Find the Best Voice Acting Jobs

What does a Voice Actor do?

Voice actors provide character voices for wide-ranging types of media, including:

• Animated and live-action media
• Dubbing for international media
• Narration for podcasts and documentaries
• Audiobooks
• Radio commercials
• Video games

Of course, successful voice actors do more than just read the words of a script. They also give life to audio content and characters with their voice work, as well as bring their know-how in how to act a certain part in order to inform the quality of the production overall.

What skills do I need to become a Voice Actor?

Skill sets beneficial for anyone looking to enter the voice-acting industry include the ability to:

• Produce a range of tones, timbre, sound, and sometimes even various accents for their voice-over acting
• Speak clearly and with a pleasing voice
• Read scripts naturally and conversationally, even without ample time to rehearse in advance
• Know how to maintain their voice so as not to strain it while working, especially on longer-term projects
• e flexible with last-minute adjustments, such as when being asked to read the same script with different words emphasized or with different emotions

You would also benefit from having a solid knowledge of recording software, as well as a knowledge of social media so that you can promote yourself as a voice actor. You’ll also want excellent communication skills so that you can stay on top of casting calls and wow clients in and out of the recording studio.

What are the core Voice Actor job responsibilities?

The typical voice-over job description calls for actors to:

• Work alone or with a group on long- and short-term projects to record voice-overs for various media
• Collaborate with studio directors, producers, and sound engineers to find the right voice to fit specific project needs
• Maintain their voices through vocal exercises and more to prevent vocal cord strain

In addition, voice actors must be willing to attend auditions and casting calls to be considered for parts, especially if they are new voices.

Should I get a Voice Actor degree or certification?

A high-quality demo reel of professional recordings and a stellar audition will likely be the best ways to demonstrate your voice talent to casting directors. But there may be some ways to prepare yourself for entering the voice-over industry and building your career as a professional voice actor.

Not many U.S. schools offer college degrees in voice acting, but you can find majors and minors at Pace University, Columbia College Chicago, and Wichita State University. At other schools, those interested in entering the field can hone their acting skills with a bachelor’s degree in acting or theater. You could also seek out community theater groups and productions to get some experience in acting and how to best train your own voice for performing.

There are also schools like the Global Voice Acting Academy that offer education in voice-over work. They also offer students support with entering the voice-over business, coaching in specific areas like narration or character work, and provide access to studio setups and recording equipment so that budding actors can record voice-over demos and other audio recordings to help build their portfolios.