How do i get started in Voice Over/Voice Acting?

What’s the best way of getting started in anything? Well, the first step is to start! It might be one small step for you, but it’s one giant leap towards your dreams! Here are some great resources with more information:

Are you sure you want to be a voice actor? Read this post by Brigid Reale on the Blog:

Looking for more? Check this space and the blog, I’ll be updating both soon with more resources for you.

RECOMMENDED READING

Many people have asked me for recommendations on reading material, for those who want to get into voiceover, and those who want to grow as performers, and grow their careers. These are all books I’ve read, owned, and love! (It makes sense, Belle is my favorite Disney princess). Click on the photos to see more information about each book on Amazon, or check them out at your local bookstore.

*These are affiliate links, so by purchasing through them, you’ll be supporting me — thank you in advance!

FOR NEW VOICE ACTORS

VO 101 by Gabrielle Nistico

Voice-Over Voice Actor by Yuri Lowenthal & Tara Platt

THERE’S MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS by Elaine Clark

THE ART OF VOICE ACTING by James Alburger

V-OH! by Marc Cashman

FOR INTERMEDIATE AND WORKING VOICE ACTORS

THE VOICE OVER ACTOR’S HANDBOOK by John Burr

V-OH! by Marc Cashman

THERE’S MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS by Elaine Clark

FOR THE BUSINESS OF VOICE OVER

HOW TO SET UP & MAINTAIN A BETTER VOICEOVER BUSINESS by Gabrielle Nistico

MAKING MONEY IN YOUR PJ’S BY PAUL STRIKWERDA

THERE’S MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS

VOICEOVER ACHIEVER by CELIA SIEGEL

VOCAL CARE AND TECHNIQUES

FREEING THE NATURAL VOICE by KRISTIN LINKLATER

THE VOICE BOOK by Kate DeVore

THE ACTOR SPEAKS by Patsy Rodenburg

RECOMMENDED LISTENING

The VO BOSS podcast blends solid, actionable business advice with a dose of inspiration for today’s voiceover talent. Want to be a BOSS? Dream Big & Build Smart + have a TON OF FUN along the way…Each week, host Anne Ganguzza focuses in on a specific topic to help you grow your voiceover business.

You’re a Voice Actor. You’re an Entrepreneur. You’re a VOprenuer! Everyday VOpreneur is your guide through the business of voice over.

Voice Over Body Shop, or VOBS, is one of the voiceover industry’s most loved “how to do voice over” shows and the go-to VO resource for voice actors everywhere. From their Los Angeles studio, hosts George Whittam and Dan Lenard talk voice over tech, training, recording, and business.

RECOMMENDED EDUCATIONAL MEETUPS & CLASSES

The VO Peeps is proud to bring back our Thursday workout series, where you can get together in a motivating and encouraging environment with other working pros, practice your reads, and get tips and tricks to elevate your performance! Bring the auditions you’re currently working on, or a practice script, and receive feedback from your peers on your performance. Workouts will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis and limited to 10 participants. We’ll offer these workouts on select Thursdays at 5:30 pm PT / 8:30 pm ET hosted by Bonnie Marie Williams.

VO Peeps is a global meetup group founded by Anne Ganguzza, dedicated to providing resources and information about the Voiceover, and related media, industries. Our mission is not only to network with other voice over artists and industry professionals, but to provide continuing education initiatives focused on growing our members’ voiceover skills while enhancing their business model, helping members succeed in the business.

Brent Allen Hagel, the powerhouse behind Trailer Voice Artists provides voiceover masterclasses with some of the top names in the biz. Trailer Voice Artists provides A-List creative marketing voices to advertising agencies, film studios, motion picture advertising vendors, and television networks for national and global marketing campaigns. TVA is a Talent Management and Marketing agency for top-tier voice artists.

Real Voice LA offers a variety of voice over classes and workshops from beginner to working pro. Showcasing a number of different perspectives on each genre of voice over. Join them in studio, online or audit a class via live stream from anywhere in the world.

Global Voice Acting Academy (GVAA) provides professional online voiceover education through classes, workshops, webinars, private coaching, demo production, and VO membership programs. Whether you are just beginning your VO journey or an experienced veteran, GVAA offers professional training, career resources, rate guide services, and a supportive, caring community.

The Virtual Voiceover Exchange is Gabrielle Nistico’s monthly Zoom meetup. Attend this online event from anywhere. Every month they explore a different area of the voiceover industry, & rotate copy-workouts, industry guest speakers & lectures. The cost is low. The teaching is thorough. VVE is low-pressure learning without leaving your house! 

RECOMMENDED SOUND RESOURCES

Want to be a pro voiceover talent? You’ve got to have professional SOUND QUALITY! These are just a few names in this industry that I trust with my audio. They can help you out, too. Tell them I sent you 🙂

If it takes a village to get your audio from start to finish, call on Carl Bahner. Sometimes you need a top-to-bottom production. Other times you just need a little help getting over the finish line. Producer, mixer, engineer extraordinnaire.

Getting the right equipment, learning how to use it, getting the best out of your recording space and delivering high quality audio are critical components to success. And the last thing a voice over artist needs is to worry about those things while trying to perform. That’s where Tim Tippets comes in.

Audio engineer, theatre tech, musician, James Dewit does it all. Need to make sure your audio is in top shape before you send that audition? Does it sound “off” and you can’t quite pinpoint why? Get in touch with James and he’ll get you back on track. He’s saved my audio multiple times, and he even mixed my IVR demo!

OverTone Music is a full service audio company and music lesson studio in Raleigh, NC, owned and operated by audio engineer Chris Bodall. With 20 years of experience with music and audio, he’s worked with big names, and is partially responsible for the Baby Shark phenomenon.