Voice Actor's Notebook » Voice over acting

What is the path to voice over success?

David Radtke — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 08:48:47 +0000

Here is a simple and crude, yet very descriptive image of what the path to voice over success looks like:

The new voice over job

David Radtke — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 03:49:41 +0000

After briefly mentioning the new voice over job that I got back in August I've received quite a few emails asking me to talk about some of the juicy details. Since I aim to please, this post will be all about what exactly the job is, how I landed the job, what the job entails, how much time I spend everyday on the job, and anything else that pops into my head as I write.

But before I begin to divulge, let me say up front that I am bound by a "somewhat relaxed" NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement). Which means that there are specifics about the job that I'm not allowed to talk about, but I can talk about it in general terms.

So now, here are the most asked questions about the new job and their answers:

What is it?

I was hired by a video production house that specializes in a very unique video product for its customers. My voice will only be heard in these videos and not on TV or the radio or even on the Internet. The videos are very family orientated which makes me feel good when recording the scripts — and there are a lot of them!

Can you tell me about the scripts?

Unfortunately the NDA prohibits me from going into details about the scripts themselves, but what I can say is that the kinds of scripts are quite varied. This is one of the things I love about this job — the variety is just awesome!

One kind of script requires a Hollywood style movie trailer read, another needs a more sultry and romantic read, and yet another requires me to sound like a WWF announcer. There is a fourth kind of script that requires a TV documentary read and a fifth kind that needs an "Academy Awards announcer" style of read.

The amount of scripts I receive is anywhere from only one script per day up to as many as seven! Luckily, each script is short and only takes about 20-30 minutes to record, edit, and email back to the production house.

How did you get it?

This really was the most often asked question. Many of you wanted to know if I got it through my agent, or perhaps through one of the online Pay to Play sites like Voices.com or Voice123. Some even wanted to know if it was through cold calling or word of mouth.

The answer is: none of the above.

The production house found me through my website: David's Book of Voices - Voice Overs by David Radtke. It was simply a Google search. But that should be a signal that your personal voice over website needs to be competitive not only in content, but also in getting good search engine rankings.

Why were you chosen?

Ok, this actually wasn't asked by any of VAN's readers, but I'd like to briefly touch upon it because it's something that everyone thinking of getting into voice acting or who already is in voice acting needs to decide. And that is: what kind of demo do I need?

My commercial demo was designed to show off my range. I can be young, hip and quirky. I can be older and more mature. I can have variety in my voice or I can be flat. It was because my demo had so much range that I was eventually chosen over the others in the running for this job.

Please keep in mind, this kind of demo wasn't my decision — it was my coach's decision. My coach knows my abilities and what I sound like better than anyone else.

There is another kind of demo that focuses on your main "voice" or "sound". So, if you naturally sound like a guy from the Bronx, a cowboy, a sultry seductress, or a high-pitched bubbly cheerleader, then that kind of demo focuses only on that sound.

Personally, I am in no position to tell you what kind of demo you should have. That is between you and your coach on how to best market your abilities.

The contract

The contract was pretty typical. It included the payment terms, delivery of payment, length of contract, the Non-Disclosure Agreement, and a few other housekeeping tidbits such as if there is a dispute over payment, terms for renewing the contract and terms for leaving the contract. Luckily my friend is a lawyer, and after reading it through and translating the legalese into recognizable English he gave it the thumbs up.

Did I miss anything?

As always, my goal is to help those interested in becoming voice actors. So if I missed covering any questions you might have, please feel free to ask them in the comment section below.

Working for peanuts – not prime rib

David Radtke — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 22:35:44 +0000

This isn't a detailed scientific study. This isn't even a controlled experiment. It's just an observation of a single occurrence. And yet every voice actor in the industry has seen something similar. They know this is going on and they know it's causing the slow decline of the voice actor's salary and the cheapening of our image as highly-trained professionals.

It's called 'lowballing" — the practice of bidding extremely low on a project in the hopes of landing the gig — and it really does hurt!

Here's the latest occurrence I stumbled across...

