Personal, Resources

"How Do You Get Into Voice Over?"

Maihan ·

“How’d you get into [field]” is a typical adult conversation ice breaker. But sometimes it’s asked with actual sincerity and people expect a A to B to C type of answer. But there is never a set path towards any career. I once spoke with the CEO of a huge entertainment company who said she had fallen into the role and if she had a choice, she would have liked to work with horses instead. You never know what’s next for you and you especially won’t know if you don’t try!

Despite all that, I can still offer an idea of where to get started, especially if you have zero clue, or if you want to know what my path was like. Again, this is just what it looked like for me, so it may not work for someone else. But hopefully someone out there can utilize some of these to pave their own way.

My Story

In 8th grade art class we were supposed to draw ourselves in our dream job. I picked voice actor because at the time I had been super into games, anime, and animation (let’s be real, I still am) and hyper fixated on learning the names of the cast, and recognizing their voices in other media. But I never considered it seriously because I was already assumed to pursue being a doctor, lawyer, or dentist (which I didn’t bother trying to do…)

Present day, I was (am?) primarily an event planner. I also “fell into” event planning some time after working a few jobs for the state government. While working on some of the biggest events in North America, I connected with some voice actors. At the tail end of 2019, Kalmenson & Kalmenson offered classes in my area and I took the opportunity. It was a commercial class and I really enjoyed it, followed my classmates to the next level of classes which was Animation, and fell in love with it.

In 2020, the pandemic hit and shut down everything when I was about to take my 2nd Commercial voice acting class. I lost my job due to COVID19, and was lucky to be in a position where I could “go all in on voice acting.” I took online courses and workshops and that eventually lead me to my current job, which lead me to even more workshops and classes. Then, I took a class at a well known studio that lead me to do some side work for them as an event planner on top of my day job which offered me more opportunity to connect with many people in the industry.

Before all that, it was rocky. I got ghosted by a mentor in a mentorship program and I got scammed out of $700 by a known person in the community… to name a few not so great things that happened.

But somehow, I’m still here.

I’m grateful to have booked a few indie projects, a corporate gig, a short animation, and some mobile games in the 2ish years of pursuing voice over. There are a lot of people who do more in much less time. There are a lot of people who do a lot more in much more time.

Though I’ve worked along side some big names and studios on an administrative level and connected with so many experienced actors, I’m still learning as a voice actor myself. So the following may be outdated or simply incorrect. Again, this is just what part of my path looked like in addition to what I’ve observed and learned. Everything should be altered and molded to what works for you.

Here are the warnings upfront that you may not be aware of:

It’s expensive

  • Due to the pandemic, more actors are able to compete in the field from anywhere - not just LA or New York or Texas. Because of this, home studios with competitive equipment and treatment is more important than ever before.

  • Training has also become more accessible because a lot of places pivot to online classes, but that also means many others are taking classes, so you’ll want to continuously take classes, workshops, and do workouts to keep your instrument sharp.

  • Your instrument is your voice, so taking care of it is essential. But you’ll also want to train your ears, body, and mind - you’ll understand this once you get more and more experience.


It isn’t always lucrative

  • National Commercials pay the most. Anime Dubs pay the least. At the time of writing this, it’s typical for commercials to pay something like $10,000 for a national TV commercial (much less if it’s a local commercial) and anime dubs pay 125/hr with a 2 hour minimum.

  • The standard changes for various reasons including if the project is union or non-union, etc. That being said, understand union vs non-union rates.

  • Understand terms like buyout, residuals, in perpetuity

  • Global Voice Acting Academy

  • Indie Rate Guide

It’s acting

  • If you’ve been told that you had a good voice or if you’ve ever said “I can do funny voices,” that’s not how this all works.

  • Understand that you are acting, performing sometimes in front of nobody, sometimes in front of a director and an engineer, sometimes the representative from the client company, sometimes in front of a group of strangers, and sometimes a group of friends.

  • Understand that you will face a lot of rejection , and even when you’re a veteran, you’ll still be faced with rejection.

It’s a business

  • As an actor, you’re your business. You will need to understand the industry, the finances, networking, marketing, etc.

  • You’re a collaborator and a creator, and people will want to work with you if you’re easy to work with.

  • Sometimes projects don’t have time to work with someone new to the job. Be confident but don’t get cocky.

  • Understand taxes, working with spreadsheets, and have the technological skills to learn how to open files a certain way, save files a certain way, record, submit, email, upload, download, etc.

