In voiceover, as in life, everyone’s path is different. As a career Journalist, I’m big on research and I did a lot of it prior to embarking on my own VO journey. Although I did most things right, there are a few tweaks I’d make if I could go back in time and do things over.
First, I’d enroll in group voiceover classes before getting one-on-one coaching. I think a class is a better starting point for a complete novice. It’s also a lot more affordable than one-on-one instruction. Classes also give you a good foundation and grasp of the basics. So that when you start training with a coach, you can go jump right into copy and really fine tune voice technique. Also, coaches are usually genre specific. Taking classes in a few different genres can allow you to cost effectively test your aptitude in each and get pro feedback on which ones you’re likely to excel in. That’s really valuable insight to have in the early stages.
Another thing I wish I knew starting out is that there are levels when it comes to demo producers. There are a number of widely known, high-level and extremely talented demo producers in the industry. They’re also quite expensive. But I don’t recommend going that route for total beginners looking to make their first demo. Mainly because the ability of most beginners rarely matches that level. The reality is really talented demo producers can coax a good performance out of almost any voice actor. But it’s crucial to sound as great as your demo without direction. A highly recommended and competent demo producer who specializes in working with novice’s and mid-level voice actors, in my opinion, is a better fit that would also save money.
And lastly, I wouldn’t wait until you’re officially booking gigs to connect with other voice actors. I must say the VO community is among the most supportive and helpful I’ve ever encountered professionally. I’ve had the opportunity to virtually meet a number of fellow voice actors through social media groups and it’s so heartwarming to see the abundance of support, encouragement and advice that is freely and cheerfully given. I’ve learned as much from other voice actors as I have from my coaches and instructors.
I hope these lessons I’ve learned on my journey will help you on yours.