Voice-over Markets

[karen]

Aloha,

Serious newbie question: I'm trying to get a handle on the various opportunities for voice-over talent. Thus far, my understanding is that the following areas exist for work (see below). Are there more? Do most of you specialize in just one or two, or do you run the gamut? Thanks so much for sharing.

1. Audio books – Adult – Fiction/Non-Fiction
2. Audio books – Children – Fiction/Non-Fiction
3. Animation (television/film)
4. Animation (games)
5. Documentaries (television/film)
6. Commercials (radio/television)
7. Movie trailers (not a big market for women)
8. Corporate: Training DVDs, telephone systems and ...?

[PierceVoice]

Radio. I jotted down some philisophy on that thar subject in Hotseat (I think it was that one... eh... it's titled "Potential in Radio").

Basically, the need is for: Primary - the person who says all the cool promos and "sweepers" (the stuff between the songs); and Secondary - someone hired to compliment the first (usually equalling to a male-female combo).

I'd like to promote the use of a third option: A spice/character voice. Of course with radio budgets nowadays, they're lucky to afford 2 let alone 3.

Done!

[JoeActor]

Hi Karen,

I do mostly Character (video game, animation, etc), Industrials, and Commercials.

There are plenty of opportunities for cross-over. For instance, I just did some Commercial spots using a Swiss accent for Taos Ski Resort. For me, if it has a character/accent/impression, I'll audition for it.

I haven't done promos, radio liners, or audio books yet... each of which can be a specialty of its own...

Cheers,
Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio (http://www.JoeActor.com)

[AlanSimmons]

Karen,

You've covered most of the opportunities, but the odd ones are always out there waiting. I recently did a vo for a trade show kiosk for a local packaging company. It was a product information video that was on a continuous loop. I'm in Northwest Arkansas, the home of "a really big retailer", so I'm smack dab in the heart of Vendorville...

[karen]

thank you all for the input. looking forward to learning and chatting more!

[Russian Andrew]

2 Karen
I think the Audio-books is the most chalanging piece of work. Not because of amount of work but because of required skills of VO. ONLY in audio-books VO you must have such an ability as insight, deep understanding of text... Any one heard the work of Tony Robinson with Terry Pratchett audio-books?! Incredible VO talent!
All other areas of VO to my point of view and personal expireince are more common.