“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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Hi I want to get into voice acting but I have a family to provide for. Is there any advice you can give me.
First consider trying acting as a hobby. You could try a workshop or auditioning for a play if you can schedule this with your family, but don’t expect it to bring in money. It takes a lot of work and time to see if you even have the talent for it. At this stage in life, the deal is, you have something more important than your burgeoning hobby– your family. Acting can be at odds with that for a lot of reasons- it is inherently unstable and takes a lot of time and probably money, once and if it gets going. If I were considering starting to act and had a family to support, I would consider workshops or a play if there is support on the homefront, but otherwise, you will be working against too much headwinds to get any liftoff.
Dose having a mental disability mean someone can not become a voice actor even if thy can read and write and talk and fallow directions
Success mostly depends on talent and tenacity measured in the market you apply yourself to. There are certainly precedents for those with learning and even mental disabilities working as actors.
Good morning Dee. I just wanted to thank you for the VO Workshop you did in Denver on June 26th. What a great evening! I appreciate all that you shared with us!
I too worked at the Chuckwagon Dinner Playhouse in Greeley!!! I have fond memories of that place! I wish you all the best! Thanks again!
Lisa Cole
You’re most welcome!
Can a 13 year old be a voice actor?
Getting hired isn’t a question of age, it’s a question of acting ability.
Where do I meet the people that are a little higher up on the food chain?
A good question! Some ideas: Any music or performing event, Oscar (or award) parties, dog walking, union meetings, movie screenings, happy hour at well-reviewed bar, yoga or exercise classes, Dry bar, well-reviewed restaurants, events mentioned in LA Magazine, LA Weekly, Starbucks, popular fast healthy food shops close to studios, fan convention booths, wine tastings, art museums, etc. Here’s what I would ask myself: Where do successful creatives spend their money? How do they spend their precious free time? What do they do with their families? What grabs their attention in the arts or entertainment industry? Where do they lunch or dine?