Frequently Asked Questions About Voiceover, Life and Voiceover Studio Chicago
There are FAQs specifically about voiceover demos. For them, go to this page.
Awww... Do I really need a home recording studio?
YES. (If anyone says you don't, or if discussion of a home studio is NOT a part of what they're offering, say thank you and WALK AWAY -- they're clueless about today's business.) You need to be able to practice a whole heckuva lot on mic to get good enough to compete, and then you'll need to be able to record and send auditions to your agent. I have one of the top voiceover agents in Chicago (which means in the Midwest), and I do 90% of my auditions from just a few feet away from where I'm sitting at this moment, sometimes in my bathrobe (TMI). Home recording is NOT that difficult. When we meet, I tell you what you need to buy to start recording at home. A recent client got everything he needed for under $300, not including the computer, of course. If you don't have a home computer and can only read this at work, a friend's house or the library, please go here instead, because the rest of us live in the 21st century. Everyone should have a home computer. For people in the voiceover business, it's essential.
How do I pay for the Voiceover Exploration?
Payment for the VO Exploration can be made with cash, check, Venmo, Cash App, Chase QuickPay or by credit card with an extra five bucks to cover their fees.
YES. (If anyone says you don't, or if discussion of a home studio is NOT a part of what they're offering, say thank you and WALK AWAY -- they're clueless about today's business.) You need to be able to practice a whole heckuva lot on mic to get good enough to compete, and then you'll need to be able to record and send auditions to your agent. I have one of the top voiceover agents in Chicago (which means in the Midwest), and I do 90% of my auditions from just a few feet away from where I'm sitting at this moment, sometimes in my bathrobe (TMI). Home recording is NOT that difficult. When we meet, I tell you what you need to buy to start recording at home. A recent client got everything he needed for under $300, not including the computer, of course. If you don't have a home computer and can only read this at work, a friend's house or the library, please go here instead, because the rest of us live in the 21st century. Everyone should have a home computer. For people in the voiceover business, it's essential.
How do I pay for the Voiceover Exploration?
Payment for the VO Exploration can be made with cash, check, Venmo, Cash App, Chase QuickPay or by credit card with an extra five bucks to cover their fees.
Can I hire you right now to produce my demo? Like, RIGHT now?!
I'm an actor in town and want to add voiceover to my list of talents. I've done a lot of acting, but have never been behind a microphone. So I'm now ready to record a demo.
- OR -
I did some voiceover work a long time ago, but haven't done a bit of it since. I think I know what I'm doing, but I'm not exactly sure. Let me pay you to do my demo anyway.
- OR -
I saw this thing about doing voiceover. I have a great voice. I want to record a demo with you tomorrow. Or right now. Is right now good for you? Where do you live? I'm coming over NOW to record my very first voiceover demo!
Whoa, whoa, WHOA! I would never recommend that someone record a voiceover demo without 1) finding out if they have the skills and drive necessary to pursue the business and 2) making sure they've received training and guidance. If you're brand new to the voiceover business, I would recommend you come in for the Voiceover Exploration. Through that you'll learn absolutely everything possible about this challenging business and your place in it. Find out all the details of the Voiceover Exploration here. And as I've said elsewhere, if you're brand-new to the VO biz and someone is all-fired READY to make a demo for you based only on a few hours conversation or a short assessment, you really need to say, "Um, I forgot something in my car..." and RUN away before they take away your hard-earned money for no good reason.
I wanted to get that information out there. Okay. Now here are some other actual exchanges I've had with people...
************
Venturing to the far-flung wilds of Ukrainian Village, Chicago, USA
Sadly I mapped the Ukrainian village (from your site). To see how far away you are, it’s actually quite a drive away. Do you have any other recommendations for people closer to me? I’m about 20-45 minutes north of Chicago. You were the only person I found on my first few searches.
It's up to you who (whom? I think it's whom) you choose for training, of course. But I can let you know that people have come from far suburbs and as far away as Indiana and Springfield, Illinois to take the Voiceover Exploration. I have had people who knew they were going to be in Chicago on business or for a wedding who made plans to arrange a Voiceover Exploration while they were in the area.
