When you begin your voice over journey, you are going to be discovering that there are so many ways to find work and auditions in this business. Occasionally you can book work straight through your voice over demo. Quite frequently you will find yourself auditioning from home, especially when you are first starting out and discovering all the auditions that you can find through Voices.com. Usually you will find yourself being your own director during this process. And the act of recording from home and listening back to your own reads can be a huge part of your growth as a voice over actor. This will help empower you to understand how to deliver the best auditions.
However, many of the highest paying voice over jobs are still cast through the traditional routes of casting directors and agents out of a casting director or agent’s office. While many of these opportunities are in larger markets, Los Angeles and New York are not the only places where you can find voice over agents and opportunities to do live, in-person auditions. And when you’re ready for them, it’s great to have an idea of what to expect.
When you first arrive at one of these auditions it’s quite common that this will be when you first get a chance to see your script. Therefore, it’s always a great idea to arrive early. Also, there will be a sign in sheet where you will put down your name, audition time, agent info, possibly Union information and character info as well. You don’t have to sign the sheet right away if you get there early. This way you get a chance to read over the copy, look over the directorial notes on the script, do a quick script analysis, and read it out loud before you go into the room. Just make sure to sign in before your audition time. They tend to call people into the room according to the order on the sheet.
It’s important not to get intimidated, and don’t try to listen to what’s going on in the audition room before you. Stay relaxed, and keep your focus on finding the read that’s right for you. Sometimes the waiting room will be full of other auditioners, so find a place where you can have a little space to work on it out loud.
Also, some people find it helpful to record themselves and do playbacks before an audition so that they can make sure they’ve got a good sense of the directorial specs written on the page. Keep in mind that when you go into the room, part of the process may be to see how well you can take direction. The casting director has spent some time talking with the client and they feel they have a good sense of what they’re looking for, so they will be working with you to try to achieve that.
Basically, that casting director is your friend! They want you to be exactly what the client is looking for. So make sure you’re open to taking direction and you don’t get locked into one read. You want to go in with a good sense of your choices, but flexible enough to throw that out the window if need be.
Casting directors work in many different ways. Some give you great direction beforehand, reinforcing the information on the page, and adding to it. Often they will give direction based on what they’ve heard from voice over actors before you, as some scripts can have common hang-ups or misperceptions. This way they’re giving you a head’s up as to what to look out for, and where your focus should be. Others really let you take the lead, offering up direction as needed, and making sure they have a couple of versions to choose from. Sometimes you will even hear them ask you to just give them another read for variety while allowing you to choose what direction you want to go in for the next version. Once again it’s usually important for them to have a couple of options to choose from.
What’s important is to be open to their vision. Ask questions ahead of time if you need to. For instance if you don’t understand how to say the client’s name, please make sure to clear that up ahead of time.
I love working with casting directors. I find most of them them friendly, supportive and encouraging. They are your creative collaborators. So relax… do your best to be friendly and open with them, while also sticking to the business of letting them help you find your best read!
Aria McKenna is an award-winning actress who has worked in films, TV, and the stage. She’s also a sought-after voice talent who has worked for major brands like Disney, Chevy, Fiat, Chanel, Yokohama, and more. You can find her work at ariamckenna.com.
