“HOW DO I GET INTO VOICE OVERS?”
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Welcome to the web’s most comprehensive resource covering the art, craft and career of voice acting!
This site is for all levels of ability- from those utterly new to voice acting to amateurs to working pros. You’ll find no fees and no ads- just practical, encouraging insight.
I’ve distilled for you what I’ve learned from my over three decades as a professional voice actor in Hollywood, as well as five decades of live performing.
Whether you’re looking for an exploratory overview or a career-expanding deep dive, you’ve come to the right place!
I add new pages often, with my “Latest Additions” blog posts listed in the column to the right if you’re on a computer or if your cell phone is held horizontally.
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Click below for my new short-form posts:
Beginners:
Those new to voice acting and all curious amateurs should start by reading my FAQ and VO Myths pages.
If you are new to acting check the pages under the “Starting from Zero” dropdown menu above.
CLICK HERE for a short list of experienced animation voice actors who teach.
Already Up and Running:
More experienced performers will find insight on advanced topics like how to make a demo, how to audition, what happens in a session and how get an agent, as well as broader discussion of the career of voice acting for those suited to it.
For a new page for experienced performers ready to start: CLICK HERE.
Work from Home Pages!
COVID has rendered VO fully mobile! For my Working from Home pages CLICK HERE.
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I’ve always loved voice acting and it’s pretty easy for me to slip into a character as long as my face is not being recorded but now I’m confused because I’ve always wanted to be an animator too I’m only 12 so I know there’s time but I would love to know if there is some sort of way I can to both
There are animators who are voice actors- Doug Lawrence of “SpongeBob” and Eric Bauza for instance. You can do both if you have talent for both and pursue both and enjoy both.
Great. Go for it!
I’m severely visually impaired. My low vision is due to a genetic condition I was born with and can’t be corrected by glasses, contacts, surgery, etc. I can’t read something unless I’m holding it only a couple of inches away from my face, even if the font is big. My question is, do you think there are accommodations that can be made for this?
Hm. Not sure. Recording VO requires an unobstructed space between mouth and mic, typically placed 7 or 8 inches away from the face, in order to record it. It also requires a lot of reading and modifying or notating of text as well as reading scene partners’ lines (in animation and commercials). I’m trying to imagine a work around for this for a visually impaired voice actor but I’m not coming up with one. A stage actor could memorize a script and be okay, but not sure about VO.
Mr. Baker, I am wondering if you would recommend using a usb microphone with a laptop to practice recording yourself? Also do you now of any good recording programs on a computer?
As I say on my site, I use a USB mic to record auditions, so yes. And as I say, I use Garage Band.
I’m new to LA, an experienced commercial voice actor, but I’m trying to get animation work and build an animation demo. Do you offer classes or have one to recommend–potentially one that will also help to produce or record my demo down the line?
I rarely teach, though I do sometimes through SAG-AFTRA do presentations for union members. They have a VO Lab that is excellent and offers many classes and instructors for free to members. If you have an agent or a VO friend you can ask them for a demo producer recommendation. Also, you can listen through demos online of other voice actors and perhaps approach them online or in town for specific recommendations. You are right to be careful in this selection, as it’s not just about your voices or the smooth production, but more importantly about a string of disparate mini performances that show you can act and have versatility and a unique talent that fits with contemporary projects.