It’s hard work

  • If you want it to be your career, you have to treat it as such.

  • Many actors still have a second or even third job to “pay the bills.”

  • If you treat it like a hobby, it will continue to be such.

It’s fast-paced and slow at the same time

  • Sometimes it’ll be years before you can talk about what you’ve worked on, sometimes you can’t talk about it at all

  • Commercial auditions are often due same day or next day

  • Animation and Game auditions barely give you more time than that

Alright! Now, let’s get to it!

Taking the First Steps:

  • iwanttobeavoiceactor.com is a site set up by Dee Bradley Baker

  • Start understanding the industry: the process for dubbing, development for games, how finances work, etc. There are a lot of people who think they understand how it works, but don’t. Don’t be that person.

  • Start reading out loud, start practicing in your car

  • Get ready to be perceived

Take classes:

I use class and workshop interchangeably. I’ll use course if I mean its a multi-day/week program

  • All classes I’ve listed under my training are classes I enjoyed and recommend.

  • Ensure that the class is from a reputable studio and/or the instructor has the experience and background to instruct

  • Understand your instructor’s background: do they also voice direct? Are they also a casting director? How can these perspectives help you in your journey?

  • Understand what it is that you might want to get from the class. Is it just practice? Is it networking? Are you trying to develop specific skills or learn certain trends?

  • Understand that all instructors have different opinions and experiences - take from them what works for you, and put aside what doesn’t work

  • Classes can be expensive, so form workout groups with your friends and classmates to regularly workout the acting muscle (the acting muscle is more than just your voice! You’ll need to develop good instincts to inform your performances)

  • If possible, never stop taking classes. Even the most veteran actors are still taking classes. There are resources online and more affordable options available.

  • Take notes, ask questions.

Class Etiquette:

  • Don’t give yourself the excuse before you even try. Don’t start off with saying “I’m not good at this.”

  • Don’t over explain. You don’t need to explain why you’re doing XYZ

  • No need to apologize if you flub up a line, just restart the line

  • California State law, under the Krekorian Act, it’s illegal for casting directors to promise employment or charge for auditions, therefore classes should always be regarded as learning opportunities

Practice:

  • I practice while I stream! I do the voices and read outloud for any games that have lots of dialogue text such as Phoenix Wright, Final Fantasy, or Persona games.

  • https://voiceactingclub.com/ - Founded by actress Kira Buckland, resource, forums, and community, casting call reshares

  • https://www.castingcall.club/ - Classes, casting calls (project quality varies, unpaid and paid projects)

  • https://twitter.com/VACastingRT - Twitter account that will retweet paid casting calls

  • Indie developed projects may not always be of quality

    • Some projects may never finish

  • For games, work on Mid Atlantic accent and British RP accents

  • Work on copying your parents, grandparents, and relatives accents

Big Don’ts:

  • Don’t post scripts from classes or auditions anywhere

  • Don’t post auditioning audio anywhere

  • Don’t use auditioning or copyrighted materials as demo material

  • Don’t break NDAs regardless if you’ve physically signed something or not - always ask permission

  • Don’t beat yourself up in classes, on the job, etc.

Fandubs:

  • I’ve worked in the Anime licensing space as well and am explicitly saying that the license holders of your favorite anime are extremely strict about how their content is distributed and how their branding is used and displayed. Meaning:

    • Fandubs are copyright infringement regardless if you earn money from it or not

    • If you’re going to participate in them, do them in private for practice, don’t publicly post about them, don’t state you’re cast in them

Get coaching:

If you feel like you’re ready for some 1:1 time with an experienced acting coach begin reaching out.

  • Ask your instructors in class if they offer coaching

  • Email/message an instructor POLITELY to see if they offer coaching

  • https://acting.skillshub.life/ - Requires monthly membership, pay coaches per minute rates

  • Make sure you vet your coach

Making a Home Studio:

What you need:

  • XLR Mic (needs phantom power)

  • Interface (the phantom power)

  • XLR cables

  • Mic Stand

  • Shock Mount

  • A computer (quiet like a mac, or placed outside your booth)

  • Recording software such as Audacity (free), Adobe Audition, Reaper

  • A treated space (the booth, closet, foam box, etc)

The Booth:

The Mics (that I’ve used):

In today’s climate, you’ll need to understand how to do some basic engineering and editing of your audio files.

