Ask The Voice Cat

"I have also been wanting to get into voice over/voice acting. As far back as I can remember, people have been telling me that I had a natural talent for mimicry of others as well as doing a wide variety of accents and character voices. When I hear some of the ones that are used in radio or video games as an example, it makes me cringe, because I know I can do a better job. Help! How do I get into this field? It seems to be about the only real “talent” I have. Most of the local radio stations where I live use current on-air talent and I don’t know what to include in a demo or how to get started. Any advice would be appreciated!"

Don

Don, I hear you!

You're perfectly poised to launch yourself into voice acting, because you've uttered the words, "I know I can do a better job."

How do you get into this field?

Like anyone who wants to learn a craft / skill / art : Classes. Lessons. Practice.

You need to find voice acting instruction near you and learn everything you can. Read everything you can get your hands on (and there sure are a ton of books about voice acting out there!). Listen to the Radio and listen to TV (close your eyes when an ad comes on and really listen). Read all the information on Voices.com to get the big picture of the business you're thinking of diving into; they have wonderful tips for voice actors, no matter what their level of experience.

And, Don, don't even think of doing a demo now. That's putting the cart way before the horse. Study. Practice, practice, practice.

You have to be not just competent, but proficient at voice acting before you can ever produce a great demo. And anyone who tells you that they'll help you put a demo together after six weeks of training is doing you a disservice. I hope this helps, but please write anytime with any further questions.

Good luck!

Marc

MARC CASHMAN creates and produces copy and music advertising for radio and television. Winner of over 150 advertising awards, he also instructs voice acting of all levels through his classes, The Cashman Cache of Voice-Acting Techniques in Los Angeles, CA.

Cashman Commercials © 2007

Hi Marc,

Blair Wilson

Blair, thank you for your kind words.

With Voices.com, you've signed up with the best auditioning service for home studio-based talent.

Given that, there's a lot of competition out there, including a lot of professional voice actors. If you listen to a number of the top talent (Voices.com has a list of the top 10-100), you'll hear one trait they all have in common: the ability to sound real and believable. I'm not talking about announce copy that's supposed to sound somewhat announcer-y. I'm talking about commercial copy that's written to be performed in a conversational manner.

You have a warm, friendly voiceprint--it's very listenable. But it's not particularly conversational. Virtually all the demos on your site sound like a caricature of an announcer. I'm sure that that's not how you talk to your friends, family or people on the phone. It sounds like when you get behind the mic, you're putting on an announcer hat. Throw out the announcer! (I've got a blog with that title on Voices.com) Be yourself! Relax a bit. Sit on a stool. Be an armchair storyteller (if you have kids, you know what I mean).

Do I think you have the potential to pursue a part-time career in voice acting?

Yes.

But it's going to take some practice to get to the point where you sound like the words you're reading are coming right off the top of your head and out of your mouth as if you just thought of it. Making copy conversational is a skill, but unless you have dyslexia, it's a skill that can be mastered. Feel free to email back with any questions.

Sincerely,

Marc

P.S. Regarding the number of auditions you've submitted: it's a numbers game. And most clients pick the voiceprint--the sound of the voice--first. Talent is a secondary priority. Keep putting it out there.

MARC CASHMAN creates and produces copy and music advertising for radio and television. Winner of over 150 advertising awards, he also instructs voice acting of all levels through his classes, The Cashman Cache of Voice-Acting Techniques in Los Angeles, CA.

Cashman Commercials © 2007