Conventional wisdom teaches us that mastering all manner of performance styles and offering the widest possible range of characters is how to be read as versatile. And while that’s certainly true, the fact remains that the most consistent direction you’re likely to hear, regardless of the genre or medium, is “just be yourself.” And after years of training “become someone else” as an actor, your initial response to this “direction” will likely be, “Who the heck do they expect you to be?”

Conventional wisdom teaches us that mastering all manner of performance styles and offering the widest possible range of characters is how to be read as versatile. And while that’s certainly true, the fact remains that the most consistent direction you’re likely to hear, regardless of the genre or medium, is “just be yourself.” And after years of training “become someone else” as an actor, your initial response to this “direction” will likely be, “Who the heck do they expect you to be?”

The Four Key Elements to Determining Type

You might be relieved to discover the best advertising… isn’t advertising at all. By that I mean the adage, “less is more” applies when it comes to art directing your graphics that will allow you to make your name known and associated with being a professional voice talent with taste and an elevated aesthetic.  Here are five key elements to consider when offering insight to your graphic artist as to what you’re after when creating your brand logo and identity.

You might be relieved to discover the best advertising… isn’t advertising at all. By that I mean the adage, “less is more” applies when it comes to art directing your graphics that will allow you to make your name known and associated with being a professional voice talent with taste and an elevated aesthetic.  Here are five key elements to consider when offering insight to your graphic artist as to what you’re after when creating your brand logo and identity.

Branding, Rebranding and Art Direction for Voice Actors

As Actors’ SOUND ADVICE, we strongly encourage all non-union voicetalent to apply some basic union policies and standards to their voiceovercareers to achieve the best, most professional results in their careers. Hereare a few key industry policies to improve your bottom line, elevate yourbrand, instill confidence, and expand your voice acting business.

As Actors’ SOUND ADVICE, we strongly encourage all non-union voice talent to apply some basic union policies and standards to their voiceover careers to achieve the best, most professional results in their careers. Here are a few key industry policies to improve your bottom line, elevate your brand, instill confidence, and expand your voice acting business.

10 Ways to Apply Union Policies to Your Non-Union VO Career

Listen to Actors’ SOUND ADVICE seasoned voiceover demo producer/ career coach, Kate McClanaghan offers expert guidance and insight into how to navigating your career as a voiceover. Regardless of your experience level, those auditioning, or most likely to hire you, will assume you’re a professional actor and expect you to know your job both in and out of the booth.

Listen to Actors’ <a href="http://voiceoverinfo.com/our-exceptional-demo-production/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SOUND ADVICE</a> seasoned voiceover demo producer/ career coach, Kate McClanaghan offers expert guidance and insight into how to navigating your career as a voiceover. Regardless of your experience level, those auditioning, or most likely to hire you, will assume you’re a professional actor and expect you to know your job both in and out of the booth.

Do You Consider Yourself  a VOICE ACTOR?

the Voiceover Industry, Part 1 Whether you’re a SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild &amp; American Federation of Television &amp; Radio Artists) member or not, you probably heard the American actor’s union has joined with the Writer’s Guild (WGA) in an historic strike that will continue to be an industry gamechanger, bringing about some of the most dramatic impacts to the entertainment industry we’ve witnessed since the advent of recorded media itself. Did that get your attention? Hope so. Buckle up, Gang. This thing just got very real, especially when it comes to the most virtual aspect of the work we do as professional talent. Regardless of your union affiliations, the outcome will most certainly impact our business as voiceovers, considering:

the Voiceover Industry, Part 1 Whether you’re a SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild &amp; American Federation of Television &amp; Radio Artists) member or not, you probably heard the American actor’s union has joined with the Writer’s Guild (WGA) in an historic strike that will continue to be an industry gamechanger, bringing about some of the most dramatic impacts to the entertainment industry we’ve witnessed since the advent of recorded media itself. Did that get your attention? Hope so. Buckle up, Gang. This thing just got very real, especially when it comes to the most virtual aspect of the work we do as professional talent. Regardless of your union affiliations, the outcome will most certainly impact our business as voiceovers, considering:

How the Actors’ STRIKE Impacts

One of the many benefits of being a voiceover today over any other time in history is the fact that every session is as near as a simple ‘digital patch’. No need to travel to another town, state or country to record in the same studio where the client who hired you may be. Recording remotely has been a mainstay in professional recording circles since the early ‘90’s, and why the pivot to record talent from their respective locales is not only commonplace, it’s expected.

