Auditioning is one of the most important and most constant parts of our day as voice actors. It’s integral to getting work, so we must take it seriously! There’s tons of auditioning advice out there that you may have already heard: tips on technique, delivery, and sound that help you set yourself above the rest of the competition. If you haven’t ever read, heard, or been given auditioning technique advice, it’s high time you seek it out!
Auditioning goes beyond just the recording of your voice itself. There’s a lot more that can impact your likelihood to getting cast, or even being heard in the first place. Here are my best tips to making sure your audition is the best it can be, beyond your acting!
1. Follow directions.
I know this sounds so obvious, but I beg of you: read every single word of the audition specifications carefully, and do as they ask! That doesn’t just mean directions on delivery of your lines. Of course, read and follow that, but there are other things you should make sure you’re doing
correctly.
Ask yourself before submitting an audition:
- Did I use the correct file type? Did I title my file as asked for?
- Did you slate when asked for?
- How many takes did they ask for?
- Are you supposed to email, dropbox, upload the file somewhere specific?
You may also see instructions like: “Give your takes in AABBCC” or something similar. If you’re reading for a character, you may have three lines to record in your character voice. If you’re going to do two takes with different voices, sometimes they want you to give all three lines in one voice before switching to the next (ABCABC) or do each line multiple times in a row with different voices before switching to the next line (AABBCC). Follow the instructions!
2. Listen back before submitting the final file!
Make sure there’s no audio disturbances or missed words/lines. Sometimes I get so caught up in the emotion of a script that I don’t realize I’ve gone off the rails from the script itself! Make sure you read the script exactly as it is, unless explicitly asked to improvise. Even if you think something in the script is an error or misspelling – read the error as it is! You never know who might be trying to trick you. If it is a true mistake, they’ll appreciate your commitment to any script put in front of you.
3. Be respectful and professional.
I don’t just mean in your response to the casting call itself! Casting directors will likely look you up on social media if they’re about to cast you for a role. If they see that you are acting unprofessionally online, you may get passed over for someone else. Write every email, cover letter, and tweet you send out in a respectful, approachable, positive manner. These things matter! Make yourself look like a more polished, attentive potential co-worker whenever you can.
4. Be confident!
Don’t undersell yourself. I’ve recently been helping cast for a few projects, and I’ll receive emails with demos from people just breaking into the industry. They’ll say things like, “I’m new to this” or, “I haven’t booked a paid gig yet, but…” all the time. Then I listen to their demos, and find out they’re twice as talented as other people in my inbox who say they’re industry veterans!
There’s no need to tell someone it’s your first time or that you’re new. Your talent will speak for itself. You are a professional voice actor, regardless of your resume. This industry is all about what you can do! Sell yourself!
You’d truly be surprised how many amazing auditions are missed, discarded, or ignored because the actor missed one of these steps. Your skill in voice over speaks for itself, but sometimes you need to go the extra mile in order to get yourself that callback. Take your time, be attentive, and put your best foot forward!
Check out our free PDF with pro-tips from real working voice-over actors here!
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