I am finally putting together this guide to help voice talent become successful in online voice over casting. To say, ‘Hello! It is about a time!’, is an understatement, and something I apologize for, myself. However, at the same time, writing such a thing is a challenge because you will find how information in this guide, even if typed one month ago, one year ago, or even one week ago, can easily become outdated. That is a headache of its own that I am sure everyone deals with in a rapidly changing industry. It seems everyday you wake up, and go online to find thousands of ‘do this, not that’ articles. I need to stick to what I know, and if you know something I do not, I hope you will share your comments on each of these pages, so we can help each other.
About me…I have trained voice talent for working online, and blogged continuously. I have never written a comprehensive guide on all of it, until now. I have been a staff member of Voice123 since July 2007, but I write this guide, independently. I can say with confidence that I have learned enough information to help voice talent become successful online. I have helped many voice talent get work in a new environment. The very purpose of this guide is to give you, the voice talent, a condensed handbook of what voice talent need to succeed in this fast-paced, forever changing, business environment. The information shared in this guide is compiled information that I may have already shared to help people work online already.
Hopefully, with a greater understanding as to what is really happening, you will be able to use the information to grow your online voice over career. You will see from this guide that the online voice industry is hardly for beginners. It takes time to get up and running in a voice over career. I hope you enjoy it and reap many rewards from using it! May you all have a wonderful and rewarding voice over career! I really hope this helps! Again, comments are always welcome throughout this guide! Again, comments are highly welcome because there is always something new to learn!
Hi Steven,
I just wanted to take some time to say thank you very much for this guide. From your description of the birth of this guide I can appreciate your idea recording methods and I share the same habits in my current transition from working a non-creative, “okay” day job to my goal of becoming a full time voice talent. I have kept a small notebook filled with random thoughts,ideas and note of how to achieve my dream for longer than I can recall. I hope to make the complete switch in about 2-3 years and I’m sure this guide will prove very useful so once again, thank you and please keep it up. You are helping people.
Jason Leech.
Jason! Thank you so much! I appreciate these words and hope to offer you more in the future!
This is most welcome, Steven!
This definitely is not a field for beginners. I thought that because I have considerable experience and even exposure as an independent radio producer, that it would be easy to get voice over work. But that has been far from the case.
There is much more than meets the ear in this business, and I’m looking forward to learning the ropes from a pro.
Hi Steve,
My day job as a Flight attendant for “American Airlines”…has been very challenging …”Inclueding chapter 11 fileling of the Airline”.
I have been with Voice 123 for a few years and have booked many gigs through them that have been lasting gigs…however…is is now time to kick it up a notch. The information you are giving is priceless. Thank you …I will be reading and leaving my thoughts.
Michael Glover…”Voice 123 Talent”
Hello there Steven, My name is Randy. Im 48 years of age, and am self employed in the retail industry for the last 33yrs. Over the last 4 years I have people always approaching me or asking me if I have ever done any radio, TV, or voice work and when I reply no, and ask why! they always say I have a voice that is unquie because it is clear but very believable and a voice that makes them pay attention.
Well I have finally decided that at 48 yrs of age, that I would really like to give it a shot, whats the worst that could happen I actually get work and the worst I get nothing, but at least I tried, either way Im a winner.
Now the problem, I really have no idea of how or where to start, I am old school when it comes to speaking to others, meaning I am a social butterfly, and am much better talking face to face with people rather then trying to have them get a feel for me thru email or text.
So if you were in my shoes what would you suggest.
Thanks
Randy Horgan
Although I’ve worked as an on air broadcasting for a number of years, translating to online voice work is obviously very very different. Thank you for this guide. Some of it is very much what I expected to read (setting up a sound booth, how to deal with clients, being professional) but much of it is not. And it will certainly help smoothing what is clearly going to be a steep learning curve. Thank you – a very clear and comprehensive guide.
Nicky Hammond
Hey thank you Nicky!
I appreciate you checking it all out!
Best to you and good luck,
Steven
This is so flipping cool, Steven! A big thanks for taking the time and energy to assemble this beautiful presentation. You’ve been such a wonderful resource to the voiceover community and I appreciate your efforts!
Hi Bill!
Thank you kindly for saying so! It is very much appreciated!
All my best to you!
Steven
Thank you for this amazing guide! I’ve learned a lot from it.
Good insights here, thanks!
Thanks for your advices and for the opportunity to expand my field to new horizons. Greetings from Mexico City.
Accurate, complete, insightful. The detail and tone of your writing is always impressive.
Thank you so much Jim!
I appreciate it!
Hi Steven…when I discovered your guide I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I won’t tell my age, but I’ve been around a while. I’ve studied VO,for several years but what I’ve learned from your guide will take me to another level to operate my VO business with confidence. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much Vonna! I have been at Voice123 for several years now, and gotten to know many voice talent through customer service, learning a great deal from them, and learning about how they audition or work.
I appreciate knowing you have read this guide because I believe we have both been in and around Voice123 for the same amount of time.
I want this guide to help you and so many others get voice over work!
Best to you,
Steven
There’s so much really useful information here! The links to other sites are particularly helpful for that extra level of detail. You’ve doubled my bookmarks list! Thanks so much for this!
Very informative.
Hi Steven
What a great read. I found it not only useful but inspiring. Congrats on your hard work!
This is a great guide to everything you need to know about getting in to voice overs from voice skills to studio equipment required and from demo reels and demo creation to helpful resource list for voice actors. I wish I had had this type of information when I started out as a voice over artist. Great read and great work.
McKenzie Voice
Hey Stephen,
Thank you for taking the initiative on this!! Great stuff.
Thank you for taking the initiative on this Stephen. Great stuff!
Thank you Ross!!
I’m newto this and all the infor. Was great. Thanks Steven.