Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes there are, although they may not be where you think.
Over the past twenty years, the work in our field has expanded far beyond commercial voice over and moved instead toward narrative voice work. Today, most estimates suggest that as much as 90% of all voice over opportunities are in the narrative sector. Some examples include training and educational content, E-learning, and voices for phone systems and the internet and much much more.
Over the past twenty years, the work in our field has expanded far beyond commercial voice over and moved instead toward narrative voice work. Today, most estimates suggest that as much as 90% of all voice over opportunities are in the narrative sector. Some examples include training and educational content, E-learning, and voices for phone systems and the internet and much much more.
In voice over, it's not how old you “are”; instead, we listen for how old you “sound.” Interestingly, many voice professionals project the broadest range in voice age when they are well into their 50s, 60s, and even 70s. To some degree, the older you are, the broader your opportunity!
That Depends. Though many voice professionals choose to work from home, there are two important things to keep in mind:
1. Home recording is not a fit for everyone. Successfully operating recording equipment in a manner that is acceptable to clients takes some knowledge, effort, and practice but it is a skill that can be developed.
2. Home recording is absolutely NOT the only way to seek work, and may not be the best way to seek work. Many agencies and professional studios cast and work with voice actors every day. These jobs can be advantageous, as they offer you the chance to build long-term personal work relationships. Be wary of anyone suggesting that home recording is the “only” way to build success in voice over.
3. Be aware that there are certain types of voice over work where having a home recording capability is generally expected. An example is the audio book industry and working through online voice over casting sites.
Home recording can offer you opportunities to audition for work easily, and can also provide an opportunity to become a full-service provider to your clients. Essentially, with home recording capability you become the voice, the producer, and the studio. In addition, the world health crisis has made clients increasingly comfortable with voice professionals working remotely.
1. Home recording is not a fit for everyone. Successfully operating recording equipment in a manner that is acceptable to clients takes some knowledge, effort, and practice but it is a skill that can be developed.
2. Home recording is absolutely NOT the only way to seek work, and may not be the best way to seek work. Many agencies and professional studios cast and work with voice actors every day. These jobs can be advantageous, as they offer you the chance to build long-term personal work relationships. Be wary of anyone suggesting that home recording is the “only” way to build success in voice over.
3. Be aware that there are certain types of voice over work where having a home recording capability is generally expected. An example is the audio book industry and working through online voice over casting sites.
Home recording can offer you opportunities to audition for work easily, and can also provide an opportunity to become a full-service provider to your clients. Essentially, with home recording capability you become the voice, the producer, and the studio. In addition, the world health crisis has made clients increasingly comfortable with voice professionals working remotely.
Begin by learning!
Voice over is a skilled profession, and you'll give yourself an enormous advantage by developing skills that are consistent with other professionals in our field. Whether it’s a class, an educational program, or a book, it's important to learn and develop skill prior to representing your voice on a voice over demo or auditioning for voice over work. If you'd like to be a professional... become a professional.
Voice over is a skilled profession, and you'll give yourself an enormous advantage by developing skills that are consistent with other professionals in our field. Whether it’s a class, an educational program, or a book, it's important to learn and develop skill prior to representing your voice on a voice over demo or auditioning for voice over work. If you'd like to be a professional... become a professional.
We would never describe the process of building success in voice over as "easy."
Like many other independent professions, voice over is entrepreneurial. There is no magic formula to make anything new “easy.” However, there has never been more opportunity in our field, and for those who find the idea of doing voice over work part-time, full-time, or for supplemental or retirement income appealing, there has never been a better time to begin. In addition to developing professional skill, success in our field often goes to those who enjoy the process and stick with it. Be wary of anyone offering you an easy road to success.
Like many other independent professions, voice over is entrepreneurial. There is no magic formula to make anything new “easy.” However, there has never been more opportunity in our field, and for those who find the idea of doing voice over work part-time, full-time, or for supplemental or retirement income appealing, there has never been a better time to begin. In addition to developing professional skill, success in our field often goes to those who enjoy the process and stick with it. Be wary of anyone offering you an easy road to success.
Voice over has moved away from being a field predominantly dominated by announcer type voices, and is now a field where we embrace believability. Instead of requiring an overall “great voice,” today we look for the best voice for each specific job we are casting. More often than not, we are seeking a voice that will be relatable to our specific intended listener. As a result there are now opportunities in our field for numerous voice types. Always keep in mind however, speech language deficiencies, vocal health issues, and other conditions that directly affect your voice should be addressed prior to engaging in voice over.