On a voice over job website (which shall go unnamed) a client (who shall also go unnamed) posted a job for a 1-hour narration. The budget listed was between $350 and $500. About one week later that same client posted another 1-hour narration job. But this time: a budget of $50 to $100!

Think about it from the client's point of view...

If you (as a voice seeker) post a job with a budget of, let's say... $350, and then you get offers to do the job for as cheap as $50, wouldn't you then set the budget of your next job to only about $50? I don't know about you, but I certainly would!

If everyone is willing to work for peanuts,
then why would a voice seeker offer prime rib?

Everybody wants to get a great deal. And if there are talented voice actors out there willing to sell themselves short and bid ultra-low, then why wouldn't voice seekers take advantage of it? If voice actors are always quoting a low price, then why wouldn't voice seekers start stating that their budgets are smaller than they actually are?

Now YOU think about it...

For MANY projects, the voice over is just as important as any of the visual elements. And some projects don't even have the visual elements! Your voice will help companies sell thousands and sometimes millions of dollars worth of their product or service. And they'll be laughing all the way to the bank at the great deal they got from the voice actor.

Come on, people! Why would anyone take our profession seriously when we ourselves are willing to accept table scraps as payment for professional jobs?

Double webinar whammy!

David Radtke — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 23:04:46 +0000

The good people over at VoiceOverXtra have been very busy this summer with lots of webinars. Here are two more that are worth checking out!

Voice Acting and Copy Reading Techniques

Three top talents/coaches (Bettye Zoller, James Alburger & Penny Abshire) reveal the techniques for making the right delivery choice for voice over scripts - to win auditions and voice actual jobs. Attendees will learn confidence, how to sound "natural" and how to quickly create and practice characters, read and practice cold copy, and much more. Starts 9 p.m. ET on July 12th.

Learn more

Twisted Wave: The Basics and Beyond

Learn how to set up, use and get the most out of Mac's new Twisted Wave audio production software, in this live interactive webinar demonstration by acclaimed home studio expert George Whittam. Registered attendees also receive a recording of the entire audio/visual session. Online demo instruction includes setting audio device preferences, file management/organization, basic audio unit effects, creating effect stacks, exporting files, batch processing and more. Starts 9 p.m. ET on July 18th.

Learn more

Your cool ain’t necessarily that cool

David Radtke — Tue, 31 May 2011 04:20:43 +0000

Recently I was hired to voice as a young "cool and hip" 25 to 30 year old guy for an in-house video. I got the script along with the storyboard a few hours before the recording session. I then dutifully analyzed and practiced the script a few times. I was ready, willing, and feeling like a "cool and hip" 25 to 30 year old guy (in a 41 year old body )

The session proceeded as usual, ending with a satisfied client at its conclusion. Nice and smooth. Another day at the office. Except that the final read was almost 180 degrees different from what I had prepared.

What happened?

The many shades of "cool"

You see, what I thought a "cool and hip" 25 to 30 year old guy was didn't fit with what the director had thought a "cool and hip" 25 to 30 year old guy was.

And guess what? This is pretty normal.

As voice actors we do our best to prepare a script using the written directions as a guide. But once we get inside the booth, what we prepared might be anywhere from slightly different to vastly different from what the director wants.

We have to be flexible enough to throw away our preconceived image of the person we are portraying in order to fit the correct image that the director is guiding us toward.

The lesson for today

It's always a good idea to prepare and analyze a script before a session, but don't over-practice. Too much practice and preparation can often solidify a certain type of read in your head making it hard to go in a different direction when the director asks for it.

Oh, and when the director does ask for a change in your read, never ever say "but I was trying for more of a XYZ kinda read." You're not there to try to convince them to use your interpretation of the character, but to give them what they want — that's what you're getting paid to do.

Wanna be working full time as a voice actor? Here’s how!

David Radtke — Wed, 18 May 2011 23:29:44 +0000

It's every voice actor's dream: working full time purely as a voice actor. But how can one do it? Is there some magic to the whole process? Is it being connected to the right people? Is it just dumb luck?

'Nope' to all of the above.

