Ok, now if you've read any of my blogs or know me then you'll know that I'm a nice guy, so this blog isn't going to be quite as scathing as you might expect from the title...
...however...
...being a full-time voiceover, and having recently had several newcomers to the industry ask me about getting involved, as well as catching up and talking all things VO with my wonderful accountability group; I've been thinking a lot about the realities of getting into voiceover now, and just how tricky the barrier to entry can be.
So without further ado, let's look at the harsh realities of being a voiceover in this modern day (and don't worry, I'm going to end each section on a positive note!)

Money
Now we'll start with the big ones, and boy is money a big one. But we're also going to include something else in this category that is intrinsically linked to money, and that's time.
There are plenty of people who say 'You don't need any money to get started in voiceover.'
And I hate to say this, but that is a lie. Even if you decide not to buy any recording equipment, and focus solely on training, most, if not all of those decent training and coaching facilities, are going to cost you money. The likes of Gravy for the Brain and VO Star, are monthly subscriptions, but luckily very affordable for those starting out. Voiceover coaches range in price but realistically you're looking at anything from £50 to £250 a session, (and I'd advise you to go for the best you can afford). And then of course the myriad courses in any specific areas, like audiobooks, animation or even commercial reads, can be very expensive; and although the value you may gain from them could propel your career, they can also leave you wondering, where do I go from here?
And then you have the audio equipment. Of course, you can buy cheap, and of course, you can save money in places, but in an over-saturated and competitive business, you have to bear in mind that if you're auditioning on a USB microphone, against people using a U87, you're wasting your time and money, both of which are precious.
And that brings us nicely to something that I think is far more important than the money aspect, and that's the time aspect. Some people are fortunate, they have saved enough money to go freelance, bought all their audio kit and are rearing to go, but others, like myself, had to start part-time, keeping another job on the evenings and weekends to ensure I could pay my rent; giving myself the time during the day to work on building my business.
Don't get me wrong, that was hard graft, but this is probably the most important aspect of getting started in VO nowadays - the symbiosis of time and money needs to be proportional for you to dedicate enough time to voiceover practice, coaching and auditioning, as well as keeping money coming in to ensure you can survive, and ultimately learn your craft.
Ok, now here is the positive bit: there are two things I would recommend for anyone getting started, the first is to talk to your friendly local neighbourhood VO. Find a voiceover you either know or want to discuss the business with and ask them for help. This won't cost you and might only take up an hour of your time. Second, is to go on youtube, or online, and watch and listen to as many free things as you can Listen to podcasts about the work, listen to audiobooks and recognise the styles, listen to commercials and practice the reads. This work is invaluable, and although it takes up your time, it won't take up, too much, of your money.
A.I.
Well, A.I is here, and there's no point burying our heads in the sand about it, so we may as well face up to the reality. I know plenty of people who are already affected by it. A lot of non-fiction work, e-learning work and even the occasional commercial seems to be going to A.I.
However, for as many jobs that seem to be going that way, just as many people are getting in touch, and informing me that they hate the A.I voice their using and they want it replaced - and what is the common thread between all these complaints?
'The A.I just...doesn't sound human enough.'
Yeah! No shit Sherlock...that's because it's not.
So, voice-overs come to the rescue. But what does this mean for people trying to get involved in voice-over now? Well, the truth is, you have to be even more authentic, even more unique and even more yourself in audio. Having an acting background will always help, but when competing with A.I, a lot of corporate work that perhaps might have been more formulaic or conventional, well that's gonna have to be brought to life in a real, personable and authentic way.
The good news is, that a lot of wonderful people out there, want to work with other wonderful people, and they aren't interested in losing that connection and throwing the way they work out the window. So even if you are just getting started, build those relationships, and hold on to them.
Agents
The truth is, there probably is plenty of work for everyone who wants to be a voiceover, how they source that work and how we continue to offer it is another thing. But when thinking about agents, I think we have to admit it's a pretty over-subscribed part of the voice-over world.
Maybe I'm wrong, and I am always happy to be wrong.
