How To Get a Job Doing Voice-Overs

[voicesdotcom]

Thanks for the shout out! Voices.com is the industry leading website that connects businesses with professional voice talents. Radio and television stations, advertising agencies and Fortune 500 companies rely upon the Voices.com marketplace to search for, audition and hire voice talents with the assistance of our innovative SurePay™ escrow service and our award-winning Web application

[FamilyGuyRules4evr]

omg that was you!!!! voice over lady!!! dudeee u gotz a pretty nice voice!

[MOVIETRAILERVOICE1]

There are thousands of people doing this. If you are great do it. If not, do not waste your time. Here how it is done here.Iposted these as examples. Been in the business a long time.

[SamsonProductions1]

This is great, thankyou!!!

[UncleAnti]

Take this video with a grain of salt (if you know what I mean) - especially Step 7 - you do not make your own demo - even "with software that enhances your voice". Call me instead!

[shanepolaski]

Thank God. I found my calling! Finally found it.

[MrJimtoday]

Starring the wonderful Marcie Fine!

[ProphetsOfAshes]

Everything about that is relevant except for the Julia Roberts part... She got paid that much for AOL because it was a celebrity endorsement. DUH! If any no-name got a voice-over gig with AOL, they'd have no reason to offer them anything close to seven figures. That Julia Roberts part just provides budding voice actors a false sense of inspiration and job security lol

[sluggo06]

When I found out her voice was the voice over I wad like "whoa!"

[herewegoinvt]

I agree with almost all of this, except for *ONE* huge problem. Do not make your own demo! Even those in the business for quite some time are not well equipped to make a demo. You need to showcase yourself - a good producer will record you properly, select proper scripts and challenge you - teaching you good mic placement, and familiarizing you with studio terminology along the way. If you want your demo to end up in the trash, please disregard my advice.

[AlinahIqbal1]

Well basically this isn't what I was looking for.

I wanted to be one of those cartoon voice overs!

Example - Spongebob's voice.

I wanna be something like that because I have this really cute childish voice that only I can do and my sister recommended that that's what I should be when I'm older!

Not this garbage!

[lordscythe509]

@AlinahIqbal1

That particular part of the field is called voice acting... like Mark Hamill (The Animated Joker/ Star Wars) or Keith David ( Halo's Arbiter/ Mass Effect's Captain Anderson)

[HowlingMonki]

@AlinahIqbal1 I've been wanting to be a voice overist for a cartoon character since I learned this profession existed too, but just a word of advice to you, when I read a book on voice acting it said that those who are cartoon voice actors are high level actors. (this crushed me when I first read it as I never saw myself as an experienced or extremely talented actor) Regardless, I love that you have a special voice that you love to use, and I wish you the best of luck in reaching your goal! :)

[jamesjuma1]

PLEASE WATCH MY NEW VOICE OVERS AND FANDUBS FOR A SMILE! ( : THANK YOU!

[FABVOICE]

Dear oh dear oh dear........arsenic for wannabees!

[sagaofbluewing]

Take improv lessons.

[jniffen]

Anybody else notice that when she was typing her letter on the laptop, she typed "intersted" and not "interested"?

[ProphetsOfAshes]

@jniffen lmao

[NintenBeau]

Some cool and interesting tips, though it's forgetting one thing, acting. It's not just about a great voice, it's about acting, you don't even need a cool sounding voice like Don LaFontaine or something, but be able to be convincing in whatever it is you're voicing.

[HotRadioDJ]

I have never done a voice-over or an airshift without caffeine. Green Apple? Come on!!! You should never eat before a session; moist chop. I live in Hollywood and 20 years has treated me well without an agent. Tonight on NBC...

[greensican]

alot of voice actors have siad if you want to kep your voice clear you should take a bite of a GREEN APPLE, only the green ones, and you shouldnt actually eat it, just kinda of like hydrate yourself with it, chew it a little and spit it out.

[deatheart360]

very helpful

[allvox13]

Dream Labs you are right. it should be pro nunce iation not pro nownce iation.

