Voice Over is a business. Voice Over is a business in which professionals count on other professionals to provide a service that requires knowledge, skill and professionalism. This idea probably seems pretty basic and obvious to those of us who already work in the voice over field. In many cases, however, individuals considering beginning in our field often find themselves caught up in what I refer to as the “Break In” mentality.  These folks often have every bit as much desire for success as any professional in our field does, but unfortunately, they see professional voice over work as something you need special luck or a magic trick to build success in.  As a producer and Voice Over educator, I hear this all the time: “Can you teach me how to break in to voice overs?”

Questions like these always offer me the opportunity to make a very clear point:  Voice Acting is not something that you break in to.  Voice Over is a business, and those people who are voice actors are, in essence, small business owners. You don’t “break in” to being a doctor, a lawyer, a mechanic, a cook, or a professional athlete, and similarly, you don’t “break in” to being a voice over artist. Building success in Voice Acting is exactly the same as building that success in any other field: it’s not primarily about luck or a magic formula, it’s about understanding the requirements of the profession, determining where you best fit in, developing necessary skill, and remaining persistent.  Additionally, enjoying the process and the prospect of success can be a tremendous advantage.  Many of the world’s top businesses were not built solely with the desire for income, but with passion for the process.

As in any worthwhile endeavor, there will be challenges to overcome and work to be done to achieving success in voice overs.  But your individual success will become much more tangible through a clear understanding of the professional requirements of the field.