Voice over artists perform the vocal component of a production. They are often unseen, but their work is critical to the success of a video or audio recording. A professional voice over artist has a unique ability to create a specific tone or emotion that a script requires, while also maintaining clarity and enunciation.
Unlike on-camera actors, voice over artists don’t need to worry about facial expressions or movements, which allows them to focus more on the sound of their own voice and how it can be used. There are a variety of different types of voice acting jobs, and many people find the flexibility of the industry appealing.
For example, a voice over artist might narrate a documentary or news broadcast, or they might record audio for an online course. They can even create the grunts and shouts required in some video games.
The career of a voice over actor can be very satisfying, but it takes dedication and a commitment to pursuing your talent, even when you aren’t getting much work. Having good relationships with clients and casting agents is also important, as is finding out how to promote yourself. Many successful voice over artists have a website where they share their tips and techniques with other professionals.
Whether it’s a commercial, radio promo, movie trailer, or phone message, every professional voice over artist needs to have an excellent understanding of how to best deliver the script they’ve been assigned. It’s also important for them to have the skills necessary to take direction and deliver clean, high-quality recordings. They must be able to make changes quickly, if needed, and they should know how to edit and tweak the audio file until it’s perfect.
It’s not uncommon for people to start their careers as voice over actors by focusing on one genre of projects. This helps them develop a portfolio and build up a list of credits, which they can then use to market themselves for other gigs. Once they’ve built up enough experience, it’s possible for them to book repeat work, or find other opportunities with the same client.
A voice over artist must be able to adapt their style for each project. For instance, a narration job will require a clear and steady reading voice, while a voice over for an online course may call for a more casual delivery that’s easier to understand. The same is true of a character in an animation, which will likely need to be softer and more relatable than the voice of a corporate spokesperson.
In some cases, a voice over artist will be a member of a union, such as the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (otherwise known as SAG-AFTRA). While this doesn’t guarantee that they’ll receive a lot of work, it does give them access to benefits such as health insurance, retirement savings plans, and representation. Depending on the type of work they do, it’s also possible for them to find other ways to secure consistent work, such as building their own websites and using marketing strategies like social media. voice over artists