Demo tapes are a no no. We use Mp3 or demo via ISDN.

You will not get work unless, you are good, have your own pro recording set up or have access to one.

[allvox13]

Cont:Learn how to emphasize selling points in ads, sound genuine, smile...for any other points and show reel training and guidance...i charge! You will never sound good on a headset, no real v/o would use one for demo purposes.

[allvox13]

Hi jakesdoc

Well, nowadays everyone thinks it is easy to be a v;o. however, to do it properly takes skill and practice. I offer training sessions, but at the end of the day, it is a highly competitive business. Practice reading to time. People rarely want accents, unless you are aiming for character work only, in which case, you will loose out on regular straight voice voicing.

[allvox13]

As someone who has been a full time v/o for 20 years, this video made my jaw drop...and not in admiration! Green Apple.....Julia Roberts PAH!

[jakesdoc]

why? I would love to do voice overs. Are these guys totally wrong? What would you suggest?

The opinion of someone like you who has actual real world experience is far more valuable than someone like these guys with a vested interest.

[ryoko]

allvox13.. I am looking to do voice-overing as a career and I look at a lot of these help videos...what did they explain wrong that I should look for?

[RJHEllis]

It was her with that nice voice all the time? Cool

[fanime1]

Don't be expected to be paid as much as Julia Roberts. She only got paid that much because she's already famous. Most voice actors get paid little. Some are even freelance. It's only when your famous that you get paid a lot.

[dreamlabs]

Did anyone recognize that she mispronounced the word "pronunciation"...it came out as pro-NOUN-ciation" and this is a very coommon mistake made by Journalists, Broadcasters and other media professionals.

[livegems]

That's because that is how the word is spelt in the UK and other E spkg c'ies

[jenzieX3]

some will let you post it online... for a fee

[KuteKookie123]

I kinda KNEW that the actress was actually her.

Howcast always does funny things like that.

Thats what makes them so awesome. :D

[Lynchoguy]

1:47 "intersted"

:P fail

[InuzukaKitana]

Yeah I was hoping someone noticed that, it was an epic fail. And they went saying that you need to read and improve your vocabulary? Joke!

[skathan]

@Lynchoguy

Amen to that! :)

[jq3386]

@Lynchoguy -Hahahahaha

[AwkwArdAndy]

nice she narrated her whole skit XD

[AskCarrieLee]

That was some great information.

[abemagic10]

ABC ..it's all so simple..what a load of bs

[Fuff63]

Hey -I'd like to see the narrator breath from her diaphragm ;-)

[zXenergy]

its a robot

[TomBay22]

Very nice presentation..Enjoyed working with you on the set of "Naked Brothers Band"...Best-Tommy Bay...

[Driven2thewild]

I want to do some Voice Acting =)

[Colby9817]

I'm a Voice Over Artist :D

[biohazardx]

wow the lady do the voice for how cast is cute . wish i knew her =p

[GreenLiteProductions]

Julia Roberts is already a known name

[Jred126]

ha...she spelled interested wrong

[tannytv]

that last bit was cool

[looow]

u guys are sick

[dhvoice]

a few nits to pick:

1) I think we're well past the age of the demo "tape". Most VO demos these days exist in MP3 or audio CD form, and are usually delivered via those methods as well.

2) The Julia Roberts tag makes for a nice bit of trivia, but I hope no aspiring VO artists are under the impression that there's a million-dollar paycheck out there waiting for their voice to grace a national TV spot. (Unless they intend to become huge movie stars before tackling the world of voiceover...)

[IH8WRONGPPL]

@dhvoice Ted Williams.... I need not say more!

[dhvoice]

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but recording a demo on a headset mic in your kitchen (and sending that demo to casting directors) is a good way NOT to get hired. Some good tips otherwise, though.

To be fair, the video does a good job by pointing out the need for training right at the outset, and especially for noting that it's not simply about how "nice" one's voice is.

