|
How To Start Your Voice Over Career, Part 1
If you have ever been told that you have a great voice, then you
may have thought of making use of that great voice in a
professional way, as a singer, announcer or as a voice over
talent. Voice over, or adding your voice to advertisements and
recorded messages, can be a very lucrative field for a trained
talent. If you would like to get the training necessary to
succeed as a voice over talent then here are a few steps to
take.
But first before I give the step-by-step guide to a career in
voice over, remember one thing: in the commercial world all
kinds of voices are needed: low voices, whiny voices, gravelly
voices, flat voices and even average voices. So, even if you
don't have a classic "good voice" you can enter the field if you
have determination. Here is what you should do.
1. Take Acting Classes:
Yes, take acting classes if you are in a major city. Find a
course and enroll in it. Why acting classes? You need to know
how to create the characters who "speak" in a commercial. Just
taking an animation class won't do it. You need to start the
process organically. It's not about the voice, yet, it's about
the intent beneath the voice that shapes the voice.
2. Take a Voice Over Class
After you've opened yourself up for three months in an acting
class, time to move into specifics with a voice over class. In
L.A., the best resource is http://www.voiceoverre
sourceguide.com. It lists all the studios as well as all the
classes in L.A. At the top are http://www.voicecaster.com
and http://www.kalmenson.com.
3. Start Practicing at Home
In addition to class, listen to any and every commercial on the
TV and radio. Mimic them. Pick up magazines and read aloud the
ad copy as though it were a commercial. Get so used to your
voice that silence sounds wrong.
4. Find Your Niche
Once you've gotten a handle on your instrument - your voice -
you need to know what your range is and, by association, what
your market is. Are you the classy BMW voice, the GenX hamburger
guy, the Don Pardo game show host? You could be all three and
more. Knowing all that you can do will help you with confidence
and direction when promoting yourself.
So, start studying, keep practicing and try to determine where
your voice would fit in best.
In the next article, I will discuss how to get your demo reel
ready and made, how to find an agent, and how to book the job.
About the author:
D.C. Douglas is a professional actor and voice over talent based
in Los Angeles, California. Visit his website at
http://www.myvoiceoverguy.com for more information.
D.C. Douglas
More Articles
Slogans: Creating and Using Them In Life, Career andBusiness - Catherine Franz
Information is coming at us from all directions nowadays. This pace requires us to demand that we receive it fast and predigested in order to inch ahead of the game. This also requires a new filing system method for storing the bites and bytes. In...
How To Build A Successful Freelance Editorial Career - Yuwanda Black
In the current job market, many editorial freelancers have turned to freelance work as a matter of survival. I receive many queries from applicants regarding this part of the market. Addressed here are the key building blocks necessary for a...
How to choose an online university degree program that will actually help your career - Hal McIver
Undoubtedly, an online degree can further your career
aspirations. However, choosing a program can be a confusing
process. One way of identifying a suitable program is to list
your goals and then go through the listed programs carefully to
see...
During midlife career change, do you jump or hold on? - Cathy Goodwin Ph D
Over the years, I have identified two kinds of midlife career changers: Jumpers and Clingers. Jumpers thrive on energy, enthusiasm and improbable luck. The last three times they leaped, a net appeared. They see no reason why the next jump should be...
10 Habits Assuring Career Self-Sabotage - John McKee The Business Success Coach
:::Expert's Classic "Fatal Flaws" of a Doomed Employee:::
You're fired! This succinct phrase strikes more fear into the
heart of the working man than any other. Why is it, then, that
many well-intentioned and reasonably astute professionals...
Career Education Strategy: Run Your Job Search Like a Business! - Paul Megan
Career Education Strategy: Your Job Search Is A Business Venture
If you learn only one career education strategy, it should be
this one: the employment market follows the same rules for
success as the business market.
This is a key...
Portrait of a Portfolio Career: An Answer to the “Perfect Job”? - Nina Ham
Copyright 2005 Success from the Inside Out
Do you cringe when you look at your resume through the eyes of a prospective employer, afraid the wide range of jobs listed will disqualify you? Or have you put together a single-track career record but...
How to Build A Success Freelance Career (Part 2) - Yuwanda Black
Part 1 of this article discussed the experience you need to successfully build a freelance career. Here, I will outline other necessities.
EQUIPMENT: Working from home means you must to have all the necessary equipment. Minimally, a phone,...
7 Ways to Network Your Way Out Of a Job and Into a Work At Home Career - Kim Rhodes
Everyday you can read articles about how people network and find
another job. You can find countless numbers of books and
articles on how to create relationships to find jobs that might
not otherwise be known. But what about people who don't want...
What's a Career Coach? Do I need one? - Deborah Walker
You may have noticed one of the latest trends in career management is to have your own career coach. It's not really a new concept. Executives have known for years the value of investing in the expertise of a career professional. You may still...
The 6 Stages of Modern Career Development - Michelle L Casto M Ed
Career experts say that people will change careers (not jobs) 5-7 times in a lifetime. This being true, career management is an important life skill to develop and cultivate. There are six stages of modern career development: Assessment,...
Is A Travel Nursing Career A Dream Come True? - Kevin Erickson
Deciding what job to pursue after college entails more brain cells that most activities. Unlike deciding on what car to buy or what clothes to wear, one must give the decision its due because it will effect your happiness and quality of life for the...
|
