10 Tips On How to Get Into Voice Acting

Has anyone ever said to you, "Hey, you've got a great voice. You should be on the radio." If so, I have good news for you. You're on your way! Well... you're about 1% there. Yup. A "great voice" is about 1% of what it takes to get started.

"What!?" you say. "If I've got the voice, all I have to do is get in front of a microphone and read the script, right?"

Uh... no.

Just what makes a "great voice" anyway? I believe most people have a good voice that can be used in various types of voiceover projects; however, before your voice can be used, you have to know how to "use" it.

Like many others in the voiceover world, I get several emails, phone calls and even face-to-face requests for advice on getting into voice acting. Recently, I decided to compose a 10-point list of tips, a list that would make it easy to attach to each email to voiceover hopefuls. It's not the law of the land, just my personal thoughts on what it takes to get started.

1. Keep your day job. Rarely does anyone, even an experienced voiceover talent, make enough in the first few years to call it "a living."

2. Consider a voice coach. Ask them for references!

3. Read everything you can about voice acting.

4. Polish and update your demos at least once, preferably twice a year. If necessary, hire a professional to produce your demos. Like me. ;-)

5. Join every Internet forum and community you can, and network, network, network.

6. Watch experienced voiceover talent on the job whenever you can, and take notes. This includes watching videos on the Internet.

7. Join the pay-to-play sites. In many cases, you do not have to sign up for a paid subscription unless you feel you're ready to start auditioning. My top preference is Voices.com. You can learn a lot there.

8. Market your demos to and establish relationships with businesses in your community.

9. As with any other trade, practice whenever you can - in the studio, in the car, on a break, in the shower, in bed, wherever you can!

10. Network, network, network.

Voice acting is a lot of fun. It's also a lot of hard work that does not involve time behind the microphone; in fact, most of your time in the business will be spent doing things to keep your business moving forward.

If you think you've got what it takes, and you're more than just a "great voice," I wish you much success. Break a lip!