One of the many benefits of being a voiceover today over any other time in history is the fact that every session is as near as a simple ‘digital patch’. No need to travel to another town, state or country to record in the same studio where the client who hired you may be. Recording remotely has been a mainstay in professional recording circles since the early ‘90’s, and why the pivot to record talent from their respective locales is not only commonplace, it’s expected.

Why Voiceovers Can Book Jobs From Just About Anywhere

If you’ve been pursuing voiceover work on your own in America for the past decade or more, chances are you’ve been following a business model that concentrates almost strictly on securing work all by yourself, or DIY, by procuring jobs primarily through excessively low-paying sites like Fiverr, Upwork and a few Pay-to-Play (P2P) platforms. Nevertheless, voiceover as a career has chiefly been in the hands of actors since the onset of recorded audio, and anyone who hires you as a voiceover assumes you’re an actor, even if you don’t. Traditionally, professional actors enlist the services and expertise of seasoned, accomplished talent agents to secure work. The question is: Is there a better way to land work as a voiceover?

If you’ve been pursuing voiceover work on your own in America for the past decade or more, chances are you’ve been following a business model that concentrates almost strictly on securing work all by yourself, or DIY, by procuring jobs primarily through excessively low-paying sites like Fiverr, Upwork and a few Pay-to-Play (P2P) platforms. Nevertheless, voiceover as a career has chiefly been in the hands of actors since the onset of recorded audio, and anyone who hires you as a voiceover assumes you’re an actor, even if you don’t. Traditionally, professional actors enlist the services and expertise of seasoned, accomplished talent agents to secure work. The question is: Is there a better way to land work as a voiceover?

The Two Prominent Approaches to Voiceover in the States

Voiceover Demos

Beyond your sparkling personality, dulcet vocal tones, and unlimited imagination—your voiceover demos are the most important tool you have to secure work in this business. They are the vehicle you’ll benefit from most to drive your career… provided they’re done right! So, how do you know when you need a new one?

Beyond your sparkling personality, dulcet vocal tones, and unlimited imagination—your <a href="https://voiceoverinfo.com/listen-demos/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">voiceover demos</a> are the most important tool you have to secure work in this business. They are the vehicle you’ll benefit from most to drive your career… provided they’re done right! So, how do you know when you need a new one?

How to Know When You Need to Update Your Voiceover Demos

Here at Actors’ SOUND ADVICE, we coach all our voiceover clients to establish and expand their performance, promotion, and production routine to develop the most agile, creative, and effective abilities in order to advance their careers as working talent. Which initially begs the question: What does it take to go the distance in this business? Here are a few key industry insights to elevate your brand, instill confidence, and encourage you to… procrastinate tomorrow!

Here at <a href="https://voiceoverinfo.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Actors’ SOUND ADVICE</a>, we coach all our voiceover clients to establish and expand their performance, promotion, and production routine to develop the most agile, creative, and effective abilities in order to advance their careers as working talent. Which initially begs the question: What does it take to go the distance in this business? Here are a few key industry insights to elevate your brand, instill confidence, and encourage you to… procrastinate tomorrow!

Procrastinate Tomorrow

“Ambition is the first step to success. The second is action.” There are a few key basics voice talent should know about this industry from the onset that’s either required of you or you can expect as industry standards. Hopefully, understanding them from the start will improve your ability to create, secure work and navigate your voiceover career. Here’s a brief, but important list… 

“Ambition is the first step to success. The second is action.” There are a few key basics voice talent should know about this industry from the onset that’s either required of you or you can expect as industry standards. Hopefully, understanding them from the start will improve your ability to create, secure work and navigate your voiceover career. Here’s a brief, but important list…

Voiceover: The Basics Defined

Kate McClanaghan and Jeff Finney discuss current trends and helpful techniques regarding the voice over industry, and also host interesting interviews with guests.

How much time does it take to establish your voiceover career? How much time and attention does it take to establish and maintain any small business?

How much time does it take to establish your voiceover career? How much time and attention does it take to establish and maintain any small business?

How To Do  Voiceover ‘Part Time’

There’s a common misconception in our culture that states if a road proves too difficult then maybe “it wasn’t meant to be.” Instead, I happen to think the opposite might actually be true. If you are on the right path, then you’re likely to face far more opposition than you ever may have imagined. I don’t wish this for you it’s simply an observation.

There’s a common misconception in our culture that states if a road proves too difficult then maybe “it wasn’t meant to be.” Instead, I happen to think the opposite might actually be true. If you are on the right path, then you’re likely to face far more opposition than you ever may have imagined. I don’t wish this for you it’s simply an observation.

