Voice Acting For Dummies

Learn to:

Get into character Create a demo Prepare for an audition Land your dream role

Find expert tips and strategies on how to succeed as a voice actor

Voice acting is a unique career where the actor′s voice can be heard worldwide — in commercials, audiobooks, animated movies, documentaries, telephone systems, and much, much more. But where do you start? Voice Acting For Dummies gives you step–by–step explanations and an abundance of examples from everything on how to find your signature voice, how to create a demo, how to audition, and how to book jobs. Voice Acting For Dummies shows you how to improve your vocal talents and make a career out of them.

Start with the basics — learn the ins and outs of the voice acting business, and what it takes to be successful Audition like a pro — understand the do′s and don′ts of auditioning in person and online Create a demo — discover how to demonstrate to prospective clients the types of voices you can perform Dig into the script — develop strategies for understanding your role and bringing the written word to life Use audio recording software — find out how you can add music and sound effects to your demo and edit your finished product Get into business — explore ways to turn your voice acting talent into a business Build a home recording studio — purchase the right equipment for your needs

Open the book and find:

How to train your voice The benefits of working with a voice acting coach Suggestions for how to write your own scripts Tips on quoting fees for voice–overs Easy ways to promote your talents How to decipher studio terminology What to look for in recording and editing software Ten things you can do to be prepared for voice acting

Introduction 1

Part I: Exploring Voice Acting Basics 7

Chapter 1: An Overview of Voice Acting: Just the Basics 9

Chapter 2: Finding Your Voice: How You Fit into Voice Acting 17

Chapter 3: Training Your Voice 29

Chapter 4: Understanding Your Role 53

Chapter 5: Interpreting a Script and Finding Your Character 69

Part II: Creating Your Audio Résumé 85

Chapter 6: Deciding What Demos Are Essential 87

Chapter 7: Getting Your Script Ready for Your Demo 99

Chapter 8: Recording Your Demo 113

Part III: Auditioning and Finding Work 127

Chapter 9: Marketing Yourself and Promoting Your Work 129

Chapter 10: Uncovering Voice Acting Jobs 159

Chapter 11: Auditioning 101: Just the Basics 171

Chapter 12: Auditioning in the Virtual World 185

Chapter 13: Auditioning in the Real World 199

Part IV: Setting Up Your Voice Acting Business 217

Chapter 14: Working after You’ve Booked a Voice–Over Job 219

Chapter 15: Getting Paid For Your Work 233

Chapter 16: Nurturing Your Business 247

Part V: Establishing Your Home Recording Studio 263

Chapter 17: Creating Your Own In–Home Recording Studio 265

Chapter 18: Understanding the Recording Process a Little Better 279

Chapter 19: Editing and Mixing: Getting More Advanced 293

Chapter 20: Recording the Finished Product 311

Chapter 21: Delivering the Final Product 321

Part VI: The Part of Tens 333

Chapter 22: Ten Reasons You Should Regularly Audition 335

Chapter 23: Ten (or So) Tips to Prepare for Voice Acting Jobs 339

Index 345

Stephanie Ciccarelli and David Ciccarelli are the founders of Voices.com, the largest global web hub for voice actors. For approximately the past eight years, Stephanie, David, and their team have grown Voices.com from the ground up to become the leader in the industry.