Working as a voice artist is an exciting job that can take you to many places. You may move across the country, meet with your idols in the entertainment industry and finally get the opportunity to articulate your artistic skills. Breaking into this field might seem overwhelming. However, if you’re willing to follow some suggestions, you can find success.
13 Lessons in How to Get Voice Over Work and Make Your Debut
1. Take Electives
When you know that you want to learn how to get voice over work early on in your journey, you can potentially start taking classes as early as high school. For example, your school may offer elective programs that allow you to dabble in these arts.
In the event that an elective with this specific skill isn’t offered, look for a related one. You may be able to learn about the industry by taking a course in television. Taking such courses could make your application more appealing to a college program specializing in this craft.
2. Enroll in a Program
Whether you’re researching college programs for the first time or you’re considering returning after a period of absence, having technical and professional training in the field can help you to better understanding how to get voice over work.
In these courses, you can hone the skills that you were born with, and you can build connections. Insight from people who work in the field can let you know what you should expect as you begin this journey. Furthermore, the connections that you build now can play a pivotal role in how to get voice over work. As you’re researching programs, consider ones that have a specialization in your desired field.
3. Work with a Mentor
Whether you find a teacher with whom you are interested in working or you know someone who has experience in the field, having a mentor can help you to better navigate the world of voice-over work. This person can help you to sharpen your practical skills and to provide feedback on areas for improvement.
On top of that benefit, you also get to know what the real world of this job is actually like. For example, you may feel shy about asking how the daily schedule works when you’re in the classroom or at an internship, but you can feel confident when inquiring with a trusted mentor.
4. Seek Internships and Volunteer Opportunities
When your goal is to learn how to get voice over work, your desire is to receive payment for a job that you love doing. However, many people have had to take unpaid opportunities to achieve their dreams, especially in creative fields. You can research such opportunities by speaking with advisers at your school or by checking out local postings.
During these experiences, you should work to build your resume. Don’t harbor fear about accepting new possibilities and chances. Also, work on building connections with people in the field. Even if a job isn’t available as soon as your internship is finished, you may find that the company is willing to call you back in the future if you worked well with the team.
5. Take Criticism
While people generally do not want to hear criticism about skills of theirs that they dearly cherish, you have to open your mind to this type of feedback in order to thrive. Understand that the field is a competitive one, and failure to make one minor change might put you behind another candidate.
When you receive criticism about your skills, thoroughly listen to what the instructor or mentor has to say. At the end, take some time to absorb the feedback. Ask questions about your skills.
6. Find Your Inspiration
On your journey to learn how to get voice over work, you want to develop a unique approach that defines you. In fact, having skills that set you apart from others is what can get you hired. Still though, this truth doesn’t mean that you have to avoid inspiration.
Finding a particular voice artist who inspires you can help you to develop new techniques. Also, some days in the industry are going to be rough, and looking toward your source of motivation can help you to push through.
7. Have Samples Available
Working in creative fields often means that you need to provide samples of your work. Think about what you would want to see if you were seeking a professional to paint your house. You would probably want to see pictures of other jobs that the painter has completed. Create samples that you can send to potential employers. When they hear the work that you are capable of doing, you are likely to have a better chance at getting the position.
In creating samples, make sure to show a range of work and abilities. You want prospective employers to know that you can handle more than just one task. When you have a greater range of skills, you also have more opportunities that you can apply for.
8. Discover Your Niche
Although having a range of skills is important, so is having a talent in which you specialize. For example, you may have amassed more experience in performing character voices for children’s cartoons, or maybe you have worked as a narrator for a number of documentaries. Having a specific skill can show that you are dedicated and driven.
Focusing your skills can help you to go through multiple job listings. For example, while you may want to apply for them all, you can prioritize. You can start by applying to the jobs that match with your specific skills. Showing the hiring team that you have experience in that precise niche may be what gets you an interview or the job over other candidates.
9. Polish Your Application Materials
Applying for voice over work means that you need to have strong communication skills. While you may not need to do much writing at your job, your resume and cover letter should demonstrate that you know how to communicate properly.
Many colleges and universities offer tutoring for such skills at their writing centers or career centers. In fact, you may even be able to use these services if you have already graduated from the school. When such services aren’t available, you could work with a professional writer or editor to ensure that these documents are free from errors and are in the proper format.
10. Pursue Local Opportunities
You might have a dream to work for movies in Hollywood, and you should hold steadfast to that dream. Keep in mind that most people do not start with the most lucrative and prestigious positions. Your college or community might have a television station that is in need of people to do voice-overs.
When you want to discover how to get voice over work, you may think that the big opportunities are the only ones worthwhile. However, smaller positions can help you to refine your skills and to prepare for other types of opportunities. Furthermore, you may discover that you actually prefer working for a smaller company.
11. Accept Gigs
As you’re applying to jobs, you may want to send out resumes only to full-time positions that come with full benefits. Remember that many individuals do not start out their careers in this manner, regardless of what field they are pursuing. Instead, you may want to consider applying for and accepting part-time gigs.
Such positions can offer you an array of opportunities. For example, these gigs allow you to build up your resume and to gain more experience in the field. Also, a gig could turn into a full-time job. Months or years after the gig wraps up, you may hear from the manager or director about a full-time position that has opened.
12. Consider Moving
If you really want to learn how to get voice over work, then you need to accept the fact that moving might prove inevitable, especially when you want to seek the most prestigious positions. A willingness to move to New York or California can likely help you to land jobs in this field.
Early on in the process, you should consider if you would be willing to make such a move. If the answer is no, you don’t need to surrender your goals. However, you may have to accept smaller jobs or part-time work for at least a portion of your career.
13. Keep Going
You’ve probably heard that working in creative fields is difficult, and you may not fully believe this statement until you’re experiencing it yourself. Learning how to get voice work over is also about learning how to keep going.
You may have to take on a number of part-time gigs, and you might need another full-time job to support your career. However, if you keep pursuing your dream, you are likely to find fulfillment.
Right now, you have a goal in your mind. Whether you’ve dreamed of this possibility for decades or months, you want to turn the vision into your life. Using these suggestions can help you to do so.
Images source: depositphotos.com
