I assure you I’m not a bitter voice actor unable to get voice over auditions.
Once upon a time, the need for voice over auditions was critical.
Talent in London, LA or New York would have voice over auditions for a commercial, a video game, or a cartoon character in a new pilot series. So, auditions were a must to obtain high paying jobs – and they still are.
If you’re up for the new lead in a Pixar movie, you’re going through several rounds of voice actor casting and auditions.
However, the new world of online voice-over isn’t five-figure jobs. It’s not even four-figure jobs.
Why voice over auditions are pointless
Sometimes, a client wants their voicemail recorded for only $50 (or less)!
Let’s imagine I’m a dentist in Kansas.
My practice is doing well, and I’m upgrading my phone system. I’ve heard other businesses with professional-sounding voicemails, and I’ve decided that’s what I’d like. I head online and start searching around, learning how to get a professionally recorded telephone message.
I find a site that looks reputable with lots of great reviews, so I post my job there, saying I’d like to hear back in a week. A week later, I log in and have 50 to 75 (or maybe even 100) auditions. I don’t possibly have the time to listen to them all, and besides, they start to blend.
I don’t know what I want anymore, and the project that once seemed like a simple way to boost my professional presence is now overwhelming and, quite frankly, not worth my time.
Or I’m an app developer with a small marketing budget.
I’ve got $150 to add a voice-over to a 5-minute explainer video by Tuesday. My team is on a deadline for launch. We’re all scrambling to get everything in place while I’m stuck on Saturday night listening to 62 voice over auditions!
As a busy voice actor, it starts to become difficult to factor your time correctly or to make sure your rates are high enough when you do land a job. In general, it seems as though actors feel like this is the way things are and have kept their attitudes positive despite a lot of rejection.
@Hearbradhyland (via Instagram) said he believes that:
“Until you have 100+ returning customers, regular and vigorous auditioning is part of the game. Along with lots of personal marketing.”
In response to the question “How many auditions do you have to record to win one gig?”
@andread2347 said:
“I don’t know the ratio BUT I also know it’s worth it… because you never know when an audition will result in a job. I see auditions as good practice.”
So, are voice over auditions worth it?
Over a thousand voice over auditions to win just five gigs? Even if you’re only spending 5 minutes on each audition, that’s still nearly 20 hours spent auditioning for each gig booked. And if each gig pays around $300 and takes an additional 3 hours, that’s a total of $13/hour, before taxes.
What if there was a better way? A way you could maximise your time as a voice-over talent and clients received a reasonable amount of quality auditions so they could make an informed choice?
Luckily there is – Voquent is working to address this issue creatively.
Their Demo Sample-based system allows each voice actor or narrator’s voice to upload up to 65 Demo Samples and 6 Demo Reels of audio material and tag each according to the style, tone & characteristics. Casting directors can then search according to the style and tone needed for the role and quickly shortlist voices.
And if voices are asked to turn in an audition, they have a much higher chance of getting the job since they’re only up against a few others— meaning the talents ratio of success increases dramatically.
Better for artists. Better for clients. Easier for everyone.
Start Casting Voice Actors Now
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