How I became a Voiceover Artist
Today I want to share a story about my trajectory as a voiceover artist and the perils of giving authorities too much credence.
My final year of theatre school (2007) an agent came and talked to our class. We could ask her questions about the industry. I raised my hand and said, I was hoping to get into voice work, could she recommend steps I should take?
I didn’t know much about voiceover work, but the idea of being in a sound booth and using only my voice to convey meaning was something I was drawn to.
The agent spoke with authority and certainty. She said there was nothing unique about my voice, nor did I “sound like anyone famous”. She said the industry was extremely difficult to break into. “Don’t bother trying.”
I was disappointed. I had had an inkling I'd be good at voice work but after her discouraging comments in front of my classmates, I was ashamed for thinking there was anything special about my voice. It seemed I’d been called out for “snowflake” tendencies. I let go of my voiceover hopes.
Eight years later (2015) I was in a show at Tarragon Theatre in Toronto with an actor named Paul Braustein, who does loads of voice work.
Unprompted he encouraged me to make a voiceover demo and gave me the contact details of a sound engineer who’d record and edit it for me. So I did.
Not long after that, I moved to the UK. While my hunt to find an acting agent was abysmal, with that demo I had my choice of top notch voiceover agents. To be fair, there’s a market for “American” voices in the industry here, so that may have given me a leg up.
Nonetheless, since early 2016 I have been working as a voiceover artist in London. I've learned on the job and the gigs have become bigger and better as I’ve improved. I primarily do commercial work. It’s technical, nuanced and, frankly, really fun.
Voiceover work is now my main source of income. It has afforded me the time to devote to creative work that I LOVE: my solo shows, teaching, writing my book and even these newsletters. It’s also allowed me to live alone in this very difficult city.
That agent who told me not to bother was so entirely wrong about the value of my voice and I’m so grateful Paul nudged me to make a demo.
It's easy for the words of authority figures to close doors IN OUR MINDS and stop us from PURSUING things we feel drawn to. When they tell us what we are, what we’re not and what opportunities are available to us, we often internalise it. We get cut off from the endless possibilities that are actually waiting for us.
How preposterous that ONE person who’d heard me ask ONE question would be given the power to keep me from my most lucrative income stream!?!?!?
I hope this anecdote encourages you to reconsider those things you wanted to do, but were discouraged from pursuing, and to give them a shot.
"Authorities” must be challenged. It’s never too late. Challenge them with your actions. Find out for yourself what you’re capable of.
p.s. Wanna listen to one of my most recent ads? Click here.
Want to get into VO work yourself?!
Check out my post on how to get started!
*Voiceover work is freelance and tenuous. There are feast and famine periods. Regularity is not guaranteed. This comes with its own challenges. I’ve found when I treat it like “bonus” money” to squirrel away and parcel out, it works best for me.