How to become A Voice Over Artist

“In 300 metres, take the third exit at the roundabout.” It could be your voice on the GPS guiding thousands of people to their destination. Voice-Over Artists share their voice with the world and bring iconic characters to life in films, videogames, audiobooks, animations, radio shows, advertisements, or even messages on public transport. They lend their talents for educational, entertainment or business purposes, typically matching the audio to the video.

• Voice Actor 
• Dubbing Artist

What do Voice-Over Artists do?

A Voice-Over Artist would typically need to:

• Vocally entertain or inform the audience, depending on the industry they work in, such as radio, television, theatre, or education
• Send out demo recordings and attend auditions
• Read the script provided and perform vocal warmups  
• Adjust and record their voice according to the script and desired tone for commercial or character voice-overs
• Perform lip-dubbing or match the mouth movements of animated characters or real actors for films dubbed in other languages
• Enact the script to convey the character’s emotions, also delivering sighs, groans, screams, gasps, or heavy breathing as per instructions
• Attend rehearsals with the rest of the crew; sing and work with musicians as needed 
• Work with directors and apply their suggestions and feedback, recording multiple takes until the director is happy with the quality of the performance or delivery
• Use different accents and languages according to the character you are portraying or to suit the purpose of the voice-over; diversify your portfolio
• Use technology and sophisticated recording material and stay up to date with industry trends

Voice-Over Artists work in recording studios, where they read a script into a microphone. Large cities typically have more recording studios and more demand for Voice-Over Artists. Although it can be expensive, it is possible to record at home with professional equipment.

Travel to recording studios is typically required. Extended periods of absence from home may be needed to attend workshops or conferences or work with clients at their location.

A Voice-Over Artist’s schedule can vary depending on the current project. It can take many hours of recording to produce one hour of good audio, particularly for long-form recordings, such as narration for documentaries and audiobooks. Shorter-form gigs, such as 30-second commercials needing some acting, can still take up to an hour to record as they typically need several usable versions that differ in style and tone. 

Beginner Voice-Over Artists may take longer to produce quality audio and edit it. Freelancing Voice-Over Artists may spend much of their time auditioning, marketing themselves, and doing administrative work, as well as recording and editing audio for the jobs they have.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Voice-Over Artists can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing or talent agencies. Once you have built a solid portfolio and extensive network, you may receive invitations to auditions.

Voice-Over Artists are generally employed by: 

• Recording Studios
• Advertising Agencies
• Technology Companies
• GPS Companies
• Videogame Developers
• Radio Stations
• Movie/Video Production Houses
• Television & Cable Stations
• Multimedia Companies
• Transport Companies
• Museums & Monuments
• Educational & Training Institutions
• Businesses

Professional associations and organisations, such as World-Voices Organization (WoVO), are crucial for Voice-Over Artists interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Requires constantly practising diverse accents, languages, dialects, and impressions, which can be laborious and time-consuming
• Developing a neutral accent that appeals to a larger audience
• Expanding your repertoire of voices
• Gesturing and acting needed to portray animated characters to help the animation team create realistic movements
• Interpreting the script and the characters as the writers intended; taking suggestions on how to improve
• Repeating audio expressions, such as sighs, groans, or screams and redoing takes until the director is satisfied with the outcomes
• Corresponding the voice-over with visuals on screen for dubbing foreign-language films
• Irregular work hours; reporting at recording studios punctually, having warmed up your voice; remaining on call for gigs and being flexible with timings and plans
• Building an impressive portfolio and a solid network; contacting agencies and meeting professionals in the field; self-promoting your skills and talents
• Maintaining timely communication with agents or production staff, informing them in advance to cancel or postpone a session
• Taking care of your voice and dealing with vocal chord health issues, since the loss of voice can lead to a loss in earnings
• Developing technical skills; investing in and using sophisticated technology to create and edit audio to reach the expected standard 
• Having the ability to sing if needed

Aspiring Voice-Over Artists may improve their scope of job opportunities by acquiring work experience. Related jobs, such as announcing events, moderating debates, and participating in Q&A panels, podcasts and radio shows, demonstrate your voice talent, help you build skills and your voice portfolio, and allow you to network with professionals in the industry.

Read aloud from books or news articles at home, focusing on correct pronunciation and careful enunciation. Adapting the expressiveness of emotions in your voice to suit the material you read fosters your voice-acting skills. Familiarity with the sound of your voice can help you manipulate it to achieve the desired tone. It is also useful to develop a range of expressions.

Record professional demo CDs that you can distribute to agencies and prospective clients. The demo reel should include snippets of your best work and different voice recordings but should be only up to two minutes long. Use recordings that are relevant to the job for which you apply. Partnering with recording studios helps in saving recordings for future use. It is also helpful to set up your own recording studio to practise and keep track of progress and gain experience working with voice recording equipment, software and soundproofing materials.

