Voice over is a business that can be very hostile to the faint of heart. If you can’t accept constructive criticism, if you’re impatient, if you hate losing, if you can’t handle rejection, then these traits won’t work in your favor when you seriously consider becoming a broadcaster. For starters, the competition is fierce. At the top of the food chain are the union voice actors, then the independent professional self-contractors, and finally all the hobbyists or “wannabes” looking to make a quick buck. The internet is saturated with the latter, which is unfortunate. Especially for seasoned talent who strives to maintain a standard. Most professionals have their own websites to promote themselves online. There are also numerous talent pools, many of whom charge for membership on their sites. Inclusion in the most recognized “voice banks” is like trying to join an exclusive golf club. Very few are selected for admission. The same goes for the major talent agencies. Unless you can fill a specific “hole” they may have, they’ll get through it in no time. Not to mention that your first obligation is to serve those who are already represented. As daunting as it may sound, seeking representation can lead to many dead ends. Even if you are unique enough to be accepted by an agency, they will only do so much for you in terms of auditions and work.
Therefore, the road to success in the voiceover industry involves a lot of self-promotion. First of all, you need to have your own website, where potential customers can listen to your voice-over demos. This also shows that you are legit and genuine. Anyone can create a voiceover page on social media, or post a video portraying himself as a broadcaster, which are paths of least resistance in terms of cost. Paying for a membership with a well-known voice over website could be an additional option. In these cases, one would have to audition for voiceover jobs posted by voice seekers, some of which may not be trustworthy or trustworthy. There is a degree of risk involved as there are no guarantees of securing the job. Membership levels can also pose a problem when it comes to receiving leads of the same quality as the highest level. Signing up for a profile is free on various voice over sites, but ultimately a fee is required to audition through them. Self-promotion also involves contacting production companies that have used freelance announcers in their projects. Blogging is another option. Sending emails advertising your services to companies that advertise is another option. Networking through social media too. Investing in AdWords could be another way forward, and many are already taking that path. In any case, getting your name out there should be your main goal.
Be prepared for competition once you have established a degree of presence online. You will face many of the big shots that are repeatedly sought after by the same customers. However, Fortune can work to your advantage and you will get a paid gig within a few days, or a few hours after your site is visited and your demos are found and listened to, or it can take much longer depending on demand and what you bring to the table in terms of talent. Finding new sources of voice over work is difficult, but not impossible thanks to the Internet that reaches everyone. Abroad can be a great source for voice over projects, but be prepared for potential communication gaps, unless you speak a dozen languages. However, American voice overs are highly sought after across the pond, so this could be one direction to go. The United Kingdom, India, China, the Netherlands, and Japan have used American English-speaking voices. Chances are, if you have a decent search engine ranking for some of the important voiceover search terms, foreign voice search engines will get in touch with you. Potential projects include independent films, events large and small, wedding videos, animation, radio images, documentaries, and corporate websites, to name a few. The question now is, how does it stack up against the competition? Sound credible? It can’t sound like you’re reading. Sounding like an announcer, unless specifically requested, can also be your downfall. Having a deep voice is also not always an advantage. Currently there seems to be a tendency to lean towards more collegiate voices, but the natural and conversational sound wins steadily. The narrator’s approach, of the “next door neighbor” is undoubtedly the most in demand today. It’s not as easy as it sounds, and it involves the ability to act or “pretend” to sound genuine, sincere, and realistic.
We have come a long way in this discussion, but we have yet to talk about the actual ending of the recording. You can’t just rely on opportunities to record in a multi-million dollar professional studio to which talent agencies send talent for auditions, even when one is represented. You have to have your own studio at home, or where you can afford to set it up and have room for one, no matter what and where the source of the business situation is. You have to have a microphone, preferably a condenser microphone, an amplifier, a compressor, and an interface to get started. Next, you will need editing software installed on your computer, ideally a PC with a lot of RAM. You will need a method of delivering finished audio files, and of course a way to accept payment. Practicing reading while recording yourself, and then listening to objective criticism is an ongoing process, even for professionals, and someone other than your mother should provide the feedback on your readings. This is where a vocal instructor might come into play. Microphone technique is an art unto itself and must be properly incorporated during recording. It should become second nature so that it is not distracting from the interpretation of the script. The main focus should be on what is being said, taking into account who it is being said to and how to say it convincingly. One to one is a term that is often used in the industry. In other words, it sounds NATURAL, while avoiding choppy noises and pops when speaking. Staying hydrated and maintaining control of your breathing are an integral part of the entire recording process in front of a microphone.
What about the categories of speech? Should you focus on just one genre? The variety of voice over projects is limitless, but they all invariably fall into specific categories or “genres.” They are, in a nutshell, commercials, promotions, narrative, radio footage, movie trailers, and animation. Almost any voice-over application will involve one of these concepts. The broadcaster’s goal is to evaluate and decide in which category one’s strengths primarily fall, those whose talents are best suited to achieve maximum impact. In other words, find your “niche”. Trying to cover them all could lead to useless exercise, so honing your skills to excel in one area might be the best approach to take. This only comes with practice and more practice, and with criticism from an objective party. It takes time and patience to finally succeed, and most success stories don’t happen overnight. Rejection is a big part of the business, so be prepared for that. It’s all mostly a matter of opinion anyway, so what sounds inappropriate to some may sound like the best thing from sliced bread to others. You can’t take any of that personally. You have to stand firm and believe in yourself. Believe that you have what it takes and that you can achieve what you set out to do. If it’s a professional voiceover, it goes without saying that it takes a lot of commitment and drive. If you stick around long enough to build a respectable clientele through your activities, gaining invaluable experience along the way, then realizing that it was all worth the time invested will later become your primary motivation to be the best. in what you are doing. do. Again, there are no guarantees of success, but unless one gets mixed up, there is no way to know for sure.