Get Started in Voiceover Work: Choosing Your 1st Coach

As the song says, yes, there are two paths you can go by. First, maybe you just want to make a few bucks, have some fun and maybe make voiceover a hobby. You can jump on Fiverr or Upwork and find a ton of jobs to audition for and that’s great.

But if you think you might want to go pro one day, or even if you don’t know, but want to find out, don’t go the Fiverr route. Fiverr, Upwork, and the freelancer sites can actually damage your career if you ever want to go pro.

If you want to get started on the journey to professional voice acting, it all starts with good coaching. “Coaching?!?!?” you say. “But why do I need coaching? I can talk! I do it every day!”

Here’s the hard truth…

Chapters:
0:00 – 0:42 Getting into VO
0:42 – 1:14 Why Train?
1:14 – 3:05 Performance Coaching
3:05 – 4:31 Research: Podcasts and Coaches
4:31 – 4:51 Listen, Lurk, & Linger
4:51 – 5:30 Vet the Coaches
5:30 – 6:08 What’s It Cost?
6:08 – 7:35 Getting Demo-Ready
7:35 – 8:21 Which Demos?
8:21 – 9:04 It’s About the Acting
9:04 – 9:27 The VO Freedom Master Plan
9:27 - 9:59 Thanks and Close
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[MsLissa-sijg]

I’m actually in the process of hiring a new coach. My first one sold nothing but snake oil so I’m definitely taking my time hiring the next one. This video is incredibly helpful, thanks Paul!

[IceManGav]

Great info! Surprised I learned a lot of this on my own and with producers I've worked with. Always looking for good coaching and classes to take!

[PaulVinger]

Paul, love your witticisms: "I can talk, I do it every day!" "...selling you a bag of air." Succinct and pointed.

[Wordamoufguy]

not beating out gramps!!!🤣🤣 why'd you just have to crush my dreams and soul that way🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😭😭😭😭

[edwardconley]

Glad to see that one of the people I had been looking into was on the shortlist. I feel much more confident moving forwards.

[christyspadaforevoiceactor]

Great point about the need to click with your coach. The first coach I worked with came highly recommended but was just not a good fit for me. I finally realized it wasn't the coach's fault and it wasn't mine, and it would be better to just move on to someone else, which I did, with much better results!

[bencrystalvoiceoverdemo]

What some folks don't realize is that reputable agencies object to your membership on them to protect you. If you're getting work there, you're literally undercutting yourself, and making your agents' jobs that much harder.

[TerryDanielVoiceActor]

Great video, Paul! You always say the things that NEED to be said! Too many charlatans out there peddling bullshit. Thank you for cutting through the crap and providing candid and professional advice!

[nevinstoltz]

Great video Paul! Lot's of good info for for the newbies.

[PrimalCuriosity]

Hi Paul, I am taking your advice forward and looking into my local studio. Do you have any opinion on "The Voiceactors Studio" in las vegas? They talked about the same things you stand for, like marketing and not leaving voice actors out to hang with nothing but recording ability. Could you give a short comment?

[Poelie]

Is there some kind of list per country with “reputable coaches” looking for Netherlands 🇳🇱 or someone knows one?