1. First things first, air out all the questions regarding this business to ensure this is something you realistically want to do. Look into the different genres, the investment requirements, the oodles of learning and training, the day-to-day responsibilities, and any other business-related question, then confirm this is something you want to attack head on.
   • • Can you handle the stress and pressure of being your own boss, controlling all the different aspects of a business in a service/performance industry that requires the very best out of everything you do?

2. Figure out where your goals and passions lie, then form a specific roadmap to follow that guides you on the most efficient and affordable path possible.
3. Invest in the learning, equipment, hardware, software, and studio necessities to ensure you can have the bare minimum, required skills and set-up of that of a professional.
4. Learn the fundamentals. Like, mic technique, reading, pacing, having a motive, being authentic, basic acting principles, etc.
5. Once the fundamentals are becoming tangible and controllable, begin to discover what kind of acting methods work for you and how to implement them into your performances. (There are many different schools of thought, and each has a different effect on each individual person).
   • All of voice acting contains SOME level of acting. Each genre requires a different level or amount.
   • Figuring out what acting method and style works for you will be greatly beneficial in helping to decide where to allocate your time and spending to further learn and enhance that skill.
6. Finding a pro-level coach (THAT FITS YOUR STYLE) to learn how to separate yourself from the bunch by learning more advanced techniques that will carry you into the Demo-Making Process. (Please read my other post to grasp the importance of this step that goes into extreme depth of this topic).
7. Make a Website.
   • Starting off, you can make your own Wix or Squarespace website that is simple, yet professional, with the main goal of showing off your demo, and giving prospective clients a place to go when you are marketing to them. Jonathan Tilley has a guide of him setting up a Squarespace website that is easy to follow and will get you the result you need.
   • Whenever appropriate, usually when you start finding your space in the VO market, you can upgrade this website to a more professional website with a brand attached to it to really stand out from the rest. (But only when you are ready).
8. Buy the base ($350) subscription to Voice123. This will allow you to get into the habit of auditioning regularly and all the steps that go into that. (I will have another blog post going over the details of the audition routine).
   • Get “V123Pros.” It will go over EVERYTHING you need to know about setting up your account, using keywords, picking appropriate auditions for you, and all the little juicy secrets that will allow you to excel on the platform.
   • Note: this is Step 8 and comes after working with a coach and producing a demo for a reason. If you join before you are ready, you will NOT succeed on the platform, and trying to rebuild lost reputation and status on this platform is extremely hard. ONLY join when you are confident and ready (and your coach/other voice actors can vouch for you).
9. Figure out a way to market your services. There is no right way, and many “Voice Over Marketing Experts/Coaches” will try to sell you packages and classes that are outdated, unoriginal and simply do not work. My only note here is to be UNIQUE and stand out from what every other Voice Actor is doing to market themselves.
   • My recommended method would be to use social media. Be active. Engage with others. Make content. AND PLEASE, PLEASE do not just post inspirational quotes or anything else cliche for the sake of “being active.” Make sure your posts are intentional and your engagement with others is authentic.
10. Next, once you start getting jobs be sure to ask clients who you know were pleased with your service for reviews and ratings. Also, ask for final copies of the projects that you can add to your portfolio on your site.
    • You can direct happy clients to LinkedIn, your Google Business Account, your Voice123 account if you got the job from there, or just simply a response in an email if none of the other options work. Then ask them for a brief testimonial/review of your service. You take those comments and add them to your website.
    • Also, it never hurts to ask for final copies of work, but just know you won’t get them very often. When you do, however, be sure to thank the client and confirm you have permission to use them on your portfolio.
11. Lastly, Get on Talent Agency Rosters.
    • The rule of thumb is to try to get on no more than 2-3 LARGE agencies in separate hot spot locations, like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago. Then get 2-3 regional agencies that can be found all over the place in the U.S.
    • Talent Agencies aren’t going to carry your overall, day to day VO career, but they will give you opportunities to work with very well-known brands that pay very good rates and could lead to very nice partnerships for the future.
    • In a post 2020 world, I’d recommend having at least 2 genres of demos under your belt that you have mastery of OR you are extremely niche in the type of VO work you do before seeking out an agency’s representation. Agencies have long waiting lists and if you don’t stand out or don’t seem to offer them anything unique, you won’t make the cut and will have to wait a long time before you get back into the consideration process.
    • Additionally, you will need to be able to use Source Connect, the paid version.
12. And there you have it. If you go through all of these steps, you will be at a great point in your Voice Acting Career. The next steps are basically carving out a specific place in the industry only you can do by refining your craft and building your brand.
    • Note: this list is leaning more towards the Corporate/Commercial side of VO, but most of the steps, especially the beginning, hold true to those who want to work in the Animation/Video Game side of the industry as well.

If you are interested in getting help with any of these steps, you can ask me questions via the Discord Community for collaborative-minded voice actors, or you can email (voquestionsforcaleb@gmail.com) your questions, concerns or frustrations. I want to be as accessible as possible to help you succeed because I never had anyone on my side starting out.

To learn more, click here to view my post going into detail about the Discord Community and personal support.