How to Get an Agent!

The elusive VO agent is a rare entity indeed. Their primary environments are major metropolitan areas like LA or NYC. If you are residing in those locations, you may catch a glimpse of an agent or even walk next to one and never even know it. Tricky.

 

Here’s how to catch them!

1) Take Classes with Casting Directors and Get Them to Be Familiar with Your Work.  After taking classes with a casting director, it is not unheard of to be introduced to an agent or to be brought in for jobs directly by the casting director.  Also, taking classes with multiple casting directors is a huge plus.

 

2) One-on-One Meet ‘n Greets. Occasionally, acting studios may offer one-on-one meet ‘n greets with agents. Heads up, though: If you don’t have a few big jobs under your belt, can’t offer a really good demo, or don’t yet have a resume with a lot of casting directors on it, you may have to go by talent alone. Go with caution.  Or, hustle and prep so you have something to show for your work.

 

Check out the full article here!

EverythingVoiceover.com  was created by Justin D. Torres

The voiceover over industry has become a bit of mystery.  Creator, Justin D. Torres, wanted to create a site that would have up to date information on allthings voiceover. From podcasts to articles, from how to’s to classes, Everything Voiceover is a learning tool for anyone interested in this amazing industry.

The Everything Voiceover Podcast

Everything Voiceover is finally up and running and the first episode of the Podcast is dedicated to giving you all the foundational information you’ll need to start your career.

Things like, types of voiceover, pay 2 play sites, non-union vs union, agents, everything you need to know.

Click here for the link to the everything voice over podcast.

When I was recording this podcast, I was trying to get across as much information as possible in the shortest amount of time possible. So, most of the first six episodes come in at under 20 minutes.

If you like the podcast, feel free to subscribe and I’ll keep bringing more and more info to everyone out there.

EVERYTHINGVOICEOVER.COM LAUNCHED!

Thanks so much to everyone who has read this blog over the years. This was literally the first site I put up when I envisioned an Everythingvoiceover website. As of two weeks, Everythingvoiceover is up and running.

It has articles, videos, and even a podcast with four episodes up and ready to go.

The reason I created this site was that I was sick and tired of looking at such old information.  I’m also really tired of people trying to get money out of every actor who wants to make a little money out of voiceover.

Everythingvoiceover.com is totally free, no sign ups, no newsletters, just information. That’s it. I’m not gonna record your demo. hehe.

Hopefully, this reaches some of my older subscribers. I will commit to updating you on all this information.  Here’s a great article on the Blue Yeti blackout microphone which I believe is a great microphone and you can even hear it on the podcast itself.

Review

 

What is Voiceover Acting? Is it Different than other types of Acting? Absolutely!

Voiceover Acting is an entirely different monster than theatre acting or film acting. However, if you have extensive experience in either of those fields you can definitely draw from it, but you also have to realize a few things.

Voiceover, for the most part, lends itself to bigger acting. Here’s a few niches and their acting descriptions.

• Cartoons: Obviously, crazy large over the top acting, usually actors are putting their body into the acting itself. Staying still isn’t recommended. As in both film and theatre acting, the more choices you make with the character the better it will be.
• Audiobooks:  Storyteller type acting, think of it as a REALLY long monologue and you have to play out the voices of every character as well. You also have to experience each page as it is happening. If something was missing from the room, make sure the audience hears that you were scanning the room before hand in the way you speak.
• Promos/Commercials: There’s a lot of types of promos, but for the most part it’s a borderline walk between Subtle Film and Over the Top. Too much doesn’t always in these things. Sometimes you get an actual commercial or promo that they want to imitate. For example, Mike Ro, Denis Leary, or Morgan Freeman. They are kind of normal everyday guys with that little sarcastic wink or that little extra small or like my teacher Melissa Gray says, “The Tip of Your Hat.”. It could be a little sexy or flirty. My point being it’s hard because it is the true midpoint of acting,bigger than film, smaller than theatre.
• Websites-Corporate: These are primarily educational so you need to be understood, so making sure that you emphasize specific words that would make a non- learned person understand would be great. But, if you overemphasize, you run the risk of sounding like your teaching children. Good rule of thumb: “Act like your talking to a friend who knows a little bit about what your talking about.” Always smile as well, especially on the product itself.
• Videogames: You’ve got your cartoony videogames that are pretty much cartoons, then you have the more realistic videogames. I’ve only done one, but they wanted an accent.  I, personally, believe that like Promo/Commercial, it’s a midpoint between Film and Theatre, except it’s a little closer to film. If you are getting eaten by zombies, the player needs to believe it. So, if you have a basic character like a soldier, the more work you do to make him real the better. Give him a tone to his voice, maybe an accent, maybe he jokes and laughs when he says stuff, maybe he just got dumped by his girl today. Character development is only going to help you.
• Voicemail: Honestly, no clue. I’ve only pulled one voicemail job and since then I’ve used the same strategy and it hasn’t worked. lol.
• Children’s Book: Like an audiobook, only slower and you have a lot more fun with the characters. I’d say try watching Babar narrated by Sigourney Weaver or any PBS or Nick Kids show. They know how to communicate to kids so it’s a great template. It’s a slower more caring acting and emotions are very drawn out but not overdrawn.

In Conclusion, you’re gonna be wandering between film acting and theatre acting and maybe going a little over theatrical acting.

Okay, this IS NOT set in stone just a visual to show that if you have the chops of all three of those acting styles, doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be good in Voiceover but know that it is a learned skill, you’ll either learn as you go or do some actual classes, workshops, and one on one’s. It’s a different monster.
Thanks for reading.

Check out my blog : Goal: Become a Voiceover Artist

My Website:               JustinDTorres.com

My Theatrical Site:  Justin D Torres Theatre

Brand New Review of Voices.com

 

First review from Everything Voiceover!! Enjoy!

Welcome!

Welcome to Everything Voiceover! This is a site for …..? You guessed it, Everything Voiceover. From tips to links to reviews to interviews, this is going to be a great source of information for the budding voice actor to the curious cats out there.