Do you love entertaining others with your array of silly voices? Can you do spot-on impressions of classic characters? If so, you could turn this skill into a career as a voice actor.
But do you need a talent agent to make this dream a reality? Read on to find out how to become a professional voice actor. You’ll also find out more about what benefits a talent agency can bring to this kind of career.
What Kind of Work Can I Find as a Voice Actor?
Voice actors can find work in the entertainment industry. Usually, this includes video games, television shows, and movies. Sometimes, this includes dubbing over dialogue for media in other languages. And in addition to dialogue, voice actors also can be hired to provide sound effects.
Voice actors can also work in the commercial industry. Their skills can be used to punch up television, radio, and podcast ads. Voice actors are also used for computer programs, educational projects, various devices, and so much more.
How Do I Prepare for a Career in Voice Acting?
Like any form of acting, voiceover work is a craft you should try and hone. Doing so will also enable you to discover your greatest strengths as a voice actor. There may be certain skills you have that set you apart. Take Frank Welker, a voice actor who found incredible success due to his perfect imitations of animal noises.
On many occasions, individuals who began training as film or stage actors end up using their skills to transition to more voiceover roles. To name another famous example, Mark Hamill has a decades-long voice acting career that is celebrated as much as his work in Star Wars.
Even if you know voice acting is your true calling, training as an actor will boost your skills. Whether it’s one acting class or getting a degree, theatrical training will teach how to project, create characters, analyze scripts, improvise, and more.
While learning all kinds of acting skills is great, you can also attend workshops and classes that specialize in vocal abilities. A trained vocal coach will provide you with all the tips, tricks, and techniques that you will hold on to for your entire career.
Another very important thing to note is that you should continue honing your skills throughout your career. If you don’t stay sharp, you won’t keep getting opportunities.
If you are trying to have a voice acting career without an agent, you better learn as much about the ins and outs of the industry as you can.
How Do I Find Work as a Voice Actor?
Since voice acting is an audio medium, one way to get your name out there is to record a demo tape. This should be a tool to show off all your skills, but make sure it’s only a few minutes long. Casting directors and talent agents have little time to spare. An overlong demo tape won’t fit into their hectic schedules.
In most circumstances, it will help your demo tape to sound as professional as possible. If you have access to professional-grade recording equipment or a full recording studio, use them to your advantage.
As you do get professional work as a voice actor, adjust your demo tape accordingly. As with a resume, it’s something you may have to tailor over time, including making adjustments for specific jobs you hope to land.
What About Auditions?
Sending in a demo tape may lead to an audition. Other times, auditions can be posted about on various websites, job boards, and social media channels.
If you’re having trouble finding auditions, you may want to consider how a talent agent such as InnoVision Talent Agency can benefit your goal of a successful voice acting career.
What Are Some of the Ways a Talent Agent Will Boost My Voice Acting Career?
You can find auditions through various channels without an agent, but talent agents often know about auditions before they’re posted. Or in some cases, auditions are only open to those with representation.
In addition to finding you auditions, talent agents will use their industry expertise to adequately prepare you to break a leg. For instance, they will be a big help with adjusting and polishing your demo tape and/or professional resume. Talent agents also have the industry knowledge and experience that you can’t gain overnight, including connections in the industry that they have spent years and years building.
Can Talent Agents Help Market Me?
You can be the best voice actor in the world, but if you’re not marketing yourself, you may not stand out. Of course, honing your skills, recording demo tapes, going on auditions, proving yourself at your first jobs, and making industry connections is already so much for one person to take on.
That’s why it helps so much to have an agent. They know what casting directors look for. They know the competition. They know how to market what makes you special.
How Would InnoVision Talent Agents Help My Voice Acting Career?
InnoVision recently launched our Talent Agency division, but we’ve already been a significant presence in the San Diego area for some time. We do work for clients all over the country. In terms of industry connections, especially for advertisement and commercial voice-acting jobs, you can’t get much better than a talent agency connected to the area’s leading digital marketing firm.
InnoVision has already made waves for its modern, ever-evolving approach that made us so much more than your typical advertising agency. That boundary-busting attitude has carried over to the talent agency.
Here at InnoVision Talent Agency, we aim to represent all kinds of talent. In addition to voice actors, we also represent actors, models, and extras. We pledge to promote the best quality of talent out there. That means providing the benefits of representation to a diverse group, of all ages, from all sorts of backgrounds. Our talent agents want to innovate the industry and move it away from its exclusionary history.
You can find more information about our agency, and apply for representation, by exploring the InnoVision Talent Agency website.