Voiceover is a production technique in which a voice artist lends his/her voice to documentaries, movies, audiobooks, TV shows, video games, and corporate videos. It may seem like easy money, but it is much more than being able to speak clearly into the microphone. Instead, it is about having a real and expressive voice, and above all, a confident personality. So, if you are an upcoming voice over talent, here are some common mistakes that you should avoid to succeed within this profession.
1. Getting into voiceover for the wrong reasons
One big mistake people make is thinking about getting into voiceover because of several wrong reasons. For example, someone told you that you have a great voice. But, is it the only thing vital for a successful and profitable voiceover career? Obviously, not.
Your voice is just one of your assets, but other things are far more critical to your success. A voice with a great storytelling ability is what matters in the world of voiceover. Besides, producers are willing to pay those who can connect the viewer with a real and accessible voice. That is the true talent for them. Therefore, to be a successful voiceover talent, you need to present yourself as an actor and highlight your storytelling skills.
2. Failing to master the business side
Many voice artists ignore the business side of voiceover. They do not take their career seriously enough and, thus, fail to make big bucks in their job. It is essential to understand how the business side of voiceover works. Do not think of yourself as an employee but a professional selling his/her services. Market yourself, keep accounts, and work according to your business plan. Moreover, you cannot expect clients to make payments on time if you forget to issue an invoice with proper terms.
3. Not checking your work
After recording the voiceover, it is crucial to go over your work. But, sometimes, due to tight deadlines, voice talents often find it challenging to do so. Often voiceover recordings happen at the end stage of the production workflow. This means that when a client orders for a voiceover, they usually want it urgently or before time. And, if you do not check your recording for faults, it forces the client to use the copy as it is, or send it for edits again. Hence, checking your work and getting feedback from your friends or peers can help you meet the contemporary standards of voiceover recording.
4. Recording the demo before you are ready
Voice actors often assume that recording a great demo is the first and crucial step for a successful voiceover career. But it is a very wrong approach. Creating a demo before proper practice or training can make you appear unprofessional if you cannot reproduce the same output as your demo. Moreover, spending on your demo too soon can result in the wastage of your money.
5. Creating demos on your own
Are you thinking of self-producing your demos? Do you think you will save yourself some time and money by doing so? If your answer is ‘yes’, then this is one of the biggest mistakes you are going to make in your voiceover career. Unless you have experience in audio engineering, production, and editing, do not even think about putting together a demo on your own. Hire a producer with experience in producing commercials, audiobooks, documentaries, etc. to avoid wasted efforts.
Through a mix of our own and extensive partner network of 200 recording studios and with our pool of more than 3,200 native dubbing/voiceover artists we offer high-quality dubbing/voiceover services at competitive costs in more than 70 languages. We are DUBnSUB – a post-production company based in Gurgaon, India with branch offices in Germany, France, USA, and Myanmar.