“HOW DO I GET INTO VOICE OVERS?”
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This site is a comprehensive overview of the art and career of voice acting for both beginners and more advanced performers. It is a distillation of everything I’ve learned from over two decades of earning a living voice acting in video games, movies and television series in Los Angeles.
Beginners:
Those new to VO will learn that becoming a voice actor means becoming a specialized kind of actor. For those just starting out with little or no voice acting experience, I show how you might go about finding whether voice acting is a good fit for you.
For quick overview of how to become a voice actor CLICK HERE.
All newbies should also read: “Starting from Zero,” “VO Myths,” “Learning to Act,” and “FAQs.” These pages are relevant to all beginners, whether you live in Nowheres-ville or a Big City, whether you are clueless or confident, young or old, local or international.
To start improving your VO skills right away, click on over to my “Voice Acting Academy,” for lots of at-home practice material.
For a quick overview read “What a Voice Actor Needs to Learn.“
Those who already have voice acting experience:
Those further along will learn how the VO business works and what to do or avoid in pursuing an acting career. You’ll also find specifics on more advanced topics like how to make a demo, how to audition, what happens in a session and how get an agent. I also discuss handling the ups and downs of an acting career and discuss the importance of keeping your artistic “fuel tank” full.
I try to show you the “long game” as well as the “short game” of being a voice actor.
After giving my site (as well as posted comments) a careful read, if you still have a voice over question, ask it!
If your question is not already addressed and is relevant to others, I’ll try to answer it.
Although no website or book or class can make everyone a professional voice actor, I hope these pages provide you a practical and comprehensive “launch pad” for exploring voice acting. I continually add new content as I keep polishing the old, so check back.
Have fun, best of luck and maybe someday I’ll see you in the studio!
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What are more ways to put my voice out there or ways to test my voice acting skills more often to get noticed? At this point I’m looking for opportunities and open spots to auditions.
I offer a lot of suggestions on how to test and strengthen your ability to act and perform vocally (e.g. plays, stand up, reading out loud to yourself, improv classes, workshops with voice pros who are good teachers, etc.) This should be the focus to confirm your readiness to work. If you are indeed ready to go then find an agent (which I also discuss) and go for it.
Hi. I’ve been struggling to find work for several years. Any advice for someone who’s trying to get noticed?
Ultimately my main advice is to become so good that they have no choice but to hire you. That’s the important part. When I was ready to be noticed, I moved to where those that cast projects I wanted to be cast in were. I “got noticed” by taking a VO class or two with those who work on and cast shows I liked. They liked my talent and vibe and then referred me to a good agent. Ultimately having a good demo and website are key but are secondary to having talent they can’t say no to and connecting in person with those that cast and create.
I am on the precipice of a monumental life change…I am currently a student pursuing a Horticulture major in Wisconsin at a fantastic agricultural university. …I am gently considering transferring my credits to a university in California and working on my dream of being a cartoon voice actor in my spare time, while I finish my Hort degree. Is this a good idea or a terrible one?
I think with a little training and encouragement, I could become very successful.
I wouldn’t recommend moving to Los Angeles to see if you liked acting, having never tried it. It’s like moving to the moon to see if you like being an astronaut. I’d prefer you arrive with some acting experience and financial resources to keep you afloat while you’re going for it. Wanting it isn’t enough and you can’t become it merely by studying it, as I detail on my site. You need talent and confidence and it’s much easier to find that in a smaller local market before moving to L.A. If you’re up for a change of venue in your, that’s fine- it’s another matter. But I’d prefer you had some live paid performing experience, especially improv, before moving to Los Angeles to follow your acting dreams.
Hello. I’m a student currently at NWTC (Northeast Wisconsin Technical College), and I’d like to ask you some questions as part of an assignment for a career planning class. Here they are:
1. When and why did you choose this career?
2. What’s a typical day of work like for you?
3. What do you like most about your job?
4. Is there anything about your job that you don’t like?
5. What parts of this job do you find the most satisfying?
6. What parts of this job do you find the most challenging, if there are any challenges?
7. What are the working conditions like?
8. Are there any particular qualifications needed for this job?
9. For this line of work, it may or seem silly to me, but is there a salary range? If so, what is it?
10. Is there any advice you would give to someone wanting to enter this field?
For the answers to your questions CLICK HERE.
Hi there! So I’ve been trying to get into voice over for about a year now and I’ve noticed there are a lot of scams and money grabbing websites that don’t offer very much. Are there any casting services or casting sites that you recommend looking into?
I’ve no idea what market or area of VO you’re aiming for. In any case, I’m suspicious of sites or companies that seem to say they will get anyone up and running professionally if you pay them enough. It’s an easy dream to sell. I prefer to learn from working casting directors or working voice actors in the VO realm I aim for.
I’m also a bit skeptical of sites like voices.com which makes you pay to audition or even view the jobs. I’m assuming that’s what Christian is talking about.
Pay to play is the kind of thing many have to put up with early in their career in the non-union workspace. It is something to overcome and get beyond as quickly as possible. Or just avoid. It should be viewed with suspicion or contempt, depending on how high you set your sites and how much you value your talent and potential.