Voice over artists use their voices to narrate audio content such as films, documentaries, TV commercials, and radio ads. They may also use their voice to give characters life in video games and animated movies. They can work with clients on a freelance basis and often have the flexibility to choose their own projects and schedules. They must be able to read well, and have a pleasant, natural sounding voice. This career often requires a lot of self-promotion and networking. Some successful voice over artists make a living solely from this career, while others combine it with other performance jobs or other forms of income.
While many people think they need a deep, masculine or feminine voice to become a voice over artist, it’s actually possible for nearly anyone with a natural speaking voice to find a VO job. Some voice over actors have been trained in acting classes, while others take vocal training that focuses on improving their ability to create different tones with their voice. They may also spend time in a recording studio working on their skills and developing a consistent tone that they can deliver every time.
Being a voice over artist often involves traveling between clients’ locations for recording sessions. For this reason, it’s important for voice over artists to have a quiet space that they can use as their own recording studio. It should be soundproofed to eliminate outside noises that could get picked up by the microphone. It should also have plenty of room to accommodate the microphone and a computer with a recording program, which is used to edit and produce the final audio clip.
Creating a professional portfolio of work is critical for voice over artists to attract potential clients. A good demo reel shows that the speaker has a range of talents and can adapt to various projects. It’s also a good idea to have a demo in several languages, as this will open up more opportunities for work abroad.
A good voice over artist can capture the audience’s attention and evoke emotion with their voice. They can convey a sense of urgency, excitement, or even humor. They can also show a wide range of emotions, from sadness to happiness. This is particularly important in film trailers, where the voice of a particular actor can influence moviegoers’ decisions about which film to see at the theater.
Some voice over artists prefer to work with casting agents, who can help them find and audition for gigs. They may also seek out recurring jobs with specific clients, such as voicing an animation character for a company that makes video games or animated television shows. This form of steady, repeat work can provide a degree of security to the career that is sometimes lacking in other forms of acting. However, it’s important for a new voice over artist to understand that finding and landing recurring jobs is typically more difficult than finding one-time gigs. voice over artists