Are you considering becoming a voice actor?

To get started in voice over, you must move beyond having a "good voice" and develop professional acting skills. The four essential steps are: 1. Talent Assessment with a reputable coach 2. Performance Training to master storytelling 3. Studio Setup for broadcast-quality audio 5. Business Strategy to navigate marketing and digital voice solutions. Most people think just a "good voice" is the way in. In reality, that’s the least important part of the job. A successful voice actor is, first and foremost, an actor. I’ve spent 30+ years in the booth, with a degree in acting, and I still learn something new every week. This isn't a natural skill; it’s a focused craft. Before you buy a microphone or pay $2,000 for a demo, you need to determine if you have the talent to tell a story. I'm not talking about doing impressions that make your friends laugh; it’s about engaging an audience and making them feel something. Your First Three Moves: Don't Buy Gear Yet: Your first investment should be in a coach who will tell you the truth about your potential. Here's a list voice over coaches I trust. Audit Your Psychology: Not every voice fits every genre. Read this blog to see where your personality aligns with the market. Get the Business Blueprint: Talent is the engine, but business is the fuel. Check out my [How-To Video Library] to see the realistic business side of the industry for less than $1 a day. Have more questions? Book a free consult and let's chat...

It's never too early or too late to start voice acting! Voices of all ages are always in demand, from babies to seniors. Regardless of your age, what really matters is getting quality voice over training from a professional coach. Have more questions? Book a free consult and let's chat...

No! All accents and voice types are welcome in the voice over industry. However, you need to be aware of current casting trends, as that changes frequently. For example, the classic "announcer" sound and "in a world" trailer voice has been out of fashion for over a decade. This is why you need a good voice over coach to help you find your sound. Have more questions? Book a free consult and let's chat...

Starting a career in the voice over industry is not cheap. Do not invest any significant amount of money into your new business until you are 100% sure that this the right vocation for you. Many folks have learned the hard way that they can't make a living at this. Determine if you have the talent to be an effective voice actor. Schedule a diagnostic with one of these amazing voiceover coaches. Even if you do have talent, talent is not enough. ​You need to be prepared to initially invest anywhere from $5,000-$20,000 in your new business. This includes performance training, demos, a home studio, a website, marketing materials, and more. Do not pay money to produce a demo with anyone who does not first offer you training, and I don't mean only four sessions. Lots of people want your money and will charge anywhere from $100-$4000 for a demo that will do nothing for you. Research every coach you consider and feel free to ask for my opinion. ​If you determine you have the talent, time, and resources to become a voice talent, keep a few things in mind: The voice over industry is not 'A Chorus Line' or 'American Idol'. You will not be “discovered”, get “lucky”, or be given “your big break”. It just doesn’t work that way. Those are external factors you have no control over. You control what truly counts: your training, your resources, your business plan, and your will to succeed. The voice over industry is a small, small world. Treat everyone kindly, as you don't know where your next gig may come from. And we all talk to each other… Figure out what success looks like for you. If you want to do voice overs for grocery money, that’s totally valid. If you want to voice major video games or be in a Pixar film, that’s awesome, but you need to do different things to achieve different types of success. Each person must follow a different path. There is no set way to become a professional voice actor. Have more questions? Book a free consult and let's chat...

Possibly! There are many factors to keep in mind, like where your auditions are coming from and if you can be available during office hours to sit in on a directed session. Most voice over work is self-directed and a common turnaround time is 48 hours. If you can do that, you're in! Have more questions? Book a free consult and let's chat...

The two main categories of voice over are Broadcast and Non-Broadcast. Broadcast genres include commercials, cartoons, promos, imaging, Public Service Announcements (PSA), and In-Show narration like documentaries and reality shows. Non-Broadcast genres include audio books, video games, eLearning, and much more. Have more questions? Book a free consult and let's chat...

That's an understandable concern. There are lots of incompetent and predatory voice over coaches & demo producers out there and it's difficult to vet them effectively. Here is a list of ethical, professional voice over coaches of different genres: https://www.voiceoverstrategist.com/blog/categories/coach-recommendations Have more questions? Book a free consult and let's chat...

DO NOT PRODUCE YOUR OWN DEMO!!! If you are just starting your voice over journey, producing your own demo is a terrible idea. Just because you can do some funny voices does not mean that you know how to tell a story with your voice. Voice acting is acting, not mimicry. Also, you need to learn your strengths & weaknesses on a vocal level, develop genre awareness & proficiency, and understand the art & science of self-direction. On top of all that, you need to learn breath control, mic placement, using your DAW, editing, mastering, EQ, and much, much more. Check out this list of vetted coaches and demo producers that I highly recommend. Have more questions? Book a free consult and let's chat...

Let's assume you have already gotten basic voice over training as well as genre training (which takes most people upwards of a year or more). To get effective demo training in a particular genre... The demo producer determines your genre strengths Together, you write about five or six scripts You get coached up narrating those scripts You have the demo recording session The finished voice over demo is sent to you This could take anywhere from two to six months. There are many variables so the experience is different for everyone. Have more questions? Book a free consult and let's chat...

There are a lot of things you need to line up to be ready to work with voice over clients. At a bare minimum you need: Voice over training from a professional coach At least one professionally produced voice over demo A dedicated voice over website A home recording studio A business plan A marketing strategy Have more questions? Book a free consult and let's chat...

