As of writing, I’ve been a full-time freelance Voice Actor for 4 years already. I started from zero, spending a lot of resources trying to figure everything out. Now that I have a pretty good idea of the ins and outs of the industry, here are some topline things I wish I knew earlier.
(By the way, this blog is more for those who are interested in earning from the craft, more than for hobbyists or those that do VO just for fun. If this is you, hope these tips help!)
Topline tips on how to get started in VO:
1) Join the right Voice Acting Communities.
This was the key that opened the door to all the answers I needed. It led me to such an amazing group of kind, supportive, generous, and talented people who are driven by their passion for the craft, intentionally building up the industry together, and led by known experts in the local field who are also very passionate about standardizing industry practices, making sure that Voice Actors are given proper education and are compensated fairly. Being a freelance Voice Actor is essentially a solo job, and being part of a community like this makes the job a lot easier and tons more fun!
“When working, surround yourself with people more successful than you.
When playing, surround yourself with people happier than you.”
- Naval Ravikant
(Luckily in VO we get to do both!)
Here are some of the local groups I personally recommend to join:
a. Vocalliance
c. Rising Voices Club
(by invitation and must participate in 3 script reading sessions)
2) Train, train, train & practice, practice practice!
As I said earlier, it's not enough that you have a great announcer voice. There are several skills you need to have or learn in order to really nail it! And even before you start auditioning, you need to train! I'll get into this a bit more later in tip #5.
So, where can you find training? You can learn from a lot of YouTube channels first, especially if money is tight, but you'll learn more and improve the most when you attend script-reading sessions, VO workshops, or get a coach. Some are free and most are paid. Most paid workshops range from Php 5,000-25,000 depending on the mentors and scope and length of the sessions. It may seem quite hefty, but it is an investment that will help you level up throughout your career and help you bag the best projects. From experience, I was able to make my investment back with just 1-2 voiceover projects!
Some YouTube channels to follow:
VO Pro
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE IS... VOICE ACTING IS ACTING!
It's a huge plus to have a background in acting or get acting skills training! It helps you understand and deliver the script and your character better. It also helps you understand and apply directions better and faster, and be able to provide clients with different options (which they love!).
These are my recommended training workshops/ courses/ sources:
Offers free and paid workshops and coaching, where mentors are the top Voice Actors in the industry. They also share other trusted trainings or workshops by other groups.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
At the end of the day it's your skills, talents and work ethic that will lead to your success in this industry but also be careful where you get your information and training from. Not all workshops and trainings are good for your career. Thoroughly research and check who your teachers and sources are before you invest your time, money and attention. Don't be afraid to ask successful Voice Actors and industry veterans for their personal recommendations, more than just trusting Google. AND just so you know, sometimes it matters to Production Houses/ Studios and clients where you got your training from. It could make or break you.
And also, FYI - you don't need certificates to thrive in the industry. It's your talent and work ethic that they look at, not a piece of paper. Go attend and learn from workshops and mentors as much as you can, but don't get all caught up in getting certificates. It's meaningless if you're not able to effectively apply what you learned.
3) Find your VO niche/s.
What type of VO do you enjoy doing or want to do? There are about 20+ types of VO in the industry! You'll find the list when you check out the Rate Calculator in tip #7.
Based on experience, it's best to focus on one or two that you're good at and then build it up as you go along, but if you can do all of them well already, why not? Go for it!
4) Get the right tools... for you.
Learn about the right equipment, audio editing software, and sound treatment for your specific voice and recording space. It differs per person. You don't necessarily need the most expensive tools right away, especially if you're just starting out. Coach Dave Soltura and Coach Luis Cruz, from Voice Actors at Home PH, can help in this area, amongst others. But best to invest more in training first, because these tools are useless if your skills aren't in place yet.
5) Learn where to get VO jobs.
There are different ways to get projects, but make sure before you do, your skills are good enough to start auditioning and making demos. Clients/ Casters remember bad auditions as much as the good ones!
Voice-file in production houses and studios
Pay-to-Play sites (Upwork, Fiverr, Bodalgo, etc.)
Facebook groups and communities
Friends, family, & referrals
Direct Marketing
TIP WHEN AUDITIONING: AUDITION, LET GO, REPEAT.
Rejection is a normal thing in this industry. We eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so you need to have a tough gut for this!
The usual reason behind why we don't win an audition is because another voice/ delivery is just a better fit for the role/ brand/ etc. It doesn't mean you're a bad Voice Actor. But yes, rejection sucks, but you have to learn to deal with it or you won't survive in the VO industry. "Just keep swimming!" - Dory, Finding Nemo
Also, it's never a complete loss. Every audition is an opportunity to learn how to get better, market yourself, and let clients/ casters know that you exist and what you have to offer. You may not have gotten the project now, but if they like you, they will get back to you for other projects!
6) Voice Acting is a BUSINESS.
Once you’re ready to earn, it’s time to get your entrepreneurial hat on! This includes learning how to do Marketing, Tracking & Documentation, Accounting, BIR Registration, etc.
7) Know your worth!
There is no single rate for all types of VO! The industry standard rates cover not only your talent/ production fee and business costs but also the usage of your voice. It is generally computed based on the length of the script/ material, and how the material will be used or published. The bigger the audience, the higher the rate. But of course, at the end of the day, it's up to you and the client what you agree on. Just make sure it's fair for all!
It's important to know and follow the standard industry rates as much as possible because this affects your future career and the whole industry. I know it sounds kind of dramatic or exaggerated, but it's true! If everyone accepts low, unfair rates, this will eventually become the norm, thus bringing down the standard rates, which in turn will negatively affect the whole VO community. So, let's all work together to help each other thrive!
To learn more about local VO rates, check out the
Note that these rates are just a guide, although put together by the top production houses, studios, and Voice Actors in the PH industry. The computation can sometimes get a bit tricky depending on the complexity of the project. There are special computations, discounts, etc. that you will also need to understand, so to get a better grasp, you can check out this video by Vocalliance about the rates here, or you can reach out to me for help.
8) Adopt a "beginner mindset"
This just means to stay humble and keep learning, because learning never stops in VO! Even the best pros in the industry do it! There is so much to learn in this industry. New things pop up every day. Keep learning and keep practicing! That's the best way to succeed in the VO industry!
This is just the tip of the iceberg! There's so much to learn and do! Just keep going, take it one step at a time, and don't forget to enjoy the process!
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me!
Good luck on your VO journey! 😊
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