Training in voiceover is a delicate balance between how much time you have to invest into your career and how much money you have and are willing to spend on your personal growth. In part three of this five-piece article collection we discussed where to train as a voice actor. In this section, we will look at when to train as opposed to where.
When Do We Need Voiceover Training?
When we train depends on what your objective is. Perhaps you want to refine a skill and keep up with the latest trends. Maybe you are new to the industry and just starting out. Or maybe you are looking to take on a new genre that you otherwise have not ventured into before. In this section we will address all three of these potential avenues in the order they have been outlined above.
1. Refining a Voiceover Skill
The industry constantly changes which means that the methods used develop as well. For example, take commercials, the key theme for a while now has been the performance needs to be truthful. The words conversational and authentic come up consistently. How one does this can be broken down in a variety of ways as long as it generates this outcome of truthfulness. Even the subtlest of traits can offer an entirely different message, take inflections for example. Ending a sentence with an upward inflection or a downward inflection gives two completely different messages. The work from the clients will trickle down to agents and casting directors where the latest traits become apparent. Not only is it important to train to ensure one exercises this skill but it is vital for the artist to train to keep up to date with all the latest tips and tricks in their field.
2. New to the Industry? Training is Key
If you are new to the industry you will discover a mass multitude of organizations looking to take your money. Deciding who to go with is dependent on the service they offer vs your desired results. If you want a 9-month comprehensive course there is content for you. If you want a three-hour crash course, there is content for you. Disposable money and spare time are the keys to success but the more you throw yourself into a program the better the results. It is imperative you take heed of the positive and negative qualities I have listed in part three of this article series when selecting a coach, even when it comes to starting out. Wrong or bad information will hinder and damage you long and short term. Everyone wants you to hit the ground running and succeed beyond comprehension.
3. New Voiceover Ventures
If you are a well-trained voiceover artist in your field and are now looking to venture into a new genre you find yourself needing to apply a mixture of both the techniques outlined in points one and two. Look for a professional in that field whilst at the same time carefully measuring how much experience they have and the caliber of their work. How quickly you want to grow in this area is down to how much time you want to invest into it – and of course, money. That said if you are coming from another genre you may have some great transferable skills. Though Animation and Video Games are different genres there is a couple of transferable qualities so it is important to talk to your coach about this.
Training in Voiceover Summary
So there you have it, that is a wealth of information on training. We have covered both the work aspect and training aspects of being a voiceover artist. In the fifth and final part of this five-piece full overview article series, we will look at fame.
A Full Voiceover Overview Part 4 – Training in Voiceover by Alan Shires