Actually, success can be broken down into 5 simple steps, and voice actor Richard Horvitz tells you all about them in his popular 1 hour and 40 minute audio seminar that you can get through Dan O'Day's website.

If you want to boost your VO career, then now would be a good time to check this out:
How To Get As Much Voice Over Work As You Can Handle By Learning How To Play

Choosing a voice coach – part 2

David Radtke — Sat, 07 May 2011 07:28:14 +0000

In Choosing a voice coach - part 1, we looked at some of the different types of lessons out there and how to find the best match to your learning style. Now in part 2, we're going to talk a little bit about what kind of person you want as your coach. Should he or she be a full-time voice actor already? How about a professional director (but not necessarily an actor)?

Here we go again...

To be, or not to be

There are differing opinions floating around the Internet about who makes a good voice acting coach: a voice actor or a voice director. First, let's define what these two are and then look at some of the benefits of studying with each.

The "voice actor" coach:
This type of coach actually is a voice over actor with years of experience working in the field.

They know:
-how to adjust their reads to match certain styles.
-what it's like to be directed by someone else.
-how to run a voice-over business.
-how to handle difficult clients/directors.
-how to pull out characters from within their psyche.

The "director" as a coach
This type of coach maybe has never worked as a voice actor, but instead directs voice actors on a daily basis on behalf of their clients.

They know:
-exactly what they want to hear from voice talents.
-what the current trends in advertising are.
-who wins the auditions and why.
-what qualities make a voice actor a pleasure to work with.

Which is best?

Saying with 100% certainty that one kind of coach is better than another is impossible. A lot depends on where you are on your journey as a voice actor.

In my opinion, pure beginners should study with a coach who also is an experienced voice actor. Here are my reasons:

1) Often during lessons you'll feel stumped about how to preform a certain kind of read. A working, experienced voice actor can immediately demonstrate the read for you. A "director coach" usually can't. I actually heard a very popular director coach admit this out loud! The coach said, "I don't know how you voice actors do what you do. I could never do it." This is not good for the beginner.

2) A voice actor coach really knows how to break into the industry. They've "been there, done that." They know all about the struggles and can give advice on how to overcome them.

3) Equipment advice. Many directing coaches don't own a home studio. They don't have to record or mix down or convert or add compression etc. etc. etc. Beginners need someone who knows this stuff.

But don't forget them

Now I know that it sounds like the "director" voice coach is a bad way to go. But it isn't. I believe that for beginners it isn't the optimal way. Once you have become a working voice actor (i.e. you have a professional demo and have a few clients) then moving on to this kind of coach is good. You'll get training from another point of view: and that's a very good thing.

Which leads me to...

You gotta roam

If you believe that you'll only need one voice coach to get your career going and then you're done studying, then you'd be wrong. Your voice acting career is always in a state of growth. Maybe you'll spend a year or two with one coach. Then maybe switch to another. And then another. And then another.

At the beginning stages you'll probably have lessons a few times a month, maybe even once a week (if you can afford it.) But once you reach full-time or maybe even part-time status, then your lessons will be less frequent.

Maybe after focusing on commercial reads you'll want to focus on audiobooks or corporate narration or even animation. Studying with a voice coach who specializes in specific areas is a very good thing indeed.

What's next?

Good question. And just like I said at the end of part 1, your comments and emails will help me decide!

Something every beginner should know

David Radtke — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 23:12:58 +0000

Ira Glass of This American Life is no stranger to the trials and tribulations of being a person driven by creative ambitions. In this video, Ira shares some extremely profound advice for beginners to any creative field. It doesn't matter if you're an up-and-coming writer, designer, musician, actor, or voice actor, these words will hit home.

Check out the program's website at:
This American Life

Choosing a voice coach – part 1

David Radtke — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 10:35:58 +0000

Okay. So, you've made the decision to really try out this whole "voice acting" thingy. You've read some really good books on voice acting and maybe even listened to a voice over seminar / webinar or two. But now you feel it's time to take the plunge; to dive in deep. That is to say: start taking lessons from a really good voice acting coach.

"But who should I choose as my voice coach?"

