Has this ever happened to you: you are chatting to someone on the phone or in person and they suddenly comment on your voice; it might be a remark about how deep, husky, hungarian voice over artist or even sexy it is? They may have gone further and suggested you could do radio or TV ads. If this sounds familiar then perhaps a career in voiceovers could be a possibility, but is having a good speaking voice enough?
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The answer, though, is no. To earn a living, part or full time, using your vocal cords you need something else. Voice-overs are only partly about the way you sound; they are, also about the way you interpret a script and crucially the way you read someone else's words.
The aim of the voice actor is to bring these words to life, no matter how complex, alien or even boring they may be. This is because what the client wants to hear is the idea being transmitted. The vocal talent is in being able to communicate a message clearly and with meaning. You have to sound like you know what you are talking about, even if you do not.
The golden rule of any voiceover is to possess the words; that is to say you have to own them and make them yours. Only then can you truly enrich them with meaning. This has nothing to do with the tonal quality of the voice, but everything to do with the mindset. It is all about the attitude of the reader; does she/he sound convincing? Are they hesitating, or putting in too many pauses? Is there too much drama in a technical piece, or too little energy in a hard sell commercial? Is a corporate video being delivered with frivolity rather than authority, or a charity appeal lacking gravitas? A good director will be able to mould the artist accordingly, but often the talent will be recording at home and have to rely on their own judgement. Learning to trust your own ears is essential.
Also are you able to meet deadlines? The audio track is often the very last element to be considered in a project and the decision about who will perform the piece is sometimes left to the very last minute. That's why agents, production companies and producers want people who can deliver the sound sample on time and within budget. So flexibility helps, as does the ability to record at home for a fast turnaround.
Ask yourself if you would take criticism to heart. Many budding voice artists have their egos dented by clients' and agents' comments and this can throw them off course. You need to develop a thick skin. Because voice-overs are subjective, one person's opinion of the way you sound is exactly that, an opinion. However when you have put lots of effort into a project it can be hurtful to be rejected, but keeping a dispassionate distance can help any bruised pride.
Are you prepared to treat your new career as a business? The more professional you are, the more your prospects are likely to take you seriously. Keep tax receipts, issue invoices with payment terms and sell yourself like a true pro. It works wonders.
So your natural timbre and pitch are simply not enough on their own to give you a career using your larynx. Always bear in mind there is much more to the mouth industry than meets the ear!
Once you have identified a potential voiceover artist that you would like to work with, here are some steps to follow to making the hiring process go as smoothly as possible.
1. If your script is already written email the full script for a quotation.
2. If the script is still a work in progress email an approximation of the final length in either time or number of words. A word count is preferred over a page count as font size and style, margins and layout can all influence how many words are on a page. Don't forget to mention that the script is to be used as a elearning narration.
3. If you are choosing between 2 or three voiceover artists, why don't you ask each to record a short section from the script to help with the casting decision. Most voiceover artists are more than happy to record this free of charge and understand that it may involve several people to get a final casting decision.
4. Your voiceover artist should then be able to provide you with a quote and estimated turnaround time for the recording.
5. If you are working to a tight schedule or tight budget do let your voiceover artist know the constraints you are working to. Most voiceover artists will do their best to accommodate your requirements.
6. With regards to the quote, confirm whether the quote includes editing into the individual screen/slides. Also confirm whether the quote is for a full-buyout, 1 year license or 2 year license.
7. Confirm the audio format you require and make sure the voiceover artist can deliver in the specified format. Also check which delivery method they will get the audio files to you. Methods can vary from uploading to your FTP server, CD overnight, or via an online file transfer system such as Yousendit.com.
8. Confirm the payment options with your voiceover artist. Some voiceover artists request a 50% deposit before recording can begin. Many voiceover artists are happy to receive payment via paypal, cheque or bank transfer.