But when thinking about agents I like to break them down into two groups and think about one very specific thing. The two groups are:
1) The big boys and girls - there is a group of agents who represent very famous clients and predominantly only take on acting talent who have either trained as actors or are working alongside their voice work as an actor. Of course, many represent talent who are just proven voice-overs as well, but aren't likely to take on newcomers unless you fit into my very specific thing - more on that in a second.
2) The rest of the agents - that's right, everyone else, and there are some wonderful voice agents out there, comprise the remainder of the talent. Perhaps people who haven't trained as actors but have a natural aptitude for voice-over, perhaps people who have a unique sound, or perhaps new agents who are looking to build a roster of talented individuals.
Depending on where you are depends on who you should apply to and what to seek out. Now, the very specific thing is this - if you don't have a different sound, voice, accent or ability to present to them, agents are unlikely to take you on. Why? Because they can't sell two of you and degrade the work of one client for another. So, find what makes you unique.
So is there any point in even applying for agents as a newcomer?
Yes! (This is the positive bit) of course there is! It may be harsh, and you may never hear back, but you might also find an agent who loves your sound and wants to work with you, whether they are new or old. So when you're ready, despite all the competition, do some research and go for it!

Studio Space
When getting started in voiceover, you're going to need a space to record...eventually. And in an age of purpose-built studio bricks booths or whisper rooms or even great under-the-stairs cupboards that have been converted, finding a space to use can be difficult.
Not only do you need to exclude all the extraneous noises coming from those pesky neighbours or traffic outside, but you also need to deaden the sound to remove those reverberations and make sure you have nice clean audio to present to potential clients.
Once again money and time can play a big role in this aspect. But the good news is, even a corner of a room, with a duvet and laptop can be a recording studio. We all know plenty of people who have managed to record from hotel rooms or random cupboards while on holiday, so don't be discouraged too much by this point. Start off with what you have, and then work your way up.
Business Maintenance
I don't think enough people talk about this aspect when getting into voice-over, and it's probably one of the hardest parts. If you have no business acumen or have never even wanted to know about a CRM, then learning to run a business (albeit a solo business) is a big leap forward.
Social Media, Marketing, Website building & updates, online profiles and rosters, accounting, record keeping and, of course, client management. All these things have to be done by you, in line with all your actual recording and voice work.
And then there is the technical side of the voice work as well, such as operating your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) and learning to use it if you've never done so before. I tried explaining how my DAW works to someone who recently asked me about getting into VO, and I must admit, I struggled, not because I didn't know, but because I didn't know where to start!
Depending on your experience leading up to becoming a voice-over, these things can be either a mild annoyance or a massive hill to climb. So bear this in mind when getting started, you're going to need to dedicate some time to learning how to run your business, and deciding how you want to run it your way.
The good news is, the internet is awash with tutorials, business books and helpful tips and tricks for how to streamline this work, and there are also some wonderful resources out there from other VO's who very kindly charge you to pass on all their wonderful business knowledge. Just make sure you go with a trusted source for these.
The Love of Voiceover
Now, this isn't really an obstacle or a harsh reality, but I do think it's something you should think about when getting started. Sure, I have my bad days and my good days. Some days, my voice feels so overused all I want to do is sit in a dark room and not say another word; but I really love my job. The feeling you get when you do a live session and the client says 'That's perfect, that's exactly what we want,' I love that feeling. Finding the right tone for a project and delivering a great VO... that's my jam.
I don't think I would have been able to continue trying hard to build a business, to sell myself, to constantly keep reinvesting the money I earned back into new equipment, new demos, and new training; if I hadn't loved it more than any job I've ever done.
I think a lot of people are attracted to the idea of voice-over, to working for themselves, to putting on funny voices, to supposedly earning incredible money (which I'll admit some VO's do). And all of those things are great, but really, what I think you have to love, to be attracted to, is the craft, the art of telling a story, of communicating a message, and of finding a way to convince people listening that you are the best person to say these words.
It's not always easy, but (and here's the positive) if you can make it work, then it's worth all the harsh realities and obstacles that it can throw at you.
Getting started in VO, then don't hesitate to reach out, and good luck.
Signing out
SBVO.
Comments