Getting voiceover work

Cafe Society
1

So people keep telling me that I have “good pipes,” a good voice, an announcer’s voice, and that I should be doing voiceovers or acting or something.

So I tried a few times to “break into” that business, but I think you have to “know somebody” to do that.

I’ve gone to lots of sites which talk about that kind of work, but most of them seem hokey or want you to sign up for something expensive.

Also, I obviously don’t know anything about the business, so don’t know what to ask or to whom.

Can anyone lend some advice as to a legitimate place to present myself as a person who might have a naturally good voice and wants to get work doing it?

I took some voice instruction last year (singing) and my voice instructor kept praising it, but she’s a singing and musical instructor, and didn’t seem to have any job leads.

My best current example of my voice is here:
http://www.tsishow.com/2009/03/billing-support.html

I’m the voice prompter on the call.

A very “dry” example is here:
<<link removed>>

I’m the voiceover narration, but that’s a dry and technical subject, and I’m only speaking in a way that is understandable, not exciting or fun.
It’s possible that building an online portfolio may be a bonus here. I know how to make photographic portfolios, I don’t know how to do an audio one. With photographs, I could go and take landscape photos, product photos, portraits, etc., and post them in a portfolio. How would one do this for voice work? I wouldn’t want to go read the dictionary, and have my portfolio be “A,” “B,” “C,” etc.
Advice leading me towards a career in voiceover work, acting, or at least towards part-time work would be much appreciated. Thanks!

2

You could try this site for starters:

http://www.voiceoverresourceguide.com/la/index.html

3

I’ve used internetjock.com a couple of times when I’ve needed quick, inexpensive voiceovers. I don’t know how it works on the talent side, but it seems like a way to set up an online portfolio of sorts.

To set up your portfolio, I’d check around with local bands and see if any of them have home studios. Maybe they could help you do a few demos to show what you can do (script it yourself using a formula subject–banking, cars, salons, etc). Offer to pay them a little bit or do something in trade for them.

Dunno if this is the best way to go about it, but it’s my two cents…

4

Knowing how people who need voiceoverwork get voiceoverwork is interesting info, thanks.

I can do the physical recordings, I just didn’t know what kind of stuff to record. Reading a book - what book? Reading a script - who’s script? Are you suggesting to write my own script, like, “Bank with us for your best mortgage rates,” or whatever on my own? Just curious :slight_smile:
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5

Just subscribing to this thread, because I am also interested in getting into voice-overs. But don’t woryy, I’m a woman and in the netherlands, so co competition. :slight_smile:

FWIW: i do think you have a good voice for this kind of work. And audio tecnicians can do a lot to make your voice sound even better.

I already did a bunch of announcements for local shops, musea etc.
I got into it throught a guy I knew who made such advertisements, jingle’s etcetera. I was his go-to voice for a while. They advertise to get clients; you might want to call them and say you’ll help them out for free to get experience and a “portfolio” .
When I did it, it didn’t pay well; I got a couple of gift gertificates out of it, that’s all. But was fun though.

Most voice over actors now have a home studio where they record themselves, then send the sound files to the editor. If he dislikes it, record it again, etcetera. I used my boyfriend’s old audio installation he still has from back in the days when he was in a band. It helps that he is handy in setting up the installation to record digitally.

6

Yes, that’s pretty much the idea. My demos have a few things I haven’t written, but I have adapted, mostly from print items and ad copy. These have allowed me to demonstrate my “voices,” which could be (for example) a hard-sell Billy Mays-type voice, a calm narrative voice such as you might have on a documentary film, or a funny “cartoony” voice that might be used in a humorous radio ad. It can be easier to adapt something existing than to draft something from scratch, but either way, you need to find something that can showcase your voice or voices as best as possible. If you find that nothing suitable exists, make it exist.

Other tips: Keep items short–my demos run about 90 to 120 seconds each, and each has about five or six different items on them. I’d also recommend (if you don’t have the equipment) to have a professional do the final mixing and edits. He or she can get any sound effects, background music, etc. in there behind you, and can make you sound like a professional–even if you aren’t one yet.

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Well I think I sound more like a Moviephone Guy or a Tour Guide or a Voice Prompter guy, so maybe I’ll write up some scripts like that and read them.

