Becoming a Voice Actor has never been easier. With advances in technology, communication, and access, the online space presents an unprecedented opportunity for freelancers interested in Voice Acting to give it a solid try.

When I first started voice acting professionally in 2019, there was a lot of not-so-great advice being shared from the top down about how to get started and how much it costs to get started. More than three years later, I’m here to tell you it’s not as difficult as it may seem and it doesn’t cost nearly as much as you think to get going.

Here is my ultimate guide to voice acting for beginners. Let’s start with what voiceover is...

The What

Voiceover, Voice Acting, and VO according to the Oxford Dictionary is “a piece of narration in a movie or broadcast, not accompanied by an image of the speaker.” Think of any commercial on the radio, TV, or streaming service, that is voiceover. Think of the ads for Home Depot you hear while in store - that’s voiceover. Think of the last required work training that had a voice narrating the presentation - that’s voiceover! Voiceover is quite literally everywhere when we think about it, and the voices you hear were paid to voice those spots.

The Who

Someone who delivers, or voices, a voiceover is considered Voice Talent, a Voiceover Artist, a Voice Actor, etc. We Voice Actors go by many different names, but they all mean the same thing: we get paid to voice projects for clients.

These days, most Voice Actors have home studios, where they have a setup with a microphone, DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), and a sound-treated space. I go more detailed into this in this post on Stage 32.

The Where

We’ve talked a little about recording audio, but where does this happen? Traditionally, recording would take place in a recording studio in a big city, but now remote at-home setups are the norm for about 80% of Voice Actors (according to data from the 2021 State of VO Survey). Sometimes, the client wants the actor to record the script on their own time before a certain date. Other times, the client likes to call in while the actor is recording to give direction in real-time. If the client chooses a live-directed session, the Voice Actor will attend a meeting via Zoom, Google, Skype, Source Connect, or another online platform designated by the client. If the client wishes to have the live session happen in person, arrangements will be made, though this is far less common nowadays.

The How

When it comes to actually recording and delivering voiceovers, how does this work? Here is a simple example of a fairly normal work process for a Voice Actor:

1. Audition

For any actor, auditioning is the lifeblood of the business, and in the life and work of a freelance Voice Actor, this is also true. Voice Actors are sent auditions or source auditions online and audition.

2. Get Hired

Once a client closes a particular job, they will then review the submissions and choose an actor. If our audition is selected, we will be notified we’ve been hired and will begin working with the client either directly or through an online marketplace like Voices.com.

3. Record the voiceover OR be a part of a live-directed session

Sometimes, the client wants the actor to record the script on their own time before a certain date. Other times, the client likes to call in while the actor is recording to give direction in real time.

4. Edit files

After the session or recording, it is usually on the actor to edit and mix their own files per the client’s standards, which are agreed upon before submitting the files.

5. Submit files to the client

After the files have been edited, the actor will submit the files to the client either by email, the online marketplace, or a file storage platform like WeTransfer or Google Drive.

6. Record pickups or revisions requested by the client

Oftentimes, there are script changes, word flubs, and the like that need to be amended, which means the actor needs to re-record these requests. The pickups/revisions are then submitted to the client.

Now that we’ve covered our bases, let’s get into where Voice Actors can find work online.

1. Behind the Voice Actors

Behind the Voice Actors is where I started my voiceover journey back in 2017. I’m still working on that same project today! BVA is a great resource when starting out in voiceover because it offers a lot of different kinds of projects to audition to.

2. Casting Call Club

Casting Call Club is a super popular resource among aspiring or hobbyist Voice Actors.

3. Twitter

Surprisingly, there is a HUGE community of Voice Actors on Twitter who are very active and supportive of one another. I have personally gotten a video game job on Twitter, and while it didn’t pay much it was a ton of fun.

4. Pay-to-Play Sites

Pay to Play sites are online marketplaces where clients from all over the world post voiceover jobs. Voice Actors pay a yearly fee to access these auditions and clients. The most popular P2P sites are Voices.com, Voice123, and Backstage.

5. Free online marketplaces

While there are pay-to-play sites, there are also marketplaces popping up all the time that do not require talent to pay to access jobs, though they often take a hefty cut of the project budget. Some examples are Voquent, Fiverr, and Upwork.

5. LinkedIn

While I personally wouldn’t say LinkedIn is a great resource for Voice Actors to find jobs, there are jobs posted pretty regularly for both one off voiceover jobs and ongoing voiceover jobs.

6. Direct

Direct clients are clients Voice Actors find for themselves ‘in the wild’ by cold contacting or networking. This is usually done by reaching out to the company, or person, directly via the company website or through a networking event online or in person.

Another way Voice Actors can acquire direct clients is by getting on a production company's roster of talent. This is not the same thing as having an agent. Rosters are lists of talent and their demos that production houses keep on hand when they need to cast projects for their clients. To find companies that do this, check out companies that produce explainer videos, training videos, or whiteboard videos.

7. Stage 32

Whether you are looking for voiceover work or for voiceover talent, be sure to check in the job postings over on Stage 32 where there are new listings for all different positions every day. It's also a great way to see the wide variety of amazing projects coming out of our great community and finds ways to get involved and offer your services.

To Wrap Up

Voiceover has never been so open and accessible to people from anywhere around the world with a decent internet connection. While acting is a big part of being a professional Voice Actor, know that it is possible to start voice acting from home anytime.

For more info on how you can work as a voiceover actor, shoot me a DM here on Stage 32!

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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