4 Tricks to Launching a Voice-Over Career
by Dan Levine
4 Tricks to Launching a Voice-Over Career
About the author
Whether the economic recession is really coming to an end or not, businesses are still feeling the pinch. While some employees are watching their co-workers get laid off, others are re-evaluating their prospects and looking for a better, more enjoyable career. Today, people are turning to voiceover work as a creative and fun form of employment for a few reasons. Some have been told their whole lives they "should do something" with their voice. Others are attracted to voice-overs for the convenience of working from home. And yet, other more entrepreneur-minded individuals see the voiceover industry expanding all around them -- to virtual tours, kids video games, audio books, e-learning programs, corporate narrations, etc., and they want to get in on the multi-billion dollar industry.
There is plenty of voiceover work for trained talent, but many people try to enter the wrong way -- without any training. Follow these fail-proof techniques to get your name (and voice) out there!
1. Pre-train. Find out all you can about voiceover training programs around the country. Assess what the company says they'll give you and how they're going to deliver on those promises. If a company is afraid to offer any free training resources, they're probably not a good choice. In addition, choose a training program that will provide a network quality
voice-over demo after training. This is your business card in the industry, and you won't succeed without one. If it's not high quality, it won't do you any good. It also helps to have group and one-on-one training. Look up who the teachers are. It speaks volumes if the teachers actually went through the program themselves. They are living proof that they were a success on the same training that you'll get.
2. Train. Prove your commitment to yourself and invest in a voiceover training package. However good your natural voice sounds, the voiceover technique training, studio etiquette, and marketing skills are unique to this industry, and knowing the groundwork will make you look like a professional early on. After all, you wouldn't make a career move from a banker to a chef without getting culinary training just because your friends like your food
3. Stick to a schedule. After your voice-over training, it'll probably take a few weeks until you receive your mastered demo. Take this time to look at your schedule and write down the hours you are going to dedicate to your voice-over business, either on a daily or weekly basis. While you wait for your demo, take the time to create your brand, order your business cards, and develop your website. Keep a list of potential industry contacts that you can target once you have your demo to send them. Don't say, "I don't have time to do this." Instead say, "I can create extra time in my day by being more efficient in these ways," or, "I will have more time if I get up one hour earlier." Remember: you'll make time for something you really want.
4. Shrug off the rejects. This industry is tough, but you have to be tougher! After an audition, don't wait around for the phone to ring. If you get the spot, someone will contact you. If you don't get a phone call, then someone else was better suited for the job. Don't take it personally. Especially in the beginning, it is completely normal to get 1 gig for every 75
voiceover auditions. Stay positive, and recognize these early auditions as great practice.
For more details, visit:
www.suchavoice.com
