A good voice is essential to any actor, but a successful career in voice over requires a suite of soft skills. Voice actors must have the flexibility to adapt to feedback from directors, dialogue editors, and recording engineers, and they should be comfortable working well outside their comfort zone. This requires a high level of concentration and a willingness to learn new skills. It’s also crucial that they have a strong work ethic, as auditioning for jobs can be exhausting and they will need to rest their voices often.
Voiceover artists bring scripts to life for visual media, radio, and other platforms. They could be seen in a studio but, more likely, they’re the voices you hear on TV or radio ads, in a documentary or film, in an audiobook, on an app, directing your Sat Nav or telling you when your train is due, or on a phone call.
The primary tools for a voiceover artist are a laptop, a microphone, and editing software. They may also need to create a demo reel, a collection of different snippets of their previous work that they can use for potential clients. This can be used to showcase a range of voices and styles.
Many voiceover artists have significant theatre, acting, or broadcasting experience and choose to make their living from this type of work. Others have no prior experience and are drawn to the flexible and portable nature of this profession. voiceover artists