There are other terrific people and places for voiceover training, most of whom I already mention on a page of this web site. Most people who offer voiceover coaching do so through multiple classes over a period of weeks. The Voiceover Exploration is one intensive one-on-one two-hour workshop. We all must balance convenience and cost when making decisions, but I have to say, if you're looking into voiceover training, the fine people at Voiceover Studio Chicago (that's just me, actually) have one of the best deals to be found anywhere.
OH, HEY! The Voiceover Exploration is now offered via Zoom! It's the same great in-person one-on-one training, and it can be taken from anywhere. Find out more here.
************
[After taking the Voiceover Exploration] I certainly understand there are no guarantees... and I'm good with that. Just wanted to make sure I got your honest and completely forthright assessment!
Are you the best person I've ever heard with the best chance to rake in the dough? No. Do you have amazing pipes, and would it be a good idea to have an audio calling card you could email or give to people to sell your skill? Yes. But no, there are no guarantees. If money is super-tight for you right now and you'd be eating boxed mac 'n' cheese for two months, I'd say don't do it right now. (Though I like Kraft Mac 'n' Cheese. Try mixing it with tuna.) If you have some money to invest in yourself, and you'll regret hearing another ten people tell you that you have a great voice without being able to give them a demo, then I'd say go for it.
With going ahead and committing to a demo, does it make any sense to combine a little of the generic commercial copy with something a little more charactery and/or narrative? Or if I want to do some of the latter two styles, would I need a separate demo for each?
If you're selling your ability to do truly amazing character voices, we may add one or two character snippets to your minute, minute-fifteen commercial demo. (Keep in mind all the individual pieces for your demo will be fairly short.) But if you want to pursue the other types of work, you'll need the other demos. I charge different prices for different demos. Email me directly if you want details. If I can charge less, I will.
************
I consider myself a singer/actor and my plan once I graduate is to pursue a career in stage acting in Chicago. I also want to be open to anything my training might have indirectly prepared me for. Is it possible to pursue a career in stage acting and voice-overs simultaneously?
It's very possible to pursue a career in stage acting and voiceover simultaneously. If you end up being successful in both fields, you can schedule your VO auditions around your stage work, and even send auditions from the home recording set-up you'll need.
***********
This gentleman had an interesting question, one that doesn't come up a lot. How do you get back into the business if you've had some experience?
My daughter has had previous voiceover experience (several years ago). She is a
SAG/AFTRA member (currently she has her membership on hold, as she is now a
college student).
She has expresssed an interest in getting back into voiceovers.
What can you suggest?
Ed
Hello Ed,
There are a few ways to proceed.
If she's not sure where she is skills-wise, I think it would be valuable for her to take my Voiceover Exploration session. I have information about that on my web site, here.
If she's super-confident in her skills, she can email me three to five recordings of commercial copy in mp3 format. Those would be recorded with the recording set-up every voiceover performer needs today to practice, audition and work. (It's actually a pretty simple matter to set up. She can let me know if she needs advice on this.) If I think she's ready to go, based on these recordings (I might ask for more) then we would set up an appointment to record a one-minute commercial voiceover demo. (I don't charge for the assessment.)
If she has a fairly current demo and can record auditions, or sounds enough like her old demo, she should contact an agent and start auditioning. Chicago agents can be found here. [NOTE TO EVERYONE! Do NOT contact a talent agent for any reason unless you are absolutely ready to do so! There's no better way to NOT get work than to send to or harrass an agent when you're unskilled and clueless! You will become an office joke -- hey, they're human, and like to laugh! -- and will get nowhere.]
If she has a decent demo and a recording set-up, she can do a Google search for the various voiceover casting sites. For these so-called "pay-to-play" sites you may pay a yearly fee, and/or you will pay them a percentage commission if you get work.
***********
Kids in Voiceover?
How does a child get into the voiceover business? I have a 9-year-old niece who's got the cutest voice.
