5 important voice over tips from casting directors
to make you NAIL your next audition!
This article originally appeared on nashvillegab.com
When setting out a job interview or audition for an important job or life-changing role, chances are you’re going to be very nervous. It is normal to get the jitters when you feel like something could be highly pivotal to your career and life as you know it. However, there are specific ways of dealing with stress and remaining calm to help you nail your following job interview or audition.
In the movie and TV industry, people are known for being incredibly cutthroat. This can be especially true for finding actors and actresses who fit the bill for a director’s specific needs or the wants of a music video producer.
Just because you aren’t what they are looking for at the specific moment doesn’t mean you are not good at your job and a talented person. By remaining confident and following some essential tips and tricks from professionals in this field, you can ensure you have the right persona and tricks to nail your next audition!
5 tips from voice-over casting professionals to help you nail your audition!
So, your audition is coming up – and we know you’re nervous. But you shouldn’t be! With these few tips, you can stay confident and use your honed skills to impress the casting director and consider the important part.
What should voice-over actors keep in mind during an audition?
One of the most important things to keep in the back of your mind during and before your audition is that you need to relate to the script. Even if you don’t necessarily gel while you are first reading it, make some emotional connection to what you are reading. Whether you have to think about something completely different, like your boyfriend or your love for soccer, you can draw inspiration from somewhere in your life to relate to the script.
By bringing emotion to the script, you can help convey one of the three essential aspects a story wants to tell – backstory on a conflict, directing the reader’s or viewer’s attention to something important, or telling the reader to ‘explore’ something going on in the story. If you understand how these categories can influence the story and how your voice can invoke these emotions, you can bring life and character to the words.
What advice do you have for a voice-over actor building an in-home studio for practice and auditioning?
If you are used to voice-over casting in person, you may find that building an at-home auditioning station can help you make tapes and CDs to send to potential employers. Look into affordable microphones and speakers that help provide quality sound. When you are booking jobs across the country, make sure you have the best microphone and booth equipment so potential employers hear you at your best.
What should be the first step for voice-over actors?
Some advice from professionals regarding the first step is to just listen. Listen to commercials carefully, watch advertisements, and see how the person’s inflection can change your approach to the product or service. Create some scripts in your mind that you think would suit your voice.
For example, if you have a young-sounding voice, create a script revolving around teenagers so you can broadcast your talents. Everyone can record themselves like you do use a home studio, so just do it and send your tape to potential employers or companies.
There is nothing wrong with putting yourself out there and being vulnerable. Companies will never know you exist unless you take a chance, so making an audition reel is a great way to get started and get your name out there as someone talented, eager, and looking for immediate work. Even if you don’t get the job you are vying for, the ability to make connections is vital in any industry.
What important information should actors know about voice-over casting auditions?
Every actor should always be early – don’t be late. This sets a wrong tone for a potential future working relationship and directly reduces the chances of booking the job. Carefully read the copy and the script, ensuring it is the same one you already practiced if you got words ahead of time.
Listen to the direction of the casting director to make sure you absorb direction and go with the flow. You want to come across as easy to work with and free-flowing, being ample to improvise on the spot and work with whatever gets put on your plate.
In addition, many people will be auditioning for the same part. What can you do in your audition that sets you apart from the rest? Chances are the majority of the actors will be talented and have a similar experience – so what is your unique quality or personality trait that will get you chosen for the part?
What advice do you have for those who want to be a voice-over actor or actress?
Make sure you can do on-camera work as well as just voice-over. Being flexible and able to do multiple projects provides you with a greater chance of being hired for an acting role. A big market for casting directors in Hollywood at the moment is capturing performance art and performance capture, which requires actors to have a variety of skills like voice, movement, and face in one package.
Make sure you keep your physical appearance in tune with your words, getting into character, and feeling the emotion of the script you are reading.
Conclusion
As a voice-over actor, going into a voice-over casting can be overwhelming. However, following advice from professionals in the industry can help give you confidence and put your mind at ease before the stressful day. By remembering your talents, remaining multifaceted and versatile, keeping an open mind, and practicing at home, you can set yourself apart from the thousands of other actors who are all fighting for a place in this industry.