Today it is very common for casting professionals and clients to seek an "authentic voice" when filling a role. This has opened the door to an enormous range of voices including those with regional dialects. Keep in mind that a major component of building success for you as a voice actor is determining exactly where your specific voice fits into the field. Again, there are many circumstances where an authentic dialect is an advantage. For those who are interested in reducing or eliminating a dialect, we recommend the Compton Method of accent reduction. It is currently the only method recognized by The American Speech & Hearing Association.
Yes! There are many reputable web-based voice over marketplaces.
Essentially, you invest in a subscription plan that allows you to build a profile on the platform and then you can audition for work that suits you. This method of seeking work is best for those who have home recording capability, as it requires auditioning routinely and providing audio files of your audition. It's also beneficial to be able to provide auditions quickly as many others may audition for the same opportunity. It is important to point out, however, that using a voice over marketplace is not an “easy” way to find work. It is instead “one way” to find work. It will often take many auditions to secure your first opportunity. Consider balancing any effort you choose to make via web-based voice over sites with an equal or greater effort building direct client relationships.
If you choose to utilize web-based marketplaces to seek work, we also strongly suggest that you balance that effort by continually seeking voice over opportunities in and around your community as well. Building personal work relationships can be a very effective method of building success. Additionally, working with clients closer to home offers you the opportunity to develop long-term repeat work relationships.
Essentially, you invest in a subscription plan that allows you to build a profile on the platform and then you can audition for work that suits you. This method of seeking work is best for those who have home recording capability, as it requires auditioning routinely and providing audio files of your audition. It's also beneficial to be able to provide auditions quickly as many others may audition for the same opportunity. It is important to point out, however, that using a voice over marketplace is not an “easy” way to find work. It is instead “one way” to find work. It will often take many auditions to secure your first opportunity. Consider balancing any effort you choose to make via web-based voice over sites with an equal or greater effort building direct client relationships.
If you choose to utilize web-based marketplaces to seek work, we also strongly suggest that you balance that effort by continually seeking voice over opportunities in and around your community as well. Building personal work relationships can be a very effective method of building success. Additionally, working with clients closer to home offers you the opportunity to develop long-term repeat work relationships.
A better question might be, “How much do you WANT to earn?” Understand that individuals pursue voice over with numerous goals in mind - some for full-time income, others for supplemental or retirement income, and some just for fun! The pay is generally very good for the allotment of time required to complete a voice over job. This allows people to earn what some might consider a full-time income while working very part-time hours. As of August 25th, 2020, leading job site ZipRecruiter suggests that the average VO income in the US falls between $23,000 and $111,500 annually. They further suggest that average pay can vary dramatically based on skill and effort applied. Keep in mind that voice over is a profession and like any other profession there are unique skills and job knowledge required to build lasting success.
If you are interested in building success in voice over, do not begin by making a demo. Instead, begin by spending time learning about the field, developing skill, and determining exactly where your voice best fits into our field today. Remember, you’ll only have one chance to make a first impression. So just like any other profession where success is the goal, take the time to learn about the field and where the opportunities lie. Then work to determine exactly what type of voice work interests you the most and what type of work your voice is best suited for. Once you’ve got that down, then you are likely ready to prepare a demo. Along the way… enjoy the process!
While we have certainly cast former students from our program, we do not advertise that as a component of our program, as doing so in our opinion would be misleading and unethical. While we provide an exceptional program and continued support, we cannot control the effort any specific person puts into their own development, and we further cannot control a specific individual's professionalism. So suggesting at the onset of training that we may hire our students would be improper. On the other hand, we are ALWAYS open to our students when it comes to casting, particularly those who put in the effort and represent themselves as true professionals.
Yes there is… though it may not be where you think it is. From voice over for gaming to anime and animated series for kids and adults alike, you can find character voice over work in a variety of popular media. A growing area and great place to start is educational content, children’s public broadcasting, and independent game developers. Additionally, web developers designing content for young people are also a potential source of opportunity.
Yes, but think about your goals.
Many of the most common groups voice over artists are drawn to online or via social media have one thing in common: they are populated by people who want voice over work. Our thought (and something we train our clients in) is this: perhaps your time would be better spent joining groups filled with people who “hire” voice over artists versus groups filled with voice over artists.
