NEW! Short form: Insights 1, Insights 2, Insights 3, Insights 4
*
“HOW DO I GET INTO
VOICE OVERS?”
___________________________________________________________________________
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 adds- 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!
Check back often for frequent updates and additions!
*
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.
More advanced performers :
More experienced performers will find specifics 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.
Pandemic/ Work from Home Pages!
COVID has rendered VO fully mobile! For my Working from Home pages CLICK HERE.
For a new page for experienced performers ready to start: CLICK HERE.
After giving my site (as well as posted comments) a careful read, if you still have a voice over question, post it (below)!
If my site doesn’t already address your question ask it, and if it is relevant to others, I’ll try to answer it.
*
If you enjoy my site, I encourage you to make a donation of any amount to the American Humane Association, a wonderful charity that helps protect children, pets and farm animals from abuse and neglect.
*
I’m [interested] in pursuing voice acting for anime, and I know that the biggest opportunities for that are in Texas, but I also have reasons to want to live in LA or Vancouver. (I’ve heard Vancouver is great for voice acting, but I can’t seem to find a lot of information on why or how—I’d love to know your thoughts on it.) Do you think I would still have a strong chance of getting into anime dubbing in either of those cities, or would my only real option be to move to Dallas?
Anime never drew me- it pays too little while asking too much, which is typical of non-union VO. There is a union anime dub contract, but it is the worst of all acting contracts in SAG-AFTRA by far. I see anime VO as a stepping stone at best, which is fine, but not a destination.
If it sounds fun, go for it but I think voice actors deserve a better gig and better pay and protections. So, I’ve little insight into non-union work in general and anime VO in particular.
I’ve been checking the prices of getting a professional VO demo tape, I’ve seen successful voice actors offer to do it for between 2,300-2,500 dollars. In the Orlando, FL region, I’ve researched studios that have very good reviews that say they can do it for between 300-400 dollars. What are your thoughts on the price disparity?
I’d expect just an engineer for the lowball price. For highball pricing I’d expect more creative assistance, oversight and feedback. The key factor is your talent and readiness, though. Ultimately I’d listen to the demos any vendor showcases as their work and judge from my ears not the price.
I’m from Pakistan and wish to break into VOs in the US where real opportunities are made. If I were to move here, what would I need to do animation VOs in television, movies and video games
Read my site. FAQ 11a for starters.
What do you think about the impact of AI voiceovers? I was considering getting a start in voice acting, but I’m worried that it’ll be even more difficult since the technology will probably be perfected in just a handful of years.
There have always been obstacles and technological change for actors to overcome. The entertainment industry is characterized by a steady stream of technological transformations/inventions- sound, radio, movies, TV, VCRs, streaming, etc. Disruption is a constant. Those creatives that want it enough to persevere and roll with it have a shot at working their way in and enduring.
Good Morning, if someone decided to go into one kind of VO, say commercial or narration, can you get type cast into those rolls? Meaning, would it then be hard to break into animation VO? Thanks for your time.
It’s “hard” to break into anything as an actor. But those meant to be actors don’t care about that. Ultimately, the question is whether or how much you typecast yourself.