necessarily required for you to begin your voice over journey. BUT, if you want to avoid a lot of the pitfalls and growing pains of navigating this industry as a fledgling voice actor, a coach can really help you do that. You’re paying for the knowledge and insight that an experienced voice actor can provide. Sometimes, that assistance is priceless.
Read between the lines of your scripts.
It’s one thing to read a script aloud. It’s another thing entirely to capture the intent behind the words and convey emotion to your audience. To be an effective storyteller and actor, you must understand the intent of the words you read. What emotions are you trying to convey on behalf of your client? What emotions should their copy elicit in the hearts of their potential customers or listeners? It’s your job to figure that out.
Be willing to invest in the right tools for the job.
You don’t have to spend all of your money acquiring the tools of the trade in the beginning. That being said, there are some non-negotiable items that you must acquire in order for a voice over career to be feasible. At a bare minimum, you’ll want a microphone (USB mics are the least expensive), a computer of some kind (the quieter the better), and some supplies to perform rudimentary sound treatment of your recording space. This is where the research phase once again comes in handy; you should research what tools are right for the job given your budget and level of experience. If you need help with this, check out my Recommended Gear section with options for different budgets.
These five tips should help get you on the right track as a beginner in the voice over world. For more tips, be sure to check out the rest of the blog. Also, sign up for the mailing list to get access to more exclusive deals and content.
