Three Tips for a Better Voiceover Career

This can be a difficult, and occasionally discouraging industry to work in.  Therefore, it is important to keep a positive attitude and to avoid making common mistakes that will only serve to set you back.

Below, I’ve included a list of three of, in my opinion, the most important tips that you can receive as a new voiceover talent.

1. Avoid Over-Obsessing. You will receive negative feedback from time to time.  You will be disappointed when you are not selected to be the voice for an exciting project. While constructive criticism is worth listening to, it is important that you avoid becoming too obsessed with the way your voice sounds. There are many reasons why I say this, but the top two are:

a. Every client will want something different, which means that today’s constructive criticism may not apply at all tomorrow.

b. If you focus too much on how you sound, you won’t focus enough on the script, and, ultimately, you’ll end up sounding robotic and unnatural.

2. Practice! There is a great deal of truth in the phrase ‘practice makes perfect’.  Perfection is an unachievable goal, of course, but practice will make you better and more comfortable behind the microphone.  If you find that you have slow days, as you work to build up your voiceover business, then take advantage of them. Practice reading into the microphone. Listen to it and on the next practice run try to improve. This may mean achieving a more natural sound, reducing popping, or steadying your breathing. As you practice, you’ll find that your comfort level behind the microphone improves.

3. Care for Your Instrument. Of course, you should definitely attend your son’s basketball game.  That said, remember that the other fans do not necessarily rely on their voices to pay the bills. Take it easy on your voice and cheer at normal volumes, rather than trying to scream over the noise of the crowd. Sporting events, concerts, parties, and other such loud events can be hard on your voice, if you are always trying to be heard. Take care to prevent damaging your instrument, as you will be expected to perform well in the studio.