How to Get Started as a Voice-Over Actor

Whether you are brand new to acting or you’ve been working in the industry for years, embarking on a career as a voice-over actor can often be challenging.

As you might expect, it’s a highly-competitive field. Many actors are surprised to learn that getting voice-over work requires a different approach to regular acting work. It can also require some additional training, equipment, and techniques.

Nevertheless, while voice-over acting can be tricky to get into, once you figure out how to get voice-over acting roles, it can be an excellent way to supplement your income between regular acting jobs. Indeed, in many cases, actors find themselves creating an entire career out of voice-over acting jobs.

This article will examine every stage of getting into voice-over acting, from training to job hunting. Keep reading to discover how you can become a voice-over actor and start making money doing what you love!

   

What is Voice-over Acting?

Firstly, let’s define what we mean by voice-over acting. There are plenty of types of voice-over acting, so it’s easy to get confused about what voice-over actors do.

‘Voice-over acting’ is a term used to describe any kind of audio or spoken acting. For example, this can include video games, audiobooks, dubbed foreign language films, radio plays, and animated films. Consequently, plenty of mediums require voice-over actors. Other types of voice-over acting work includes commercials, promotions, or narrations.

When most voice-over actors get started, commercial voice-overs are usually the most readily available and frequently recurring jobs. However, as you get more experienced, you may be able to expand into other types of voice-over acting.

 

Is It Hard to Become a Voice-Over Actor?

While it will be easier for some than others, if you approach voice-over acting the right way, you should be able to start to find work within weeks, if not months. This article will explain the importance of technique, practice, training, and perseverance.

 

Suitable Techniques For A Voice-Over Actor

Each type of voice-over acting requires different skills and techniques. For instance, a commercial voice-over will need a different approach to a radio drama gig. Here are some general (and specific) techniques you should learn and practice to work professionally as a voice-over actor.

 

Warming Up

Learning good warm-up techniques will be vital to your performance. As you will be recording your voice, you will need to have a clear, articulate voice full of character and colour. Warming up can help to make your natural speaking voice more open, vibrant, and enjoyable to listen to.

Try to include physical openness, breathing, and articulation exercises in your warm-up. Good articulation is critical to the role as a microphone will pick up any splashy or lazy consonants.

 

Microphone Techniques

You will also need to learn to become comfortable working with a microphone; the same way film actors need to know how to work with a camera.

Professional microphones are ultra-sensitive and pick up all kinds of noises that can ruin the take. Here are some of the microphone techniques that professionals use to improve the quality of their recordings:

• Speak to the microphone like it’s your scene partner: even if you have a scene partner standing next to you!
• Speak about five inches away from the microphone. Practice moving closer (and further away) to find out which position sounds best.
• Move slightly to the side of the microphone if you hear sibilance (‘s’ sounds) or plosives (‘p’ sounds and other hard consonants).
• Learn to flip your script pages silently and away from the microphone.
• Avoid wearing ‘clinky’ jewellery or noisy shoes.
• Move away from the microphone to sound like you are speaking from the other side of the room.

 

Accents and Changes to Your Voice

If you are hoping to make a career as a voice-over actor, it will be helpful to have a range of voices available to you. Make practising accents and vocal affectations a priority to make your voice more versatile.

Using apps like The ACCENT Kit can be an excellent way to work on your accents alone at home. This app will give you a wide range of native recordings of specific accents from all over the world so that you can hear and practice sounds and inflexion patterns.

Further, check out this video and see how actors train their voices for animated movies!

 

 

Inflexion

Inflexion refers to the tonal quality of the voice. Lots of inflexion can make the voice have a sing-song quality. Learning about vocal inflexion is another way to make your voice more versatile and exciting.

When it comes to commercial voice-overs, specific high-to-low inflexion patterns are commonplace. Learning to speak naturally in these inflexive patterns will enhance your chances of success in voice-over acting auditions and demo recordings.

 

Learn the Material

While some voice-over actors use their scripts while recording, learning your material can give your performance more liveliness and authenticity.

 

Techniques for Video Games

Voice-overs for video games can require some additional technique and experience. This is because video game voice-overs are often recorded as individual lines instead of dialogue with another actor. Plus, it’s commonplace for the same actor to provide the voice for multiple characters.

You will need to arrive with several distinct voices ready to go. If you’re wondering how to become a voice-over actor for anime, the skills you will need are similar!

 

How Do You Get Experience as a Voice-Over Actor?

Before you begin finding professional voice-over acting opportunities, you will need some experience. Therefore… here are some common routes into the voice-over acting world.

   

Take a Class

Whether you’ve already trained as an actor or you’re brand new to acting, taking a class or two can help you feel confident with voice acting principles. There are several excellent voice-over acting courses in the UK. Plus, lots of courses will provide you with a professional demo reel at the end of your training, a valuable tool in your arsenal!

