Most classes, courses, columns and coaching sessions focus on what to do to be a better voice actor.
Variety is important, switch up the pace, pitch, tempo, volume!
Do your homework and mark up your scripts before a session!
(Great tips btw 😉).
But I wanted to focus on what NOT to do as a Voice Actor or Voiceover Artist.
I’ve put together a number of DON’TS that I’ve come across throughout my career or heard second/third hand.
DON’T record your demo too soon.
(this will be the longest section, but sit tight because this is also the most important imo)
Newer voice actors are itching to record demos. Many say “well, I can’t get work without a demo… but I can’t get a demo without doing work!”. They complain about demo making being such an enigma and wanting to get it done as soon as they can.
You have to be patient with a demo.
Voice Actor Sarah Nightingale told me recently that they got their first demo 9 years into their career! They had previously been booking work through samples, auditions and networking alone.
I myself spent a few years in radio broadcasting, writing and voicing commercials before making the switch to voiceover. 1+ year of training, workshops and coaching later I went and got my first commercial demo professionally done.
And it was not very good.
And then a few months later I did an animation demo.
That one was a bit better. And then because of those two, I got my first agent.
Sorry, let me rephrase that…
I got LUCKY and got my first agent because the engineer I recorded my demo with worked at an agency. He ended up speaking up for my skills and that led to me getting added to their roster.
Demos can be the difference between work and no work, but chances are HIGH that a demo done before you’re ready is going to make you look bad.
Two mini DON’TS I want to include in this heading are:
- DON’T pay for a pro demo within 3-6 months of starting voice over. You aren’t ready. It will not be good and you will be wasting your money.
- DON’T take a workshop that promises a demo at the end of it and expect to get a usable demo. Working on a demo takes time and recording 4-6 spots off a script that you picked up 4 hours ago (that probably weren’t written just for you) will not result in a good demo.
DON’T use modifiers like aspiring, beginner or training.
This is an easy one.
Would you go to an aspiring doctor? Or a beginner mechanic?
Probably not.
The same can be said for voice actors. If you say you’re an aspiring voice actor or a beginner voiceover artist or a training voice talent, chances are high that people will not take you seriously. If they do decide to hire you, they will likely lowball you.
People don’t need to know how long you’ve been doing this for! If they ask straight up there’s no need to lie, but you don’t have to go around saying “would love to book my first ever gig!”. Be confident in your skills. If you’ve been practicing voice acting and have taken classes or trained or done workshops, you’re a voice actor!
DON’T be too divisive online
Another easy one.
Don’t be a dick in public (IRL and online). Hell, just don’t be a dick at all.
That especially counts in online discourse. Name calling, slurs, rude or hurtful comments and divisive opinions typically don’t work towards your hireability.
I like to ask myself “would my Grandma think badly of me if she read this comment?”
If she would be disappointed, I won’t comment it 😁
DON’T be forgettable
This one is a bit nuanced. You can be memorable for the wrong reasons. Don’t do that.
Not following the script (ad libs are usually fine), putting on an offensive or unnecessary accent, bulldozing and not taking and implementing feedback are all things you shouldn’t do. (More on this later).
Be memorable for GOOD reasons. You take direction well. You’re a joy to work with. You ask great questions. You’re a good actor. You have great versatility. You bake cookies for casting directors and bring them to sessions (I’ve done this in the past haha).
Being forgettable is one of the things voice actors need to be especially cautious about when it comes to AUDITIONS especially.
Multiple casting directors I’ve talked to, including Susan Hart and Drew Frohman have said that nearly 80% of auditions are forgettable. They’re the same as all the others.
So take risks! Make strong choices. Go big!
DON’T have a big ego
Now I’m not telling you to NOT have an ego at all. You can be proud of your skills. You can be confident in what you can do. But given the chance to work with a great voice actor who is friendly and easy to work with compared to working with a really great voice actor who thinks they’re the best thing since sliced bread?
95 times out of 100, casting directors would pick the former.
I’ve heard stories about people losing 5 figure jobs because of their big egos. And getting passed over for thinking they’re hot shit. You need to be a PHENOMENAL voice actor for people to overlook your big ego.
So just be a great voice actor with a healthy ego instead!
DON’T pass up the chance to ask questions
Questions can be a bit of a toss up. You can ask the right questions. You can ask the wrong questions. I’m not here to police your questioning skills.
Asking RELEVANT questions is important and can be the difference between a two hour live direct and a 45 minute live direct.
Don’t understand what the director is telling you to do? Ask a question. Not sure if you should be recording the session on your DAW or not? Ask a question.
One of my biggest self-gripes is when an issue arises and I ask myself “would this issue have happened if I asked a question first?”. If the answer is no then you’re damn right I’m asking a question next time I’m thrown in a similar situation.
Quick anecdote: I was in an in-studio session recording a pick up (line being added in to already recorded audio). It was a website URL. Everyone in the room listened to me spell out what I thought was an acronym. It was sent off for approval. The main feedback from the client was “he needs to pronounce it as a word. Not D-O-L-T (not the actual letters), but DOLT.” this could’ve all been avoided if either I asked a question or the production team asked a question.
Here are some quick and dirty DON’TS
- Don’t think impressions are enough to find success in voice acting. They aren’t. Voice acting is about ACTING. You know who else can do a great Joker impression? Mark Hamill. Alan Tudyk. Voice match auditions are uncommon and for you to rely ONLY on voice match work will be very tough.
- Don’t DM creators just to say “hi”, “hey” or any variation of that. It wastes their time. If you have something to ask them or share with them, get to the point. And please don’t say “I have a question” and wait for their response. Just ask the question!
- Don’t have an unprofessional handle/email/online presence. Some people make this work, but you are likely making a first impression purely based on your handle/email/online presence. So best to put your best foot forward. I will not be hiring @FortnightIsMyBae to voice my radio commercial.
- Working for free when the client has a budget or CAN pay you. Too often voice actors are taken advantage of, don’t let it happen to you.
- Don’t assume (that’s it, that’s the thing.)
- Don’t figure out usage/payment/terms AFTER the client has your audio. Set the boundaries before they get the files.
- Don’t take the words of a random voice actor as gospel (no matter how disarmingly Canadian he is). I constantly hear differing opinions in threads, on webinars and in workshops. Draw your own conclusions from multiple sources.
- Don’t take those willing to help for granted. Nobody HAS to help you in this industry. Most choose to because they love the community and love supporting one and other. If someone makes time for you, respect their time and be courteous.
- Don’t consider booking a role as “winning” and not booking as “losing”. There’s so much more to it than that. You’re either selected for the role or you’re not. You can do everything right and they just don’t like you for a role. Don’t use win/lose or you’ll drive yourself nuts.
Whew, I think that’s about it. I’m sure I’m missing some and may make a part two down the road but for the time being that’s all I got.
To summarize on the bigger picture “DON’TS”…
DON’T, record your demo too soon.
DON’T use modifiers like aspiring, beginner or training.
DON’T be too divisive online
DON’T be forgettable
DON’T have a big ego
DO NOT not ask questions (Ask questions people)
Until next time, break a lip!