Voice Acting For Dummies

by David Ciccarelli

  Other skills, such as interpreting text and using your voice to communicate a message, are equally important.

  Interpreting text is akin to being a detective. You have to analyze the who, what, when, where, why, and how of a script to gain a better understanding of what the copywriter expects of you performance-wise. You can uncover more about interpreting scripts in Chapter 5.

  Communicating a message means that you not only understand what you’re reading, but you can also relate on some level with what you’re talking about to give greater authenticity to your read. Chapter 7 gives you more about how to bring life to a message.

  Adding notches to your belt: Experience

  Another important trait you need in order to be a voice actor is to have experience. The question is how do you gain experience when you don’t have any experience? You don’t have to be a professional to gain experience.

  Experience can range from reading aloud all the way through to creating characters in your spare time. Volunteering your voice to read for a charity, public service announcements (PSAs), or a spot for a local organization can go a long way in building your client list.

  Feeling it in your soul: Ambition and passion

  Having a drive to succeed and a desire to use your voice are essential. If you don’t like doing voice-overs, what’s the point? Make sure that you truly want to do this kind of work. As with any professional pursuit, being ambitious and passionate plays an important role in voice acting. For some people, voice acting is merely a hobby. For others, it’s a passion that develops with each syllable and exploration of their voice. Many voice actors don’t do it for the money. It’s passion that drives them.

  If you’re passionate about voice acting, it won’t ever seem like work. Voice acting can be a career that you’re enthusiastic about, proud of, and are happy knowing that you’ve used your gifts to the best of your abilities.

  Dedicating yourself to the craft: Persistence and commitment

  In order to be successful with voice acting, you also need to possess some persistence and commitment to the craft, even when things aren’t going well. You won’t book every job that you audition for; you need to remember that the casting process is about selection, not rejection. Be committed to your art and the money will follow.

  Always looking to improve: Study

  Before you drive a car you need to learn how to drive. Voice acting is the same. Before you can start voice acting, you need to know how to use your voice. Although doing so may be obvious, starting out as a voice actor presents its own stipulations, such as studying the craft, discovering how to use the instrument (your voice), and maximizing the talents you were born with.

  The best way to study the craft is to listen to professional voice-overs and read industry publications. Don’t be afraid to seek out a teacher or resources online. Even the best actors have a coach, just as athletes train with someone each day. You can always continue to figure out new things about your voice and how to use it. (Refer to Chapter 3 for more help.)

  Looking inward to see whether voice acting fits you

  Before you make a decision to go into voice acting, you have to take a close look at yourself and determine whether the business is right for you. Decades ago, if you were to get into the business of voice acting, you either had to be born in a studio, raised behind a microphone, or have a relative in the business (that, or be very, very persistent, not unlike today). Times have changed. Now voice acting is all about the acting.

  Your Mom may think you have a beautiful voice, but unless your Mom is the casting director or producer, she can’t land you the job.

  Ask yourself these questions to see whether this business is right for you:

  Do you know how to use your voice for voice acting? Although most people think that voice acting is all about the voice, the truth of the matter is that it’s not about the voice but rather how it’s used. For instance, you may be born with a booming, announcer voice, but if you don’t know how to use it effectively or know how to act, your naturally sonorous voice won’t get you anywhere.

  There’s a voice for every job and a job for every voice. No two clients are the same and every business needs something different. The world of voice acting provides opportunities for all voice types, ages, and vocal characteristics — even if you think your voice is too creaky, childlike, or gravelly. Refer to the earlier section, “Eyeing the Characteristics of a Voice-Over Voice” for what makes a good voice.

  Do you embrace technology? This question is important, especially if you freelance. Being a freelance voice actor means that you need to have the skills to operate all the studio equipment as well as provide a convincing performance. Some people in the industry can help you get familiar with your equipment and show you how to put it to good use. The chapters in Part V delve deeper into the technical aspects of voice acting.

  Do you have marketing know-how? The voice acting industry, like all entertainment and media fields, is teeming with talented people. So how do you get noticed? Successful voice actors are savvy marketers. Marketing the services you provide as a voice actor is critical. People won’t know what you do or why they should hire you unless you tell them. You can spread the word about your voice-over in hundreds of ways. Chapter 9 discusses some creative ways you can promote your talents and get noticed.

  Do you think running your own business is risky? Most entrepreneurs enjoy the thrill of risk. Whether you have an agent or you’re freelancing, you are running your own business — you’re an entrepreneur. Part of running your own business is accepting and being prepared to take some risks. Chapters 15 and 16 go into the basics of running a business.

  So after asking yourself these questions, do you have what it takes? Your skills, abilities, interests, personality, and temperament all play a vital role in the career path you choose. The good news is that many career self-assessment tools are available in case you need some extra help. These tools test your compatibility with a variety of industries and potential career paths.