[QuenRchBtch99]

wow r they serious!? i thought howcast was just suppose to be for laughs

[hurlyz]

typographic error in her e-mail at 1:48 haha... very professional =/

[Charlottegooding]

Wow. The woman in the video did the talking :S Lol.

[thebawzbrigade]

As for ISDNVoice, that's just an example of a thinly veiled, cynical attempt to shift a 2 CD set and workbook.

There's no doubt a hopeful such as myself will need deep introspection as well as extensive training to find my 'true' voice, but nobody is going to find that in a coupla CDs and a textbook. Whatever discipline one chooses, everyone knows there's no substitute for professional one-to-one coaching.

Does it come with a 30 day free trial? 'But wait, there's more! Yes, a free pencil!'

[thebawzbrigade]

As for ISDNVoice, that's just an example of a thinly veiled, cynical attempt to shift a 2 CD set and workbook.

There's no doubt a hopeful such as myself will need deep introspection as well as extensive training to find my 'true' voice, but nobody is going to find that in a coupla CDs and a textbook. Whatever discipline one chooses, everyone knows there's no substitute for professional one-to-one coaching.

Does it come with a 30 day free trial? 'But wait, there's more! Yes, a free pencil!'

[dhvoice]

As a colleague of ISDNVoice, I can attest that her advice and experience is worthy of consideration. What you call a "cynical attempt" is a necessary part of marketing one's VO services, and dismissing this notion is one of the reasons so many aspiring voiceover artists remain unsuccessful.

[thebawzbrigade]

Yeah, but mate- I wasn't havin' a go at anyone who was trying to market voice-over "Services", your colleague was marketing voice over *Training*. The latter is something I will gladly accept form someone I trust (incidentally I have found very experienced tuition in Edinburgh) but not from anyone who pushes the hard-sell like that.

However, yer colleague sent me a wee message quite commendably celebrating the practical nature of his comment and giving me some good advice, so it's all cool bud.

[thebawzbrigade]

I commend a very concise and informative description of the process-I have considered voice work and since watching this video last week I have sought coaching.

Surely no-one should be at all phased by the disparaging messages below. 'Ecurbius' seems to mean well, but there is nothing in the video that says you don't need talent or dedication so it appears he's being a bit overly negative.

[ISDNVoice]

While some of the info here is valid, the most important element before even starting on the path to voiceovers is to learn the art of self-evaluation. You need to know that you have what it takes in four key areas: Talent, Business, Marketing, and Technology. I am a working voice talent and have a 2 CD set and workbook on "Self-Evaluation" that was recorded live at VOICE2007 in Las Vegas - I just made it available to people who weren't there.

[SaiYanSighT]

Howcast is a good option for those who like laughing, but fisrt of all for those who know how before thez watch ...

[ecurbius]

Wow. This piece is so full of wrong and bad advice I don't know where to begin, so I won't. Trust me, it takes a lot more work and training than this video seems to indicate. And for almost all of the people who have the right talent and experience, and go through the right kind of training, it will take you years before you make a decent living at this business. If you're really interested, do a lot of research first.

[quila333]

A green apple? I never knew that awsome fruit could help with voice acting. Now I must go buy lots of green apples lol.

[missiworld]

Wow, that was actually quite helpful. I do a lot of drama/acting/singing work, and I've put thought into doing voice-overs. Thanks!

[extremejlk2000]

optional: a green apple

haha

[rliv23]

lol

[ReiNohara]

Cool

[BuIIdogs]

haha i didnt expect it to be her!

[brimq2]

um she spells interested wrong in the email hehe

[Takahashifan4ever]

This answers all my questions!! I've always wanted to be a voice actress. Thank you for making this video! :D

[SKATEthe352]

hah, i love these things they're so random, but serious.

[Ahotbabi234]

greatt

[luvbabedave]

Julia Roberts made over a million dollars, yeah...that is because she's JULIA ROBERTS!!!

[EstepaOnYou]

its that easy huh? lol

[ginobarracuda]

At 1:46  She types " I'm interste (sic)

[kingsalmon101]

first :D

[dellacalfee]

cute