As a professional working Actor and Voice Artist, I am often asked –

How do I get started?

Available here is my structured and considered answer, enjoy!

Below are some excerpts from my ebook

Reading
It might sound apparent, that you need to be able to read well if you’re going to be a Voice Over Actor, but I have coached many wonderful Actors in a recording studio, only to find they can’t read well – they suffer from reading difficulties or have sight problems – they cannot take the words off the page easily.
 

The commercial Voice Over industry doesn’t frequently make concessions for people who can’t read well or who need to learn their lines prior to a job.
 

When you are employed to perform a Voice Over, you are usually handed your script about 5 minutes prior to the Sound Engineer pressing the ‘record’ button, and asking, “can you give me one for levels please?” The luxury of learning your lines a few days prior is rarely available to the Voice Actor. This is because, often the script hasn’t even been finalised by the time you walk into the studio to record it. Sometimes, the Client and Director will make changes during the session as it’s the first time they’ve heard their script performed, and it needs tweaking.
 

You’re also not given your script in advance so that you are ‘blank canvas’ – you haven’t developed a set character or back story yet. The Director will have to work hard to change your mind set and performance, if the one you’ve been rehearsing at home is not what they want. Remember, recording studios charge by the hour. So a Client will employ you again if you have given them what they want in a timely way. You will have saved them studio time (and money).

If your eye-sight is a problem, that’s simple – see your Optometrist and get glasses.

Script Analysis

Your basic 123s
There are a couple of statements or “utterings” you will hear from a Director at least once in your career as a Voice Actor. They are:
“No, I want something a little bit....umm.....similar but different.”
“Yes, you’ve almost got what I want, you're close but not quite”
“Give me a few versions/variations/styles/takes”
 

These statements mean that the Director isn’t going to give you clear direction or doesn't know how to. It will be up to you to engage your creativity, to change your 123s until the Director says “Yes, that’s just what I want.”
 

You are an Actor, and it is what you are paid to do. Using the 123 method is the best way I know how.....
1 - Who is my Audience - who am I talking to?

2 - What is the back story - who are we and where are we?

3 - Who is my chatacter or who are the other characters in my script?

Plus intricate details of these basic 123's....plus much more from my years of experience;

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Reading ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5
Listening ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Nerves .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Accessing a recording facility ................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Booking a Professional Recording Studio ...................................................................................................................................... 7
Local COMMUNITY Radio Stations.................................................................................................................................................... 8
Home-based Recording Studios ......................................................................................................................................................... 8
Before you arrive at the Studio... ........................................................................................................................................................ 9
The Thought Exercise .............................................................................................................................................................................. 9
The Breathing Exercise ........................................................................................................................................................................... 9
The Focussing Exercise........................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Enunciation Practise ............................................................................................................................................................................. 10
Preparation Tips ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 11
If you have a cold or flu and your voice has changed............................................................................................................. 12
Now you’ve booked a session - it is time to plan your Demo. ................................................................................................. 12
The Construction of your Demo ...................................................................................................................................................... 12
Recognizing Your Niche ...................................................................................................................................................................... 12
General Categories of Voice Overs ................................................................................................................................................. 13
Your 123s ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Orchestration and Facial Expression ............................................................................................................................................ 16
Timeliness .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 17
Studio Etiquette ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 19
The Sound Booth..................................................................................................................................................................................... 20
Mistakes and ‘Pick-Ups’ ....................................................................................................................................................................... 22
The Next Step ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 22
Your Expectations ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Once your demo is complete..... ............................................................................................................................................................. 23
Acquire Representation....................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Operate Independently ........................................................................................................................................................................ 23
Script Examples ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 23
10 Key Points to remember.... ................................................................................................................................................................ 28

Limit of Liability ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 28

Years of expertise wrapped up in one eBook - Yours for $49.95