If part of your goal is to attain work, instead of surrounding yourself with other voice over artists, try to surround yourself with people who can connect you with potential work. Marketing associations, chambers of commerce, and other related organizations can be a great place to start.
Many of the most common groups voice over artists are drawn to online or via social media have one thing in common: they are populated by people who want voice over work. Our thought (and something we train our clients in) is this: perhaps your time would be better spent joining groups filled with people who “hire” voice over artists versus groups filled with voice over artists.
If part of your goal is to attain work, instead of surrounding yourself with other voice over artists, try to surround yourself with people who can connect you with potential work. Marketing associations, chambers of commerce, and other related organizations can be a great place to start.
No. Firstly, an agent is a professional who assists in finding roles for you as a voice actor. The agent then receives a portion of your income for that job (often around 10%). Traditionally, when we think of agents in our industry, we are primarily talking about the national commercial sector of the field in major metropolitan markets. In smaller markets and in circumstances where a voice professional is not solely seeking major commercials, using an agent is much less common. Instead, many voice actors strongly prefer to build their own relationships with clients. In doing so, you can build long-term repeat work opportunities.
The voice over field is an entrepreneurial endeavor. As a voice over artist, you are essentially starting your own business venture. Smallbizgenius.com suggests that approximately 60% of new businesses are successful in their very first year. In fact, the 2019 new business failure rate is at an all-time low. Additionally, the majority of people endeavoring into business ventures are over 40 years of age. It was also revealed that one of the most common reasons people choose to start a business is to feel more fulfilled while working at something they enjoy.
Though all of this directly applies to voice over, be careful of one pitfall: avoid approaching voice over as something you "break in to." Instead, always simply approach our field in the same manner you would approach any other entrepreneurial endeavor. Develop skill, run your business, and enjoy the process!
Though all of this directly applies to voice over, be careful of one pitfall: avoid approaching voice over as something you "break in to." Instead, always simply approach our field in the same manner you would approach any other entrepreneurial endeavor. Develop skill, run your business, and enjoy the process!
Absolutely! The voice over field ultimately comes down to effectively using your voice. Experience in any form of public speaking can offer you an advantage right from the start! However, always keep in mind that voice over itself is a profession - and just like other professions, there is job knowledge and skill that is unique to our field. Developing skills specific to voice over coupled with prior communication experience can combine to offer you a tremendous advantage when entering our field.
For the demo development process we work through a network of contracted affiliate studios throughout the US and Canada.
All remote, web, and in-person training is conducted from our main studios and offices located at 26 Vly Road in Albany, NY.
In fact one of the things that makes our organization unique is that our entire team is directly employed by us versus being sub-contracted. You may notice you can actually reach us by phone daily! We know it might seem a little old fashioned but we call it "customer service." Our facility includes four recording studios, video and post production suites, and administrative offices. In addition to coaching and communication training, we provide professional audio to a broad range of clients. We also accept interns from nine college programs.
In 2023 we began our 14th year in our current location. Prior to that we were based in nearby Schenectady, New York for ten years.
All remote, web, and in-person training is conducted from our main studios and offices located at 26 Vly Road in Albany, NY.
In fact one of the things that makes our organization unique is that our entire team is directly employed by us versus being sub-contracted. You may notice you can actually reach us by phone daily! We know it might seem a little old fashioned but we call it "customer service." Our facility includes four recording studios, video and post production suites, and administrative offices. In addition to coaching and communication training, we provide professional audio to a broad range of clients. We also accept interns from nine college programs.
In 2023 we began our 14th year in our current location. Prior to that we were based in nearby Schenectady, New York for ten years.
The 2020 / 2021 global health circumstance drastically affected businesses. Unfortunately some were left with no choice but to discontinue. Many businesses that were able to continue created methods to adapt to the changing health landscape. Voice Over began to be used more prominently in areas including training, education, sales, and important business communication. As a result, even as we emerge from this health crisis, organizations and businesses have learned that using voice over can be an extremely cost effective and efficient component of their business. In short, many businesses who learned to use voice over during Covid will continue using professional voices as a permanent part of their business future.
Yes! Beyond the thrill of accomplishment that happens when taking on a new and exciting challenge, you'll learn how to use your voice more effectively. You'll understand how to break down and interpret stories and information in a manner that truly affects your listener. This can be a tremendous benefit in other types of work where communication is important or even in social and family situations. Additionally you'll have a clear understanding of vocal preparation and health. Voice Over is a skill that can continually serve you in other areas of your life.
