Anyone know anything about voice actors?
 

This has always interested me, it sounds like a pretty easy gig, and I think I could prob do it. Anybody know anything about how to get hooked up with jobs for this?

Re: Anyone know anything about voice actors?
 

I think the hard part is being a famous actor to begin with. Like, say, Ellen Degeneres.

Re: Anyone know anything about voice actors?
 

I once heard that voice-overs account for the vast majority of acting jobs. No idea whether it's true.

Re: Anyone know anything about voice actors?
 

My guess would be to get started in radio commercials/ announcing/ promos. get a communications degree or broadcasting certificate of some type and read the news at your local station.

Re: Anyone know anything about voice actors?
 

Re: Anyone know anything about voice actors?
 

I know the guy that does the voice for most TNT commercials. He's the "Tonight on TNT watch the Suns play the Knicks..." guy.

Re: Anyone know anything about voice actors?
 

Hey, a subject I know a lot about!

While actually performing many VO jobs might be "easy", getting the gigs is very much not. First of all, most VO actors are just that: actors (or at least they started as "regular" actors, but stopped once they started making a lot of money in VO). To really succeed at a high level at this, you really need to be in LA, NY, or Chicago, and be with one of three or four agents.

The good news is that advances in technology and ease of use have made it possible for successful VO actors to record many things from relatively simple and inexpensive home studios. So, once you became really popular in NY or LA, you could move back from whence you came and probably still work for some regular clients occasionally, although getting new work would be tougher.

If you really want to pursue this, you need to take a class and record a demo CD. In LA, The Voicecaster is a good place to start. Also, this website has a pretty good FAQ and some other interesting info.

Re: Anyone know anything about voice actors?
 

Thanks for all the good responses. Is there any way to get started and not live in one of the major cities? Just curious if it's possible to send auditions in online or something to the major agents.

Re: Anyone know anything about voice actors?
 

Klompy,

I've done a little, but on the smallest of small scales. VO seems to fall into a few different camps. Some people go the character voice route. Some are regular actors with regular voices do alot of the conversational sounding VO. Then, there's the big voice announcer guys who do radio imaging, TV promos, and movie trailers. If you're great at character voices, or just have a really strong "voice guy" voice, then you could probably just start sending demos to some of the big agents. I don't know if they would rep you, but they might. If you just want to go the route of basic voice acting, then I have no clue where to start.

Re: Anyone know anything about voice actors?
 

Evan-

What's his name?

Los Feliz-

Do you do VO? For who?

Re: Anyone know anything about voice actors?
 

[ QUOTE ]

While actually performing many VO jobs might be "easy", getting the gigs is very much not. First of all, most VO actors are just that: actors (or at least they started as "regular" actors, but stopped once they started making a lot of money in VO). To really succeed at a high level at this, you really need to be in LA, NY, or Chicago, and be with one of three or four agents.

The good news is that advances in technology and ease of use have made it possible for successful VO actors to record many things from relatively simple and inexpensive home studios. So, once you became really popular in NY or LA, you could move back from whence you came and probably still work for some regular clients occasionally, although getting new work would be tougher.

[/ QUOTE ]

You in L.A. or New York? I know someone that works for an agency that specialized in voice actors, and I'm getting that "small world" feeling. :P

Ray

Re: Anyone know anything about voice actors?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I know someone that works for an agency that specialized in voice actors, and I'm getting that "small world" feeling.

[/ QUOTE ]

Based on the times I've looked into it, you are correct.

Re: Anyone know anything about voice actors?
 

Anyone ever see that bit with the famous voiceover actors in a limo who we've all heard but have never seen?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLF2eda7TSs

If that doesn't work just search for "voiceover actors".

Re: Anyone know anything about voice actors?
 

Sam Roberts

Re: Anyone know anything about voice actors?
 

With ISDN these days, I don't think you need to "start" in LA or NY, but your agent should be located in one of those places.

As for how easy/difficult it is, it depends. Some jobs are cake, others require real talent. However, even spots that sound easy can be a lot harder than one might think. Being able to interpret the copy the way the writer intended, and make adjustments on the fly are more important than having the "best voice" around. You do have to be a decent actor.

That said, if you make it in the business, it can be a lot of money for relatively easy and quick work.

Re: Anyone know anything about voice actors?
 

Klompy,

[ QUOTE ]
Is there any way to get started and not live in one of the major cities?

[/ QUOTE ]

To do this, you'll need a demo CD you can send to agents. It's possible you'll get some responses, but most heavy hitters actually live in NY or LA. The way the industry is going, though, I would say that in 3-5 years it might not matter at all.

Ray,

[ QUOTE ]
You in L.A. or New York? I know someone that works for an agency that specialized in voice actors, and I'm getting that "small world" feeling. :P

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm in LA. If you know a voice agent in LA, entirely possible we'd know each other.

Re: Anyone know anything about voice actors?
 

[ QUOTE ]
With ISDN these days, I don't think you need to "start" in LA or NY, but your agent should be located in one of those places.

As for how easy/difficult it is, it depends. Some jobs are cake, others require real talent. However, even spots that sound easy can be a lot harder than one might think. Being able to interpret the copy the way the writer intended, and make adjustments on the fly are more important than having the "best voice" around. You do have to be a decent actor.

That said, if you make it in the business, it can be a lot of money for relatively easy and quick work.

[/ QUOTE ]

My fiancee (to be wife on Saturday) does a lot of voice work. Many years in theatre, then branched off into voice.

She does some local and some remotely. Location is definitely becoming less important, but you still need to be connected to who is booking the work. Even though we're in Canada, she's recently done some US spots for Circle K. She's also done some small Disney children's produced for the Singapore market. You can work "locally" as long as you are connected to work in the bigger markets.

You're right on about interpretion of the copy, but in addition it's important to get to the good takes quickly. Time is money and getting it right early on is an important skill to have.