How do I become a voice actor?
I get this question every single day.
I get it. Trying to figure out how to get started in voice over might be overwhelming at first. This is especially true if you’ve never done any acting before, or never recorded your voice. But, even if you’ve never touched a microphone, getting started in voice over is easier than you might think. Allow me to explain.
Now, more than ever, it’s incredibly easy to record your voice. Gone are the days of having to go to a professional studio in your town and record; instead, with minimal hardware and software investments, you can record your voice at home for a fraction of the cost of all those studio sessions. In fact, I have a page on my site with tons of gear recommendations for aspiring voice actors. Check it out here.
Anyway, with the recording process becoming more user friendly and streamlined every day, the barriers to entry in voice over are all but disappearing. So, with that in mind, I want to give all of you aspiring voice actors some tips for getting started in this line of work:
Find a quiet space in your home to record your voice.
One thing you’ll notice very quickly when you start to record your voice: your house is very loud. Whether it’s the refrigerator, the AC unit, your dog, or your kids, plenty of things in your house make noise that can end up in your recordings. To combat this, try and find the quietest place in your house and record there. Often times, it’s a closet… tucked away in a bedroom somewhere in the home. In the closet, you also have the benefit of being surrounded by clothing, which can marginally improve the sound of your recordings by reducing echoes from your voice bouncing off the walls. For more information about improving the sound in your recording space, check out this blog post right here.
Buy a microphone.
If you’re just starting out, you don’t need a super expensive microphone. Most microphones these days are pretty good, and you can get by with an affordable option for a while. If your voice acting career grows, you can always upgrade your gear then. For microphone recommendations at different price points, head this way.
Get comfortable with recording your voice at home.
If you don’t know how to use that microphone to record your voice, you need to practice. Follow the instruction manuals that come with your gear to set things up properly, and then make sure you have the software to back it up. Audacity is a free program, known as a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), that you can use as a beginner. Or, you can consider paid options like Reaper (my DAW of choice), Adobe Audition, Pro Tools, etc.
Once you have the software downloaded, and the microphone set up, practice recording your voice. Pick up a book off of your shelf, hit record, and get going. You can also check out the many tutorials available on YouTube. Congratulations, you’re now a voice actor! Keep working on that skill right there, and you’ve got the makings of a new hobby or career.
Record some samples of your voice.
Once you’ve learned enough about using your voice over gear and software, it’s time to create some samples to showcase your new skills. You can find sample scripts online at sites like voices.com. Using these sample scripts, record your performances and put them together, back to back, to form a “demo reel”. This is a collection of samples that serves as your business card. Prospective clients will hear this and decide if they want to work with you. Or, if you’d rather have someone assist you with this part, you can get your demo professionally produced. I would only recommend demo production services once you’ve really become comfortable recording your voice at home and have your sound dialed in. Audio engineers like myself can only do so much; if we don’t get a high quality recording from you, it will be hard to make it shine in post production. Good stuff in, good stuff out. Yadda yadda.
Sign up for freelance websites like Fiverr and Upwork.
This is the good stuff right here. With the prevalence of the internet and freelance websites, it’s SO easy to put yourself out there and start getting some work. Sure, in the beginning, it might not be the most lucrative work. But consider that, after about 15 months, I was able to quit my full time job in education and pursue a voice acting career. I doubled my salary, cut my work hours from 9 hour days to 3-4 hours, and I spend more time with my family than ever since I work from home. It’s awesome. And it’s all thanks to freelance websites.
Network with other voice actors.
Now that you’re a voice actor with a demo and some online profiles, this next piece of advice you should follow is crucial: get to know other voice actors. Join groups and clubs to network and share best practices. Follow other voice actors on their journey to success and emulate their best qualities. We can all learn from each other. If you’re not sure where to start, consider my free Facebook group for aspiring voice talent, VOTrainer.
Continue learning the craft.
As my career in voice over has progressed, one thing has remained abundantly clear: I am still learning and improving. You’ll be amazed at your progress. You will actually hear your progress as you reflect on older projects. Your acting will improve. Your recording skills will improve. You will grow as an actor, and will hopefully make real progress toward a successful voice acting career. If you’re interested in learning more about the craft of voice over, consider hiring a coach to help you along your journey. And yes, I offer coaching too ;-)
OK. I’ve given you some pretty great tips so far. But, I saved the best one for last. It’s also the most important tip I can offer you today:
Just get started. Yes, that’s it. Just do it already.
What are you waiting for? The longer you wait, the longer your dreams are put on hold. It’s so easy to get started, you just have to do it. Go buy that microphone, learn how to use it, and share your voice with the world. And, once you do, let me know. I love to hear stories from other voice actors, especially if I was able to motivate them or help in some small way. You can follow me on my socials, join the group, and get in touch whenever you want. I’m so excited to see where your voice over journey takes you.
Good luck!