For equipment at home, I’ll be using the same microphone I use to record the TV show. It’s a lapel mic, but I find I get the best results if I put the wind cancelling thing on it, and set it on the dresser in front of me. I record in the bedroom, because there’s no electronics, and no echo, and it’s a quiet room. If I were to ever feel echo, tossing a blanket over my head cancels it out and we’re set.

As far as background music, I’ve been using Songsmith, then modulating the volume in Audacity. Had pretty good luck with it so far. It’s also what I use for the music on the TV show.

8

Nothing like high-tech! :smiley:

Sounds like you have the situation well in hand. Just get/draft/adapt some existing stuff to read, and off you go. Good luck!

9

I’m a professional actor working in Toronto. So, our situation may be different than where you’re living, but here’s what I know.

In theory, Voice talent is hired just like on-screen talent. A studio/production company hires a casting agent, who posts the notice to talent agents, who submit demo tapes and resumes, and the casting agent then picks which talent they want to bring in for an audition.

In practice, the casting agents that handle most of the voice work already have the demos from most of the voice over actors, and they frequently contact agents directly without going through formal audition processes.

Another factor is the union. In Toronto, the vast majority of professional Voice work is union, and (unlike a lot of film & TV production) they seldom even look outside the union for anything. Even union apprentices are seldom seen.

So, my advice would be to put together a demo tape, consisting of several voice-types (if you can do character voices, accents and any other vocal tricks be sure to showcase them) and using different type of mock-scripts. Do commercials, animation voice work, documentary narration and radio spots. Use the tape (which is probably a CD these days) to get an agent. The best way to get an agent is to find someone who already has an agent, and ask for a referral. Let the agent find you the work. It may take a while, and be prepared to pay for union work permits on a lot of the gigs you do land.

Like I say, it may be different in your neck o’ the woods.

thanks,
thwartme

10

May I piggyback a related question? I’m in the same position as SeanArenas, with two twists: I live in a very rural area (nearest city with a 6-digit population over an hour away; population density in my county 3 dwellings per square mile), and I’ve already been asked for demos.

How much do I charge? A couple of radio stations are interested in having me cut some ads for them, and I’ve spoken to a TV station about some VO work. All three places asked me to include my standard rates with the demo–they wouldn’t tell me what they normally pay.

I can make demos easily enough (a friend owns a radio station and he’d help me in his studio), but I have absolutely no clue what to bid.

11

It’s pretty easy to find industry-standard rates (union rates) on line.

I just googled and found this link to Screen Actor’s Guild rates for commercials:

For Voice work, you’d want to look at off-camera rates for principal performers, and then base your pricing on that. Maybe, as you’re new and trying to break into the business you want to undercut the union rate a bit. Or, maybe you’re awesome and the only game in town and you want to charge more. But the SAG rates might be good as a starting point.

A pretty common practice is “The Buyout”. Performers normally get residuals if their work is used multiple times. For example, if you shot a commercial that got used for a 13 week run, you’d get paid the standard rate, but if it got used beyond that 13 weeks, you’d get additional compensation. Rather than track exact times, and keep in touch with everyone, a lot of production companies offer to buy out the residuals, by paying a premium up front. So, you do the spot, you get paid whatever amount, and then you get an additional premium (say 50% of the original contract value) on top in lieu of potential residuals.

Thanks
thwartme

12

One of you jokers thinks he’s funny. Someone posted a comment on my narrated video (which is for my day-job) saying that the announcer is emotionless and we need a new one, and to call you to have you be our new one. Gave your phone number, too. Wonder who this was?

That’s my day-job, not cool to do stuff that my bosses can see like that.

Moderators - can someone please remove the second link only in my OP, the one called a very “dry” example? The first one can stay, I don’t care what comments get put there. Thanks!

13

That is seriously tacky. Try calling the phone number.

I’d like to know who it was, too. We don’t need that kind of people on SDMB.

14

No kidding! I hope it was a bad attempt at a joke…at least there wouldn’t be any malice in that. Ugh.

And Spoons covered what I was going to say in response to your question–use existing ads and such to show some examples of what you can do.

Let us know how this goes!