A voice-over career is an excellent choice for the right person. It's a career that gives you the chance to take on a wide variety of roles and jobs. One week you could be doing a cartoon, the next, you're doing an audiobook and then a commercial.
The opportunities are endless, and the best voice actors find a way to make their voice pay the bills for them, and then some.
Here's your guide to starting a voice-over career.
What Does a Voice Over Career Involve?
Well, almost anything. There are many different types of work that require voiceovers and many different styles to deliver it in.
A lot of voice actors and voice actresses work in corporate spheres. This can involve recording professional voicemails, narrating corporate videos and infographics, and providing a voice for adverts. Companies often find voices for their projects through a voice-over company.
Other types of work available in a voice-over can include reading audiobooks or providing character voices for animated stories or films.
What Skills Are Needed?
Most voice actors and voice actresses are self-employed, and as such, they handle every aspect of the business. You'll need skills in three key areas to launch a successful voice-over career.
Vocal Skills
Of course, the standout skill you'll need is a strong voice. You need to know how to read scripts clearly and to work the brief you have been given. For example, if you are providing a voice-over for a funeral parlor commercial, it's best not to sound too cheery.
Strong fundamental acting skills are a good starting point, but you need to learn as much as you can. There are plenty of coaches and resources out there that can help you hone your voice and shape your understanding of how to work to briefs.
Technical Skills
A lot of people who provide voice-over services work from home. With no producer or technician around, you'll need a good knowledge of recording equipment and software.
Setting up your home studio can often be the difference between an okay voice-over and a great one. Take some time to learn what microphones work best within your budget and what other pieces of equipment you need.
You'll also need to know how to use a DAW (digital audio workstation). These are pieces of software that allow you to record and edit audio. There's a wealth to choose from, and it all comes down to budget and personal preference in the end.
Financial Skills
You'll likely be self-employed as a voice actor. This means you have to be your own accounting department.
Make sure to keep on top of your expenses and your invoices, and take some time to research rates, so you know whether or not you're getting a fair deal. You can also hire agents who help you with this, but bear in mind they'll want a cut of anything you make.
How Much Do Voice Actors Make?
You'll be paid on a per job basis, and the pay can change depending on the length and budget of the job you sign up for.
You're likely to be on the lower end of the market when starting out, and you can initially expect to make somewhere between $35 and $50 per job. As you move your way up through the voice-over world, you can begin to secure more lucrative jobs worth hundreds of dollars at a time.
Hire a Voice Actress For Your Next Project
If you're looking for an actress with a successful voice-over career portfolio for your next project, get in touch with me today.
I offer voice-over services for a wide range of commercial and entertainment projects. I record all of my voice-overs from a professional recording studio.