Voiceover Pro
- Ian Russell
- 5 minutes ago
- 5 min read
I was at a Videogame Convention last year and along with meeting some new Voiceover friends and some Gaming fans, a few people asked how to get started in voice acting, or what is needed to become a Professional Voice Actor.
So why has becoming a voice actor become more popular than ever?
First - Accessibility
With the growth of the internet, the ability for casters to reach and be reached from anywhere has expanded the pool of talent available. The reduction in the cost of high-quality equipment has made the cost of entry to the business lower too. This means that almost anyone can give voice-overs a go.
Voice actors can work from home with the right equipment, appropriate training (most of which can be done online), and minimal investment. However, it is worth noting that living in a major city like New York, LA, or London still has its advantages, as some clients still prefer you to come to their in-house or selected studio to record, and this is even more evident when MOCap is used.
Second - Consumption
The number of opportunities for a voice actor has expanded considerably. The cost of making a video for a product or service and putting it onto a website or using it in digital advertising has dropped, making it accessible to more and more businesses, meaning more content is being made. Online media is how we mostly communicate nowadays. Corporations and training organizations can now train people online even more with e-learning courses, games, and interactive content, eliminating the need for hotel stays and other expenses. The popularity of streaming services has increased demand for entertaining content, with animation and anime becoming central to youth culture and driving growth in the industry.
Leveling Up to Voiceover Pro
So once we begin, how do we determine when the voiceover side gig, hustle, or hobby turns into being a legitimate professional voice actor?
The general definition of a profession is a career that requires advanced training and education. Typically, they require some level of post-secondary education. So, it would make sense to say that if you have an acting, media arts, or drama degree, you will have an advantage in becoming a pro. It's also an entrepreneurial endeavor, so a business or marketing degree would also stand you in good stead.
What other measures could we consider?
1. If you are working full-time (9-5) and generating sufficient net income to pay the bills, then most would agree that it is your profession.
2. As an actor, if you have top-tier agent representation, the probability is that you have a proven ability to book work and can rightly be considered a pro.
3. Putting in the time. The old adage that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert in the field.
4. In the Nava Voiceover survey 2024 there seems to be a correlation to those considering themselves a Pro (61%) and the amount of time someone has been in the industry of 10 + years or more.
Perhaps each of us has our own definition, and if you fulfill that criteria, then you are a Pro. For me, there was a moment during the 2017 Faffcon Convention when I felt I crossed the border from "Newbie into the land of Pro". I was in a room full of my peers, and a question was asked to which I felt I could add something of value. I was later thanked for my contribution by someone I viewed as one of the top talents in our industry. That was the moment my mindset changed.
What's Stopping You
Like any entertainment field, voice acting is filled with tons of amazing talent and amazing competition to go along with it. Trying to figure out a way to stand out with branding, uniqueness and finding people that can hire you, are all just some of the challenges. According to a 2019 Guardian article only 2% of actors, actually make a living as an actor. One can assume the voice acting percentages are somewhat similar?
There will always be talent that doesn’t go as far as they could (or should). Maybe there is a peer that is talent-adjacent whose career is advancing better? Maybe they don't seem to be working twice as hard or are twice as connected? Maybe it's just The Luck Factor? Everyone is different, but according to many, including myself, 10 daily auditions and marketing reach-outs are what most successful voice actors are doing. Even that isn't a guarantee, but as the auditions increase, your chance of finding that breakout role increases, which in turn can lead to more and steady work.
Changing Tact
The other poignant question is when to pack it in. We are given the mentality to never give up, but maybe voiceover isn’t for us after months or even years of trying to book continuous gigs without getting anywhere. Desperation, lack of confidence, distraction, or perhaps something so small we don’t even realize might be holding us back. We may be able to overcome it with training and perseverance. And just like any new freelance business, commitment to time and investment are required, and perhaps that’s what’s holding us back. Rising entrepreneurs are the ones who have the money to hire PR agents and SEO experts to help increase their chances of success. Many voice actors, including myself, reinvest over half of their earnings back into the business.
Changing tack might help—finding another way or part of the entertainment industry to break into that will eventually lead to the dream of becoming a working voice actor. Doing extra work, writing, editing... keeping your creativity going and working in another part of the entertainment industry. Sometimes getting real advice from someone who can give it to you straight. We have all heard the demo or the voice that isn't cutting the pro mustard. But who really wants to be the bearer of that honest but heartbreaking news? The important thing is, if you are struggling, to talk to someone and try to get some real advice. We all have off days, but these should only be days, not months.
If it’s not working, it’s time to change something and then change something again. Eventually and hopefully, you can find your place in the world of voiceovers and become that Voiceover Professional you know you can be.
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