A unique voice, sharp language, and persistent attitude could make you perfect for a voice acting or narration career. Add a bit of acting skills, and you can consider more advanced projects, like narrating novels or lending your voice to game/movie characters. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. While high-quality voice work is in high demand, you need to know how to start and what to expect.
A common misconception could be that voice acting is relatively simple, and you finish your work with just one take. In reality, sessions can be highly tiring, and reaching the final product can take months.
What makes you suitable for voice work
Only some people can be successful in voice work. To become one, you need the following attributes and soft skills:
- Clear articulation, pronunciation, and diction.
- Stamina.
- Some acting skills and storytelling.
- Being comfortable speaking.
- Ability to adapt to different projects or characters.
- Some knowledge about recording.
Gigs available as voice work
If people constantly describe your voice as pleasant, you might wonder what jobs you could get to earn extra cash. Initially, you might apply for positions that don’t require many additional skills (like acting). Overall, these positions are most commonly mentioned for voice work:
- Narrating various videos for companies and organizations. For instance, an informational video on a product could require such services.
- Creating voice models for AI-powered virtual assistants. So, you provide your voice to different companies building such products.
- Narrating online courses could also be one of the gigs, especially if the creators need clarification on their speaking abilities.
- Audiobook narration is also possible but requires drama and acting skills (especially in fictional books).
Tech setup necessary
You do need a setup to start doing voice work. Of course, you might find clients that invite their hired professionals to record in their locations. However, the chances are that you’ll need to record a lot independently.
- Anyone starting voice work must have a high-quality microphone. But you need more than just a decent microphone. The sound must be crisp, clear, and free of bizarre interruptions or buzzing.
- You must also have recording software as a reliable tool for voice work projects.
- Additionally, pop filters, microphone stands, and headphones significantly contribute to creating quality audio.
How to start
The best option for newbies in the voice work industry is to explore different gigs available on freelancing platforms. So, you do need a profile that includes some demos. The ideal option is to prepare examples for various types of work.
For instance, you could do some generic narration of explanations of products or concepts. Furthermore, include some recordings of you reading more dramatic pieces. The goal is to show your versatility and ability to adapt to any project.
Things to consider
Furthermore, people’s voices become active participants in, say, verification. Thus, protecting them using secure tools and collaborating with clients to prioritize security is crucial.
It’s vital to consider digital privacy and security challenges and whether you are comfortable using your voice for various products. Lastly, voice work might not be the best fit if you’re hoping for free money. Instead, consider less intense passive income strategies.
Conclusion
You can find many options for using your voice to earn additional income. If you are determined, consider the setup and soft skills needed. Don’t expect the recording jobs to be easy. They might be just as draining as most positions. However, voice work can allow you to be creative and experiment with different voice-acting opportunities.
Photo by Jonathan Velasquez on Unsplash