  We suggest you check out our website, www.voices.com. It offers a free self-assessment tool in the help section. Other resources available include www.elance.com, www.guru.com, and www.odesk.com. If you’re new to the industry, you may enjoy giving one of these sites a try. Remember that there are no wrong answers. By answering honestly, you can determine what areas you may need extra training in to establish a fulfilling career in voice acting.

  You can also take this short self-assessment tool quiz at www.voices.com/tools/self_assessment to find out more about your talents as a voice actor.

  Tuning Into Your Signature Voice

  A signature voice is, at the very heart of it all, your money voice. It’s the sound and kind of readings that people consistently ask and/or hire you to perform. Although some voice actors pride themselves in being able to be everything to everybody performance-wise, many choose to brand their voice and serve a particular market or niche within voice-over. In other words, your signature voice is the one you are most frequently hired to perform and make money with, not necessarily the one you think is the most fun to do.

  The following sections help you figure out what your signature voice is and feel comfortable using your signature voice.

  Some famous voice actors: Can you hear them now?

  You’ve turned on the TV or radio and probably heard many memorable famous stars who also serve as voice actors for commercial advertisements. Some of the more memorable ones include the following:

  Morgan Freeman: Morgan Freeman’s voice has become one of the most identifiable voices heard in film and commercial voice-over. His run as the voice of VISA and narrator of many documentaries and films, such as March of the Penguins, have positioned him as a trustworthy and authoritative storyteller.

  James Earl Jones: From the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars to Mufa
sa in The Lion King and narrator of documentaries such as Planet Earth, James Earl Jones’s voice is a deep, rich, grandfatherly voice whose unmistakable timber and delivery resonates with multiple generations.

  Kelsey Grammer: Best-known for playing Dr. Frasier Crane on the television shows Cheers and Frasier, Kelsey Grammer’s baritone voice has been the voice chosen to help advertise some of the most commonly purchased products in the United States. Honey Nut Cheerios, Helzberg Diamonds, and more have all featured Grammer’s voice in their commercials.

  Carolyn Hopkins: Although not a typical celebrity, Carolyn Hopkins’s voice is heard all over the world by millions of people each day in airports, at train stations, and on subway systems. Hers is the most recognizable voice perhaps in the transportation industry.

  Dame Judi Dench: The voice of Dame Judi Dench has been defined by The Guardian and BBC News as embodying elements of what many consider to be the perfect female voice. Her voice is alluring, soft, and velvety using her richly textured instrument to the best of her ability in earlier comedic roles on television, via film as M in James Bond, and in narration on the Epcot Spaceship Earth ride at Disney World.

  Don LaFontaine: If you’ve ever been to the movies, you can relate to one of the most famous examples of a signature voice, which was Don LaFontaine’s movie trailer voice. Whenever you heard the opening words “In a world . . . ”, you were hearing his signature voice at work.

  Finding your signature voice

  Your signature voice is unique to you because everyone has a unique voice print. When getting to know your signature voice, you can gain understanding of how your voice works best in a commercial setting, such as paid work that you may do recording a voice-over for radio or television, and also become familiar with the sound or characteristics of your voice that resonate with those individuals doing a casting.

  Zeroing in on a niche and distinctive read that makes you money is great, but it may take time to discover what other people feel your strong suits are and also what you continuously get hired to do.

  Ask those people closest to you about what they think about your vocal characteristics and abilities to see if they can help you figure out your signature voice. Try reading different kinds of scripts to see if your vocal qualities lend themselves more to specific markets, character types, or applications of voice-over. For example, if you have a hard-hitting voice full of gravel, your voice may be more suited to the world of sports or radio imaging, whereas if you have a soothing, pleasant voice, your instrument may be better applied in telephony or narration. If you have a voice that doesn’t seem to fit anywhere corporate and sounds rather unique or quirky, consider where you may go if you tried to voice characters as an animation voice-over artist.

  Sometimes your signature voice and voice-over work runs parallel to your personality, disposition, and interests. For people who fit this mold, identifying and honing your signature voice may be easier for you, because it may come naturally.

  Many voice actors find their signature voice through mimicry. Imitating the voice of someone you know — characters on television or a celebrity — can lead to work in voice matching, a relatively lucrative field. Some actors make a living sounding like other people and record for them in their absence. One such example is how Pat Fraley was the voice match for Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story II. If Tim Allen couldn’t rerecord something or come into the studio for whatever reason, Pat stepped in and supplied the voice for the character.

  Seeing yourself in your signature voice

  Although your signature voice can be a true reflection of your personality, according to many voice actors, their signature voices aren’t always that way. In fact, sometimes the voice that you’re hired for most contrasts with your natural self or what you consider to be your signature voice.

