The mother of a 10-year-old girl once asked us about breaking into voice acting for herself and her daughter. She began her query with, “Can I ask you a quick question?” Like most people who are new to voiceover work, she was surprised to learn her “quick question” required a rather involved answer. So, as is often the case, we want to take a step back and answer some of the most basic elements about becoming a voice actor.
Voiceover is not an exact skill until it is. By that, we mean you have to get into the mix and begin training before you really begin to see what there is to learn and what pertains to you.
1. Understand the different types of voiceover work
Like learning to swim, you have to get into the water. You can’t figure it out by walking around the edge of the pool. One of the key things to learn is the different script genres within the commercial genre, i.e., real person, announcer, spokesperson, character, banter, PSA, etc. There are other genres and they all require different interpretive skills and talents. Promos, audiobooks, character animation, and ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) are the most popular. There’s also comedy and drama to be considered, and some folks may have a knack for one or the other.
2. Develop proper technique
In addition to knowing the genres, training includes timing, relaxation, projecting a naturalistic tone, microphone technique, releasing inhibitions, and learning to create the world of a script within a lonely, lifeless recording booth. Unlike acting for film, TV, or stage, you don’t typically have other actors or props with which to interact during voice over work. You do it all with your imagination!
How To Become a Voice Actor 3. Don't limit yourself because of your age
If you’re wondering how to start voice acting as a kid, know that ten years old is not too early to start professional training. All voices are needed at some point and teen voices are quite popular. Just look around at all the teens in commercials on TV. These same commercials often have radio counterparts as well as a web component. That’s an abundance of work! A lot of advertising is directed at youth and one thing advertisers understand is that consumers and ads connect better when an ad is delivered on a peer-to-peer basis. In other words, teens like to get information from other teens. Of course, there are cases where a teen would want to hear from an adult too, but suffice it to say that there are plenty of voiceover jobs for kids' voices.
4. Hire a voice acting coach and create a demo reel
Perhaps the most important thing one can do to get into voice acting is training with a good coach. Do some research to see where you can find the best fit. Once you have a certain amount of training under your belt, your coach will guide you through the process of creating a voiceover demo reel.
A demo reel is a critical tool if you’re ever to gain the attention of talent agents, casting directors, and buyers. You will also use your demo reel to showcase yourself to potential buyers you meet in your travels or whom you seek out for employment. It’s important to continue consulting with a coach, but at the very least, to use research and common sense to ensure that you’re operating within a professional production process. If you hear offers like, “Train and get a demo reel in one weekend,” or "four classes and a demo reel,” run for the hills. In fact, anyone who suggests that voice acting is something that can be learned easily or quickly is either a rip-off artist or completely out of the loop.
5. Promote yourself
After receiving good training and creating a professional demo reel, you’ll be ready to move forward, meeting agents and casting directors and learning how to promote yourself to buyers. This final marketing step will probably require a coach’s guidance and, in the best possible scenario, will include joining SAG-AFTRA.
So to list what you need to do to start your voice acting career:
- Training
- Demo Reel
- Agent
- Marketing
- Auditioning
- More Training
Oh, and booking jobs along the way.
There you have it. The quickest possible answer to a “quick question” for aspiring voice talent.
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The views expressed in this article are solely that of the individual(s) providing them,
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Backstage or its staff.
