Speak Up: A Guide to Becoming a Voiceover Artist

Remember that freaky part of The Little Mermaid when Ursula the Sea Witch takes Ariel the Mermaid's voice and locks it in a little jar? This will probably never happen to you, but a good voice is a valuable commodity if you want to break into the broadcasting industry. The best voices in the business are bottled up, not in jars but on demo tapes, and sent out to agencies in the hopes that someday, those same voices will be selected to broadcast over radio airwaves, commercials, video games, documentaries and much more. This is called being a voiceover artist.

But, contrary to popular belief, becoming a voiceover artist requires much more than just a good voice, and a career as a voiceover artist requires much more than just artistry. In fact, to become a voiceover artist you need to become part actor, athlete, instrumentalist, storyteller and student. Still interested? Here are a few tips on breaking into the broadcasting business of voiceover work.

Become a voiceover actor. One of the cool things about becoming a voiceover artist is that voiceovers are like acting without all the paparazzi, lypo, and other hype. But voiceover acting still takes a lot of work. You need to develop the qualities of an actor: drama, discipline, technique, and empathy. You need to channel your intonation, cadence, and clarity to convey a mood or theme, maybe in as short as a minute, or maybe over a long day of recording. Like actors, voice-over artists are responsible for projecting an image (albeit an audio one) the audience can trust. But the best part is, unlike real actors, it's okay for you to go to work in a baseball caps and sweats. Just make sure you bring your water bottle!

Become a voiceover athlete. Voiceovers are based on impeccable timing, momentum, proper breathing, and speed. Ever hear someone tell you "that was great, just shave about an eighth of a second off your time?" If you choose to become a voiceover artist, these are words you may hear often, and they won't be applying to your afternoon track meet anymore. A career as a voiceover artist requires incredible precision, patience, and stamina. Also, your voice is a muscle, and like an athlete training for a marathon, you have to train your voice, cultivating your pitch, tone and range to create a well-modulated machine.

Become a voiceover instrumentalist. As a voiceover artist, your voice is your instrument. Much like learning a musical instrument, voiceovers take basic natural ability, tons of practice, a fair amount of exposure, and a good teacher doesn't hurt. Take care of your instrument; limit shouting and straining your voice, always drink plenty of water, and don't smoke! These are all things that could injure your instrument, and consequently your ability to become a broadcasting voiceover artist. A good voice coach to help you break into broadcasting is also useful. A skilled voice coach can help you coax your voice's development, expanding your range and diversity, and help you differentiate which auditions are best for your instrument.

Become a voiceover storyteller. The crux, the bare bones of this broadcasting field, is being able to tell a good story. You have to make your voiceover dramatic, convincing, intense, and conclusive. To become a voiceover artist, you have to understand the essence of the story, and to reflect that essence in the way you tell the tale. There are ample opportunities to use this skill in broadcasting, especially in voiceover work. Even commercials have a plot; even political campaigns have a climax. By understanding the tone, characters, and intention of the story, you will be able to do better voiceover work. Practice reading out loud all the time until storytelling becomes second nature, and you will be well on your way to a career as a voiceover artist.

Become a voiceover student. Maybe not in the traditional sense of the word, but voiceover artists are perpetual students. Learning to do voiceovers is like learning a different language, and it's pretty hard to learn a new language without a good teacher. You don't necessarily have to go to college to become a voiceover student, but broadcasting schools, training programs, or voiceover workshops are a good start. Broadcasting schools can also have the added perk of helping you get your demo out to the right people, which can be half the battle in broadcasting. Best of all, enrolling in a broadcasting school gives you credibility and protects you from bogus websites full of false promises and expensive subscription fees. If you want to become a voice over artist, become a voice over student first! You'll be glad you did.

Breaking into the broadcasting business isn't easy, but a career as a voiceover artist can be fun, creative, and fulfilling for those who truly love the work. If you want a job that combines many professions into one, this is the career for you. If you know after reading this article that doing voiceovers is your dream job, why not start today and enroll in a broadcasting school or training program?! Remember, in this line of broadcasting work, the first step is speaking up.