What To Listen For When Hiring A Voice Actor

A good voice over artist can add a lot to an audio project, whether you are talking about a corporate DVD, radio spot, audio-book, or any other kind of project in which you want people to listen to a message. But how can you know when you are listening to a good voice-over artist? There are several things you should consider, of course, if you have the money and the time and the knowledge to do that. However, since time is often in short supply and you may not have the resources to do a national search and use all the time you need to determine what you need, remembering a few basic things can help you hire the best person for your project.

Your audience is very important. When it comes to hiring a voice-over artist, you have to consider more than just which voice you find most attractive. You have to consider what your audience will like - and what they will find believable. If you are convinced you can sell more radiator-fluid by letting your clients hear a playful female voice, then that is the one you should hire. Perhaps all the other radiator fluid stores are using men who sound like mechanics and you think this will help your store make an impression. However, if you think they are more likely to listen to a guy who sounds like a mechanic, then use that one.

Make sure your actor has your best interest at heart. This isn't as fluffy as it sounds. As wonderful at what they do as some of them may be, they are probably taking the job for money. They aren't voicing your project because they think you're going to save the world from fluidless radiators and they think that is a good cause: They are working to get paid. However, they should be concerned about what type of product they are giving you. Therefore, they should be able to listen to you and make sure they know what you want before they proceed. If you are interviewing an actor and he or she doesn't seem to hear what you're saying, then no matter how good a fit for your product the voice is, they won't give your needs much thoughtful consideration.

They should understand the relevance of timing. Many voice actors get by on a pleasant-sounding voice. For some projects, this may be exactly what is needed. But if your project requires dramatic pauses, inflection and emotion, then take care that the professional you're looking at has that sort of training. The way you accomplish that, of course, is two-fold. For one thing, you have to conduct auditions. Take them through situations that are similar to what you are going to need. The second part of that, naturally, is for you to know your own project well enough to comprehend what you need from the actor. Don't expect that he or she will instinctively know what you need. After all, every project has different requirements.

Your project needs the best treatment that you can possibly give it. If you have set aside the cash to hire a voice actor, then make sure you set aside the time to be sure that you're getting the right one for the situation. After all, voice artists are not created equal. Some are better, and some are better for you.