| If you've ever thought about becoming a voice-over | | | | audition: an audio book about bachelor cardiac |
| artist, you probably won't like what I am about to | | | | surgeons, voluptuous nurses and broken hearts. Luckily, |
| reveal, but it needs to be said. Yes, I will be the Debbie | | | | your membership came with a free voice evaluation, |
| Downer of the voice-over community and the rain on | | | | and your coach gave your first demo a firm thumbs |
| your parade, but it's about time that you should know | | | | down. What hurt you the most was that the fact that |
| the truth (or at least my version of it). Even if it hurts. | | | | she said that you sounded "like a news reader". |
| PERSISTENT MYTHS | | | | Wasn't that supposed to be a good thing? |
| In times of recession, desperate people cling to | | | | #4. EASY MONEY |
| desperate things. For many of them, a new career as | | | | Even though your financial advisor warned you not to |
| a voice-over artist seems to be the next best thing. | | | | do it, you decide to tap into your nest egg and spend |
| Let me tell you point blank that it's not. Far from it. Yet, | | | | part of your IRA on a decent home studio and |
| every day, hundreds of hopefuls plunge into the pool | | | | premium memberships of several voice-over websites. |
| of voice-over talent, without even knowing how to | | | | If you're gonna do something, you might as well do it |
| swim. Why? Because they're holding on to ideas that | | | | right! These sites will no doubt open the door to big |
| have no basis in reality. | | | | companies offering big bucks to have you do a 20 |
| A few scenarios... | | | | second commercial or a 2-minute narration. Just wait |
| # 1. "I LOVE YOUR VOICE" | | | | and see... A few auditions a day will make the |
| Tons of people have told you that you have a great | | | | recession fade away! |
| voice. "You'd do so much better than that woman | | | | I guess no one ever told you that almost 40% of |
| announcing the Tony Awards", they said. And you've | | | | professional voice-overs makes less than $25,000 per |
| heard it so many times, that you start believing it | | | | year, even after having been in the business for 10-25 |
| yourself. Could this be a new career; the golden key to | | | | years. Over a quarter of those surveyed make less |
| fame and fortune? | | | | than $10,000 per year. (Source: VoiceOver Insider |
| Without realizing it, you just made mistake number one. | | | | magazine, May 2009). Distinguished voice-over artists |
| Thinking that having a good voice is all it takes, is like | | | | Ed Victor recently shared that he had submitted 50 |
| saying that, in order to be a successful actor, all you | | | | auditions on Pay 2 Play sites in 20 days. The net result: |
| need is great looks. As far as I can tell, only Tom | | | | zero jobs. Mind you: Ed is known as "The Big Gun" of |
| Cruise pulled that one off. Having a good set of vocal | | | | the business. In my opinion, he is the cream of the crop. |
| chords definitely helps, but it's a small piece of a big | | | | But even if your last name is Victor, it doesn't |
| puzzle. Knowing how to use that voice is a different | | | | automatically make you a winner. |
| matter! | | | | #5. OVERNIGHT SUCCESS |
| #2. IMPRESSIONISM | | | | Would you ever pick up a violin, and after a few |
| Friends have said that you do a mean Morgan | | | | weeks of practice and no lessons, record your first |
| Freeman impression. In fact, they like it so much that | | | | CD? Of course not. No one would walk into a sports |
| you're asked to perform your little trick at parties and | | | | store and get the best tennis gear money can buy, |
| high school reunions. It got you thinking: "Mr. Freeman | | | | and expect to be playing Wimbledon the week after. |
| must make lots of money reading a few words off a | | | | So, explain to me why some wannabe voice-overs dig |
| page. If he can do it, why can't I? The world loves | | | | deep into their pockets and invest in top of the line |
| impersonators, right?" Here's the thing: we already | | | | equipment without any formal training or experience, |
| have one Morgan Freeman. We do not need a clone. | | | | expecting instant return on investment? |
| Your impression might be dead-on, but if you're hoping | | | | REALITY CHECK |
| to ride on the back of his success, you'll always be | | | | It takes great skill and practice to breathe life into a |
| someone you're not. Making money impersonating a | | | | text, as well as technical expertise. It's very similar to |
| celebrity could get you in all kinds of legal trouble too. | | | | mastering a musical instrument. It usually takes many |
| More importantly, you're betraying yourself by distorting | | | | years to become an overnight success. And as we've |
| what makes you truly unique: your very own sound. | | | | seen, even respected talents find that the pickings are |
| #3. RADIO GA-GA | | | | becoming increasingly slim and that rates are going |
| You read the news for a local station. The latest | | | | down day by day. So, if you're still thinking of pursuing |
| membership drive didn't go so well, and all of a sudden | | | | a voice-over career, think again. In a way, it's like the |
| you're as relevant as yesterday's paper. What's | | | | photo on the box of your microwave dinner. It makes |
| worse: you're out the door. Thank goodness for your | | | | you hungry, but the meal usually doesn't taste half as |
| radio training. You can always become a voice-over | | | | good as it looks. What's even worse: it doesn't have |
| artist, right? After all, it's basically the same thing. So, | | | | enough nutritional value to sustain you! |
| you join reputable voice-over site and record your first | | | | |