The Sound Advice Voice-Over Podcast

Passion and instincts account for a great deal, but neither will get you anywhere unless you dedicate yourself to keeping your skills sharp, while relentlessly pursuing the work. It’s there to be had.

Let’s assume you have a work ethic that won’t quit, and everyone says you have a remarkable voice. Terrific. Question is: do you have talent? And how would you know?

Understanding who you’ve created your demos to service most is typically overlooked by both seasoned and novice talent alike. Yet, it’s the endgame, and why this should be your primary focus from the very start. Certainly there are no absolutes in voiceover but there are a number of elements you should consider when first pursuing voiceover as a profession.

The truth is, nearly every client in the States, not just talent agents, require a Commercial demo first and foremost.

If the adage, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit” holds up, then it stands to reason the habits we practice, whether by design or default, ultimately determines our strengths. 

With that, I give you five habits to strengthen your performance abilities. 

Here are a few key industry insights to improve your bottom line, elevate your brand, instill confidence, and expand your small business as an actor, on- or off-camera!

You might be relieved to discover the best advertising… isn’t advertising at all. By that I mean the adage, “less is more” applies when it comes to art directing your graphics that will allow you to make your name known and associated with being a professional voice talent with taste and an elevated aesthetic. 

Here are five key elements to consider when offering insight to your graphic artist as to what you’re after when creating your brand logo and identity.

Typically training for the average actor and voice-over are categorizes into one of three camps: beginner, intermediate or advanced. Problem is: nothing in this business is lumped into those categories; you’re either a professional or you’re not, right out of the gate.

You build your professional reputation as a voice talent and as an actor by consistently delivering exceptional auditions. Lots and lots and lots of them. Which is why persistence and tenacity serve you so well to succeed in this, or frankly, any business.  

So, how many auditions do you imagine it takes to land a single voiceover job? Five? Ten? Twenty? What’s the average?

Voiceover demos, by definition, are a professional demonstration of what you do best and what you want more of. Yet many well-meaning, even experienced talent fall prey to many of the following misconceptions regarding what should and shouldn’t be included on your voiceover demos.

Let’s assume you have a work ethic that won’t quit, and everyone says you have a remarkable voice. You can have all the talent in the world, but it’ll die on the vine without drive and momentum. Your passion and instincts account for a great deal, but neither will get you anywhere unless you dedicate yourself to continually sharpening your skills while you pursue the work.  

You practiced, practiced, practiced… but still, no Carnegie Hall! So, what happened? Well, a number of things could be in play, or entirely absent from your auditions, as the case may be. Here are 5 reasons you probably didn’t book that last audition…