ABSTRACT
One thing many people seem to either not realize-or simply forget-is that voiceover is part of show business-and the larger part of show business is business! Before making the investment in time, energy, and money for workshops, training, and equipment to become a voice actor, it is important to have an understanding of what this business entails, how it works, and what is expected of you as an independent business owner. This chapter will introduce you to the business of voiceover so you will be able to make an educated decision as to whether or not this type of work is right for you. Demos, marketing, auditions, and many other aspects of this business are discussed in detail later in this book. Acting for voiceover may be one of the best-kept secrets around. You get to be serious, funny, and sometimes downright silly and your voice may be heard by thousands. Voiceover can be an incredible outlet for your creativity and it can often seem like you get paid to play! To be perfectly honest, voice acting can be very challenging at times. The reality is that you are an entrepreneur running your own business and you can expect all the ups and downs that go along with that. Depending on the type of voiceover work you choose to do and the clients you work with, you may be on call 24/7/365. Vacations may be difficult to schedule and there will be moments when you wish you were somewhere else. You will encounter producers and/or directors who do not seem to know what they are doing and who will test your patience. You will be faced with cramming :40 of copy into :30-and the producer will expect it to sound natural and believable. All of this-and more-is just part of working in the world of voiceover. That’s show-biz! Fortunately, the uncomfortable moments are relatively rare, and the majority of voiceover work is enjoyable and often downright fun. If you
really enjoy what you do, and become good at it, even challenging sessions can seem like play, although it may appear to be hard work to everyone else. If you approach voiceover work with a positive attitude, a mindset of teamwork, and an eagerness to help your clients achieve their objectivesrather than as just a way to make money, your likelihood of success will be much greater. To a large extent, your level of success as a voice actor will depend on your mental attitude and how you approach your work. Many successful voice actors do much more than just perform as voice talent. It is not uncommon to find voice actors wearing many hats-adagency rep, copywriter, producer, studio engineer, and of course, performer. Many voice actors also work as on-camera talent or in theatrical productions. After all, acting is acting, and the more versatile you are as an actor, the greater your likelihood of success in voiceover. As you master voice-acting skills, you may find yourself developing other talents as well. This diversification can provide income from several sources.
