Written by: Kris Keppeler, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
I groan whenever someone tells me their friends say they have a "great voice" and must go into voice-over. We all have misconceptions about careers. The biggest one about voice-over is that a great voice is your ticket to success.
An extraordinary voice may help book commercial jobs or a specific type of audiobook, but it won't guarantee the gig. It may be a detriment in e-learning or other kinds of audiobooks. Most people think of commercials when anyone mentions voice-over because they're so visible.
Commercials aren't a big deal.
They're only a tiny percentage of the voice-over work available. The majority of voice-over work is narrative. That's audiobook narration, e-learning voice-over, video voice-over, and more.
In narrative work, your ability to tell the story is paramount. A pleasant-sounding voice with acting and singing ability books you narrative voice-over jobs. An extraordinary voice that lacks those skills won't get you far.
Do you want to be a voice actor or voice-over talent? Is there a difference? The industry may be beginning to diverge.
A voice actor is an actor who specializes in games, audiobooks, and animation work. Voice-over talent has that fantastic voice and radio experience. Voice actors can be good at commercial or promo jobs, and voice-over talent may enjoy narrating audiobooks.
Choose to work in a voice-over category you enjoy and that fits your voice. Reading a 10-minute story to your child is not the same as standing in front of a mic for three hours, bringing the narration and characters to life. Some actors, like me, find commercial copy uninspiring.
You will need training.
Whether you are an actor, a former radio host, or just fascinated by voice-overs, you will need special training to master voice-over. Radio hosts may find adjusting to a more casual, conversational tone in commercials difficult. Actors may struggle with a commercial script with no specific role to play.
An introductory class where you can try all kinds of scripts is best. The surest way to pinpoint the voice-over categories you enjoy and fit your voice is to try as many as possible. Don't focus only on commercial scripts; try audiobook narration, explainer videos, and e-learning.
When I entered the world of voice-over, I only knew about commercials. I floundered for a few years, figuring out my voice fit certain audiobooks, e-learning, and games by trial and error. Voice-over is a small business, and you're a solopreneur.
To start and run a successful small business, you need a plan and a roadmap to guide it. Having no idea what categories fit your voice means you have no plan. Voice-over offers many areas of specialization, and some pay better than others.
Your voice-over business' success depends on choosing the best specialties for your voice and knowing your revenue requirements. You may love anime, but it pays poorly. If you want a profitable business, you should focus on more than anime.
A home studio and decent equipment.
Have I mentioned you need a home studio? You can invest in a custom-made one or set aside a portion of your home. It must be a quiet space with no reverb.
I know narrators who use their walk-in closets because carpets and clothes dampen sound. We used an alcove in our house, foam, and sound-dampening curtains, which is my studio. You must produce quality sound without extraneous noise, such as clicks or traffic noise.
Learning to record and edit your recordings is a necessity. YouTube is a great place to find audio engineering information. I took an online audio engineering class and, in an hour, learned tons for a reasonable price.
Finding good audio editors or a DAW (digital audio workstation) is easy. DAWs allow you to mix, but an excellent audio editor works fine for simple voice-over recording.
Audacity is a free and popular program. Reaper or Twisted Wave are inexpensive. You can find YouTube videos on how to use all of them.
One of the mistakes I made initially was using cheap headphones. Because of this, I didn't hear a hiss and lost out on an audiobook narrator gig. Headphones like Beats by Dr. Dre will work, but studio quality like Beyer Dynamic is best.
The most important instrument is your mic. Don't buy a cheap mic to do voice-over work. Your mic should make you sound the best in your preferred categories and works well in your studio.
Do you want to succeed in voice-over? Train with a reputable coach or school, buy quality equipment, and set up a home studio that produces quality sound. Work with a business coach that understands creative businesses.
Kris Keppeler, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Kris Keppeler is a narrator, actor, voice actor, podcaster, and writer. After discovering her singing voice in Jr. High Choir, she’s never quit using her voice to amuse and instigate. She’s impersonated a cat, a prince, a princess, an anteater, a dragon, and a president with her voice and narrated/produced over 50 audiobooks. She narrates and produces an award winning weekly storytelling podcast about life and befuddlement. She’s crafted blogs and articles using humor and valuable information to delight readers. Visit her IMDB page for stage and screen credits.
