How to find jobs as a voice actor!

Summary

This video provides a comprehensive guide for aspiring voice actors looking to land jobs. It outlines two main paths: going solo or working with an agent. Key steps to success include creating diverse voice samples, signing up for reputable online platforms, practicing and updating your skills regularly, connecting meaningfully with the community, and investing in a professional demo reel. The guide emphasizes the importance of consistent effort, building a varied portfolio, and networking to boost visibility and attract clients, offering practical advice to help voice actors navigate and thrive in the competitive industry.

Takeaways

• 😀 Start by creating a variety of voice samples in different categories like commercials, audiobooks, and video games to showcase your range.
• 😀 Choose between working solo or getting an agent; both paths have their pros and cons, but both require effort to land gigs.
• 😀 Sign up for multiple voice acting websites and complete your profiles fully to increase your visibility and ranking on those sites.
• 😀 Upload high-quality voice samples to each platform to show potential clients your skills and versatility.
• 😀 Consistently practice and improve your voice acting by joining practice groups, hiring coaches, and watching educational content.
• 😀 Regularly update your samples on voice acting websites, replacing outdated or low-quality recordings with better ones.
• 😀 Avoid spam when connecting with people in the industry. Engage thoughtfully and build relationships with casting directors and fellow voice actors.
• 😀 Hire a professional to create your demo reel. Amateur demo reels can hurt your chances, so invest in high-quality production.
• 😀 Share your demo reel across all platforms, including websites, social media, and professional networks, to increase your exposure.
• 😀 Networking is crucial. Don't just focus on finding work—engage with others in the industry and build meaningful connections.
• 😀 With consistent effort in creating high-quality samples, practicing your craft, updating your profile, and networking, you’ll increase your chances of landing voice acting work.

Q & A

What are the two main paths a voice actor can take to find work?

A voice actor can either go solo, handling everything from finding clients to setting rates, or they can hire an agent who will handle negotiations and provide audition opportunities.

What is the first step to getting work as a new voice actor?

The first step is to create voice samples across various categories like commercials, explainer videos, voicemail greetings, audiobooks, video games, and animation to showcase your versatility.

Why is it important for a voice actor to create samples in multiple categories?

Creating samples in multiple categories helps demonstrate a wide range of skills, which increases the likelihood of attracting diverse clients, as not all voice acting jobs fall within a specific genre like anime or video games.

What should you do after creating voice samples?

After creating voice samples, you need to sign up for online voice acting websites and complete your profile with as much information as possible to ensure higher visibility and better search results.

How does filling out a complete profile on voice acting websites benefit a voice actor?

A complete profile increases your visibility on the website. Profiles with full information tend to rank higher in search results, making it easier for potential clients to find you.

What does 'PEU' stand for in the context of improving as a voice actor?

PEU stands for Practice, Edit, and Update. It’s a method to continuously improve by practicing your skills, editing and improving your samples, and updating them on your profiles regularly.

What are some ways to practice and enhance your voice acting skills?

You can practice by reading books, hiring a teacher or mentor, joining Discord servers or Twitter spaces for group practice, and watching YouTube videos on acting techniques to incorporate into your performances.

Why is it important to regularly update your voice acting samples?

Regularly updating your samples ensures they remain high quality and reflect your current skill level. Outdated or poor-quality samples can hurt your chances of attracting clients.

What is the correct way to connect with potential clients and peers in the voice acting community?

Engage with others respectfully and meaningfully. Instead of spamming messages, comment on posts, respond to people’s updates, and share your work in appropriate contexts to build genuine connections.

Why should a voice actor hire a professional to create their demo reel?

Hiring a professional to create your demo reel ensures it sounds polished and represents your abilities accurately. Amateur demo reels can hurt your chances of securing work because they often lack the quality that casting directors expect.