 

Practice at Home with Real Scripts

Become familiar with the art of voice-over by practising with various scripts at home — don’t wait around for a job or audition. in other words, keep your vocal cords in good shape for when the opportunity comes!

 

Voice-Over Actor Forums and Groups

There are plenty of online groups and communities where you can find potential work opportunities and get some valuable feedback on your work as would-be voice-over actors. So, why not find an online community where you can get technical tips and industry advice?

 

Volunteer as a Voice-Over Actor

If you’re struggling to find work when you first start, you may have to volunteer your time and skills to garner experience and produce demo material. Contact local businesses and charities in need of free voice-over services – you’ll be surprised by how many people may wish to use your services!

 

 

What Equipment Do Voice-Over Actors Need?

It’s becoming increasingly crucial for voice-over actors to have access to their own recording studio equipment. However, you’ll find that you are eligible for a broader range of voice-over acting jobs with professional equipment.

 

Soundproof Studio

Firstly, find a closet or small room that can serve as a recording studio: you may need to make some alterations to create a good sound quality in the room. Then, make the environment as quiet and as soundproof as possible! An outside car horn or slamming door is guaranteed to ruin a take.

The sound inside the room also has to be quite specific. If the room is large and empty, the sound can echo and sound distant. Similarly, if there’s too much clutter in the room, the sound can lose clarity.

 

A Good Microphone

The best microphone for voice-over acting work is widely considered to be a condenser microphone (check out the best voice-over microphones here). These microphones have the power to pick up a greater range of sound, so they will pick up your unique vocal quirks, creating a clearer, crisper sound. Further, you will also need a stand for the microphone, as you won’t be able to hold on to it for hours-on-end!

If you’re starting out, a USB microphone is a cheaper option that is perfectly acceptable. While the microphone won’t produce as nuanced a sound as a condenser, you can plug it straight into a computer, which means you’ll be able to upload and edit your files on the go.

 

An Audio Interface

An audio interface is a way to get your audio equipment to your computer. You’ll need to use an XLR cable to convert your audio files to a digital format so your computer can read and store it. If you opt for a USB microphone however, you won’t need this item.

 

Headphones

While you’ll be able to listen to your files from your computer’s speakers, a pair of quality headphones are generally preferred as they’ll give you a more accurate impression of the sound.

 

The Right Software

If you plan on editing your audio files, you’ll need editing software to download onto your computer. This can be useful for changing sound levels, cropping files, splicing and format conversion.

 

Where to Find Work as a Voice-Over Actor

All set up with your at-home studio and a touch of prior experience? Here are some tips on getting your first paid gig as a voice-over actor.

 

Make a Demo

First of all, you’ll need a voice reel. A good demo reel should contain a series of short audio clips that showcase your entire vocal range. Aim to keep each piece around 30 seconds long. Anything shorter may be too brief for the listener to get a real sense of your voice, and anything longer may become tedious.

Secondly, try to include all kinds of audio pieces. For instance, you may select one narrative piece, one commercial voice-over, one dramatic piece, and one video game clip. Showcase your best accents and the different vocal types you can do. For example, don’t include two components with the same vocal quality and accent. Show that you can adapt your voice to different characters, ages, genres etc.

 

Get a Voice-over Agent

If you’re already working as an actor, it may be worth looking for an agent just for voice-over work. Agencies like Soho Voices, The Jones’s, Just Voices, and Harvey’s Voices are just a few agencies in the UK.

Create a list of all of the agencies you wish to contact. Try to find the contact information of specific agents in each agency. Draft an introduction email in which you outline your experience and your career goals as a voice-over actor.

Finally, be sure to include your voice demo and any other acting demo material. Also, if you’re a beginner and looking for a general acting agency in London, we’ve got just what you need right here!

 

Finding voice-over actor Jobs Online

You are likely to spend plenty of time waiting for voice-over acting auditions; even with an agent. Use social media, casting websites like Spotlight, and professional collaboration platforms for filmmakers like FILMD to source potential jobs. Even if you aren’t successful in these voice-over acting job applications, you will meet helpful and influential industry professionals and expand your network!

 

Final Thoughts on Becoming a Voice-Over Actor

Working as a voice-over actor is an exciting, fun, and varied job. One day you might be voicing a child in a cartoon; and the next day reading a fascinating nonfiction audiobook or playing an army general in a video game!

If you are interested in pursuing voice-over acting as a career, try to get as much practical experience and technical knowledge as you can. Similarly, once you have a professionally-recorded demo reel, try to find a voice-over agent. In conclusion, remember to practice your skills even when you aren’t in work, so you’re always ready for the next recording session.