So, You Want To Get Into Voiceover...
Awesome! After all, voiceover is a dream job. Well, then it must be time to ask around about what to do first, right? Maybe. There are a few things you should know first, though.
So pull up a chair and let’s chat.
Let Me Stop You Right There...
First of all, let’s get the standard stuff out of the way. Yes, we already know people have told you you have a great voice/can do great accents/funny characters. You were made to do voiceover! That’s awesome. Yes, we know you have no idea where to start. Don’t worry. Yes, we are willing to help you out. We were once where you were. Yes, we all welcome you with open arms.
Time To Do Some Reseach
Phew! Glad we got that out of the way. Now, to the nitty gritty. How do you reach out about voiceover? Sounds pretty straightforward, right?
But you’d be surprised how many people do a faceplant right out of the gate…
Guys, I can’t say this enough: Before you post, research, research, research.
There are a plethora of free resources out there. Reddit, Podcasts, Facebook groups, Voice Actor Blogs, YouTube videos… Y’all, the list goes on.
The voiceover community is one of the most generous, helpful, and friendly communities out there. So the least you could do is make use of some of the generosity that they’ve already shown and poke around the internet. Google is your friend here. Seriously.
At least this way, you can ask intelligent questions and get back intelligent answers instead of a link to something you could’ve found yourself with five minutes and a search engine.
And Another Thing...
Additionally, politeness is something that doesn’t get talked about enough, either. So, when you DO reach out to a pro, don’t just bombard them with questions. Break the ice a little.
At the very least, ask them how their day is going.
Remember: we’re a community. That means we don’t just exist to give you information. First and foremost, we like to connect with others in our industry and have a good time. Nobody likes feeling used, and a “me, me, me” attitude is always unpleasant.
Don't Be An Askhole
Speaking of unpleasant, don’t ask for advice if you’re not ready to hear something you won’t like.
I mean, we would all love it if someone would just say, “OMG yes, I’ll help you out! Let’s Skype and I’ll coach you up for a few weeks! Let me introduce you to my agent! In fact, I’m casting for this project. You want the role?”
Seriously. Not gonna happen.
You’re most likely going to get advice that deflates your excitement- and your ego. Be ready for that.
Take some acting classes.
Find a reputable coach.
Lock yourself in a closet and read aloud for two hours straight each day for a week (if you like the idea of audiobooks, especially).
Wait! Don't Go!
Before you close this post in a fit of rage, this advice isn’t meant to brush you off. It’s actually helpful.
The fact is, so many people come to our community because they think this job will be easy, especially after some clickbait article lists voice acting as easy money to be made from home. It isn’t.
I’ve seen a big-name talent offer to mentor someone and take them under their wing, only to have that person be annoyed once they found out all what was entailed and refuse the offer. That’s insane!
Put Me In, Coach!
But all of that etiquette talk aside, the best thing you can do to get started is to look for a reputable coach to work with. Most coaches offer remote sessions, so you don’t necessarily need to look for one in your area, or even your country.
Another thing most coaches do is offer a free consultation. This is gold. You should never make a decision on a coach until you’ve talked to them. When I first started thinking about coaching, I had a pretty good idea of who would be a good fit and who I didn’t want. I was going to just make my decision based on that gut feeling.
Luckily, my wife is smarter than I am. She urged me to reach out to all the coaches I could and talk to them. Get to know what each one could offer me. I did.
Well, My Wife Was Right
Consequently, I was surprised to find out that the coach that I thought wouldn’t be a good fit, was perfect for me, and the one I was going to go ahead and hire, was an awful fit for me, personally.
Did I mention my wife is smart?
If you want to hear the results of finding the right coach, check out my Corporate Narration Demo produced by my coach, the fabulous Anne Ganguzza.
Also, it’s important to note that this step won’t be cheap.
Aside from MAYBE gear, coaching will be the first investment you make toward starting your new career. If you’re not ready to make an investment like this, maybe you need to get to a place in your life where you ARE ready.
The Bottom Line
Voiceover work is an absolute blast.
And if you’re serious about it, you can have real success here. To go far, all you need is a little patience, politeness, respect, and hard work.
Bring some of that to the table, and you won’t find a better community.