Aspiring Voice-Over Artists should also audition for casting calls as it gives them valuable experience in gauging the competition and the recording process. It may also boost your confidence and help you improve your skills based on the feedback you receive from casting directors. You may use the services of casting agents to find auditions, market your skills, get voice acting jobs, and negotiate a salary.

Read about the profession and interview Voice-Over Artists to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.

A high school diploma or equivalent is adequate to become a Voice-Over Artist. Although a formal degree is not required, it is helpful to take college-level courses in acting and voice.

It is also possible to attend workshops or short and specialised programs to learn different vocal techniques and voice modulation to convey a message and its meaning accurately or develop a character as envisioned by the director or producer. Such programs may be offered by media houses and training institutions run by them.

Certification demonstrates a Voice-Over Artist’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. When acquired from an objective and reputed organisation, it can help you stand out in a competitive job market, carry a significant salary premium of up to 18 per cent, increase your chances of advancement, and allow you to become an independent consultant. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. Employees with consistently high performance levels may be eligible for promotion every two to three years.

Voice-Over Artists may begin by working for media channels and production houses, lending their voice to video, radio or news programs. With experience, they may head to narrating documentaries and audiobooks, advertising, sports, phone software, or multimedia.

A solid grasp of language, voice control and a wide range of vocal techniques can help Voice-Over Artists expand their career options.

Candidates with excellent command over language, excellent voice clarity and vocal range, correct diction, and experience have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Voice-Over Artist build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. It allows you to upskill continually, regardless of your age, job, or level of knowledge.

Voice-Over Artists may work with vocal coaches to learn new accents and impressions and expand their vocal range and voice acting abilities to make them suitable for more roles. Voice-Over Artists who can learn to speak in regional or foreign accents or manipulate their voice to portray a large demographic of characters will have better performances and more opportunities.

Voice-Over Artists polish their performance and skills working under the guidance of directors. For instance, they learn how to alter the pitch of their voice or infuse the appropriate quality and quantity of emotion and energy into the script while reading it out. A voice actor, in particular, must learn to follow directions quickly and accurately. 

What Does It Mean To Be a Voice-Over Artist?

The human voice is characterised by certain aspects, including volume, pitch, rate, pauses, vocal variety, articulation, pronunciation, fluency, emphasis, and dialect. Voice-overs, or off-camera commentaries, involve modifying and varying these aspects of voice for use in professional audio work, such as to support a telefilm’s visuals. 

Where Will You Be Heard? 

Typically, Voice-Over Artists are only audible, not visible, and their demand is linked with the growth of the media industry, particularly for film and television.

Voice-Over Talents or Voice Artists are not always required to deliver emotive performances. Instead, they must grab and retain the audience's attention by delivering clear and concise messages. They can work in many areas of media, such as direct telephone prompts or IVR (interactive voice response), welcoming visitors to a website, or even as the voice of a GPS. 

Voice-Over Announcers introduce live television or radio broadcasts of award shows, talk shows, promotions, or sports events.

Voice-Over Narrators record audio for audiobooks, podcasts, documentaries, trailers, promos, explainer videos, training/e-learning videos, business or medical videos, and audio tour guides. 

Voice Actors engage in the art of doing voice-overs for diverse genres of media. They perform for animated movies, commercials, TV shows and cartoons, radio dramas, ADR (automated dialogue replacement), video games, puppet shows, and foreign language dubbing. They employ a variety of tones to depict a range of emotions, such as anger, excitement, sadness, and joy, while portraying their many voice roles.

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Freelancing Voice-Over Artists have more flexible work schedules and locations. They have full ownership of the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.

On the other hand, a full-time Voice-Over Artist has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.

When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.

The Simpsons show features only six main cast members who perform voice-overs for 100 recurring characters.

Lending their voice to bring characters and visual art to life or to create corporate presentations, safety videos, commercials, and cell phone prompts may be commonplace in the life of Voice-Over Artists. However, their work holds the extraordinary potential to reach the public worldwide. To remain in business, they must exercise immense care to protect their vocal health. Without a doubt, each assignment brings variety to a Voice-Over Artist’s portfolio, filling it with interesting characters, information and languages and transporting them into new worlds.

Explore the aspect of voice but also dive into the depths of the character you are portraying. Study the script and understand the character’s motivations. You’re a performer and storyteller, just like an actor, and your success depends on a combination of your natural talent, strong work ethic and dedication. To take care of your voice, avoid coughing, yelling, and whispering when you are not recording, stay off cigarettes and alcohol, and warm up your voice when you wake up and even before normal speech all day long. When auditioning, stay hydrated, rehearse your lines, and be punctual.