How to Get Started in Voice Acting
Voice actors can be heard everywhere: radio, TV, the Internet, on buses, automated answering machines, in airports, movies and more. To be a voice actor, you don't have to have a deep, gravely voice or crazy, goofy voice. Rather, you need to be an articulate speaker who can deliver quality performances. Like other acting, voice acting can be difficult to break into. Through consistent practice and a quality demo tape, you can get your voice heard.
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Instructions
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Read a newspaper out loud for 10 minutes a day, a different paper or article each day. Voice actors are often handed scripts and expected to perform them right on the spot. Reading a newspaper out loud for 10 minutes a day builds your skills at sight-reading and articulate speaking. Record yourself reading aloud and listen back, critiquing your performance. Answer questions, such as, are you reading too fast and are you articulate.
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Record three minutes of commercials off your TV or radio. Type out the scripts from these commercials and then practice them out loud, trying to mimic the techniques heard in the commercial.
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Record your own voice demo at a recording studio, making a one- to two-minute demo that features five or six different examples of your voice that are about 20 seconds each. You can write your own scripts or use the ones you wrote down from the TV or radio. Work with a recording engineer who has done voice-over work before to get a well-constructed demo with background music and a great-sounding voice.
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Submit this demo to area talent agencies. Many model agencies also have "talent" divisions, which are for actors, including voice actors. If an agency likes your demo, it might sign you. An agent helps you get work, and can be a valuable asset to someone hoping to be a voice actor.
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References
Resources
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Comments
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sooooo... I read this out loud lol grea article!
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awesome! thank you so much!
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grouch
Jan 08, 2008
Thanks for the information. Not all of us have the bodies of a super model but you would be suprized what a few years of customer service over the phone will do to your voice. Practice makes perfect. -
Dawn Armfield
Jan 07, 2008
Thanks for this informative article!
