So you’ve been bitten by the voice acting bug? Welcome to a thrilling and challenging world! As a voice actor since early 2020, I understand the excitement and the questions that come with diving into this exciting field. Today, I’ll guide you through the essential steps to get you “Mic Drop Ready” and build a successful voice acting career.

First Things First: Knowledge is Power – BECOME A STUDENT of the industry before you ever think of spending money on it 

Before you invest in equipment, establish yourself as a student of the craft. Immerse yourself in the world of voice acting:

• Podcasts: Tune into podcasts for industry insights and interviews with established talent. Some popular voice over podcasts are:
  • Another VO Podcast,
  • VOpreneur, Mission Audition,
  • VO Booth Besties,
  • The VO Breakfast Show,
  • VOcation,
  • This Week In VO,
  • All Over Voice Over,
  • Mike Lenz Voice,
  • VO Boss,
  • The Voice Over Hustle,
  • The Voice Over Coffee Shop,
  • A VO’s Padded Room,
  • The Voiceover Round Table, etc)
• Social Media: Join prominent voice acting Facebook groups like “Voice Acting Network”, “The Voiceover Community” or “Global Voice Acting Academy” to connect with other aspiring and working actors. Almost any question you could have has already been asked and answered in these groups. All you have to do is use the group search function to find what you need to get your question answered.
• Books and Online Resources: Dive into books. Just hit up your Google machine with the following, “books about voice over” and start picking and choosing which sound the most interesting and get after it!
• YouTube: There’s gold on YouTube! So much information can be found for free on YouTube if you just take the time. Some popular voice over channels are:
  • Ask Dave Fennoy Anything
  • The Fiat Of Gab
  • Bill Dewees
  • A VO’s Journey
  • Brizzy Voices
  • Voiceover Masterclass
  • VO Buzz Weekly
  • Jordan Reynolds
• Productions: A must not miss is the feature movie, “I Know That Voice”. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2113683/

By actively learning, you’ll refine your skills, discover your niche, and understand the industry landscape. This keeps you from spending money blindly and gives you more confidence if you decide to dive right in!

Gear Up Without Breaking the Bank

Get the Space Right – While high-end microphones exist and will be there when you’re ready, a quiet, treated recording space is the real priority. Invest in soundproofing or sound-deadening materials and create a professional recording environment. This is not avoidable. It’s a priority and a must. You can find materials for a reasonable price on Amazon and on www.Sweetwater.com. Try this YouTube video for some ideas to get started on a budget https://youtu.be/1aBivHz54-I?si=BlJQAh367cos4_6f

Microphones: Now, let’s talk microphones. Most will recommend getting an XLR mic rather than a USB mic.

Here’s the good news: you don’t need a top-of-the-line model to get started. The Audio-Technica AT875R Shotgun Mic (https://amzn.to/4acwspX) is an excellent choice. This $200 gem boasts near-identical performance to its more expensive counterparts (Sennheiser MKH 416), according to many professional reviewers.

It’s important to know that I started with this mic. I upgraded to the Sennheiser MKH 416 as soon as I made money and it made sense but the demo that has been so successful for me…..it was recorded with the Audio-Technica AT875R. (https://amzn.to/4acwspX)

It’s a fantastic “entry mic” that son’t drain your wallet and allows you to focus on building your skills and portfolio.

Eventually, get the big dog mics for the industry which are

1. Sennheiser MKH 416 (https://amzn.to/3QHcGvP)
2. Neumann TLM103 (https://amzn.to/3yeIYbk)
3. Neumann U87 (https://amzn.to/3yo12j5)

Random Necessary Equipment:

• Microphone stand: I’ve picked the one linked because it has a round base so it fits better into a close studio space than a tripod stand would fit. Also, it has a boom so that you can have more options with the positioning of your mic stand. https://amzn.to/3WBZNqW
• Microphone cable: https://amzn.to/3JVN4ru
• Shock Mount: This will reduce or eliminate any vibration in your space making its way to your microphone.
  • https://amzn.to/3UJ9GAy
  • https://amzn.to/3QDyUii
  • https://amzn.to/3QEB4hz
  • For a non-shotgun mic https://amzn.to/4bBhJWV
• Pop Filter to keep ‘spolsives’ out of your audio:
  • Universal filter https://amzn.to/4bhlwbZ
  • Shotgun Mic specific – The Hook Studios OCTO-842S (https://www.thehookstudios.com/filters.html)
  • https://amzn.to/4dyVB0S

Interface: The interface basically take your mic and gets it plugged into and functional with your computer. Lots of beginners start with the Scarlett from Focusrite (https://amzn.to/3JV7zEx). I dove in and began with the UA Apollo Arrow (https://amzn.to/3ymyypT) and have been more than happy.

