Can Anyone Become a Voiceover Actor?

Choosing to undertake a career as a voice actor (in a growing industry) can bring a sense of excitement, as well as a never-ending stream of fresh opportunities into your life - but can just anyone in Nashville or any other city become a voiceover actor?

Well, for starters, you’ll need some basic skills to entertain this notion of being a voice actor:

●     Voice Recording

●     Business

●     Audio Editing

●     Marketing

●     Self-Discipline

The voiceover industry is exploding, with the surge in digital advertisements, audiobooks, television, corporate training videos, and entities like Google and Amazon, there’s a myriad of roles to choose from when considering voice acting.

Voiceover Acting Brings Variety

As a voiceover actor, you could be working on a television ad one day, a cartoon the next, and a Google app the third. Every day is different, and this novelty is often the reason people pursue careers as voice over actors.

Technology has transformed the entire industry - as a voiceover actor a mere 20 years ago, you had to work in huge recording studios in big cities like London or New York. Now you can have your own mini-studio and record work from the comfort of your home. Provided you take the time and effort to set up a broadcast quality recording room.

Voice Acting Is Harder Than It Sounds

While this can make it sound easy, most people struggle to break into voiceover (or even get started). The primary reason is that they keep hunting around the internet looking at videos on YouTube, some voice over blogs, but often this is all just disjointed and hard to make sense of.

Before you make this huge decision, ask yourself why you want to become a voice actor. If you know your goals, expectations, and intentions from the start, you will be much more likely to succeed.
I recommend reading a few of the books out there. The ones that have become the most popular by talented people who have worked many years in the field such as Pat Fraley, James Alburger, Rodney Saulsberry, Marc Cashman and more. Some of these folks hold live or Internet/Skype style workshops. If you can't make it to one in LA, NYC, Chicago or any of the major cities then attend some local workshops. Just be sure to check out the credentials of the instructor or presenter. There are a lot of phonies out there just looking to make a quick buck. More about this below.

Setting small short-term goals and placing due-dates on them will make sure you stay on track, even if you only want to do voiceover acting as a side-gig instead of a full-time job.

Anyone Can Learn With the Right Voiceover Coach

Being under the mentorship of a good voice coach is a key step in acquiring your first voiceover job. Do your research, and test out several coaches to find the best one for you.

After your training progresses to a certain level, your coach should guide you through the steps to create a ‘demo reel.’ Your demo reel is a vital tool you can use to gain the attention of talent agents, casting directors, and other potential employers. Your demos are your calling card in the voiceover industry.