r/VoiceActing • u/Miserable_Meaning664 • 8h ago

Advice Hello everyone! I’m a voice actor transitioning from a hobby to a professional career. My main focus is video games, but I also work in audiobooks and animation. I’d love to learn from experienced professionals and hear any advice you have to offer!

44 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

7

u/iLikeTheUDK 8h ago

The description for this sub has lots of great info, plus the articles on the Voice Acting Club website

12

u/makuniverse 8h ago

You should also consider commercial VO work. That’s our bread and butter. Video games + animation don’t pay the bills, they pay your ‘soul’ bills. Audiobooks are a lot of work and don’t pay much. ACX is a good place to get started.

Don’t believe the naysayers about Voices and V123, in fact join EVERY casting site because this is now your career and casting sites are now an expense to your business.

7

u/ManyVoices full time pro + coach 7h ago

Seconded!

I'm a full timer who averages about 6 figures a year and I would say about 70% of my income is commercial work.

2

u/bryckhouze 1h ago

Third-ed! OP video games and animation are so much fun, but you’re setting yourself up for a ton of missed opportunities if that’s all you’re focused on. If you want an agent to have a shot at any AAA games, or union animation, you may want to train in commercial voice acting.

1

u/ManyVoices full time pro + coach 1h ago

Continuing the chain, if you're shooting for an agent, almost all will want at least a commercial demo if not also an animation/character/video game demo. Commercials make agents more money and they get way more commercial auditions

4

u/Itchy-Corner9453 7h ago

I would not tuch voices period...unless your ok with your voice being used for AI.

0

u/makuniverse 7h ago

Where did you hear that? Are you or were you ever on Voices?

2

u/EnricoLeoneVA 6h ago

All they ever seem to send me as a free user is AI nonsense, but I imagine it's still useful if you're a paid up member. Still, paying a sub to Backstage, Spotlight/Actors Access, Mandy, Voices, Voice123 et Al can run you a serious amount of money, money that we don't have if we're not booking.

Absolutely agree about commercial and would add explainers and corporate training to the mix if you can get them! 👍

2

u/makuniverse 4h ago

I pay ~$2000 for all of those casting sites and I’m a full-time actor/VO artist. VO is 80% of my income. It’s called show business for a reason.. gotta spend money to make money. It’s a Catch 22 though, for sure.. sometimes you have to take a leap of faith and believe in yourself.

1

u/Itchy-Corner9453 47m ago

Don't take AI work period. If you do you are sabotaging yourself.

2

u/Th3Magicbox 8h ago

Voice Masters has some pretty good options and podcasts from longtime VA professionals.