Twenty six.
Twenty six in just under two months.
That’s the number of people who have contacted me about getting into voiceover since lockdown commenced in the UK.
The questions are typically the same.
What equipment do you use?
What recording software do you recommend?
They might even go so far as to ask how do I actually get the work?
But none have actually asked if I thought it was a good idea. So I’m writing this now.
And the answer is ‘no’.
Now there are caveats to that.
If someone is determined, talented and intelligent enough, and voiceover is something they can devote themselves to - then now is better than never. You never win a race you haven't started.
And a lot of people have time on their hands, for sure.
But it’s not easy. And in the midst of a pandemic, where businesses are struggling to survive and recession is imminent, the situation is… not ideal.
So to the question not one of those 26 has asked me - either because it hasn’t occurred to them, or because subconsciously they don’t want me to answer it - is nope.
It took me a few weeks to get my head around the technical aspects of recording from home, and a few months more to refine my workflow. But even years later, it’s a process I’m continuing to adapt and refine.
Today, studios and audio engineers seem to have an increased tolerance with inexperienced talent - coinciding with almost every VO agency pushing their rosters to have a ‘home studio’. But as the dust settles, only those adept at editing, recording, engineering and marketing will be able to transfer that momentum into a consistent source of income.
I was making a living purely out of voiceover within four months of setting up my home studio - but that was partly because of necessity (as previously blogged here), when no obvious alternative was available. It’s taken me years to get my head around marketing, establish an online presence and brand, and translate all that into a relatively consistent income. And even now it’s a machine (the business side of it) that needs constant maintenance and upgrading.
I’m not saying it’s impossible - because I did it.
I’m not saying don’t try - because it’s rewarded me hugely.
But I will say this is a particularly tough time for talent already established in the industry. And the sector is full of self-proclaimed gurus who have a vested interest in persuading you otherwise.
When I’m asked if it’s as simple as getting a mic and emailing agents, my head drops.
Particularly when it’s posed by people who know the grind of the acting profession, and how having great representation is still no guarantee of auditions, let alone jobs or a livelihood.
All the content is out there to make it as a voiceover.
If you’re good at it and willing to train to get even better, have a strong work ethic, then it’s a totally viable career.
But you need to act clever.
And the first clever thing you need to ask yourself is, are you really up for the level of commitment involved?
There’s not a straightforward answer to that, of course. Everyone’s journey is different. And essentially the VO community is an incredibly generous one - far more mutually supportive than the acting one, I’d venture
But essentially you really need to put the hours in - to your VO skills, your demos, your set up, your brand, your marketing. And that will take hundreds of hours. Thousands.
So if you’re still stuck in lockdown for the foreseeable, and were at risk of being number twenty-seven, I recommend the following:
set three hours a day as non-negotiable time for voiceover for the next month. That’s the minimum amount you need to spend each day getting yourself up to speed as quickly as possible.
What will you fill this time with and from where? Gravy for the Brain have a free trial on. And basically everything you essentially need is on Youtube in some form or another.
See if you can maintain this without excuses.
Rinse and repeat for the month. That’s it.
That may sound ridiculous, simplistic or extreme, but you’ll find out soon enough if you have an affinity for the reality of it, rather than the romantic idea of it. And then you can either embrace your newfound passion, or save yourself some time knowing it wasn’t for you after all.