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CAREER 71 Skills To Develop To Help You Succeed As A Voice Actor October 25, 2017  By Kim HandysidesVoice Actor How many times has someone asked you, "How do you get into voice over?" Or maybe you've found YOUR way into the profession and want to do better than you are now. Here's a cheat sheet of skills to develop and attitudes to adopt to help you crush it as a voice over actor. Good luck! 1. Learn how to breathe From the diaphragm and really learn to control it. 2. Stay hydrated Little sips all day long. Limit coffee and alcohol. 3. Protect your voice - Don't shout or scream unless you know how. 4. Get enough sleep Voice work requires energy. 5. Stay healthy If you have a cold, you can't work. 6. Enunciate So you can choose not to, for effect (i.e. conversational, relaxed reads). 7. Be confident It comes out in your read. 8. Commit - Believe what you say. If you don't, no one else will. 9. Excel at cold reading 'Cause you need to. 10. Practice It takes work to make it sound effortless. 11. Relax It helps you deliver your best sound. 12. Learn all you can about the industry It's your industry after all. 13. Get training This is a craft. You need to train to improve. 14. Get more training - Don't stop. I've been at this 30 years and still train. 15. Invest in a home studio And reinvest in better equipment as soon as you can. 16. Get a professional demo It makes a HUGE difference. 17. Get a VO agent They have access to jobs you don't. 18. Do auditions Every day. Make a weekly target number and stick to it. 19. Promote yourself People can't hire you if they don't know you're there. 20. Learn about marketing - It's show business, after all. 21. Learn accounting Stay on top of that, so you can keep doing what you love. 22. Attend voice over conferences For the learning and the camaraderie. 23. Join an accountability/mentoring group It pushes you to grow. 24. Play with your voice Learn what you can do with it. 25. Learn accents Pick one, perfect it and move on to another. 26. Try impersonations Even if they're bad, they'll help you expand your character bank. 27. Stay fit It helps you stay positive. And we all need that. 28. Read standing up - You'll feel more energy. 29. Improv and adlib when appropriate It keeps you authentic. 30. Understand how to adjust your smile So you can better flavor your reads. 31. Mark up your script With reminders and self-coaching icons. 32. Stay in the moment It makes your performance snap (crackle & pop). 33. Do tongue twisters So you don't trip on your script. 34. Learn how to analyze a script Verbs, adjectives, intentions, place, all the good stuff. 35. Become part of a voice acting community The support is life-changing. 36. Be patient With yourself, the director, the client and Facebook posts. 37. Work hard If there's any other way to get there but through this, I don't know it. 38. Don't give up You will succeed. Maybe just not on your timetable. 39. Learn how to live with rejection Get over it. It happens a lot. 40. Learn how to take direction Hear what they say and incorporate it. 41. Be organized It keeps the Overwhelm Ogre at bay. 42. Be good with your money There will be rainy days. 43. Find a niche And make it your own. 44. Industry-related back-up plans only To better support your voice acting habit. 45. Be professional You'll be invited back. 46. Be reliable On time, and ready to work. 47. Stay on top of changes in the industry Because it changes. All the time. 48. Avoid nose and tongue jewelry, bracelets, necklaces and noisy fabrics - 'Cause shhhhhhh. 49. Keep your cell out of the studio Don't interfere with the job at hand. 50. Create an online presence It's where the work is. 51. Use your body (quietly) Physicality makes your delivery more authentic. 52. Observe others and use what they do From people on the street to VO Masters 53. Observe yourself and use what you do So you can call on emotions. 54. Upgrade your equipment, demos, craft Constantly invest in your business. 55. Learn proper mic technique So your reads are consistent, clear and not distorted. 56. Explore character We've all got 'em. Use 'em. 57. Build and inventory your actor's tool box Be able to find and anchor your tools. 58. Keep the drama in your work Not your life. 59. Try stand-up comedy It helps timing and delivery. 60. Join Toastmasters It's great practice and promotion. 61. Compete with yourself You can truly get better than you. 62. Use non-verbal sounds They add authenticity. 63. Yawn to open up your throat Morgan Freeman says it helps. 64. Watch your posture Keep your instrument open. 65. Know the difference between chest voice and head voice - And how to access both. 66. Cut dairy Old VO "wives tale" that may or may not work if a cold is coming on. 67. Don't drink coffee before you work It dehydrates. 68. Try green apples to avoid mouth clicks Old VO "wives tale" that works. 69. Understand the power of the pause And use it wisely. 70. Tell it, don't sell it Storytellers, all of us. 71. Give them what they want, then give them what you want It's your art, after all. This may not be complete, but it's a darn good start. If you have suggestions, I'll add to it. I'm a female voice over artist who has been playing with microphones longer than millennials have drawn breath. I love to talk voice art, and welcome your comments! ----------------- ABOUT KIM Kim Handysides loves VO almost as much as she loves her dog, Kiwi the Dedicated Dachshund. With roots in theatre and film, decades in voice over and several stints in journalism, most days she can be found (like you) in her padded 4x6 mainlining the message between sender and receiver. Email: KimHandysides@gmail.com Web: www.KimHandysides.com OTHERS HAVE ENJOYED THESE HELPFUL VOICE ACTING ARTICLES |
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Comments (2)
Judy Fossum
11/8/2017 at 2:34 PM
A great, succinct list, Kim. Thanks!
Elizabeth Holmes
10/25/2017 at 1:54 PM
What a helpful summary Kim -- THANK YOU!!
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