There's not a TON of work for kids, but there is definitely some work.
I recently had a nine-year-old in to do the Voiceover Exploration, with copy tailored specifically to a young girl. But this girl had experience performing in shows at school and in on-camera parts on commercials, and I believe had done some modeling. Does your niece have any experience at all, even in school plays? Is she a very, very good reader? Is her mother computer savvy (for her to audition from home) or does her mother have plenty of time to change her schedule at a moment's notice for an audition or a job?
If the answer to all these questions is yes, I'd urge your niece and an accompanying adult to come in for the Voiceover Exploration, to do a further assessment of whether she should pursue voiceover. If the answer was no to some or all of these questions, I'd urge her to spend her time elsewhere, or wait a few years.
Teens in Voiceover?
I've conducted the Voiceover Exploration for teenage young people as well. I've generally been impressed at the level of skill involved. (If a parent has gone through the trouble of finding coaching and then bringing them in, their son or daughter probably has some genuine ability.) One of the things I really enjoy about working with this age group is that I get to impart some valuable ancillary information... There are points of intersection between voiceover and voice and presentation coaching. If a young person comes in for voiceover coaching, I like give a some information about how to use their voice and gestures in speeches and presentations as well.
- OR -
I did some voiceover work a long time ago, but haven't done a bit of it since. I think I know what I'm doing, but I'm not exactly sure. Let me pay you to do my demo anyway.
- OR -
I saw this thing about doing voiceover. I have a great voice. I want to record a demo with you tomorrow. Or right now. Is right now good for you? Where do you live? I'm coming over NOW to record my very first voiceover demo!
Whoa, whoa, WHOA! I would never recommend that someone record a voiceover demo without 1) finding out if they have the skills and drive necessary to pursue the business and 2) making sure they've received training and guidance. If you're brand new to the voiceover business, I would recommend you come in for the Voiceover Exploration. Through that you'll learn absolutely everything possible about this challenging business and your place in it. Find out all the details of the Voiceover Exploration here. And as I've said elsewhere, if you're brand-new to the VO biz and someone is all-fired READY to make a demo for you based only on a few hours conversation or a short assessment, you really need to say, "Um, I forgot something in my car..." and RUN away before they take away your hard-earned money for no good reason.
I wanted to get that information out there. Okay. Now here are some other actual exchanges I've had with people...
************
Venturing to the far-flung wilds of Ukrainian Village, Chicago, USA
Sadly I mapped the Ukrainian village (from your site). To see how far away you are, it’s actually quite a drive away. Do you have any other recommendations for people closer to me? I’m about 20-45 minutes north of Chicago. You were the only person I found on my first few searches.
It's up to you who (whom? I think it's whom) you choose for training, of course. But I can let you know that people have come from far suburbs and as far away as Indiana and Springfield, Illinois to take the Voiceover Exploration. I have had people who knew they were going to be in Chicago on business or for a wedding who made plans to arrange a Voiceover Exploration while they were in the area.
There are other terrific people and places for voiceover training, most of whom I already mention on a page of this web site. Most people who offer voiceover coaching do so through multiple classes over a period of weeks. The Voiceover Exploration is one intensive one-on-one two-hour workshop. We all must balance convenience and cost when making decisions, but I have to say, if you're looking into voiceover training, the fine people at Voiceover Studio Chicago (that's just me, actually) have one of the best deals to be found anywhere.
OH, HEY! The Voiceover Exploration is now offered via Zoom! It's the same great in-person one-on-one training, and it can be taken from anywhere. Find out more here.
************
[After taking the Voiceover Exploration] I certainly understand there are no guarantees... and I'm good with that. Just wanted to make sure I got your honest and completely forthright assessment!
Are you the best person I've ever heard with the best chance to rake in the dough? No. Do you have amazing pipes, and would it be a good idea to have an audio calling card you could email or give to people to sell your skill? Yes. But no, there are no guarantees. If money is super-tight for you right now and you'd be eating boxed mac 'n' cheese for two months, I'd say don't do it right now. (Though I like Kraft Mac 'n' Cheese. Try mixing it with tuna.) If you have some money to invest in yourself, and you'll regret hearing another ten people tell you that you have a great voice without being able to give them a demo, then I'd say go for it.