If It’s Meant To Be

Understanding who you’ve created your demos to service most is typically overlooked by both seasoned and novice talent alike. Yet, it’s the endgame, and why this should be your primary focus from the very start. Certainly there are no absolutes in voiceover but there are a number of elements you should consider when first pursuing voiceover as a profession. The truth is, nearly every client in the States, not just talent agents, require a Commercial demo first and foremost.

Understanding who you’ve created your demos to service most is typically overlooked by both seasoned and novice talent alike. Yet, it’s the endgame, and why this should be your primary focus from the very start. Certainly there are no absolutes in voiceover but there are a number of elements you should consider when first pursuing voiceover as a profession. The truth is, nearly every client in the States, not just talent agents, require a Commercial demo first and foremost.

Why You Need to Lead with a Commercial Demo as a Voice-over

Discover some of the best-kept industry secrets that will help you develop the most sought-after skills in the voiceover business. Learn what producers, directors and casting professionals need, want and expect from you as a professional voiceover talent that no one else will likely impart to you!

Discover some of the best-kept industry secrets that will help you develop the most sought-after skills in the voiceover business. Learn what producers, directors and casting professionals need, want and expect from you as a professional voiceover talent that no one else will likely impart to you!

How to Expand Your Comfort Zone & Build Agility as a Voiceover

Here’s a question you need to honestly ask yourself: How coachable are you? It’s fair to assume you’re about as coachable as you are ‘direct-able’. If you can’t be directed, it unlikely you’ll play well with others either. And acting, even voice acting, is often a team sport. You want to please yourself, but only after you’ve checked off quite a few other boxes that positions you in the room with the best caliber of work, and with some consistency.

Here’s a question you need to honestly ask yourself: How coachable are you? It’s fair to assume you’re about as coachable as you are ‘direct-able’. If you can’t be directed, it unlikely you’ll play well with others either. And acting, even voice acting, is often a team sport. You want to please yourself, but only after you’ve checked off quite a few other boxes that positions you in the room with the best caliber of work, and with some consistency.

How Coachable Are You?

There is no success without failure. Its only accomplished after overcoming obstacles, both perceived and unexpected, that demand we experience both to even conceive the difference.

There is no success without failure. Its only accomplished after overcoming obstacles, both perceived and unexpected, that demand we experience both to even conceive the difference.

The Benefit of Failure￼

Listen to SOUND ADVICE founder &amp; author of The SOUND ADVICE Encyclopedia of Voiceover, Kate McClanaghan, defines:  The Two Distinctly Different Business Approaches to Voiceover The Standards That Define Professional Voiceover Demos Who We Create VO demos For In The First Place How Many Demos Do You Honestly Need As a Voiceover And a whole lot more!

Listen to <a href="http://voiceoverinfo.com/our-exceptional-demo-production/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SOUND ADVICE</a> founder &amp; author of The SOUND ADVICE Encyclopedia of Voiceover, Kate McClanaghan, defines: <ul> <li>The Two Distinctly Different Business Approaches to Voiceover</li> <li>The Standards That Define Professional Voiceover Demos</li> <li>Who We Create VO demos For In The First Place</li> <li>How Many Demos Do You Honestly Need As a Voiceover</li> <li>And a whole lot more!</li></ul>

The Standards That Define Competitive Voiceover Demos

Let’s say, hypothetically, you come from a business background and always wanted to transition to voiceover. Let’s say you’ve been doing a bit of “fact finding” and finding a lot of contradictory information about this business. Not the least of which, will any one tell you honestly if you can cut it as a voiceover? Careful what you wish for. There are plenty of people of varying degrees of expertise who are more than happy to quickly tell you “you can’t”—sight unseen, without ever testing your mettle.

Let’s say, hypothetically, you come from a business background and always wanted to transition to voiceover. Let’s say you’ve been doing a bit of “fact finding” and finding a lot of contradictory information about this business. Not the least of which, will any one tell you honestly if you can cut it as a voiceover? Careful what you wish for. There are plenty of people of varying degrees of expertise who are more than happy to quickly tell you “you can’t”—sight unseen, without ever testing your mettle.

To Be or Not To Be  a Voiceover

To earn a living as a working talent, there’s no question of the value and importance of expanding your professional skills beyond a single medium, such as strictly stage, or solely on-camera—especially today! One of the best ways to diversify your skills is by committing yourself to mastering voiceover. In fact, you may be surprised to discover how much voiceover typically improves your overall acting ability.

