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A Guide to the Top 5 Genres in Voiceover

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Voiceover work is as rewarding as it is diverse. People often think voiceover is limited to animation voice acting or high-profile games, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The field has many different types of projects you can expect to run into, each with its unique challenges. Depending on what kind of work you want to jump into, there are plenty of opportunities available for new talent in the industry. While there are a lot of genres in voiceover that you can diversify into, here are the top five you are most likely to experience.

Commercial Voiceover

Commercials are an excellent use of voiceover. The crux of this genre involves promoting a product or service that the client is trying to sell. These commercials can be for broadcast or online programs and typically run in segments of 15, 30, or 60 seconds. The goal is not to add any particular style or flair but to focus on the advertised product or service. 

The commercial genre is how many voice actors make their living, and the clientele varies. There is no limit to what you can voice since you might have to voice commercials for car companies, beverage/snack companies, law firms, prescription companies, or insurance companies, to name a few. Wages for commercial voiceover are stable and guaranteed due to union minimums, and the potential for repeat work makes it lucrative, too.

The Audiobook is One of the Most Versitile Genres in Voiceover

Audiobooks are another popular avenue for voice actors to thrive in the industry. With massive companies like Audible and Apple Books putting out everything from best-sellers to self-published books, voice actors have many opportunities to jump into this genre. New audiobooks are being released daily, and there is an increased demand for audio content. Even though there are cases where famous actors or celebrities voice certain books, a majority of books are voiced by professional voice actors. Often, a single voice actor voices all the characters alone, and the work can be done from a home studio.

Animation Voiceover

Animated content is the most well-known form of voiceover. The genre consists of either computer-generated or hand-drawn images for a story. Voice actors usually voice an animated character in one of these stories or can even work as a narrator. People often think that animation work is limited to children’s shows like cartoons, but that is not the case. Plenty of animated content exists that requires voice acting. Animated movies are a massive draw for voice talent, and many actors make their big break in these movies. Commercials also use animation from time to time. Foreign animated shows also require localization, so voice actors are needed for those as well.

Documentary Narrations and More

Narration involves voicing over images or videos. Narrating gives the audience a new perspective, an inside look into an existing one, or helps give some added context to whatever is happening on-screen. Often, narration is used for documentaries, but that is not the only type of content that benefits from it. Any kind of informational content, such as history shows and informational/educational content, can benefit from narration. Even entertainment programming can use it. Several TV shows use an in-show narrator to provide access to character thoughts or help set the tone for a scene. It allows for a wide variety of projects because every type of content has the potential to include some kind of narration.

Gaming is the Future Star of Genres in Voiceover 

Video games make up a large part of the voiceover industry, and video games are a larger industry than movies or TV. There are plenty of genres in video games, each with its own demands. There is a lot of work for a voice actor to be involved in. Any time a character is on screen, there is a good chance that they will need to be voiced. Depending on the type of game, exertion noises like screams, grunts, or sharp exhales all require a voice actor to make them. It is one of the more creative genres since you never know what you might be asked to voice. Characters can be regular people, aliens, robots, or even animals. With motion capture technology, voice actors may even get the chance to have their faces and movements appear as well.

Why Voice Over Experience Matters

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Commercials, trailers, audiobooks, and eLearning are just the tip of the iceberg of things that need a voice. And the list just keeps growing. Never before has there been such a pent-up demand for voice over actors. The good news is that demand is being met with a supply of professionals with voice over experience, male and female, Millennials and Boomers. They are waiting in the wings to help creative directors and business owners like you reach your audiences.

When tasked with hiring a voice over professional, you ideally crave that perfect voice to sell your product, teach your staff, or build awareness. Your decision on who to hire a voice over artist can make all the difference. The right voice over artist will grab a listener’s attention, leading to a successful project. The wrong voice will have the opposite effect. That’s why you should voice over experience matters when choosing an actor for your next assignment. 

Skills Come with Experience

While distinctive vocals are a vital characteristic in voice over actors, look further. The candidate needs to be able to use that voice to convey a message. Inflections must be practiced, deliveries honed, and these skills come with experience. Voice coaches are an integral part of the voice over industry, and they help dedicated professionals target and avoid regionalization and teach the various degrees of dictation and speech. Producers and directors seek a natural delivery with a familiar tone, and they are the cream of the crop.

Some of a voice actor’s experience comes from skills gained outside the voice over industry. Talented on-screen and off-screen actors can usually deliver dialogue with little effort. Those who have that kind of talent in their past are sought after by corporations and businesses worldwide. 

Building Relationships

If you are a broker or work for a multi-faceted organization, it’s even more important to seek a voice professional with experience. By building relationships with experienced voice over professionals with an array of genres under their belt, you will always have an answer for that next project request, whether it’s for a video game or television promo. Established relationships are in everyone’s best interest, and the stronger the relationship, the higher the success rate. 

A Career, Not a Hobby

Voice over professionals who dedicate their working lives to their craft fast-track experience. You will find those who work full time exuding a high level of dependability, which is how they put bread on the table. To them, voice over acting is a career, not a hobby.

Indeed, voice over experience matters when it comes to some of the building blocks of making a career for themselves, including:

  • Building Trust
  • Perseverance
  • Niche Marketing 
  • Networking
  • A Professional Studio 

Being thick-skinned is a virtue as well. Many beginners face hundreds of audition rejections before landing that first gig, and rejections build fortitude, something to look for when hiring your next voice over actor.

