Getting Started in Voice-Overs, Chapter 2 - What You Must Have and Do

Get Training and Coaching
You will need training and coaching, to learn how to use your voice. Your voice is your instrument and coaching will help you learn to play your instrument. Even if you're blessed with a silky smooth set of pipes, you'll need to learn how to use your voice and how to deliver as wide a range of vocal styles as possible. Can you be serious? Whimsical? Can you do accents or dialects? Character voices? Can you raise your performance to another level? The best way to get training is through other voice-over and acting professionals by taking classes, workshops and coaching sessions. Learning really never stops for a true voice-over artist. Take specific workshops on character voices, audio book, narration and even acting classes. Attend various workshops whenever you can. The more you learn, the better you'll be. The more versatile you are, the more jobs you'll get.

Practice, Practice, Practice
The next thing you absolutely need is practice, practice and more practice. Read out loud every day. Magazines and newspapers are a good start. You can even read road signs while you're driving!

**Tip: Get an inexpensive recording device (micro cassette recorder, or USB microphone that plugs into your computer), so you can record yourself and play it back. You need to listen and analyze what you do well and what you need to work on. A recorder will also come in handy if you're working on character voices. You'd hate to come up with something brilliant and then lose it forever because you can't remember what the character sounded like! Record those voices and give them names.

Be Highly Organized
Organizational skills are important, as anyone who has worked in an office will attest. A voice-over business is just that: a business, and you need to treat it as such. Set aside space that you can use as your office. Make sure you have a phone number where you can be reached (or at least respond to messages) quickly. A computer is a must for tracking income and expenses, as well as for online communication, marketing, promotion and job hunting.

Think about Legal and Tax Considerations
For legal and tax reporting purposes you may consider starting a DBA, a sole proprietorship, an LLC or become incorporated. At the very least, and if you're using a name other than your own, like "Super Cool Voiceovers," you may consider registering in the town where you live. The fee is generally small, and you may learn about some useful small business resources in the process.

**Tip: Always consult an attorney and a qualified tax accountant before starting any business venture or partnership.

Have a great Demo Reel
We're going to talk about this later in more detail, for now we'll just say this: your demo reel is a professionally produced recording, usually on CD, that offers samples of your best voice work. It's your calling card, your voice-over resume and one of the most critical tools for voice-over success. Don't cut corners on producing your demo reel.

In Chapter 3, we'll talk about 4 Things You Can Do Right Away to get started and keep going in your very own voice over business.