Erika Ward - Full Time Voice Actor, Part Time Philosopher
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Observations, Ruminations, & Illuminations

Voiceover FAQ's & Recommendations

4/4/2023

 
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Sooo this started off as a list of recommended resources for my voiceover coaching clients. But then I realized that I could probably include some of the commonly asked questions that I get asked as well. So here goes!

What is the correct term? Voice actor? Voiceover artist? Voice talent?

Honestly, there isn't one correct term! Some people say voiceover, some just say VO. Some say artist, actor, talent and every combination of these words you can imagine. A few of my European clients and collaborators just use the term speaker or narrator. So basically, it doesn't matter what you call yourself as long as it is clear what kind of work you do.

How do I know what style of voiceover someone is looking for?

Well, 99.9% of the time they'll tell you! There will be specifications in a casting notice; mainly what vocal age, gender, ethnicity, vocal quality, etc. they are looking for. They may be very brief in their description of the emotional tone they're going for or they may get very specific and write an entire character bio about the VO they're casting. Either way, you'll be given some direction in which to start.

Often, they will include a reference link to another ad or project which is meant to inform your performance and give you a better idea of the type of tone they're going for. A lot of times there will be a celebrity prototype included; someone well known whose energy they are trying to capture through the ad or project. And in these instances, it's not about doing an IMITATION of the person's voice, it's just about finding what their energetic essence is (aka their vibe) and finding how that energy comes through you. 

For example, I often audition and book roles that include celebrity prototypes such as Kristen Bell, Anna Kendrick, Rashida Jones, Brie Larson, Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Ali Wong, Scarlett Johansson, and a few others I can't think of at the moment. All of these actors sound fairly different but it's usually pretty easy to discern what kind of energy they are seeking if they say they're looking for someone like ______. Just think of the first words that you'd use to describe this person's energy or outward personality (if they haven't given you more specifics besides their name, which they usually will). 
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Where do I get auditions?

Oye. That's a long answer. There are tons of ways to find auditions. But truthfully, auditions are great and booking the job off of an audition (especially when it's a big casting call and 800-1000 people are submitting takes) can feel like winning the f-ing lottery! Ultimately though, the goal should be to book regular and consistent work through direct client relationships, so that you don't have to spend as much time playing that lottery.  Unless you want to!  

Some ways to find/get auditions:
- Online Casting Sites (Some are free and some are P2P, aka pay to play)
- Freelancer Sites 
- Agents 
- Casting Directors
- In-House Rosters at Production Companies (or anyone that casts and produces projects in-house)
- Social Media (Posts & groups)
- Word of Mouth (Your friends and friends of friends who know you do VO)
- Others that I can't think of right now

What online casting sites do you recommend?

Well, all I can do is relay my own personal experience. I can't really say what would be right for someone else because everyone is different. So, you know, trust your intuition! What works for one person might not work for another, of course. And while online casting sites and pay to plays exist, it doesn't mean you HAVE to use them. They're just another avenue.

That being said, here's a partial list:
  • Upwork - My experience: I've only ever booked one voiceover job through this freelancer site and instead have used it more for freelance writing opportunities. I found that most jobs were quoting wayyyyy lower than standard rates. But it could be good for those first starting out and wanting to build a portfolio and gain more experience. 
  • CastVoices - My experience: I paid for a one year subscription when they first started and then canceled when that year was up. There's not a lot of opportunities on the site and the ones they do get fill up so quickly you need to be waiting in your booth the second they arrive. Nice people who run the website though!
  • Covoco - My experience: I was on the casting site about 5 years ago for a very short spell. The jobs were really low paying and they did not have a very reliable payment process. I was only on there for about 6 months.
  • Voice123 - My experience: I did really well on this site from 2012-2017 but then they changed their whole algorithm. I canceled my subscription in 2018 but then signed back up in late 2022, when I got curious if it would once again be worth it. There are lots of opportunities on this casting site but you have to pay a lot more to get the privilege to audition for better paying jobs. Or you just have to get a lot of likes on your auditions so you rise in their ranking system. It's a tiered system where auditions are released to a group of actors at a time, based on where they rank in the V123 rating system. When you audition, the client has the option to "like" your audition as if it's a FB post. Getting that "like" is what helps you in their algorithm. It allows you to receive those better-paying auditions sooner and climb the ranks. The problem? Not everyone casting uses the "like" feature. So the site is sort of a game. But it's not all bad! And you can optimize your profile to your benefit. There is some good free info out there on how to do that, which can be found on the V123 site as well as through V123 Pros - a course/service run by two voice actors.
  • VO Planet - My experience: Auditions come through every couple of days but I’ve yet to book off the site. 
  • Voquent - My experience: Fun profile to set up. You need short samples, not only full compilation demos. They don't send auditions but you can get requested and booked directly through their site. Have only worked with them once.
  • Bodalgo - My experience: It's easy to create a profile. I think you need to get approved for membership first. I haven't been a paying member in several years, not because I don't like or recommend it, only because I haven't wanted to join another P2P site.
  • Fiverr - My experience: None. I've never used it and some people argue that it has negatively affected the VO industry. But again, I can’t comment because I’ve never used it. All I've heard is that, like other freelancer sites, jobs are very low paying.
  • Voices.com - My experience: I think I set up a profile back in 2010 but never signed up officially or completed it. Then I became aware that I had a profile page that was still sitting there on the Internet about 10 years later so I had them take it down. That's it. That's all I got. I have heard they take a giant percentage from people who book off the site and that you're not able to communicate with clients directly. But again, that's just what I've heard. I'm sure there are more people writing about it on the Internet who know from firsthand experience. 
  • Others include Online Voices, Voicemachine, Voice Archive, Voice Fairy, SpeakOnline - All of these websites are free and you set up a profile with a bio and samples. There is a screening/approval process required for most of these sites so make sure your audio quality and script reads are good and ready to go. I've had positive experiences with all of these casting sites and have booked many jobs through them. ​
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Should I try to sign with an agent?

