What does a Voiceover Artist do?
A Voiceover Artist applies specialized creative, technical, business, or organizational skills in the music and performing arts. Responsibilities vary by employer, client, and project.
At a Glance
Voiceover artists come from a range of educational and career backgrounds. Many are experienced actors, singers, radio DJs, podcasters, and other professionals who work with their voices. Others lack significant performance experience but are drawn to the field by the promise of flexible, portable freelance work. At the beginning of their career, voiceover artists are unlikely to find enough work to support themselves solely through voiceover; fortunately, it's easy to combine this career with any number of side gigs.
Voiceover artists are freelancers and might work on a wide range of projects, including audiobooks, commercials, documentaries, educational videos, corporate promotional materials, apps, toys, announcements, and phone prompts, as well as fictional media like animated films, dubbed series, video games, and radio dramas. When it comes to finding work, most use online marketplaces such as Voices.com or Voice123, as well as the many general-purpose freelancer sites.
Character work; vocal technique; diction/enunciation; ability to quickly read and interpret copy; breath control; microphone technique; audio recording and editing software; improvisation; flexibility; communication; networking and self-marketing
Soft skills and personality traits that suit this career While a unique and ear-catching voice has helped many a voice actor rise to the top, it's all but useless if not aided by a suite of soft skills, the most important of which is versatility. This refers not to vocal flexibility, itself a vital trait, but to the ability to adjust quickly to feedback from a director, dialogue editor, or recording engineer and work well outside of one's comfort zone.
The voiceover industry has been transformed by advancements in technology, and the biggest changes have been in the area of lifestyle. The ability to record, edit, and transmit high-quality audio on any personal computer means that, in most cases, it's no longer necessary for artists to be located in specific cities or travel to take part in expensive studio sessions. Today, most voiceover artists can find, audition for, and complete jobs from anywhere in the world as long as they have a computer, a microphone, and a grade-A voice.