  Sometimes your signature voice directly correlates with your own personality. You may be able to see yourself in your signature voice if you’re particularly interested in something. The exuberance and confidence you pour into that read shines through with more brilliance because it’s something you’re already passionate about.

  On the flipside, some signature voices rely more on the quality of your voice than on your general interest in the topic you’re voicing. You may have a sunshiny personality but find that most of the time you’re hired to record medical narrations or more subdued copy.

  Honoring the past: A brief history of voice acting

  Reginald Fessenden, a Canadian inventor, was a brilliant mathematician and excelled in academics. Being enamored with the invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell, Fessenden set out on a quest to develop a means of remote communication without the restriction of wires — wireless as it was to be known later.

  In 1900 Fessenden set out to work for the United States Weather Bureau. During this time, he test-recorded the first voice-over in 1900, while reporting on the weather.

  The first radio recording

  Fessenden became radio’s first voice during Christmas of 1906 when he broadcast from a makeshift studio in Brant Rock, just outside Boston, a program of Christmas messages and spiritual music to ships at sea. The Christmas Eve program as recounted by Fessenden consisted of:

  “First a short speech by me saying what we were going to do, then some phonograph music . . . Then came a violin solo by me . . . which I sang one verse of, in addition to playing the violin, though the singing, of course, was not very good. Then came the Bible text, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will, and we finally wound up by wishing them a Merry Christmas and then saying that we proposed to broadcast again on New Year’s Eve.”

  Walt Disney performed first cartoon voice

  More familiar was the first cartoon voice-over in 1928 by Walt Disney as Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Willie. The following year, 1929, the first cartoon series produced, Looney Tunes, debuted in cinemas.

  The first prominent voice actor in animation was former radio personality, voice actor, and comedian Mel Blanc. In 1936 he joined Leon Schlesinger Productions, a company that made animated cartoons, which were distributed by Warner Bros. Blanc was famous for his versatility and is still known today as The Man of 1000 Voices.

  Recent history

  In today’s industry, one of the most famous people in voice acting is Don LaFontaine, who in 1964 recorded his first voice-over for a movie trailer. He was paid less than $100, a far cry from the premium rates that professional voice actors can command today. Throughout his long and successful career, he set the standard for how movie trailers were written and voiced, literally becoming the voice of the movies. Although his physical passing on September 1, 2008, left a great void, his spirit remains and legacy continues to grow and serve those in the voice acting community.

  With any voice-over, be sure that the creation and delivery doesn’t injure you or cause physical discomfort. If something doesn’t feel right when you’re performing, stop what you’re doing and figure out why the pain is there and if you can create that sound without hurting yourself. There’s nothing worse than having to record for long periods of time with a voice or delivery that hurts! Imagine if you were to book a job with a voice that hurt you to produce. Staying in good voice and maintaining a consistent performance would be difficult. You could also strain your vocal folds or injure yourself. Don’t ever do an episodic role, such as being a character in a cartoon, video game, or long-form narration project, with a voice that hurts you to produce.

  Voices.com provides contact customer service and support

  Voices.com has a wonderful group of people dedicated to providing world-class customer service and support. To complement the personalized touch of a customer service representative, you can also access a wealth of resources at the website, which are sure to answer your question. Contact Voices.com via the following:

  Telephone: You
can reach a customer service representative by phone by calling (888) 359-3472 toll-free in North America from Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern time. For international callers, you can get customer service and technical support by calling (519) 858-5660. Service is also available on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time.

  Email: Email support is available during the same hours. If you want to access online resources at your own convenience, the Help section of the Voices.com website is available to you at any time and includes resources such as a frequently asked questions knowledge base, user guides, blogs, podcasts, music and sound effects, videos, downloadable resources, and more.

  Live chat: Live chat is available from Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern time.

  Ready to take the next step? Enjoy access to business and voice-over resources and create your very own website for free to showcase your voice and highlight your abilities. To launch your career, create your free account at www.voices.com.

  Chapter 3

  Training Your Voice

  In This Chapter

  Appreciating what training can do for you

  Finding a great coach

  Getting the most out of your lessons

  Before you jump into recording your voice, looking for work, and calling agents for representation, you want to ensure that you’re prepared for the rigors of voice acting. Making sure your voice is ready and trained is important because you need to be conditioned for whatever may come your way. Think of this from an athlete’s perspective. Athletes know that they need to stretch and loosen up before exerting themselves to prepare for the best possible performance. Training is part of the game. Voice acting is no different. If you don’t train, your voice won’t be able to do what you want it to and will lack the elasticity it needs. You could even risk vocal injury!