How Do You Break Into Voice Over Work?

I am loving the questions that are coming into my inbox from our subscribers, so I am going to take them on one post at a time.

How does one break into voice overs? is the question that’s at the top of the pile so I’ll start with that one.

As with anything these days, there’s really no definitive answer since the business keeps changing at a rapid pace. (Just today they announced that for the first time ever that an A.I. actress is seeking representation. Or more accurately, the company that created her is accepting offers. Her name is Tilly Norwood, but the Screen Actors Guild has yet to acknowledge her. NorSHOULD they! (That word play was too easy to pass up. :) But it’s also no laughing matter and SAG agrees. Here’s an article with their response if you’re interested.

But back to V.O. work!

Here’s my straightforward approach to beginning your voice over career:

• Figure out what kind of voice over work you’d like to do (or you’re best at.)

There are a number DIFFERENT TYPES of Voice Over Artists: Announcers, character voices, Audio Book narrators, natural sounding spokespeople, etc. Find out what you’re best at and focus on that. If you think you’re good at more than one, make sure you have separate reels. That being said…

• Put together a REEL.

A typical challenge in this industry is that you usually have to have a reel to GET work, but you can’t get work WITHOUT a reel. So what do you do? FAKE IT! One trick I always suggest when you’re starting out: If you take any random magazine and flip through it you’ll find it’s full of ads. And since it’s a visual medium all of those ads will have COPY! (i.e. words that are helping to sell the product.) A good way to start your reel is to use that copy as if it was a script. Record yourself as if you were the professional V.O. actor hired to do the radio version of that ad. If you’re more into character voices, then put together a reel that’s a sampling of your best ones. (Most reels, by the way, shouldn’t be longer than 2 minutes or so. Here’s a link to my character one, although I should note, most VO reels also don’t put the voices to visuals like this one is, but since I had the footage I used it. I also have it as a simple audio file. )

• Link your REEL to a YOUTUBE CHANNEL or Website so that people can find you!

In this day and age, there is NO REASON for you NOT to be represented on line. Whether it’s a website or on social media, if you’re interested in voice over work you need to let people know that’s what you do.

• HELP PEOPLE FIND YOU!

Never assume people are aware of your hopes and dreams. People are too focused on their own lives to be thinking about your desires so we have to help them. Part of that is to make it KNOWN and make it EASY for people to know what you do and what you’re looking for. Add a link to your email signature that leads to your VO real. Start an Instagram account where you show off your talents. People need to know!

• Find an online V.O. support group.

Casting for voice overs comes from many different sources nowadays. There are many DISCORDs, Facebook groups and Substack accounts where people express their casting needs. Most video game jobs, in fact, are NON-UNION so they’re sometimes able to find artists through unorthodox means.

• Find an AGENT.

Keep in mind, all the above can be done WITHOUT AN AGENT! However, if you DO all the above, it will make it easier for an agent to find you and possibly sign you. But don’t be afraid to go about it the old fashioned way: Cold calling (which today means emailing) agents who represent voice over actors. Gone are the days where you had to knock on doors and hand people your reel (Cassette? Demo?). Nowadays, everything can be emailed. And yes, if you have a link in your email signature, I will almost always click on it out of pure curiosity.

• Find your COMMUNITY

Like anything in life, things are more fun in a group. Plus you get the added wisdom of people who have travelled a different path than you.

So if YOU have DIFFERENT IDEAS on how to BREAK INTO VOICE OVERS, or if you have stories of how you got to where you are, feel free to pop them in the chat.

In the meantime, THIS SATURDAY at 10am, I’m going to be chatting about voice over careers with my dear friend and fellow voice artist: The INSANELY TALENTED JIM MESKIMEN! It will be our FIRST EVER LIVE TELECAST here on Substack and I hope you’ll join us!

So if you’re free this SATURDAY 10/4/25 at 10am (PST) we’ll meet you back here!

“ It always seems impossible until it’s done.” — Nelson Mandela

POST MORTEM

Here is just a sampling of Jim’s vocal talent as he helped me get the word out about my book HOST MORTEM earlier this year with his incredible impressions.

HOST MORTEM

As mentioned earlier, each of the FOUR ISSUES that make up my graphic novel HOST MORTEM will be narrated by a different character with a different, distinct art style to match.

Since ISSUE #2 is narrated by Kevin and Greg’s fast talkin’ 1940’s receptionist, we thought this section of the story should have more of a GOLDEN AGE vibe to it since that would match her cultural references.

Andrea Schiavone’s fun and forties-looking designs are really setting the tone for the HUMOR and HOMICIDE that come with issue number 2.

Heres a SNEAK PEAK at some of Andrea’s early sketches that are going to make this book a DIVERSE OFFERING OF EXCEPTIONAL ARTISTRY!