DAW or Digital Audio Workstation: Lots use Adobe Audition but there’s an ongoing monthly subscription with it. Many use Audacity. Some use Reaper. I used a VO specific DAW called Twisted Wave and it’s worked out great https://twistedwave.com/

Sharpen Your Skills with Coaching

Guess what? Yep….this is a must as well.

Investing in a reputable voice acting coach can significantly accelerate your progress.

Consider coaches like:

• Tina Morasco
• Mark Rider
• Doriane Elliot
• J Michael Collins
• Dave Walsh
• and many many more!

Their expertise will iron out bad habits, refine your delivery, and help you discover your unique voice. Even for the best of the best, coaching is always on the plate and can always move the actor forward.

Get A Website

A strong online presence is crucial. Create a professional website showcasing your voice samples, experience, and contact information. How can someone hire you directly if they can’t find you? How can a Casting Director listen to your demos randomly if they don’t have a website to go hear them?

VoiceZam is a great way to get your demos on your website, by the way.

The Power of the Demo

Your demo reel is your calling card. It’s the voice over actor’s business card, essentially. Partner with a coach or production studio to create a high-quality demo that highlights your vocal range and acting skills.This is one of those areas where you typically get what you pay for. If you want a high-quality demo that will represent you well, you can plan on spending from $1250-$2500 on average. Some more, some less. But, I would caution you to not try to pay $500 for a demo and think it’s going to represent you like the professional you are hoping to become. At the same time, I don’t believe that I, personally, would pay much more than $2500 for a demo regardless of quality.

Hey…they’re important. But so is your budget so keep it reasonable and don’t get crazy.

Also, for obvious reasons, make sure you can reproduce what is on your demo!

Marketing Yourself: From Emails to Online Casting Platforms

People will tell you that auditioning is a good part of the daily vo job with the rest of it being marketing. If you don’t know marketing, get familiar. You can’t just be a do-er of what you do. You also have to be a marketer of what you do.

Now, it’s time to get your name out there!

• Targeted Emails: Professionally email anyone who might need voice-over work, such as marketing agencies, production companies, or even local businesses.
• Casting Platforms: Start with free platforms like CastingCall.Club. Once you feel competitive, explore other, more competitive options like Fiverr, Voices.com, and Voice123 (though a word of caution – consult V123Pros.com before diving into Voice123!). Also on Fiverr; do not get on that platform to do $5 gigs or the entire vo community will want to squash you like a bug. That’s diminishing what we do day to day. If you get on the platform, you should be fighting for normal, off-platform voice over pay. To learn more about average vo earnings in the USA, go to the GVAA Rate Guide at https://globalvoiceacademy.com/gvaa-rate-guide-2/
• Audiobook Narration: For audiobook narration, consider platforms like ADX.com.
• Agent Representation: As you build your experience, consider approaching voice acting agents to secure more auditions. Do a simple search such as “voice over talent agent Texas” and see what pops up. When you go to websites, look for the ‘Talent Submission’ icon and go there. Follow their process precisely to submit and see if you hear anything back. It’s a little like fishing but it’s fun! Especially when you get a bite. Agents will not be able to change your life. Your coaching, your talent, and your abilities will win the auditions. But the agents will get your more auditions fi they’re any good.

Never Stop Learning

Remember, voice acting is a marathon, not a sprint. Continuously learn, hone your skills, and never stop practicing. Trends in commercials are constantly changing from year to year so don’t skip the commercials on your radio or TV. Watch and listen. Who booked it and why were they the ones booked? Could you see yourself doing that spot and what would it sound like if it were you doing it? Better? Maybe not as good?

Be a student. Keep coaching. Keep doing the things that keep you moving forward.

The Dream Within Reach

The ultimate goal for me is to achieve the dream of freedom of time, freedom of place, and freedom of money.

It requires dedication, effort, and a smart approach. There is no short cut. Trust me; if there were, I would have found it by now. I’ve spent money where I thought it could help speed things up. There’s simply no short cut. You have to put in the work and the effort. You have to plant the seeds to reap the harvest and it’s not who you know. It’s who knows you.

By following these steps and harnessing your passion, you can be well on your way to becoming a “Mic Drop Ready” voice actor!

Additional Resources:

Check out this blog I wrote about getting started. I tried loading it with some keywords so the title is dumb but the info is spot on.

https://jeffwilliamsvoice.com/2020/09/the-frustrations-of-being-an-emerging-deep-male-voice-over-talent/

This is another ‘get started’ site that might be useful

https://iwanttobeavoiceactor.com/