We all know the tools you need to have a successful voice-over business: training, a home studio, demo reels, a website, a resume, social media, and sources to be in the audition loop. Most new voice-over actors are unsure where to find auditions, how many auditions equal a booking, if they should have an agent, and if they need to join the Union (SAG-AFTRA).
When you’re a beginner, particularly when you are just starting out, it may take dozens, or even a couple hundred auditions to land your first gig. Why’s this? There is a lot of competition at this level, you are still refining your skills, and you are not a known quantity to potential clients. At this stage, it’s about gaining experience, improving reads, and getting comfortable with rejection.
As you gain more experience in the industry, that audition-to-booking ratio will drop. This is a natural result of getting better at your job in all aspects, growing relationships with potential clients, and having more direct bookings with past clients.
At the advanced level, you can continue to push this number down as you build a brand, a client list, and a refined style. At this level, having representation can be really helpful, in order to have someone else take care of the “finding work” aspect of VO so you can focus on performance.
Some factors that affect booking rate:
- Niche: Commercial VO tends to be more competitive than, say, corporate narration. The good news is there are tons of niches in this industry.
- Representation: Union or major agency talent may have higher booking ratios. Big agency talent will be more than likely to have their auditions heard.
- Demo Quality: A strong, well-produced demo can improve opportunities.
- Auditioning Strategy: Quick, precise, and quality auditions lead to better results; being quick to submit quality auditions on pay-to-play platforms can be a powerful strategy.
- Marketing & Relationships: Repeat clients and direct bookings improve success rates.
There are a lot of avenues for finding auditions:
Pay-to-play sites (casting websites that charge a monthly fee to have auditions sent to you based on your vocal attributes) are a great way to find potential work, though they can be quite competitive. As mentioned above, there are lots of strategies for increasing your chances of getting booked on these platforms.
You can also find work through an agent. In order to get an agent, you will need some experience to put on a resume and have a website.
In the audiobook world, publishing houses send out auditions if you are on their rosters. You can also get auditions and/or jobs directly from studio rosters. Generally, studio rosters do not cost money to be on, but the competition is fierce. You might get called in a week, in a month, in a year, in five years, or never. So while studio rosters are good to be on, do not depend on them – they’ll just be nice surprises if and when they send work or auditions your way.
Auditions also come from reaching out directly to possible sources of work (radio stations, production houses, recording studios, and casting directors.) Direct marketing is an effective way to find work but the most labor-intensive.
There is not one single method that works for everyone, and most successful voice-over artists are using some combination of all of these methods. Below are some resources in all of these categories to use as a jumping-off point for your research:
1. Online Casting Platforms (Pay-to-Play Sites)
- Examples: Voices.com, Voice123, Bodalgo, VOPlanet
- Pros: High volume of auditions, direct client interaction, and potential for repeat work.
- Cons: High competition, subscription fees, and many jobs are non-union with lower rates.
2. Talent Agencies
- Examples: CESD, Atlas Talent, VOX, DPN, SBV, Abrams, and regional agencies.
- Pros: Access to higher-paying union jobs, national commercials, and major projects.
- Cons: You must be on their roster, and competition is fierce.
3. Production Companies & Ad Agencies
- Examples: Big Fish, Sound Lounge, JMC Demos, and various creative agencies.
- Pros: Direct client relationships, ongoing work, and better rates than pay-to-play sites.
- Cons: You need networking and/or a really solid demo to get on these rosters.
4. Direct Marketing & Cold Outreach
- Methods: Emailing potential clients, LinkedIn networking, website SEO, and social media engagement.
- Pros: No middleman, long-term client relationships, and direct negotiations.
- Cons: Takes time, and results depend on marketing consistency.
5. Past Clients & Repeat Business
- Examples: Corporate narration clients, e-learning companies, video game developers.
- Pros: No auditioning required once you’re in, steady income.
- Cons: Requires excellent service and follow-up to maintain relationships.
6. Union Auditions (SAG-AFTRA)
- Where? Through agencies, production studios, or direct industry connections.
- Pros: Better pay, residuals, and higher-tier projects (network commercials, animation, etc.).
- Cons: You need union status, and competition is extremely high.
7. Social Media & Online Communities
- Platforms: Facebook groups (Voice Over Pros, VOpreneur), LinkedIn, Twitter (X), Discord servers.
- Pros: Free networking, direct job leads, and industry discussions.
Cons: Jobs vary in quality, and scammers exist.
8. Conferences & Networking Events
- Events: VO Atlanta, One Voice, That’s Voiceover!, and genre-specific industry mixers.
- Pros: Connections with clients, workshops, and private audition opportunities.
- Cons: Travel costs and no guaranteed jobs.
9. Casting Director Workshops & Referral Networks
- Examples: Animation workshops with Disney/Nickelodeon casting directors, referrals from other VO actors.
- Pros: Direct industry connections, potential for representation or studio auditions.
- Cons: Not an instant booking—more of a long-term investment.
10. Local Radio, TV Stations, and Production Houses
- Where? Local ad agencies, independent film productions, college radio.
- Pros: Good for gaining experience and portfolio work.
- Cons: Often lower pay compared to national-level gigs.
If you have the dream and are willing to put in the work, you can carve out the career you desire. Welcome to the club.
P.S. If you haven’t yet taken our introductory voice-over class, where we go over everything one needs to know about getting started in the voice-over industry, sign up here!
