Learning to Act
There are many ways to become an actor and my approach is omnivorous and non-denominational. Anyone advocating only “one way” to do it is probably selling something. Whatever works for you – do that!
For an overview of the many skills and capacities a voice actor needs CLICK HERE.
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Where can an aspiring voice actor discover and develop the acting skills needed?
Here are some of the more conventional ways to become an actor:
CLICK HERE to learn about doing school and local community theater.
CLICK HERE to learn about improv training.
CLICK HERE to learn about taking acting workshops.
CLICK HERE to learn about studying with VO Pros.
CLICK HERE to learn about trying stand up comedy, children’s theater and theme parks.
CLICK HERE to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of getting an acting degree.
CLICK HERE to learn more about getting “street trained” vs. acting conservatory trained acting.
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Finding your own path to acting
If you ask a successful actor what you should do to become an actor, most will probably essentially advise you,”Do what I did.”
This would be very different advice from every voice actor you’d meet.
Many top voice actors don’t have an acting degree and may have taken few (if any) voice acting classes. Some have never performed in a play or a musical.
Many don’t have a traditional background of what most would consider a typical “acting path” at all. Some come from a live music background (e.g. Grey Delisle). Some from radio and stand up (Billy West, Tom Kenny and Carlos Alzaraqui). Some are animators or writers and just have a clear idea of what their drawings need to say (e.g. Eric Bauza, Seth MacFarlane and Doug Laurence).
Some found acting as a child (e.g. Ashley Johnson), some later in life (e.g. Steve Blum didn’t try acting until he was 40). Others have Broadway credentials (e.g. Charlie Adler, Candi Milo), or have studied acting at a conservatory (e.g. Kevin Michael Richardson and Jeff Bennett).
Regardless of their experience or training (or lack of it), they are all terrific voice actors because they are all terrific actors.
Most voice actors have a patchwork of experience and training to get as good as they are. And most have a history of years of some kind of collaborative creativity that often involves a live audience.
There is no one way to become a good voice actor. Your path will be your own.
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If you are interested in further exploration of what an “actor’s life” can be, I’ve read some enjoyable and insightful autobiographies recently that I highly recommend: Steve Martin’s “Born Standing Up,” Rob Lowe’s “Stories I Only Tell My Friends” and “Love Life,” Martin Short’s “I Must Say,” Frank Langella’s “Dropped Names,” and John Badham’s “On Directing.” Gene Wilder’s story is fascinating as is Robin Williams’ tragic bio. The Monty Python troop have a nice offering of autobiographies as well.
All are engaging, personal accounts of “an actor’s life” from established actors with talent, smarts and heart who endure (Badham is a director who loves actors). You see the process of their unique creative drives gradually clarifying and coming together against all odds. None were “born into it” or seemed particularly destined for fame and fortune at first. It’s striking how improbable each success seems in retrospect. Each life is an unlikely collision of chance, initiative and talent.
I so enjoy listening to the story of an emerging talent that has found a way to both endure and thrive. I find hope and instruction in that (sometimes cautionary instruction).
I’ve listened through these as audiobooks, mostly read by the author, which I also highly recommend.
Do you know of any worthwhile places in the Cincinnati area? I struggle to achieve what I try to here, and a bit of guidance would be amazing.
Sorry. As I said, no region specific advice.
Do you have any college suggestions that specialize in vo and va
No. I’d rather be paid to learn.
Hey Dee, I’m here from your plug on Talkin Toons with Rob Paulsen a little while ago! It was hilarious, baffling, and helpful; a really awesome listen.
Name’s David, I’m 20, and after a bit of film school, I realize I want to pursue performance (acting, singing, voice-over, stage, on-camera, anything), not direction. For now I’ll be in a 6-month Australian missions school using performing arts as a form of outreach around the world. On return, I’ll start a journey in the Vancouver area to find work.
If possible, what advice could you give my parents: they deeply believe it’s too dangerous to attempt show business without a college degree. This belief comes from them being immigrants to the country from Canada and Ecuador (out of necessity and mandate from THEIR parents), and being long-time educators themselves. Their experience with my older siblings has been consistent; each of 3 kids has floundered after high school, slogged through college and found odd jobs to survive, only recently finding stability in their early 30s.
