You’ve stumbled across this blog because you’re wondering: how do I become a voice actor? Maybe you’ve always been told you have a nice voice and you finally want to take the risk and see where it gets you. Well as someone who has a pretty successful career in voice acting, let me tell you there’s no simple trick. It’s a lot of work and it’s not as simple as going for an audition and landing a Netflix gig all because you’ve always been complimented on your accents. I wish it was as easy as that. But from my experience you have to put in the hours and hone your craft in order to have a fruitful career in the world of voice over acting.
There’s not one short answer on how do you become a voice actor, however, here are my top tips that I wish I knew at the start of my voice acting journey that will help you achieve success.
What Is Voice Acting?
Having a good voice is fine. Great, even, but the people who are trying to land that voice over commercial for Nike will also have a good voice, so is that really enough? The real question is, can you actually use your voice? Because a silky tone doesn’t mean a thing if your reads are stiff, flat, or weirdly shouty. Voice over work isn’t about being heard – it’s about being felt. Can you read a line 17 times with the exact same energy? Because chances are you’re going to be doing multiple re-takes to get the sound just right, and that can be draining even if your heart’s in it. You need resilience!
Now there’s a lot of versatility in voice acting work. You could choose to hone in on one niche or be flexible to fit different areas, but you also need versatility in your voice acting abilities, think different tones and accents. If you looking at how to start voice acting here are some different types you can get into:
- Animation
- Audiobooks
- Audio dramas
- TV and Film
- TV advertisements
- Radio advertisements
- Video games
How To Start Voice Acting Without Breaking The Bank
There’s a lot of how to start voice acting content online and most tell you to invest in $2000 equipment before you’ve even recorded a demo. Here’s a good starting point that doesn’t involve you throwing your life savings into this venture: stop recording on your phone.
If you’re asking how do I become a voice actor? You need to start by buying a mic. No it doesn’t need to be top of the range, but anything is honestly better than recording on your phone and there are plenty of budget friendly mics available that will give you a clearer, crisper recording than your phone.
You’re Not Just Reading Lines – You’re Interpreting Scripts
This is the bit that separates people who want to become a voice over actor from people who actually get booked. Voice acting isn’t about sounding like you’re reading from a teleprompter. It’s about making the words feel like they’re yours. Even if the words are about data security or oat milk. You have to understand what the script is trying to do, then help it get there – without making it sound like a performance.
How To Get Into Voice Acting With Zero Training
One question I and many other voice over artists get from people looking into how to become a voice actor is: do you need training? While no you don’t need any formal training, it can’t hurt, especially if you’re going into this with zero experience under your belt. If it’s within your budget, hiring a voice coach to mentor you can do wonders to your skills and confidence – which will show through your recordings. They can show you the ropes and help you sound that bit more professional rather than somebody who doesn’t know what they’re doing because they just Googled: “how do I become a voice actor?” On a whim.
How Do You Become A Voice Actor Through Demos
When people ask me how to become a voice over actor, they always want to talk about demo reels. And that’s fair – your reel is your shop window. But here’s the thing: a bad demo is worse than no demo. If your samples are poorly edited, weirdly mixed, or just… awkward, you’re shooting yourself in the foot as soon as the casting director hits play.
So, here’s the rule: Only include work that sounds like actual work. Don’t fake movie trailers. Don’t shout into your mic like you’re narrating a Monster Truck ad from 1993. Just pick 4–5 reads that show range, sound clean, and feel like you. Friendly, authoritative, funny, serious – whatever lanes you’re good at, focus there. Also? Edit the reel like someone might actually listen to it all the way through. No two-minute marathons. No 12-second pauses. You want to know how to become a voice over actor? Make sure everything you put out is quality!
How To Get Into Voice Acting From Home
I mentioned earlier that you don’t need to have an expensive set up if you’re looking at how to get into voice acting. However, you do need to make sure your sound quality is at the same level as those commercials that you’re trying to land. If you’re serious about voice acting (like, actually booking gigs and not just recording bedtime stories for your cat) then you need a real home setup. And no, the corner of your living room next to the fridge isn’t going to cut it.
Now before you panic: I’m not saying you need a five-figure vocal booth with gold-plated foam, but you do need a space that sounds decent. Quiet. Dead. Free from the delightful hum of your washing machine or the upstairs neighbor’s tap dancing habit.
Your goal isn’t to impress other voice actors. It’s to deliver clean, clear, usable audio that doesn’t make a client go, “Is that… a lawnmower?” So find a quiet corner. Hang some blankets. Stick foam up if you can. Seal the door. Turn off your AC. Whatever it takes to stop the room from sounding like a cave. Because here’s the truth: you can have the best read in the world – but if it’s buried under echo and buzz? No one’s sticking around to hear it.
Get your space sorted. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It just has to work.
How Do You Become A Voice Actor And Actually Get Work
Once you’ve got your gear, your reel, and some understanding of how to not completely tank your edits – it’s time to audition. And yes, this part kind of sucks. You’ll send out a lot of reads. You’ll hear back from almost none of them. And you’ll start to doubt everything after your 43rd submission disappears into the void.
Here’s the trick: detach your ego. Your job is to keep showing up. Consistently. Professionally. Brief lands in your inbox? Knock it out. Two takes, clean label, sent on time. No drama. You’re not just trying to impress – you’re trying to prove you’re reliable. Because in voice over, talent gets you in the door. But consistency gets you hired again.
How To Become A Voice Over Actor And Get Paid
You have to treat it like a business, and like with any new business starting from scratch, it will take time. But as long as you stay consistent with replying to emails, delivering files on time and being easy to direct, your hard work will slowly but surely start to pay off.
Clients don’t hire voices. They hire professionals. People who make the project smoother, not harder. People who know how to hit record at 8am and still sound like they slept. People who ask the right questions, hit the brief, and then quietly get on with it. If that sounds unglamorous? That’s because it is. But it’s also how this job becomes more than just a weekend side hustle.
Final Tips On How To Start Voice Acting
If you made it this far – congrats. You’re already doing better than most. Learning how to become a voice actor isn’t about finding a secret formula. It’s about getting good. Really good. At stuff most people overlook: nuance, delivery, prep, professionalism. And yeah, there’ll be weeks where you feel like you’re just shouting alone in a padded room. But when you finally hear your voice in that final cut – the ad, the podcast, the game, the explainer video for biodegradable toothbrushes – it clicks.
You’re not just in the booth. You own it. That’s the moment. And that’s when you stop asking “how do you become a voice actor?” – because finally you already are.