Do you want to work with an agent? Then, yes. Do you need to? No. I was full time in voiceover (making a very good income) for SEVERAL years before signing with my first agent. Now, I'm repped by a few different agencies around the country and I'm extremely grateful for them! I've definitely had more opportunities because of my agency relationships and they have made the auditioning, booking, and payment process soooo much easier. But there are lots of ways to get voiceover work without having an agent. I would say 30% of my income comes from work booked through agencies and the rest is through my own client relationships and marketing efforts. So yes to working with agents but... when you're ready. Not when you're first starting out, unless you specifically work with an agent who takes on brand new voice talents.
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What else can you recommend?

Here's a list of some resources and opinions I've shared with former and current students/coaching clients:

PODCASTS

  • Speechless
  • VO Booth Besties
  • Everyday VOPreneur
  • VO Boss
  • The Voiceover Roadmap (this one hasn’t been updated in years but is full of good info)
  • The Voiceover Social (it just always sounds like they're having fun)
  • The VO School Podcast  
  • Voice Over Body Shop (VOBS) (mostly tech-focused) 

NEWSLETTERS/EDUCATION
  • Atlanta Voiceover Studio - The owners of this studio do a really nice job of providing info in their newsletter that is actually helpful and not just a fluffy sales pitch! And they're authentic and honest about their experiences. They also have a YouTube and a podcast I think.
  • Such A Voice - I'm biased because I work for them. Well, I coach a few hours a week through this company and have been doing so since late 2019.  But they have a lot of really helpful information and resources available on their website and social media – as well as in their weekly newsletter – with regular posts and videos from working VO professionals.

COACHES/CLASSES
  • Paul Liberti - Teaches all kinds of VO classes, online through Actor’s Connection.
  • Nic Redman - Vocal coach in the UK, super fun, just wrote a new book, has a couple of podcasts and an online voice course, and is also available for private sessions. 
  • J. Michael Collins - Demo producer who does a lot of other things in the industry, like hosting conferences and retreats. He produced my last commercial demo and it was an easy and fun process. 

OTHER

  • GVAA Rate Guide - A great resource for determining what your rates should be. It’s based on the price quote averages from a range of actors, so don’t feel weird if you quote less than this or if you quote more.
  • SAG/AFTRA Rate Guide - You can find this on their website but I've linked to GVAA's helpful, condensed guide for union rates. Why would you need this if you were non-union? I don't know, but you might be curious!

TECH/HOME STUDIO
  • Uncle Roy Yokelson
  • George Whittam 
  • Dan Lenard
  • Jordan Reynolds  (Has a good audio for voice actors course called Audio Ninja)


BOOKS (Some VO, some not)
  • Audition Psych 101 - Michael Kostroff (for practical audition advice & encouragement)
  • The Use and Training of the Human Voice: A Bio-Dynamic Approach to Vocal Life - Arthur Lessac (for a more in-depth explanation about how the voice works, although - full disclosure - I've never finished it)
  • Letters To A Young Poet - Rainer Maria Rilke (for inspiration)
  • Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management For Mortals - Oliver Burkeman (for a reminder that time is NOW)
  • The Artist's Way - Julia Cameron (for those who feel creatively blocked and/or uninspired)
  • Permission To Speak - Samara Bay (for perspective shifts regarding voice & power as well as some warmup tips)


And that's all I've got for now. Email with any additional questions, I'm happy to help!
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