How to Get a Job as a Voice Actor

A voice actor is an actor that acts only through vocal means, using her voice as her means of presentation. Whereas a live actor uses his whole body to express emotion, the voice actor puts all his emphasis on what his voice displays, and therefore must train it well. The voice actor can work in animated films and TV series, as well as radio broadcasts and TV commercials. A successful voice actor must match her voice to the character she is portraying. Becoming a voice actor requires not only skills in the vocal arena but also strong networking skills.

Instructions

1. Gain some acting experience. Join an acting program or school. Go through improv training. Volunteer to be an extra or play a small role in a movie or television program. Any acting experience that you can place into your resume will help you get a position as a voice actor, as directors look for voice actors that can spontaneously display emotion.

2. Study various accents and voices. Listen to how others speak and be able to imitate their accents and intonation patterns. Be able to bend to the director’s wishes so that your voice can match her ideal character. Getting hired as a voice actor depends heavily on your ability to be flexible in regard to matching your voice to the character’s idealized voice.

3. Create some characters. Have a few “fixed characters” on-hand that you can bring out at an interview. Make each character distinctive and special in his own way. Display these characters to friends and colleagues, asking them their impressions of the voices. Be sure that others hear what you want to transmit. For example, if you have a character with a strong raspy voice that you believe is indicative of an aloof, strong elderly man, present this voice to others, asking them who they believe this voice belongs to. Make sure your conception matches with that of the listener.

4. Look for work in many places. Since there is not a particularly strong need for voice actors, it is essential that you make effective use of your resources when applying for a role as a voice actor. Look through newspaper ads, online advertisements, and advertisements hung near and inside acting studios. Directors will not come to you; you must put yourself out there to get a job as a voice actor. Consider hiring an agent who can assist you in your job search and self-promotion efforts. Having an agent is not necessary, but the experience an agent has is likely to open some doors that you may not have seen.

5. Network. Make friends with actors, aspiring actors, presently working voice actors and directors. All of these people could possibly help you connect with job opportunities. In the acting business, getting started is often about whom you know, not what you know.

References

• Wan-Zi Wei; Voice Actor; Taipei
• BLS.gov: Voice Actor