Now we enter part three of this five-piece article addressing obtaining voiceover work, voiceover training, and fame in the industry. Part one and two addresses the work element of this series so make sure you check them out. In this next section, we will continue on our journey and will move on to where and who to train and coach with.
Where to train
Voiceover training is fundamentally important for a voice actor. You may be exceptionally well-versed in your field, but the world of voiceover is so vast there are many different genres to choose from. With that said, even the most experienced voice actors need to keep up to date with the latest trends. Our talents and giftings are like a muscle. The more we exercise them the stronger they become.
Who Do We Train With
This is dependent on your skill level. However, you need your own objectives, if your goal is to record audiobooks then you should look at who the leading professionals are in audiobooks. If you want what they have, you need to do what they did. Though the recipe for success can vary, we do not just need to learn from our own mistakes, but from examples as well. Learning and absorbing information from those who have already taken the path we desire to go down is a great means of developing. Artists regularly lean into coaching as a means to boost their income and though this is normal, one needs to know their skill level. For example, two small credits in a video game does not qualify someone to coach video game content. Look at a coach’s work and have a consultation before committing further.
Things to Avoid When Training with Voiceover Coaches
1. If they only have a couple of credits in the field they are coaching in
2. Highly inflated prices when measured against peer coaches
3. Lack of or negative testimonials
4. A weak website (It shows they don’t invest in themselves)
Things to Look Out for When Training With a Good Voiceover Coach
1. Positive referrals and testimonials
2. Active and generous social media content
3. Useful email content from their mailing list
4. A strong website
5. Competitive rates and great value for time
6. A wealth of experience in their field
Your money is hard-earned and must be stewarded well. There is so much stuff in this industry to spend it on and training probably tops the list. Furthermore, when invested correctly into the right type of training, getting a good coach will reap its rewards over and over. It is one of the greatest investments you can ever make. The danger comes in if you end up with the wrong coach or just someone who wants your money. As well as your money being important, the other thing that holds high value is your time. You are investing time into coaching that you could otherwise be used elsewhere. We all like to relax and we all need to work – both of these are common and important uses of our time. Giving this up to train is a sacrifice so it is important to make sure it is right.
In the next article, we will look at when and how to train.
A Full Voiceover Overview Part 3 – Where to Find Voiceover Training by Alan Shires
