The frustration of being an emerging deep male voice over talent. Where do I even begin? Let’s start with the notion that the financial barrier to entry in the voice actor world is low.
This is false in my experience!
Does that mean that the voice actor industry is a predatory profession? I wouldn’t say that at all. It’s been my experience that it is one of the kindest and most giving industries I’ve experienced. Honestly, there are some of the nicest, most genuine and helpful people you’ll ever meet in the VO world.
However, there are PLENTY of opportunities to spend money in the profession. I’m coming to realize that everyone is an expert and everyone is happy to sell you their expertise. Some are better than others.
Your opportunity to spend your hard-earned money is without boundaries in this industry. For this reason, it’s imperative to spend money wisely. You should make good choices and in the areas that are will give you the most bang for the buck. The best return on your investment. That only comes through doing your homework.
Let’s start adding it up, shall we?
Outfitting a voice acting recording space = $0 – $50
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Depending on your needs, it could be little money to somewhat expensive. For example, your cost is zero if you have a large closet and can fit into the space. If you’re surrounded by blankets and clothes and things of that sort, well then your cost is zero dollars.
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If however, that is not a luxury you have, you’ll have to spend some money treating your space. The amount you spend will depend on the space but it can get quite expensive. When you look up professional panels, sound deadening blankets, and things of that sort, you’ll be north of $100 in the snap of the fingers.
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This is likely the cheapest thing you’ll do when entering the profession.
Compiling your voice over equipment = $840 – $7,400+
That’s quite a difference in expenses but it all depends on your desire. Do you want to start out by trying to be at the top of your equipment game or do you want to grow into it?
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Essential equipment:
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Microphone = $150 – $3500
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Boom Stand/Mic Mount = $20 – $200
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Pop filter $10 – $15
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XLR microphone cable = $10 – $$30
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Interface = $150 – $800
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Computer = $500 – $2500
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DAW Software for editing your sound = $0 – an ongoing monthly cost with Adobe Audition
I am taking the middle road. I found a more cost-effective microphone. It fits my deep male voice over that compares very favorably with one of the more famous VO microphones. So, I was able to have great sound quality while still saving almost $1,000.
Since I was able to save money on the microphone, I splurged on the Apollo Arrow, which was $500
I chose to buy a new MacBook Pro that I could dedicate to VO work because I’m in it for the long haul. The stubborn journey, if you will. I knew it would be important to have a dedicated computer used ONLY for VO. Nothing else. So that it would work efficiently and as needed. Piling extra programs onto your work computer is a recipe for an unreliable computer. You can’t have that when you’re on a time schedule many times.
The DAW I use for editing sound, at this time, is Twisted Wave which had a $79 price tag.
Voice Over Effects Stack = $400+
Alright, we have our space in order and we have our equipment up and running. But can you make your space and your voice sound ideal to give you that edge in your auditions? The answer is, “Probably.” You can do this by getting in touch with folks like Tim Tippets at VO Tech Guru to log into your computer. He logs in over Zoom and can tweak the EQ and the settings. He’ll recommend a couple of programs for purchase that will make all the difference in the world for you. Then he’ll create an effects stack for you. When you record an audition, you run the effects stack on it. After that, then normalize it to -3 dB, and then submit it rather than submitting a dry recording.
Guys like Tim are about $200 or so but the programs you need will run an additional $200 or so. Every time you switch your room up or get a new microphone, you’ll want to pay guys like Tim another $200. That way they can get you all set up and optimized again.
Voice Actor Business Cards = $25 – $50
It would be a great idea to get business cards but it’s honestly not absolutely necessary in the beginning. Especially in the COVID area. It’s not like we are physically attending seminars and handing out cards. Correct?
But, if you are doing some direct mail marketing, including a business card in the packet might not be a bad idea.
Voice Over Website = $7/month – $2500+
Again, a wide range of costs here. The difference comes down to whether you are proficient in setting up your site. And if you are proficient at doing the SEO optimization on it yourself. If you are not, you guessed it….there are plenty of designers out there eager to get paid to do it for you. Regardless of how it gets done, you need a website. That website needs to have a way for people to listen to your demo on it as well.
Voice Over Demo = $0 – $2600+ EACH
The end-all, be-all of the VO industry. THE DEMO! The demo is basically your real VO business card. Everyone that has spent any time whatsoever in the VO industry will tell you NOT to make your own demo.
OK, cool.
And that makes sense too. On the surface. We aren’t all masters at sound production after all. BUT, when the industry places a value of $2500+ on a demo with decent quality, it gets difficult. My question for them is, “How the hell do you expect anyone and everyone to afford such an entry price to play the game?” Most cannot. Therefore, self-made demos there will be. And they’ll be around by the gobs because they are too damned expensive for beginners. Beginners that have no paying gigs or clientele to afford them. Plain and simple.
