Voiceover professionals recommend that actors serious about the craft devote the majority of their attention, energy and time to perfecting their vocal performance skills. With recent technology enabling actors across the country to submit for jobs online, competition has grown. Little room remains for actors merely willing to pursue the craft on the side.

Many actors mistakenly assume that the majority of voiceover work lies in announcer positions. In actuality, only about 10 percent of voiceover talent land gigs in that area. The remaining 90 percent are character roles, so voiceover actors should study voiceover acting techniques with trained coaches.

Classes can teach voiceover actors microphone techniques, character development, and how to take direction. Learning from professionals can also help voiceover actors determine their strengths as performers. Some actors hesitate to carve out a niche in this field, but voiceover actors shouldn't be afraid to typecast themselves. Casting directors will respond positively.

Aside from studying with a talented teacher, voiceover actors should study on their own by watching and listening to voiceover performances on the radio, on television, and in films. Through simply listening, voiceover actors can learn about the current trends in their field.

Finally, voiceover talent must produce the highest-quality demo reel as possible. Some industry professionals recommend recording a demo only after many months of solid training. Once voiceover actors are prepared to submit their reel, they should be careful to note how the company would prefer to receive submissions. Many prefer email and MP3 submissions over CD mailings.

LINKS

Voicing Opinions: Tips for Breaking Into Voiceover
How can you land, and keep, a career in the ever-changing world of voiceover?

Voices of Today
How does an actor face the increasing competition in the voiceover business?

Voice Choices
Pick the voiceover classes that work for you-but always be learning.

Southland Voiceover Agents
A listing of agencies in Southern California that represent voiceover talent.

Audios, Amigos
Actors discuss the challenges of narrating books on tape

Voiceover Talent Tackles New Trends
From the celebrity invasion to Voicebank, voiceover actors today face more challenges than ever.