To earn a living as a working talent, there’s no question of the value and importance of expanding your professional skills beyond a single medium, such as strictly stage, or solely on-camera—especially today! One of the best ways to diversify your skills is by committing yourself to mastering voiceover. In fact, you may be surprised to discover how much voiceover typically improves your overall acting ability.

10 Ways Voiceover Improves Your Overall Acting Ability

There was atimenot too long ago when it was commonplace to audition for voiceoversin frontof producers at ad agencies, in various recording studios, in front of castingdirectors, or at your local talent agencies where you’d be offered direction in real time.Obviously times have changed.Since the pandemic it’s safe to say pretty mucheveryaudition, on or off-camera, is nowdone remotely from your home studio, however humble

There was atimenot too long ago when it was commonplace to audition for voiceoversin frontof producers at ad agencies, in various recording studios, in front of castingdirectors, or at your local talent agencies where you’d be offered direction in real time.Obviously times have changed.Since the pandemic it’s safe to say pretty mucheveryaudition, on or off-camera, is nowdone remotely from your home studio, however humble

Why Self-Direction Matters

This is a superb source for all-too-rare common sense from a real pro in the voiceover business. McClanaghan applies the wisdom gained from her many successes, AND some painful lessons learned, from a truly epic voiceover career.  Jeff Finney, whose background seems to include more of the technical end, also throws his expertise into the mix. This podcast ranges from quick tips on making a performance come alive, to the complex and rapidly-changing business of being a voice performer. My only quibble- it&#39;d be awesome for this to be a 30 minute weekly cast, but it&#39;s pretty clear that these two are too busy doing voiceover to spend that much time in a podcast. Whether you&#39;ve got concerns about your marketing, or are just trying to determine how to ready yourself for an audition, this is the only podcast you need.

The title's not just a pun

These are some of the most helpful podcasts for Voice Over I&#39;ve found... so many of the podcasts introduce great topics, but they don&#39;t usually demonstrate the problem or demonstrate the improvement. So, give an example of muscle memory recordings followed by a more agile audition. Just my 2 cents.

Great, great instruction, I wish more actual examples...

The Sound Advice Voice-Over Podcast

It’s no secret to anyone who knows me that Thanksgiving is my all-time favorite holiday. And the most enduring Thanksgiving Day memory I have began when I was fifteen, and, well…it’s a story that honestly may never end.

It’s no secret to anyone who knows me that Thanksgiving is my all-time favorite holiday. And the most enduring Thanksgiving Day memory I have began when I was fifteen, and, well…it’s a story that honestly may never end.

An Honest Thanksgiving

Regardless of whether you’re on-camera or off-, engaging your imagination is required of you as a talent. Discover a key element that will assist you with every take, regardless of your skill level, and allow you greater spontaneity, expression and subtle, yet discernable, variety. Discover in this podcast: • The impact on your audience when engaging your imagination • How to offer effective options with each take while engaging your imagination • And simple, but reliable technique that will have a direct impact upon your performance!

Regardless of whether you’re on-camera or off-, engaging your imagination is required of you as a talent. Discover a key element that will assist you with every take, regardless of your skill level, and allow you greater spontaneity, expression and subtle, yet discernable, variety. Discover in this podcast: • The impact on your audience when engaging your imagination • How to offer effective options with each take while engaging your imagination • And simple, but reliable technique that will have a direct impact upon your performance!

Engaging Your Imagination

This is our final podcast offering in our month long homage to creepy storytelling and to Halloween. This is the remarkable result of gathering a few of my most talented friends a few years back after divvying up roles between the apple cider and donuts.   We hope you enjoyed these stories we’ve presented all month as much as we enjoyed doing them!   Enjoy the season and… Have a Happy Halloween!! 

This is our final podcast offering in our month long homage to creepy storytelling and to Halloween. This is the remarkable result of gathering a few of my most talented friends a few years back after divvying up roles between the apple cider and donuts. We hope you enjoyed these stories we’ve presented all month as much as we enjoyed doing them! Enjoy the season and… Have a Happy Halloween!! 

Walter’s Reason

The best podcast episodes of anyone with an interesting story. With famous guests like Obama, LeBron James, Drake, Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson, Michelle Obama, Serena Williams, to anyone who has a unique and interesting story to tell. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Episodes: Personal Stories & Great Interviews

The Best Multi-Part Documentaries, with documentaries on Obama, Federer vs Nadal, the making of Star Wars, Netflix vs Blockbuster and more. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!