Regardless, no one is familiar with show business. I realize my parents want me in school because they care about my future, but you’ve confirmed here that school can dig more of a pit than provide proper stepping stones. I’ve also agreed with them not to take handouts, to find work to support myself, knowing full well it WILL be a slog getting started, but that’s the nature of the beast.
As an actor, teacher, and parent yourself, what would you advise my parents, or ANY parent that worries when their (full-grown) child tells them they’re interested in entertainment? Thanks for your time, and for this site. I’ll definitely keep returning to the wealth of advice you’ve shared!
Hi David!
I don’t know anyone– college educated or not– who hasn’t had to “slog it out” until they earn a more stable situation in their thirties or even forties (or never). Expect the slog, post-college or no.
I am on the fence about studying acting at a conservatory, but not necessarily about going to college, but this is a function of my particular experience. I think conservatories can over emphasize the art and ignore the business end of the career. They also tend to have a more narrow view of what an “actor” is that can limit talent, in addition to the adversarial environment of some programs that “cuts” students after a point. For some, it’s a terrible choice. Some get great skills, survive it, and go on to a successful career. I’m just saying be careful about committing to conservatory training.
However– I personally don’t think I’d be where I am without a liberal arts degree (mine was Philosophy) and all the learning I soaked in during those five years of my life (an extra for a year abroad). Even though I didn’t major in acting, I wouldn’t trade my college education for the world. I took advantage of a ton of performing opportunities my college offered that were unrelated to my studies and got me no class credit, but they were essential to my education. There is also a knowledge of the world and arts and literature that serves me, if indirectly, on a daily basis as I perform and interpret scripts. To be surrounded by creative and inquisitive minds at college was an essential moment in my life. If you can afford it, I think studying what you love is a good idea– in any way you can that feels positive and productive. If that’s college, great. If that’s workshops, that’s fine. If it’s stage time, that’s always best–in any and all venues. I liked my liberal arts college education because of the varied menu of learning opportunities made available to me– that’s really what I was getting– not just a piece of paper with a B.A. on it or career training per se. Is college what you need? I don’t know. But if you’re going to shell out the big bucks to do it, you’d better be psyched to take advantage of everything available.
3. I was lucky in that my parents were happy for me to study a college major with no particular long-term career intent. I studied it because I liked it. Same with my study of the German language in college. Did I want to be a Philosophy or German teacher or writer or translator? Nope. But 20 years later when they auditioned the role of a French pet fish on a new series called “American Dad” I had the good sense to ignore the character description and read the role the best way I could– as a German fish, which no one else did. Had I never attended college and studied German, had I never taken improv classes or done stand up after college, had I never spent all that time getting up my confidence as a performer for all those years in all those different venues- some paid, some not, during and after college- I would not have had the confidence to do that.
You must try to follow the course of education that will feed both your enthusiasm and your confidence in doing what you love. That may be college or not. Some absolutely need and benefit from college study and training. Others waste their time and money. It’s case specific for the student. The only thing I would advice against, just from my own experience, is studying something just because you are good at it but that you don’t really like. That way leads to a miserable career and life, in my book.
The learning path for you is the one that best connects you with what you love and what you are good at. If the intersection of those happens to be acting then you will probably find a way to earn your living performing, college or not.
Hope this helps.
Good luck and go for it!
Dee
I wish I could be a voice actor. I’m only 13,and my parents believe that I could pursue voice acting because of my ability to change my voice fairly well. My voice is naturally deep (even though I’m a girl,I especially love my voice) and I’m very fond of imitating male characters,mostly because the females are a little higher,but I can do both. I don’t believe I’m good enough to be a voice actor,though,but I really want to try.
Go for it! You never know if you’re right for it if you don’t try!
Im 15 and I want be a voice actor but not as a full time job and I also have dyslexia and no family support. However the family I live with don’t even support me playing the cello, drawing or singing. What can I do to help myself?
Don’t be afraid to pursue what you love and never give up having fun. Whether you earn a living at it or not is not important. Keep saying to yourself everyday over and over that you can and will find a way to do what you want to do. No matter the obstacles. What matters is that you see it and you keep the prize in mind and don’t get distracted with the external obstacles. The most important obstacles, in my opinion, are the inner ones– those you have some control over. Keep your spirits up and never stop doing what you love and you will find a way. That’s the attitude.