Voiceover Pros Tell You How to Get Started in Voiceovers

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Gabrielle Nistico has gathered some of the best VO actors across the nation to answer questions that all beginners have when wanting to get into the voiceover industry.

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[CarlMazur]

One thing I recommend for ones I help out in the field is:
DO NOT try and be like another voice over person. I see so many try and "get into the radio guy" box and it doesn't sound natural because it isn't. One of the big changes that has come in roughly 20 years, are clients are looking for much more wide ranges of voice acting, from raspy, oddity all the way to young/catchy and they want something original. I've had a number of voice over "men" tell me that having that deep radio voice is fine, but one said, "problem is we are a dime a dozen out there." That might be true, I would rather train people to be themselves and it really fits their vocal range. The owner of the radio station I started at would not let me on the air... Because I didn't have that deep growling voice. Although, I used to do some impressions by calling in the morning show, and he asked John the morning DJ who that was doing Ronald Reagan. He said, Carl did it. It still didn't change him. In fact, he seemed agitated that he was wrong about me.

My brother Tim has always wanted that deep radio voice and he has a really high country-like twangy voice. He always, always goes into the radio voice and it sounds so unnatural to his style of voice. He took classes but he still reverts to what he thinks is better. Completely disregarding what the high end pros have told him.

Practice non-stop at first
Get a microphone off Amazon, like a Yeti for around $100 and it has a really great medium sound that can be used for almost anything. Everyday, start to practice on the mic doing reads of commercial scripts. Many VO artists immediately get caught up in the areas of technicalities like learning how to crank up compression, limiting and bypassing all the good stuff that comes naturally. No matter how much you tweak your audio... It will never sound better than someone who has practiced to get there. I first started at a radio station where I wasn't on air talent but an engineer. Every night I would be running shows on air, but I took every moment I had free to cut as many spots as I could. Then, once I got into TV I used to stay till 2 AM reading voice overs and learning inflections over and over and also taking the microphone at every angle possible to get that right sound... For me. I also played with volume levels that fit me. Like if I cranked the volume really high, I wouldn't have to talk as loud which made me sound more natural as when I felt I was kind yelling the words out. So when I found that out, my VO's really became natural sounding. One night while recording, since I had been practicing for so long, I was able to notice something... There was a range in my voice I din't know I had! It's like my brain told my throat to move a certain way and this deeper more resonant voice just eased out of me. I'm not talking the radio voice, a deeper voice for my style. Interestingly, I have never lost that touch. I can go to it anytime I feel in Vo's or just goofing around at home.

Know your sound perfectly
You won't recognize subtle differences in your voice, by ear, unless you get to know your own voice. What I mean is, you mainly hear the vibrations in your head as you talk, and then a certain amount from your mouth area. That's why so many are shocked when they first get on the mic, and they say, "that's not me! It sounds so weird." With never ceasing practice at the start of your career, you will be able to identify and target each little thing you did right or wrong during a read. Also, what this does, it sets you up for success because you will automatically have a magic setting for inflections.

Scripts that deserve the trash.
I always write scripts to the way I talk. It usually takes about 3-4 edits to do that. When writing we use a different mindset. It's slower and we are thinking of words. When reading it's faster and we are processing words, not creating them. Many problems come from poorly written scripts. Breaking the continuity with faulty wording. Words are in the wrong order, jump cut words that contrast meaning and thought too much, or redundant stacking of words and so on. A really great script edit can make world of difference! One thing I always screw up at first... Using too many words! Use of too many descriptive words. Like, "the really awesome friendly cat jumped out of the window" which might sound better with a fun descriptive, leaving more meaning than using more words. "Being so ornery and it's playful self, the cat launched from the window." Or maybe, "The cat was so ornery, he launched his playful self right out the window." But, as you will find out as a student or semi-experienced, there's no way are you changing the script if it's approved by a team of corporate heads. Or maybe it was a "radio expert" who wrote the lines?.... Because they listen to the radio they are seasoned professionals, right?.... NOT!! Many times I have been stuck with horrible, backwards and weird sounding scripts that just don't go together while reading. That's when experience kicks in, you smile, you get pumped up and you make that energy come across at the agency person eyeballing you. Confidence that you can work miracles with any script will make it so much easier than fighting the script. Using inflections at just the right time can also help a crappy script go right.

[Misunderstoodboygenius]

Gabby! This was freaking awesome! This is, so far, the best, most honest, not pie in the sky video on VO I have seen to date! I’ve been struggling about wether I wanted to do this as career 4 and this video has made me remember why I want to, and that it will take time. Thank you thank you thank you!

[hereonlycomment]

Harry Legg...
I finally did it...
I found the best name in the world

[poppasings]

Thank you, Gabby. I realize this is almost 4 years old, but it is still great information.

[SaraCarraway]

All these pros have such nice voices! Thank you for this video.

[JR-sdfk]

This is fantastic! You're the first one I've come across who let me know the real deal.

[SarahLK]

This video is quite informative and all the VO Actors has given some lessons from their journey. I liked it and learned many things.

[allinonsw]

Curious to know if Chris Fries middle initial is P.

[ZimaletaMotors]

Thanks for the video I subscribed, I am getting into voice over after 3 years on YouTube and over 700 videos, I realized that I really enjoyed talking and getting payed for it lol fun stuff 😆

[sdmackpictures]

Great advice. Thanks for putting that together. My mentor was Don Lafontaine and he also recommended training and conversational style delivery. Education is key. Thanks again.

[Valandor_Celestial_Warlock]

Thanks, Gabby, for the excellent video and the sage advice. I've been wanting to get into VO work now for years but have only very recently decided to take the plunge and see what happens. New subscriber here. Looking forward to watching more of you. Cheers!

[allinonsw]

I wonder if Harry legg ever did commercials for women's shaving products.. Think about that one for a minute.

[Jen-ghul]

My teenage son has a very deep voice and has been told many, many, many times that he should be a voice actor. All of the people in the video say to take VO classes and lessons, but where do you do that? I don't want to get scammed by someone who isn't legitimate.

[djclovisa]

your vids are very good much love from South Africa

[marlonmitchell]

Thx for this luv your content. Take care

[michaelross]

Like this channel of yours. Briefly, British actor for nearly 40 years, everything from live theatre to TV and feature films. But branched out into writing, wrote a true Life story and narrated it and won last years Independent Audio Book awards, and only yesterday was a finalist in the 2020 SABA category for Best Audiobook Narrator, just setting up a home recording booth. Okay, couple of questions? Would you produce a voiceover sample and where do I go from here? Thanks so much, Michael

[pattibullock]

This has been so very helpful...TY !! Looking forward to growing in the business!! :)

[roystonwilson]

Loved your work gabby - could you please guide me - I’m looking for a coach guide help me enter this industry

[colmanmwaramu]

I love what am listening to say....from where I come from, , the pro voice over artists, find it hard to help one who is new inthe industry, , guess becoz of competition or some.other reasons....

I come from KENYA, ,African continent.

How can I get assisted to grow my potential

Regards
CMvoices

[basedandbinguspilled]

I swear I thought Karen DeBoer was Siri at first...