5 VO Trends You Should Know
New to the voice over world? If so, one thing you’ll quickly realize is that trends shift. Styles come and go, current events influence the industry, and technology changes enable dramatic shifts in how VO work gets done. Here are five current trends in the voice over industry you should know about:
Conversational voice over is still very much in demand.
It’s a fact; companies want real, natural performances. Gone are the days of everyone having the “announcer” voice. It’s simply fallen out of style in favor for a more conversational sound. That trend is expected to continue through 2021. This is especially true with the way things have changed due to the pandemic. A natural sound is much more appealing to the masses that crave real human connection in a socially distant world.
Brand-specific voice assistant tech is expanding.
Voice assistants and voice tech have boomed in recent times. With the tech now widely available in consumer devices, many companies are looking to capitalize on this method of interaction with customers. Many devices you know and love now come with voice technology baked in (Alexa devices, Hey Google, Siri, and copious third party voice assistants), and all you have to do is say the right words. This presents an opportunity, and a bit of a minefield for voice talent. There’s the potential to be the voice of a brand throughout their product lineup, but contracts sometimes contain language that can leave voice actors feeling taken advantage of when their voice is used in a new and unapproved way. Take for example the circumstances surrounding Bev Standing and her voice being used by TikTok without her consent. You have to be diligent.
Working from home as a voice actor is much more feasible now.
The truth is, you don’t have to reside in a major market to get voice over work these days. You can work comfortably in your own home, and narrate many a commercial, audiobook, or other type of media. I do it every day. Sure, you may have access to additional opportunities that are specific to these locations if you live there… but it’s just a plane ride away. If something that important or lucrative comes along, I’m sure most voice actors would book a flight.
The advantage to this particular trend is that you can work from home, and set your own hours. You’re not bound to the hours kept by the studio in town. You make the rules at home. These are some of the biggest advantages that I enjoy as a full time voice actor, and often why I encourage as many folks as I can to consider the craft. It’s the best gig of all time.
The demand for eLearning and Training content is increasing.
Working and learning from home are here to stay in some form or fashion. That means more eLearning content will inevitably be created in the coming months and years. This was made readily apparent by the pandemic, and it truly seems like a permanent shift has taken place in this regard. Many individuals are no longer content traveling to the office or to class, when they can accomplish the same tasks at home. There’s no commute!
Internet Videos are one of the most effective sales tools, and they need voices.
With physical distance separating many potential customers from businesses, these companies need new and effective ways to reach their customer base. The internet is ripe with opportunity, and video is the preferred delivery method. Video is one of the most engaging types of media consumed by the general public, and companies are scrambling to create as much content as they can. This content needs to be voiced, and that’s where we come in.
This is also true for companies that advertise on social platforms. Think about this: Instagram announced that it is no longer a photo sharing network. Instead, they are now putting all of their effort into turning the platform into a video service akin to TikTok’s curated feed of videos. Video and Voice Over go together like bread and butter. It’s great news for us.
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