With going ahead and committing to a demo, does it make any sense to combine a little of the generic commercial copy with something a little more charactery and/or narrative? Or if I want to do some of the latter two styles, would I need a separate demo for each?
If you're selling your ability to do truly amazing character voices, we may add one or two character snippets to your minute, minute-fifteen commercial demo. (Keep in mind all the individual pieces for your demo will be fairly short.) But if you want to pursue the other types of work, you'll need the other demos. I charge different prices for different demos. Email me directly if you want details. If I can charge less, I will.
************
I consider myself a singer/actor and my plan once I graduate is to pursue a career in stage acting in Chicago. I also want to be open to anything my training might have indirectly prepared me for. Is it possible to pursue a career in stage acting and voice-overs simultaneously?
It's very possible to pursue a career in stage acting and voiceover simultaneously. If you end up being successful in both fields, you can schedule your VO auditions around your stage work, and even send auditions from the home recording set-up you'll need.
***********
This gentleman had an interesting question, one that doesn't come up a lot. How do you get back into the business if you've had some experience?
My daughter has had previous voiceover experience (several years ago). She is a
SAG/AFTRA member (currently she has her membership on hold, as she is now a
college student).
She has expresssed an interest in getting back into voiceovers.
What can you suggest?
Ed
Hello Ed,
There are a few ways to proceed.
If she's not sure where she is skills-wise, I think it would be valuable for her to take my Voiceover Exploration session. I have information about that on my web site, here.
If she's super-confident in her skills, she can email me three to five recordings of commercial copy in mp3 format. Those would be recorded with the recording set-up every voiceover performer needs today to practice, audition and work. (It's actually a pretty simple matter to set up. She can let me know if she needs advice on this.) If I think she's ready to go, based on these recordings (I might ask for more) then we would set up an appointment to record a one-minute commercial voiceover demo. (I don't charge for the assessment.)
If she has a fairly current demo and can record auditions, or sounds enough like her old demo, she should contact an agent and start auditioning. Chicago agents can be found here. [NOTE TO EVERYONE! Do NOT contact a talent agent for any reason unless you are absolutely ready to do so! There's no better way to NOT get work than to send to or harrass an agent when you're unskilled and clueless! You will become an office joke -- hey, they're human, and like to laugh! -- and will get nowhere.]
If she has a decent demo and a recording set-up, she can do a Google search for the various voiceover casting sites. For these so-called "pay-to-play" sites you may pay a yearly fee, and/or you will pay them a percentage commission if you get work.
***********
Kids in Voiceover?
How does a child get into the voiceover business? I have a 9-year-old niece who's got the cutest voice.
There's not a TON of work for kids, but there is definitely some work.
I recently had a nine-year-old in to do the Voiceover Exploration, with copy tailored specifically to a young girl. But this girl had experience performing in shows at school and in on-camera parts on commercials, and I believe had done some modeling. Does your niece have any experience at all, even in school plays? Is she a very, very good reader? Is her mother computer savvy (for her to audition from home) or does her mother have plenty of time to change her schedule at a moment's notice for an audition or a job?
If the answer to all these questions is yes, I'd urge your niece and an accompanying adult to come in for the Voiceover Exploration, to do a further assessment of whether she should pursue voiceover. If the answer was no to some or all of these questions, I'd urge her to spend her time elsewhere, or wait a few years.
Teens in Voiceover?
I've conducted the Voiceover Exploration for teenage young people as well. I've generally been impressed at the level of skill involved. (If a parent has gone through the trouble of finding coaching and then bringing them in, their son or daughter probably has some genuine ability.) One of the things I really enjoy about working with this age group is that I get to impart some valuable ancillary information... There are points of intersection between voiceover and voice and presentation coaching. If a young person comes in for voiceover coaching, I like give a some information about how to use their voice and gestures in speeches and presentations as well.