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Authors: Alan Smithee
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complete this exercise, there’s no need to get a bunch of expensive
equipment. Simply use the recording function on your phone or laptop. Then go
online and find some voiceover scripts (called “copy”) to read. The easiest
thing to do is go to Google and search out “commercial voice over copy.” Then,
based on your list of adjectives, select a few that you think will adequately
allow you to express your natural traits. If you come up short here, you can
also transcribe radio or TV spots you’ve heard that you think would be a good
fit.
Then, get your recording device and record yourself reading the copy. Don’t be
discouraged if you don’t like what you hear right away. This is just a
preliminary exercise to get you used to hearing your own voice, and to start to
understand the type of persona you project. If what you hear doesn’t correspond
to your list of adjectives, try making some adjustments. Keep recording and
listening until you start to feel comfortable with the process. At the end of
this exercise, you should have a good idea of what your voice sounds like, and,
more importantly, how you come across using your voice.
Sign Up with an Online Site
Because this is
the Basics section, we’re going to skip some steps, like finding and taking a
class, and creating a demo reel, both of which we’ll discuss in the Advanced
Section.
For right now, we’re focusing on creating some momentum. Therefore, once you’ve
got a basic idea of what you sound like, you can sign up for a couple of online
casting services. There are a number of them out there, but the two big ones
are Voices.com and Voice123.com.
We’re steering you toward these two sites with some caveats, but we’re
recommending them nonetheless. Both sites allow anyone to sign up, and neither
of them requires that you have a demo or a home studio in order to get started.
And they’ll both allow you to do a free trial.
Bear in mind that if you’re
signing on as a new member who has neither a home studio nor a viable demo to
post to the site, your chances of booking a job are very minimal. You’ll be
going up against seasoned professionals for work, not to mention to a
formidable number of newcomers like yourself. And at the free level, you likely
won’t see a lot of auditions.
Both sites do offer higher
levels beyond the free trial that cost progressively more money, but we
recommend waiting to pay until you’ve gotten more experience. But since this
preliminary section is really about seizing the moment and taking viable steps
toward the creation of your voiceover career, there’s no harm in jumping in for
the free trial. Who knows? You might strike gold, and then you’ll be on your
way!
So, that’s the basic approach to getting your voiceover career started. If you
like what you’ve seen and done so far, and if you think you’ve got what it takes,
let’s move on to the Advanced Section!
3
ADVANCED SECTION:
Now that you’ve gotten your
feet wet, recorded and listened to yourself, explored the online marketplace,
and have decided that you’re ready for a career in voiceover, it’s time to take
the next step. First thing you’ll want to do is…
Find and Take a Class
If you’re serious about making
a go at a career in voiceover, taking a class is the best place to start, for a
number of reasons. First off, even if you’ve been recording and listening to
yourself for some time, you still need to have someone who actually works in
the voiceover profession to listen to you and provide guidance. You can only
get so far on your own. Also, when you take a class, you’ll be spending time in
a recording booth, and you can see if it feels comfortable for you. Some people
find recording booths to be stressful and claustrophobic, and if that’s you,
now’s a good time to find that out. But most importantly, when you take a class
from a reputable teacher who works in the industry, you’ll make a
equipment. Simply use the recording function on your phone or laptop. Then go
online and find some voiceover scripts (called “copy”) to read. The easiest
thing to do is go to Google and search out “commercial voice over copy.” Then,
based on your list of adjectives, select a few that you think will adequately
allow you to express your natural traits. If you come up short here, you can
also transcribe radio or TV spots you’ve heard that you think would be a good
fit.
Then, get your recording device and record yourself reading the copy. Don’t be
discouraged if you don’t like what you hear right away. This is just a
preliminary exercise to get you used to hearing your own voice, and to start to
understand the type of persona you project. If what you hear doesn’t correspond
to your list of adjectives, try making some adjustments. Keep recording and
listening until you start to feel comfortable with the process. At the end of
this exercise, you should have a good idea of what your voice sounds like, and,
more importantly, how you come across using your voice.
Sign Up with an Online Site
Because this is
the Basics section, we’re going to skip some steps, like finding and taking a
class, and creating a demo reel, both of which we’ll discuss in the Advanced
Section.
For right now, we’re focusing on creating some momentum. Therefore, once you’ve
got a basic idea of what you sound like, you can sign up for a couple of online
casting services. There are a number of them out there, but the two big ones
are Voices.com and Voice123.com.
We’re steering you toward these two sites with some caveats, but we’re
recommending them nonetheless. Both sites allow anyone to sign up, and neither
of them requires that you have a demo or a home studio in order to get started.
And they’ll both allow you to do a free trial.
Bear in mind that if you’re
signing on as a new member who has neither a home studio nor a viable demo to
post to the site, your chances of booking a job are very minimal. You’ll be
going up against seasoned professionals for work, not to mention to a
formidable number of newcomers like yourself. And at the free level, you likely
won’t see a lot of auditions.
Both sites do offer higher
levels beyond the free trial that cost progressively more money, but we
recommend waiting to pay until you’ve gotten more experience. But since this
preliminary section is really about seizing the moment and taking viable steps
toward the creation of your voiceover career, there’s no harm in jumping in for
the free trial. Who knows? You might strike gold, and then you’ll be on your
way!
So, that’s the basic approach to getting your voiceover career started. If you
like what you’ve seen and done so far, and if you think you’ve got what it takes,
let’s move on to the Advanced Section!
3
ADVANCED SECTION:
Now that you’ve gotten your
feet wet, recorded and listened to yourself, explored the online marketplace,
and have decided that you’re ready for a career in voiceover, it’s time to take
the next step. First thing you’ll want to do is…
Find and Take a Class
If you’re serious about making
a go at a career in voiceover, taking a class is the best place to start, for a
number of reasons. First off, even if you’ve been recording and listening to
yourself for some time, you still need to have someone who actually works in
the voiceover profession to listen to you and provide guidance. You can only
get so far on your own. Also, when you take a class, you’ll be spending time in
a recording booth, and you can see if it feels comfortable for you. Some people
find recording booths to be stressful and claustrophobic, and if that’s you,
now’s a good time to find that out. But most importantly, when you take a class
from a reputable teacher who works in the industry, you’ll make a
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