 Voice Over Experience Counts

An estimated five to ten years can elapse before a voice over career hits its stride. Over time, those dedicated to the craft will rise to the top. Those pros understand how to reach a listener depending on the project, and that’s why voice over experience matters.

An agent or business owner may discover a new voice now and then who knocks it out of the park on day one. But for the most part, those who put in the necessary time and effort will bring home the golden goose. 

How Female Voiceover is Used Today

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Remember when the late Helen Reddy did her part to boost gender equality through music back in the 1970s? You know the song: “I am woman, hear me roar, in numbers too big to ignore…” Now that the earworm is in place, let’s explore how female voiceover is used today.

A Woman’s Touch is in Vogue

Listen closely to a radio or a television commercial. Is the voice you hear a male or a female? Ten years ago, the answer may lean toward men but now female voiceovers are more common. That trend is evident in the membership numbers posted by the organization Voices, showing female membership rose 60 percent since 2015. Job openings climbed 24 percent. Voices also surmise that the demand for female voiceovers will surpass that of men within four years. 

What creative folks and top brass are recognizing is the response that audiences have to a female voice. Maybe it’s because that could be your mom giving you advice, or perhaps it’s the soothing manner in which a woman can deliver a message. Whatever the reason, the voiceover industry is hungry for female talent.

Putting Female Talent to Work

Women make many of the buying decisions in most households so it makes sense to have them relay your message. As powerful as a women’s pull is on a consumer, we also live in an age of diversity. The listening public no longer believes that only male voices can help them decide to buy a video game, join an organization or purchase a new appliance. 

Advertisers have found that women possess a knack for in-show narration skills to reach those who watch animal shows or mysteries. On the radio, the healthcare and travel industries love to work with female voiceover professionals. 

Seniors can touch an entirely different audience and reach retirees with comforting tones in messages about Medicare and wellness. Dating sites will hire a mature female voiceover actor with a flirty tone, as well as a younger playful voice to entice single moms to log on. 

The internet has become a popular option for female voiceover work. The Voice Realm, an online voice casting portal, found that 66 percent of those polled prefer a woman’s voice when watching videos online. On-hold messaging is another area where women appear to outshine men. A calming, friendly tone works so well for Apple, that Siri was once only a women’s voice.

Opportunity Knocks for Female Voiceover

By grabbing the attention of a consumer, the female voice is the answer for many companies selling goods and services. The gap between gender equality continues to shrink. The idea that only men could sell beer and trucks, while women marketed cleaning products and diapers is eroding. Call today for an audition with Iris Fields and see how her sophisticated and distinct voice can boost your products and services. 

The Secret to Voice Over Success

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Want to know how to break into the voice over profession or advance your career as a voice over artist? The first thing you need to understand is that the path to voice over success is not cut and dry. There is no magic pill that will help with your vocation. What you need is a talent for reaching others simply through your tone and delivery. While there are several technological advances these days that can help you sound clearer and more precise, no gadget in the world can replace the ability to capture a listener’s ear. 

Learn the Voice Over Industry

Like any other career, achieving success means educating yourself about everything in the industry. Sign up for workshops or take a class to learn the basics of voice over talent. Use the classes as an opportunity to find out whether it’s something you want to pursue.

If so, congratulations! Now it’s time to work on your craft. A voice over coach could prove to be your ticket to success. These masters teach all about diction and speech and train you to expand your range. Every class you take can positively affect your ability to secure work.

Quality Equals Voice Over Success

If you are just starting, you will need to create demos and send them out to voice over agents, and make them available online. The demos must be professional, from the production to the clarity of your tone. This is your calling card, so you should not cut corners here. Shooting for perfection is a must. 

When recording, your goal is to sound natural. Creative directors and producers know that a welcoming, natural delivery is the magic that sells products and grabs attention. Consumers are more responsive to a familiar voice—and that, of course, is the end goal.  

Choose Your Niche

There are many paths to take in the voice over industry. There are opportunities in the video game market, on-air commercials, storytelling, and narration, to name a few. Consider what audience you may be good at reaching. Maybe it’s soccer moms or teens. Perhaps it’s single men or fast-tracking Millennials. Clients are always searching for specific vocals that will trigger a reaction in their audience. 

Network, Network, Network

While the life of a top-notch voice over artist can be a solo affair, achieving and maintaining success requires consistent outreach. How? Network, network, network. And then network some more. Tap into fellow artists and learn how they get their name out to the people looking to hire serious professionals. Growing your base is one secret to success.

Be a Voice Over Professional

Like other careers, success comes to those dedicated to their craft. Presenting yourself as a professional in the industry will make more people take notice and add you to their databases. On the flip side, create your own database with potential agents, clients, creative directors, and producers you interact with along the way. Create a website as well, one that puts you in the proper light as a dedicated professional in the voice over industry. 

Learn about the tools you will need and purchase wisely. Don’t skimp on quality and invest in the proper equipment. If you are just getting started you may want to start with equipment such as:

  • A Studio Project C-1 Microphone
  • Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface
  • Sennheiser Headphones
  • Adobe Audition DAW

The Secrets to Voice Over Success Are Within Your Grasp

Most of what will make you a success in voice over applies to any professional, service-oriented industry. Be well-mannered and courteousl and continually work on your craft as an artist. Earn respect from clients, remain responsive, and stay in demand through referrals and networking. Quick responses to an email, text, or phone call can solidify your future!