VOICEOVER. Should I try to break into voice work?
by Dennis Sakamoto
Voice-over work is one of those things that seems easy, but is a craft entirely unto itself. Perhaps you're interested in broadening your acting portfolio to include voice-over. Perhaps you're new to the business, but have been told "you have a great radio voice." I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you about my time behind the microphone as it's related to my acting career, and share with you some of the lessons I've learned.
Over the years, I've recorded voice for industrials, commercials, and have done a lot of Audio Dialogue Replacement (ADR.) My work includes voice-overs for industrials such as the entire line of Mazda cars for two years, and Bank of America. I've done radio spots and also had by voice lifted from on-camera commercials and turned into radio ads with me simply adding and changing the last "tag line."
I've also done a lot of Audio Dialogue Replacement (ADR), particularly replacing price change lines in commercials already running on TV. This is basically where I watched myself on screen in a recording studio and "dubbed in" the new line. (There is also dialogue in films that has been replaced due to sound problems).
All of this voice work paid well. So why not break into this type of work, especially if I am not getting enough on-camera work? Everyone says I have got a great or interesting voice. Though I did limited effort and work in the voice field, I can bring up two major considerations before you try to break into this lucrative line of acting work.
FACTOR ONE: KNOWING YOUR VOICE
The first minute of your audio demo tape is critical. Therefore, you have to learn how to do voice work and what type of work it is to suit your particular voice quality. Are you an Announcer? Cartoon Voice? Dubbing? What is your voice?
FACTOR TWO: YOUR MONEY
It is very expensive and difficult to market yourself in the voice area. In addition to a headshot and resume like all other talent, you will also need a demo tape or CD.
After putting together the material and choices for a top quality audio demo tape/CD, you then have to record it in a good studio. This costs money. Because this field is so limited, your demo tape will have to compete against some of the best or most established talent already in the business.
Not only that, most of the established voice talent will have cuts of former commercials on their demos. They managed to get them from former jobs. This means that their demo tapes have samples with full production values and music that have been successfully recorded and produced professionally.
Once you do have your voice demo tape/CD, you then have to get someone to listen to it. This means you have to make copies of the tapes/CDs and mail them or express ship them to many persons and places. This also costs a lot of money.
Thankfully, you or your talent agent can now submit demo reels via the internet to those casting and producing who will accept them in this format. For about the amount that you would spend on one overnight express shipping of your demo, you can send all the submissions of demos you wish during a year's time with the internet talent shipping services of a company like www.actorexpress.com, and it will arrive instantly.
This trend of the future is starting to happen now.
FACTOR THREE: THE CLIENT'S MONEY
The producers of voice work, just like all other producers, are concerned primarily with budget/money. How much recording studio time will this job cost?
The producers will "play safe" with whatever voice talent they can depend on to get the job done booking the shortest amount of studio time. This means that established and known voice talent book most of the jobs.
This makes breaking into voice work not impossible, but very very difficult. It takes a long time to establish yourself. It takes a lot of experience. It takes a well earned reputation to book a lot of work.
Having said all of this, I do not want to appear negative. There is also the untold value of networking — as you establish yourself, you get to meet the people who know the people who do the hiring. Things can and do happen. For instance, about four years ago, an executive for one of the biggest cable channels wanted to present a voice demo tape of me to the decision makers at the channel headquarters where he worked. It seems that the main voiceover person for the entire channel was retiring. It was a huge job both in time and in money.
This executive really liked my voice but I did not have a demo tape or CD. I was busy with other things. I did not take advantage of this inside audition offer. And I now regret my lack of action.
The lesson: if you are going to do something, do it. No one honest will ever tell you it will be easy. But if you put your time, energy, and money into creating a good demo package, you can get yourself out there in a time-and-cost-efficient manner using today's technology. |
