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If there’s one thing you can say about New York, it’s that you can’t turn around without bumping into an actor or an aspiring one. However if you’re looking for a voice actor, be it for a commercial, video game, or public service announcement, then you know you can’t pick just anyone. You need to get an actor with a specific set of skills. At any given time there are thousands of voices to choose from, but you need to not only get connected with them, but also have a suitable selection to choose from. You can use a service for hiring voice actors for the first part, but you’ll have to do some thinking and some work for the second. 

Have an Idea of What You’re Looking For

When you hire a voice actor, you can’t just listen to the best voice and hire them. You might have the next James Earl Jones, but if it’s not right for the part, then that kind of voice would not be appropriate. There are also some wannabe voice actors that can deliver a line they’ve rehearsed a hundred times, but then can’t do as well when the script changes or they have to ad lib. 

First of all, assess your content and decide what you need. Do you want a deep voice, a specific gender, or a mood that you want to convey? It’s only when you know what you need that you can make a good choice of actor. Give any prospective actors your script, and have them read from it, so you can get a sense of how they sound with the material. However, make sure that you’re flexible. A voice that you might not have thought would be appropriate might end up being perfect. 

Define Your Target Market

Before you know what kind of voice actor you want, you have to know what your target market is. By defining your ideal audience you will get a sense for what interests them and what motivates them. Voice actors need to educate, entertain, or bring out a certain emotion, and you can’t hire one to do that without defining who you are targeting. Ask yourself some questions at the outset, like how old are your targets, what income do they have, what are their values, and what kind of lifestyles do they lead? 

Knowing your audience is the most important part of marketing, creative writing, and acting. If you are writing for a certain group, you adjust it so that it is appealing to them. If a voice actor is performing for that group, they need to know all about them to give the best performance. 

What Type of Character Will They Be Playing?

Every voice action role will involve playing a character of some sort. Even if it’s a voiceover for a commercial, they are still playing a role. Think of a toilet paper commercial. The voices are friendly, sometimes giggly, and comforting. Movie trailers use voices that match the tone of the movie. There are a few role types to keep in mind. The announcer is one of them. There is also the “real person” type of character. It’s the 15 year old kid who likes potato chips, or the soccer mom who drives an SUV. Even if they are similar in real life, it’s still a character. 

Other character types include the narrator, the teacher or instructor, or even the spokesperson. On top of that, if it’s a work of fiction, you will have a variety of possible character types, depending on the script. Knowing the character and what you want out of it, will also allow your prospective actors to mold their performance based on those desires. 

Posting Your Job Description

When you start your search for the best voice actor for your material, you will have a huge pool of potential applicants. They are made up of any and all ages, genders, voice types, and everything in between. To narrow it down, you have to make an effective job posting or audition notice. The more information you can have, the better. 

Men won’t audition for women’s parts, which is an easy example, but also actors who can’t commit for a long period, or ones that don’t feel comfortable with certain subject matter will weed themselves out. There are details that you may not have thought of, such as script length, recording timeline and deadline, budget, language, and accent. All of these, and many others, will be indicators that some won’t be able to meet, and you won’t have to waste your time or theirs going through an audition process. 

Auditions 

The audition is the most important part of the process. You have to nail this so that you get the best actor for the job. Make sure that you have everything in place. For example, if they will be conversing or reacting to another actor, then make sure you have someone in the room or online that can do that job. You should not, since you should be focusing on what’s happening. If you get the right actor who understands what you’re trying to do and can meet your deadlines, then you’ll save yourself some headaches. 

When making a piece of content, getting the right person in place is about more than just the sound of their voice. You need to truly listen and get a sense of their commitment to the role, and their commitment to the craft. Did they come prepared? Were they able to take direction and do the script in a variety of ways? Were they matching the co-actors vibe? These are all decisions that you’ll have to make, and you most likely won’t have much time to make them. 

Timeframes

Make sure that it’s clear with the actor what your timeframes are for the project. There is nothing worse than hiring someone who’s perfect, but then they can’t do it because there’s a conflict. Have the dates posted on your job description, but include if you can be flexible. If the perfect person is walking through that door, then it makes sense to adjust your schedule to fit theirs. This is especially true if you’re planning on a long-term relationship. Make it work early on when there might be conflicts, and then you can get into a set schedule going forward. 

If you can, make sure to check the references or talk to people in the industry. You want someone dependable that you can rely on. If an actor has a history of dropping out of projects, of just being late, then they may not be worth it, no matter how good they are. If you’ve got a studio booked, you need the actor there on time and ready to go. 

Hire a Voice Actor

When you’ve made your choice, it’s important that you are confident in your selection. Choosing the right actors for your project could make or break it. New York is known for its performers and actors, so there is no shortage of options. That’s where you’re fortunate. However, narrowing them down and hiring an actor can be tricky. Follow these tips to make your next voice project a success.