When most people think of actors, they think about the famous faces we see on TV, in movies, and on stage in the theater. But there are thousands of actors whose main creative medium is their voice, and their work is all around us whether we realize it or not. Commonly known as voice actors, voice artists, or voice-over talent, these professionals lend their skills to a wide range of projects, including:
- Commercials
- Animated TV shows and films
- Video games
- Documentaries
- Audiobooks
- Automated announcements for public transportation, amusement rides, airports, stores, elevators, etc.
- Off-screen movie narration
- Radio or podcast dramas
- Foreign language-learning programs
- E-learning courses
- Instructional videos
- And much more
Since most voice-over work is project-based, voice acting is primarily freelance work and can usually be done from anywhere as long as you have the right audio equipment. Advances in technology mean that much of this work can now be done from a personal computer instead of in a studio. As a result, many actors are drawn to this field as a source of supplemental income.
So where do you go if you need to hire a voice actor for your project? There are several different places you can find voice actors for hire. Depending on your project, your budget, and your timeline, different resources might serve your needs better than others.
General-Purpose Freelance Platforms
In recent years, more and more people have begun working from home. To accommodate this change in the workforce, many freelance platforms have sprung up. These marketplaces provide a space for individuals and companies to post jobs and for freelance workers to search for and bid on jobs that fit their skills.
Two of the most popular platforms, Upwork and Fiverr, are general-purpose freelancer sites, meaning that they offer jobs in a variety of fields, including voiceover work. Both websites are easy to use and give you access to thousands of voice actors from all over the world.
If your budget is somewhat limited, these websites might be a good place to start since you can set either a fixed budget or a rate per hour at whatever level you need. Because anyone can set up a profile for free, many voice actors who are just starting out or trying to build up a portfolio of work use these marketplaces to find work, which means their rates are lower.
Neither Upwork nor Fiverr vets the talent (except for FiverrPro, which only accepts freelancers with years of experience), but you do have access to reviews from other clients, job success and completion ratings, and sometimes a portfolio of work. You can also ask for samples of work or auditions as part of your job listing.
Pros: Affordable; can work directly with voice actor; wide variety of talent and prices; can be used for any type of project you have.
Cons: It can be more time-consuming to find what you’re looking for; talent is not vetted (except for FiverrPro); communication and quality can be hit or miss.
Profession-Specific Websites
There are some profession-specific marketplaces that give you access to voice actors for hire exclusively. Voices.com and GM Voices both specialize in voice-over talent, allowing you to search through a pool of professionals who make their living doing this type of work.
These sites work similarly to the general-purpose sites where you post jobs, set a budget or rate per hour, and directly choose the talent you hire. However, both of these marketplaces also offer an option where they do some of the work for you—providing you with a list of professionals that meet your qualifications or inviting appropriate candidates to audition for you.
Although the rates tend to be higher on these platforms, you might feel more confident about getting high-quality work with less back and forth and fewer edits. As an added bonus, you are able to phone in to listen during the recording process and give real-time feedback as the work is being done, which can save you time and ensure high-quality work.
Voices.com covers a wide range of projects, but GM Voices is more geared toward business needs like eLearning and audiobooks, so you might not be able to use their services for your particular project.
Pros: Pool of talent is specifically voice actors; can be involved in the recording process; can work directly with voice actors or have the platform do some of it for you; quality assurance because they don’t release payment until you are satisfied.
Cons: More limited scope of projects; processing fee charged; can be time-consuming to look through profiles; slightly higher rates.
Talent Agencies
One of the best places to find good voice actors for hire is through a talent agency. Talent agencies balance the best interests of both the voice talent and the clients, establishing working relationships that can last for years.
If you have ongoing needs—for instance, if you regularly record radio or television advertising for your company—it’s a great idea to work with a talent agency that can get a feel for your brand and then find the right talent to represent you.
Talent agencies understand the industry and carefully vet their professionals to meet certain standards. Since the success of their business depends on client satisfaction, they make sure to hire the best voice actors out there to pair with their clients. They are able to handle a wide range of projects and work with their clients every step of the way.
Working with a talent agency like InnoVision Talent Agency can take all the guesswork out of finding exactly what you want when you’re looking for voice actors to hire. As an added bonus, InnoVision Talent Agency is dedicated to representing the realities of the diverse and complex world we live in, including underrepresented communities and people from all walks of life. This real-world focus can add depth and richness to any project.
Pros: Get exactly what you want; easy to use; vetted talent; guaranteed results; can establish ongoing relationships.
Cons: Some charge additional fees; might not be suited for very limited budgets.
The Right Voice Actors for Hire Are Out There!
You know that the right voice actor can make or break your project. Hopefully, the information outlined above has given you some guidance about where to go to find voice actors for hire. Whichever route you choose, general-purpose or profession-specific freelance platforms or talent agency, good voice actors are ready and waiting to work on your project.