Q: What is Voiceover?
A: Often called the "Theater of the Mind", Voiceover is acting with your
voice, really "working" the words and phrases. When you hear commercials on the
radio or on TV... listen to the narrator of a cartoon story or film
documentary... learn routine information while "on hold"... play CD games... or
use high-tech toys... you are listening to Voiceover. It's just about
everywhere, from "in yo face" to "in the background". And the folks that read
and record the written scripts are called Voiceover Artists.
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Q: Do I have to be an
actor to do Voiceovers?
A: Surprisingly, many people in the business have never been on a
stage or in front of a camera. As voice talent, your job is to use your voice
and your imagination to breathe life into the client's script. In today's world
of real people casting, you may actually be a dentist, a mechanic, a waitress, a
student, a young kid or senior citizen. And yes, a theatrical background is
still a valuable asset, though not required.
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Q: How long does it
take to learn?
A: That depends on how long have you been working on your voice so far. Have
you ever been a singer or dramatic actor? Those with previous training and
experience can be ready to go into the studio and make their demo within a week.
Newcomers should spend a little more time. The more time you spend with my home
study course "The Voice Package", reading from the scripts, listening to the
tapes, and practicing what you learn, the sooner you'll be ready to record a
demo tape that will get you noticed and really get you jobs.
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Q: Do I need a
great voice?
A: Relax, be yourself. There is no one voice. Agencies may be
looking for a woman who can do a child's voice or a man with a deep voice like
James Earl Jones. Often they don't know exactly what they want until they hear
it. People who have a wide range of styles do well. It all comes down to being
consistent and creative. Agents are always looking for new voices that have a
certain attitude or style that gets the listener's attention.
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Q: Who should do
Voiceover?
A: If people often say you have a good voice...they're probably
right. You should be someone who is comfortable meeting and working with new
people. Your phone and answering machine are very important. When you enter the
world of Voiceover, you'll be making phone calls, sending out tapes, photos and
resumes, and going out on auditions and to recording sessions. And as long as
you can draw a breath, you can draw a paycheck.
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Q: How much money can
I make?
A: Some big name celebrities earn as much as $1 million or more for
just one campaign. But until then...most lesser known voiceover artists earn
between $50,000 and $80,000 a year, many with six-figure incomes. Individually
most local radio and TV spots pay about $300 to $600 each for :30 sec. and :60
sec. copy. Corporate or Industrial narrations pay $500 and up. Regional and
national spots pay from $2,000 to $10,000 and up. The goal is to score on a
regular basis and produce a comfortable income stream from the residuals paid to
you each time a commercial or program airs another 13 weeks. And if you treat
your clients and associates like the gold they really are, you will get much of
your business from repeats and referrals
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Q: What if I don't
live in New York or Hollywood?
A: As long as there is a recording studio in your area, you'll be
fine. These days it doesn't really matter where you live. It's nice if you're
fairly close to a radio or television station. You may want to start your career
in Radio as a DJ or on Television as a Station Announcer. As a freelance
Voice-Over Artist, you often record in a nearby studio for clients that are not
even located in your area. They will typically fax or email you the script and
direct you via a "phone patch" into the studio. Then, when you're done, you can
overnight mail the tape or CD. In many cases you can even ftp the finished audio
files or email them as attachments.
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Q: Will I just be doing
commercials?
A: While commercials usually make the most money, you won't
necessarily make most of your money doing just commercials. There are lots of
great paying jobs doing corporate narration, documentary, news, straight and
character voices for cartoons, books on tape, On-Hold messages, musical jingles,
CDs and the rapidly expanding interactive entertainment industry. Female, Youth,
and Ethnic markets are opening up fast. In fact, there's more work now than ever
before.
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Q: Where do I go from
here?
A: Be sure to prepare yourself for this new business you are
entering. You need to create an impressive demo tape that properly showcases
your talent to those who are in the position to hire you. To be sure you're
giving it your best shot, check out my home study course... "The
Voice Package" ...It may be just what you're looking for.
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