Music

Interested in the World of Voiceover Work? Then Read This.

I’m dying to see this new movie called In a World… which opened this week.  It’s a comedy set in the highly competitive world of voiceovers.  (The Rotten Tomatoes rating is through the roof!)

I do a lot of voicever work these days.  On Thursday, I had one session where I had to read almost sixty pages over about two hours.  (If you do VOs, you’re probably shaking your head in disbelief. Trust me, citizens, that’s a lot–and it plays hell on your voice.)

But you always take whatever work you get because you never, ever know when the bookings might dry up. That’s just the way this industry works.

If you’re curious about how it all works, there’s a blog called Voiceover Canada that gives an inside look on things.  Here’s a sample:

Full confession: I love old radio guys. Not the way Siegfried loves Roy but with great affection, none the less. I’m talking about the DJs who worked the air waves during the heyday of rock radio. By heyday, I’m thinking roughly Sgt. Pepper to Born In The U.S.A. I find their stories are so unique to the time period and to the medium.

Since I run a voice talent agency, I represent a number of Old Radio Guys –ORGs (If they’re bitter, they’re BORGs – with the most bitter being the Chairman of the BORGs of course). Over the years I’ve come to realize, to paraphrase Mark Twain, that the reports of the death of the ORG are greatly exaggerated.

The voice over industry is cyclical. Certain types of voices and certain kinds of reads weave in and out of fashion. The two constants seem to be: producers & advertising types claiming they no longer want “radio voices”, and producers and advertisers still hiring “radio voices.”

Continue reading.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 38031 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

2 thoughts on “Interested in the World of Voiceover Work? Then Read This.

  • Alan,
    I’m having an argument about this… Are you the voice for a car company in Chrysler? We’ve heard it on the Bear a few times and we are betting on whether it’s you or not! hahha

    Reply
    • I do the commercials for a Chrysler dealership in Ottawa, if that’s what you’re thinking about…

      Reply

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