It makes sense to pay that for a demo when you are making money on voice-over gigs and you can re-invest that money. Of course. Until you have paying gigs, it makes zero sense and voice actors simply have to do the best they can to walk the line. The line is between having a presentable commercial demo and not having to pay $2500 for one. Especially when just starting out.
This has been one of my biggest obstacles and frustrations so far. Not only do they price demos out of the range for so many folks,, but they also want a demo for every single genre. So, separate demos for commercial, promo, narrator, eLearning, animation, radio, auto, and on and on and on.
Now it’s REALLY starting to add up. Right?
I would add that while they say to never make your own demo, the industry is also loaded with those that will make your demo for you. But they mostly started out by making their own demos. They’ll admit they had no engineering or production background. They figured it out. So, take that as you receive it. If you make your own in the beginning, I’m behind you 100%. Just have several listen to it. If it sucks, take the advice on the chin. Go back to the drawing board to make it sound as close to a professional demo as you can.
Voice Over / Voice Acting Coaching $25/hr – INFINITY
Every VO professional will tell you coaching is a must. Then again, many will tell you they never had a class and are loaded with work. I err on the side of coaching here. There is no way we can know it all. Let’s be honest, we all think our ideas are the best or that our abilities aren’t as bad as others think. You know it’s true.
It’s helpful to have an outside point of view or perspective. Reputable coaches will bring something new to the table and, hopefully, renew your energy and drive.
Coaching comes at all costs. Some coaching is $25/hr while some cost $125/hr or more. Some voice over coaches are for newbies. Some voice actor coaches only accept those that have been in the business a while. Trust me here. There are PLENTY of ‘coaches’ that are happy to take your money. They’ll take your money just to give you generalized and mostly unhelpful guidance. It’s this way with literally EVERY industry.
Make sure you look around and ask for recommendations. Recommendations for reputable coaching before spending that money.
Voice Over / Voice Actor Pay To Play Sites = $300 – $500 per year
You’re going to hear many in the voice over / voice actor industry tell you that pay to play sites are the devil. I can see their point. They see it as racing to the bottom and competing for the lowest dollar amount while devaluing the profession. I get it. I truly do. Then you look at some of the biggest talent and they’re on the pay to play sites. So, what gives?
For beginners specifically, voices.com or voices123.com provide access to quality clients. In addition you have access to quality opportunities immediately. And that is without going through the middlemen like agents to get there. It’s like a direct line to the boss and that’s appealing.
At the end of the day, if many of the biggest talents are on it, if it’s good for the goose, then it’s probably good for the gander. Just don’t sell the industry short there. Don’t accept pennies on what should be a $300 job. Use the GVAA pay scale for guidance on this. Don’t be the cheapest. Those customers will be the worst, most demanding clients.
Get jobs but respect yourselves, the industry, and your fellow VO brethren.
Voice Over / Voice Actor Seminars = $150 – $300 EACH
I took my first seminar about 2 weeks ago. Since we are in the time of COVID, it was held through Zoom. The best part was that it was nice to be able to sit at my table in my home and still get the same instruction. I got the instruction I would have had to fly to New York City for just last year. COVID ain’t all bad, folks.
The seminar was called eVOcation and was put together by Carin Gilfry and Jamie Muffett. There were about 150 attendees and I have to admit, it was wonderful. It was packed with useful information and inspiration all weekend long. Seminars sure aren’t a required first step. But, in my first experience with a voice-over / voice actor seminar, it was well worth every penny.
Conclusion of frustrations of deep male voice over
The bottom line of entry sits very very conservatively at about $2,000. The top end of entry sits at as much as $16,000 or MORE!
However, the more realistic number for a decent entry into the profession; the number that is comprehensive and adequate but still on the financially conservative side. That number is probably more around the $3,500 – $5,000 mark. For some, that’s not all that bad. For others, that’s impossible.
You are probably getting the idea here that there are infinite ways to make money in the voice over industry. You would be right. But there are also infinite ways a voice actor can SPEND their money. Especially when trying to break into the profession.
For those veterans in the industry to say there is little to no cost to get started is either disingenuous or it’s just ill-informed. If a new voice actor is going to ‘burst’ onto the scene with any effectiveness, they need the talent certainly. But, they’ll also need a good amount of money if they want to start off with a bang.
Also, being a deep male voice over / voice actor is FULL of competition. The voice over world is FULL of competition and FULL of deep male voice over. It’s going to be difficult to break through so I think it comes down to being hard-headed (which I certainly am). It’ll take commitment and the resolve to get better. It will take my providing an amazing product for clients as well. If we are doing these things, then things will likely just take care of themselves in the long run.
Just my experience so far. With life and business in general. When we’re giving back and putting into people and the world, the world tends to give back.
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Jeff Williams is a Deep Male Voice Over / Voice Actor – Southern, Texan, Gravel, Wisdom, Experience, Conversational, Believable, Authoritative, Blue Collar Working Man
Please visit my voice over homepage and listen to my demos at jeffwilliamsvoice.com
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