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How To Start Your Voice Over Career, Part 1
By: D.C. Douglas
If you have ever been told that you have a great voice, then you
may have thought of making use of that great voice in a
professional way, as a singer, announcer or as a voice over
talent. Voice over, or adding your voice to advertisements and
recorded messages, can be a very lucrative field for a trained
talent. If you would like to get the training necessary to
succeed as a voice over talent then here are a few steps to
take.
But first before I give the step-by-step guide to a career in
voice over, remember one thing: in the commercial world all
kinds of voices are needed: low voices, whiny voices, gravelly
voices, flat voices and even average voices. So, even if you
don't have a classic "good voice" you can enter the field if you
have determination. Here is what you should do.
1. Take Acting Classes:
Yes, take acting classes if you are in a major city. Find a
course and enroll in it. Why acting classes? You need to know
how to create the characters who "speak" in a commercial. Just
taking an animation class won't do it. You need to start the
process organically. It's not about the voice, yet, it's about
the intent beneath the voice that shapes the voice.
2. Take a Voice Over Class
After you've opened yourself up for three months in an acting
class, time to move into specifics with a voice over class. In
L.A., the best resource is http://www.voiceoverre
sourceguide.com. It lists all the studios as well as all the
classes in L.A. At the top are http://www.voicecaster.com
and http://www.kalmenson.com.
3. Start Practicing at Home
In addition to class, listen to any and every commercial on the
TV and radio. Mimic them. Pick up magazines and read aloud the
ad copy as though it were a commercial. Get so used to your
voice that silence sounds wrong.
4. Find Your Niche
Once you've gotten a handle on your instrument - your voice -
you need to know what your range is and, by association, what
your market is. Are you the classy BMW voice, the GenX hamburger
guy, the Don Pardo game show host? You could be all three and
more. Knowing all that you can do will help you with confidence
and direction when promoting yourself.
So, start studying, keep practicing and try to determine where
your voice would fit in best.
In the next article, I will discuss how to get your demo reel
ready and made, how to find an agent, and how to book the job.
About the author:
D.C. Douglas is a professional actor and voice over talent based
in Los Angeles, California. Visit his website at
http://www.myvoiceoverguy.com for more information.
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