Our top tips for success within the voiceover industry

Have you ever thought about becoming a voiceover artist? It certainly is an exciting career, where no two days are the same. As a voice over artist, you get to use your imagination and voice in a wide range of contexts, from commercials to animated shorts.

In comparison to more conventional forms of acting, voiceover requires a different set of abilities from its performers, and there are particular skills that can be constantly improved upon to contribute to a successful career in the field.

We’ve looked in to the top skills in which a voiceover artist requires to succeed within the industry, and how to use these skills effectively.

Clarity and enunciation

The ability to articulate each word within a script precisely is essential. This may seem simple, but training is often required to master the pace and variety of styles required. It’s important to not mutter or mumble any words, as those listening are unable to observe the speaker’s lip movements. From an audience point of view, it is crucial that every word spoken can be easily understood and processed.

Learn where the line is between enunciating well and speaking too formally. The dialogue should flow naturally and suit the purpose of the work you’re conducting.

Getting to grips with your technology

While technical expertise are not required for a career in voice acting, it is helpful to have some understanding of the recording gear you will be working with. There is no reason why a home studio set up could not produce results as good as any professional setting, however; a few egg cartons taped to the wall and a laptop microphone just won’t do the trick, unfortunately.

Digital audio workstation (DAW) knowledge is a handy tool in the belt of a voice artist, so it is well worth spending some time in learning the basics. There are excellent premium and free DAWs available; such as Adobe Audition and Audacity, which are user-friendly and great for any beginner learning the fundamentals of audio editing. For a new voiceover artist, the ability to edit out any accidental mistakes within the recording, before sending the final product on to a client, is a huge selling point.

Connection to the script

In order to be successful in recording a script, it is important to be invested in its content. Character development, plot analysis, and identifying the text’s fundamental message all need to be studied before recording, in order to connect to the script and its meaning.

Let’s imagine you have been chosen to voice a character in a script for an animated short. Before recording, the following should be established:

• What is happening within the scene?
• How would you describe your characters traits?
• How do these traits influence their reactions?

Consider the character’s state of mind and inner drive at any given moment, and let that influence your performance.

If you’re working on a project with no characters (eg: advertisement or narration), make sure you focus on the message. When you show enthusiasm for the material you’re presenting, your audience will take notice. Even if you don’t think so, voiceover relies heavily on all of these factors.

Ability to adapt to new opportunities

Voice artists must be flexible in their work approach, whether they decide to do it alone or seek out an agent. Much like traditional actors, voice artists must master the art of adapting to new opportunities presented to them.

While recording voiceover for a character-based script may be classed as more ‘fun’, these opportunities are usually pretty hard to come by. Most voiceover gigs are often within the corporate or commercial sectors, especially when new to the field. There is no harm in building up your voiceover repertoire with this type of work, as the more work you are involved in, the larger the variety of work you’ll be offered in the future!

Confidence is key

The key to success within the voiceover industry is a confident, positive attitude. The more you practice your craft, the more assurance you’ll feel within yourself. Believe it or not, how lines are delivered is also directly affected by this. If you’re nervous, subconsciously you can start mumbling and rushing through your lines, which would have a direct effect on the studio time, the client’s time and your own time – ultimately, causing a delay to the delivery of the finished product.

If you’re worried about the possibility of making mistakes within a session, have a read of our previous blog post, ‘Common mistakes to avoid when starting out as a voiceover artist’. This post highlights the most common mistakes made within the field, and how to prevent these from happening within your recording sessions… it doesn’t hurt to be prepared!

Conducting your research before a recording session will provide you confidence in your performance. Who is this recording for? What is the script about? What is the message of the script? Knowing the material and the task at hand is essential, as is establishing rapport with the director or sound engineer.

Sound good?

Those with a creative mindset and an entrepreneurial spirit will thrive within the voiceover industry. It does call for continuous improvement and a dedication to preventing mistakes, however; it also presents a number of promising new avenues to explore. As long as you make time to hone your craft, keep yourself inspired and focused, and be open to trying new things – the world is your oyster!

Do you require the skills of a voice artist for a project of your own? We’re here to help.

Here at Matinée Multilingual, we have a vast database of talented voice artists who specialise in everything from explainer videos to interactive toys. Whichever language you require a voiceover in, (we offer over 80!) and whatever your next project is, let us help you bring it to life with our expert voiceover services.

We’ll help you connect and engage with your audience with the perfect voiceover, all the way from offering a selection of hand-picked voice demos, to recording and editing the final audio file. Why not get in touch with us today and find out more about how we can help you?

Call us on +44 (0) 118 958 4934

Or email project@matinee.co.uk