To many, that question is difficult to answer. That's why in this post (and others to follow) I'll endeavor to take as much of the confusion as possible out of the selection process. (And at the end of this post, I'll show you a cool video about teachers, too.)

Class is in session. Let's begin...

In-person or Skype lessons

Your first choice should be whether you want to have in-person lessons or telephone/Skype lessons. For some, this question is really easy to answer: I live in the middle of nowhere so I don't have a choice. There aren't any voice acting coaches around me!

Whatever your case may be, keep these thoughts in mind:

If you're a shy person or just lack the necessary confidence at this stage, then a voice-only Skype lesson might be the best for you.
It is good if your coach can see you to check your distance from the mic, how you move when you read, etc., so at some point in-person lessons or video Skype lessons are beneficial.
In-person or video Skype lessons allow you to see how your coach performs. This makes learning easier and helps remove your own shyness (when you see how ridiculous your coach looks when performing, it makes you feel better about being ridiculous yourself. )
Some studios offer group lessons. These can be good because you get the chance to interact with others and get ideas from the other students. These can also be a little cheaper, which is good for those who are still a little unsure about entering into voice acting full throttle.

What kind of lessons work for you?

In general, there are a two basic types of voice acting lessons that I've seen. I call them structured and on the job. Each has their pros and cons. One thing to remember is that the style that works best for you may be horrible for someone else and visa-versa.

Structured lessons

Do you like a structured curriculum with detailed homework or practice drills? If so, then structured lessons may be best for you. Some coaches have created their own progressive lesson plans that take the beginning student through the voice acting skill set. You'll work on each stage individually until you have a good grasp of that particular lesson before moving on.

Some people love these kinds of lessons because of the feeling of accomplishment after completing a particular section. Others find it too restrictive.

Here's what I like about structured lessons:

These kinds of lessons usually give the beginning student a solid foundation of the basic skills needed in voice acting. The structure helps to keep you focused.

Here's what I don't like about structured lessons:

Some coaches might not take great care in making sure you've mastered each skill. The coach might just teach you one skill per lesson and then move on to the next. Be careful.

"On the job" lessons

Are you the kind of student who learns best from just jumping right into the deep end? If so, then on the job lessons may be best for you (NOTE: I call them "on the job" lessons. But others may call them by a completely different name.)

So what are on the job lessons anyway? Well, some coaches don't have any real lesson plan (and there's nothing wrong with that.) Instead, they teach you just like you were doing a real voice over job. You choose a script that you want to work on and your coach directs your performance. When you have problems performing the script, the coach stops working in "director mode" and teaches you the particular skill you're having problems with.

Here's what I like about on the job lessons:

If your coach is good then you really will know exactly what it's like working on a voice over job. This way, when you finally land your first gig there will be no surprises.

Here's what I don't like about on the job lessons:

Unfortunately, they might be challenging or even disheartening for the extreme beginner. There might also be holes in what you learn as time goes by. It's up to you, then, to keep track of what you've done during the lessons and what you still would like to do. Make sure to tell your coach what you've been working on together and ask for your coaches opinion on what you should work on next.

What's in part 2?

Truth be told, I haven't decided yet. I have two ideas already but I'm waiting to get some feedback from you on how to progress. I'm definitely going to talk about what makes a good coach, finding the right coach for you, and what to avoid or, in some situations, postpone. Lastly, I'll put up a link or two point you to listings of well-known, qualified voice acting coaches.

'Till then!

How to do voice acting without getting caught!

David Radtke — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 03:06:36 +0000

A while back I stumbled across this excellent audio seminar by voice coach extraordinaire Nancy Wolfson (the audio is brought to you by voice actor Dan O'Day) titled How to do voice acting without getting caught! It's probably one of the most eye-opening seminars I've ever listened to. In it you learn exactly how to not sound like you're selling something. Instead, the vital skills needed to put the sound of truth, honesty, and believability in your words (plus a whole lot more ) are taught.

The 2-hour 45-minute audio seminar isn't free, however. But hey, the only way to become successful is by investing in your eduction right now, right? And in my opinion, investing in anything Nancy Wolfson teaches is a good deal.

Check it out:
How to do voice acting without getting caught!