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If you are on the voiceover thread of the social media site “X” formerly known as Twitter, which simply means you follow thousands of aspiring voice actors, you may have seen various questions posed. One that was asked was “What is your definition of success in voice acting?”
There were many answers. Some people responded that they wanted to be cast in an anime show, which is kind of crazy because it’s the lowest-paid genre of voice acting. Others dreamed of having a steady income where they could quit their jobs and do voiceover full-time.
My two cents as a 40+ year voice over actor
Complete job security in voice acting is only possible if you are lucky to be in the cast of The Simpsons (which has been running for decades,) you are the Movie Promo Guy like the great late Don La Fontaine, you run your own loop group, or you produce, direct, and cast yourself in your own projects.
Superstars like the late Mel Blanc or June Foray made a full-time living as voice actors and there are successful full-time voiceover actors today. But, the reality is, there are very few. Eventually, time or circumstances will take a toll on a voice actor’s career. Your voice may even become over-saturated. Older actors will be replaced by younger ones. Some actors will no longer be able to perform because they have wrecked their voices or other shit happens.
Residuals, which have diminished because of streaming, will bring in some bucks if you work union gigs, but otherwise, it is a business with ups and downs. Actors must consider the long-term consequences of their career choice and plan accordingly or prepare to live on food stamps.
Here’s the deal
Do you ever wonder why so many voice actors are directing, writing, selling their autographs, teaching voiceover classes, or producing demos? It’s because they need extra income to live on especially in “expensive” markets like Los Angeles.
30 or 40 years ago, booking gigs was easier because there was less competition but never guaranteed a full-time income. Now that voice work is remote, the voice actor database has swelled enormously. Competition is fierce, especially with so many actors working at a deep discount.
I don’t want to depress you
Voice actors post daily updates on social media about their mental state and I worry about them like a mom or grandma. To be a successful voice actor you must be able to roll with the punches because it’s a tough business. If you are living on the edge emotionally, you should consider a more secure job like a librarian instead. The less “drama” the better.
I’m just being honest.
A steady income is not what you are signing up for
You might get lucky and get a gig that runs forever but many voice actors go weeks, months, or years without booking.
If you are an actor working 1099 (Freelance) income, you may have trouble qualifying for a mortgage or even a rental agreement because your tax statements make it look like you make nothing.
Do you plan on getting married and having a family? If so, your future spouse MUST understand you won’t be bringing in a weekly paycheck most of the time. Some voice actors solve this problem by marrying each other. If one or the other has a dry period, they’re in the same boat so they don’t have an excuse to yell at each other. I don’t recommend marrying another actor or anyone in the film industry unless you can handle adversity. It’s part of the biz.
Being in a “creative profession” can put a strain on any marriage. Consider hooking up with an accountant or a banker instead. LOL.
The expenses of voice acting have increased significantly
Classes
When I started working as a voice actor decades ago, there were a few voice-over classes taught by highly regarded industry professionals like Daws Butler. Today, everyone who has ever held a microphone or has cast a show is teaching a class. Classes are fine but make sure to spend your hard-earned money learning from someone who is successful, has years of experience, and knows what they are doing.
Don’t think that taking class after class will get you voice over gigs. At some point, you must jump into the pond and swim without a rubber donut. If you are a theater-trained actor, you may only need some technical training and a good demo. In any case, don’t go overboard signing up for classes unless you will truly benefit from them.
VO Contests?
With the influx of anime fans who want to be voice actors, one studio I did a lot of work for has started holding voice acting contests at conventions with the promise of casting the winner in a show. I realize that everyone deserves a chance, but in my opinion, these contests are disrespectful to professional voice actors who have paid their dues. I guess that’s showbiz.
Home Studio
Remote work is here to stay even though it has put many engineers out of work. Actors must now build soundproof booths in their tiny closets or stick a big ugly box in their living room. They must contend with barking dogs, crying babies, doorbells, gardeners with leaf blowers, and intense heat in the summer. But it’s convenient for those who don’t live in big markets like L.A. or for those who hate fighting the traffic. But, it also means you need to know how to record like an engineer which wasn’t what I signed up for when I got started.
Setting up a home studio means you must spend money on building a studio-quality booth, purchasing a microphone, learning how to use recording and editing software, adding lighting, or whatever else you need. It can be expensive $$$ and frustrating if you are not tech-savvy.
You also need to direct yourself which can be daunting and time-consuming if you need to do retakes.
Marketing
You can market yourself on social media for free, which wasn’t possible years ago, but there are still advertising expenses to consider. You will eventually need a website as your home base online. One way to save money is to learn how to do it yourself on sites like YouTube or Udemy. You can then take those skills to earn a flexible income on the side as a web designer. I did that and I’m over 60. This site was designed solely by me.
Many newbie actors also pay to audition by purchasing monthly subscriptions on pay-to-play sites so they can record hundreds of auditions they aren’t right for and hope they book a job. Paying to audition was unheard of when I first started and I personally would NEVER spend money on a P2P scam site.
If you are lucky to sign with an agent, they may require you to rework the demo reel that you just spent thousands on to get noticed by that agent.
A top agent will book quality auditions and gigs for you especially if you are a member of SAG-AFTRA. Lesser agents are almost always a waste of time and you will have a better chance of booking gigs on your own. With the ratio of auditions to actual bookings in the current marketplace, do not sign with the first agent who is interested in you unless you know they are top tier.
The only manager you really need for voice acting may be a convention booking agent if you have credits, but otherwise, managers take a big cut of your income.
I’ll say it again
Be smart with your money. Don’t get sucked into programs, classes, equipment, or demo purchases you don’t need or aren’t ready for.
NEVER count on making a steady income as a voice-over actor. Always have a backup plan and multiple streams of income.
If you are lucky and you do make it big, that’s awesome but realize the business works in cycles. Your “voice” may be the “in thing” for a while and then be “overused” or replaced in the next. Do not count on your voiceover career to sustain you forever because someday you will get old.
Be realistic, study discriminately, learn to market yourself, and do your best work. Those are the best things to do to hopefully earn a steady income as a voice-over actor.
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