I'm your Now What! My job is to help you become an effective voice over business. This includes helping you develop the right Systems of Thought and Systems of Execution. You need to think and execute like a business with a thoughtful, specific business plan and a cohesive marketing strategy. That way, you can create meaningful, long-lasting relationships with clients. That is what successful businesses do and by working with me, that is what you can be. Have more questions? Book a free consult and let's chat...

To build a quality home studio, you need a condenser microphone, an XLR interface, a pair of closed-back headphones, and a quiet, treated recording space. You do not need expensive gear initially; sound treatment is often more important than the microphone itself. DO NOT BUY ANY GEAR UNTIL YOU TALK TO A PROFESSIONAL VOICE OVER COACH!!! To learn more about building a home studio, check out these blog entries. Have more questions? Book a free consult and let's chat...

You don't need to break the bank on a starter microphone. In fact, how well you sound-proof your recording space is more important than your mic. Most new voice actors start with a less expensive mic that has a USB post, then eventually upgrade to a mic with an XLR port. There are some decent mics you can start with for less than $100, which you can check out here. Have more questions? Book a free consult and let's chat...

Yes! You need a Noise Floor of around -60 dB with no buzz or hum. There are many pre-built booths you can buy, but most new voice actors build their own recording space. Common builds include using a closet (that's what I have), building around a desk, using PVC pipe, sound blankets, acoustical foam, etc. Have more questions? Book a free consult and let's chat...

Most voice actors start with Audacity (because it's free) but I strongly recommend Adobe Audition. Read this blog entry I wrote to learn more. Have more questions? Book a free consult and let's chat...

Every genre of voice over has its own rate structure. That aside, there are two basic components of a voice over rate: the session fee and the usage fee. The session fee is how much a voice actor gets paid to record (and possibly edit) the audio files and deliver then to the client. The usage fee is how much a voice actor gets paid to license the delivered audio files. This is determined by the genre of voice over (commercial, audio book, video game, etc.) where the audio will be heard (local radio, Super Bowl TV spots, etc.) and how long the audio will be used for (one award show, six weeks, in perpetuity, etc.) Have more questions? Book a free consult and let's chat...

Voice actors find work through what I call "Portals". Portal connect voice actors to casting opportunities. They are: Representation (agents, managers, casting directors) Online Casting Sites (free and Pay-to-Play) Self Marketing (Direct & Indirect Marketing) Using any of these Portals effectively involves a steep learning curve and lots of trial & error. Have more questions? Book a free consult and let's chat...

If you are early in your voice over journey, don't worry about finding an agent any time soon! If you haven't booked any voice over work yet, you can't demonstrate to an agent that you can make them money. For the vast majority of voice actors, revenue generated from representation is a very small percentage of their voice over income. Most voice actors earn the bulk of the income from online casting sites and self-marketing strategies. To learn more about agents, managers, and casting directors, check out this blog I wrote. Have more questions? Book a free consult and let's chat...

In the voice over industry, "Pay-to-Play" (P2P) sites are online marketplaces where voice seekers post casting notices and voice actors submit auditions to those casting notices. Some require a subscription to submit auditions, while other can pay per audition submitted. Are they "worth it"? P2P sites are a highly controversial topic in the voice over industry. Many voice actors (like myself) have found great success with some P2P sites, other have tried them all and not booked a single gig, and yet others deem themselves morally superior to P2P sites without ever subscribing to one. In other words, your mileage will vary. Have more questions? Book a free consult and let's chat...

The two main ways to market yourself as a freelance voice actor is through Direct Marketing and Indirect Marketing strategies. Direct Marketing is when you actively market yourself. You build a list of potential clients and reach out to them, usually via an email. Indirect Marketing is when you passively market yourself. Common strategies include social media posts and blogging. Have more questions? Book a free consult and let's chat...

Fair question. The voice over industry is full of people who can teach you how to act, but very few who can show you how to build a sustainable business. Here’s what separates me from everyone else: I’m still in the trenches. I’m not a retired pro trading on a gig from 1998. I’m a full-time voice actor booking work right now. Whether it’s voicing Inspector Gadget, playing roles in Red Dead Redemption 1 & 2, or narrating a Danielle Steel audiobook, my credits are current. If I’m giving you advice, it’s because I’ve tested it in the booth this morning. The "Three Portals" perspective. Most coaches pick a side: "Only do Direct Marketing" or "P2P sites are for suckers." I don’t deal in extremes. As the VO Strategist, I teach you how to master all three revenue streams (Representation, Online Casting Sites, Self Marketing) to create a diversified portfolio that actually pays the rent. Data, not Vibes. I keep my finger on the pulse of the voice over industry by auditioning over 1,000 times a year across multiple platforms. I see the casting trends, the rate shifts, and the technical requirements in real-time. When I talk about AI, GEO, or digital voice solutions, it’s because I’m navigating those contracts and technologies every single day. Longevity. I’ve been coaching the business and marketing side of VO for nearly 15 years, longer than almost anyone in the industry. I’ve seen the fads come and go, and I know the difference between a hot tip and a long-term strategy. The bottom line? I’m not here to be your cheerleader; I’m here to be your Strategist. I focus on the "poopy grown-up stuff" (the business operations) so your creative spirit can shine.