Apply for rosters:

  • Look up localization studios and recording studios to see if they have an application to their roster

  • Ask instructors if they have applications for their personal rosters

Make a website:

  • Put your samples/demo on your website and an email to contact you at the bare minimum.

  • Less is more, but you’ll want to showcase who you are, who you are authentically (if you belong to any communities), and your experience, if any

  • Make it easy - less clicking, less scrolling, easy to read, downloadable reels

  • Try to get a yourname.com or yournamevo.com URL - work on your branding. Googling your name should show your website + social media.

Audition:

  • My auditions come from my agent, management, rosters I’ve submitted to, as well as scouring the internet for some open casting calls.

  • Assume that 1 role will receive 500+ auditions, what can you do to stand out?

  • Attempt the ones out of your wheelhouse for practice, submit what you’re confident in

  • Always audition for your wheelhouse

  • Do not submit any that you cannot authentically represent (ethnicity, sexuality, etc.)

Build a repertoire and experience:

  • Repeat the steps above, it’ll all happen in time

  • Build confidence, tools, knowledge and skills

Create a demo:

  • When you can confidently be directed and redirected and create different character archetypes, then you may be ready for a demo

  • Understand that demo reels are expensive, and therefore should not be made too early as you’ll outgrow them quickly

  • Understand that demo reels are representations of your skill, so only get them done if you feel like you’re ready. You don’t want a bad first impression

  • Self created demo reels are fine if you plan on using it for smaller rosters or indie projects

  • Submit to agencies only quality reels - reels do NOT have to be expensive. Find demo houses that are reputable.

Submit to Agencies:

  • Agencies typically take 10% of work they find for you

  • Agencies do not find all work for you. Once signed, you still have to find work on your own

  • Agents should support you and your career. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. So they can help mediate or negotiate on your behalf

  • Agencies typically prioritize commercials

  • It’s easier to submit to an agency with a referral from someone else (director, casting director, client referrals before actor referrals)

  • Take agent workshops to see what they’re looking for, and to put yourself in front of them

Take Care Of Yourself:

  • Constant rejection is taxing. Do stuff outside of voice over.

  • Believe in the compliments but don’t get arrogant

  • Take care of your voice

    • Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa syrup and lozenges for sore throats

    • Malic acid or green apples for mouth clicks

    • Nasal spray for sinuses

    • Vocal misters

    • Straw Phonation exercises

  • Advocate for yourself

  • If you find yourself thinking “This person seems to be getting all the roles” 1. Don’t do that and 2. Imagine all the roles they auditioned for and didn’t get

Auditioning Tips:

These are some tips that I’ve heard time and time again. If these terms are unfamiliar to you, take more classes!

  • Pre-life, Post-life / The moment before, the moment after

  • Understand the tone/genre of what you’re reading for

  • Use physicality, theater of the mind, change your eyeline

  • Breathe

  • Go further, they can always pull you back

  • Angry doesn’t always mean shouting

  • Slow it down

  • Don’t get married to the read, be directable, flexible

  • Have fun

General Tips:

  • Build real connections, don’t do things for clout

  • Do things outside of voice over, have a support circle outside of voice over

  • Understand that you may not be able to go full time early or at all

  • Treat everyone like people

  • Respect NDAs - avoid selfies in the studio, don’t mention or allude to the project online regardless of how excited you are, even if you think you’re being slick

  • Keep record of all your classes and equipment for tax purposes

  • If you’re passing on a project for any reason, see if you can refer someone - lift your friends up

  • Don’t be a jerk

More points to know:

  • Objectively, the person who has the exact same experience, background, sensibilities, etc is the person you were just a moment ago. As long as you strive to be better than that person, you’re doing fine.

  • Don’t be afraid to fail, especially in classes. Failing is learning and it’s better to make a mistake in class than it is on the job

  • Nerves are normal for everyone but not an excuse

  • While many veterans and experienced actors are extremely supportive and kind, your greatest connection will be the peers you meet in class

  • There is no set timeline and there’s no time limit. It’s all different and subjective for everyone.

  • Auditioning is the job, rejection comes with it

  • Take stock of all that you’ve accomplished regardless of how big or small you think they are. Each step is a step forward and know that your past self would be pretty proud of you.

More Resources:

There are far greater resources out there but these are just a few things I’ve learned over the years that I wish to share with people. I’ll be adding to this as I learn more and am open to corrections and changes. I hope it helps someone.