How to Cast in a Voice Acting Role
By Wyatt Elling
After your voice demo reel is complete, it's time to send it out. Call up talent agencies in your area to see which ones have special voice-acting divisions, and send them your reel. Most commercial producers rely exclusively on casting agencies to fill their roles, and the agents are happy to have the steady work for their clients. You can also send your demo reel directly to production houses and casting directors, although this usually works best when the company is small or local.
Like any other acting job, you'll have to go to an audition for a voice-acting role. These usually take place in voice-recording studios with a sound engineer on hand. You'll usually be given the script before hand to practice, but given the nature of the voice-over industry the lines can change overnight. Be prepared to be flexible. You'll be asked to sit or stand while reading into a microphone. It's important not to wear any clanking jewelry or loud clothing, as the slightest background sounds can throw off the recording. Also, never touch or tap the microphone to test the levels. It annoys the sound engineer, who you'll want to be on your side to do the best recording possible. Just speak loudly and clearly; it's not your job to mess with the technical side of things.
When an audition is over, the casting directors and ad agents go through the sample recordings and settle on the finalists, or even just choose the voice actor they want right then. Before you take a voice-acting gig, make sure you understand the different pay structures available. The most basic type of paycheck for voice-acting is the Flat-Fee or Buy-Out. Under this contract the producers pay you per hour or recording or a lump sum for the recording session. After that they have the unlimited right to your voice recordings, and can use it as often as they like. Small local commercials, telephone prompts, and TV/Radio promos are usually paid this way. The Wild Spot Fee structure is more desirable, as you're voice is purchased for a period of time, usually around 13 weeks. If your commercial is popular, they can purchase an additional 13 weeks from you for the same price. The best kind of pay structure is the Residual. Under Residuals you're paid for your recording time, and you're paid an additional fee every time your show, movie, or commercial is aired or purchased. Imagine if you were paid every time an episode of The Simpsons aired around the world! Residuals never expire, except under extraordinary legal circumstances.
When you've completed a voice acting gig, always ask the producers for a copy of the ad/show/promo/ect. You'll need to keep an archive of all your voice acting work in order to keep your demo reel up to date, and to put together different demo reels with different tones or personas. While doing voice over work for TV shows is easy to prove, jobs like commercials and promos are easy to lose track of. Once a radio ad is finished running, for instance, it disappears into whatever archive, if any, the advertising company keeps and it can be very hard to access later.
Now you know what a voice actor does and how to go about getting into the industry. If you're serious about pursuing voice-over jobs, it's always helpful to take diction and singing lessons to learn better rhythm and proper breathing. If you've got a voice of gold and determination, you just might become a household sound!
Click here for Part 1 of How to Make Money as a Voice Actor: What is Voice-Acting and here for Part 2,
Making a Voice Demo Reel!
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