How do you stay inspired and continuously improve your voice-over skills?

I have a love/hate relationship with this question. 

I think so often we think of these creative-type jobs as always coming from "inspiration" when in reality, the people who are best in these industries are the ones who constantly show up and do the hard work of recording when you don't want to. I have learned so much more about Voice Over by making mistakes than I have from feeling inspired. And when I make those mistakes, I want to QUIT! But the learning comes when I come back to it and keep going in my process, even when I've messed up. 

That said, sometimes you need to have inspiration to try something new. And when I'm really trying to do that, something I like to do is listen to different kinds of Voice Overs or commercials and try to emulate them. You might watch a truck commercial or hear a radio ad for a hospital and think, "I would NOT have read like that!" So sometimes I'll try to emulate that same tone. And when I can, I'll try to add video and music to my VO as well. It doesn't have to be studio-worthy but just something for you to watch and see how you liked it. 

Keep doing the hard work of showing up, auditioning, and getting back up when you mess up or feel like it's not working. Consistency is key!

The Unique Perspective of a Voiceover Artist

In the world of voiceovers, you develop a heightened sense of hearing—an "extra ear," if you will. It’s akin to how an artist sees beauty in colors and textures that others might overlook. As a voiceover artist, you start picking up on nuances in sound that most people don’t even notice.

Inspiration is everywhere. Whether it’s a YouTube ad, someone chatting on their phone, or even my family debating over who gets the last chicken leg, every sound becomes a source of creativity. These everyday moments are more than amusing—they’re a masterclass in human expression.

Voiceover work is about channeling the voices around you. From someone’s rhythm and pacing to their accent, tone, or even the deliberate pauses they take, everything becomes part of the craft. It’s this constant exposure to real-life voices that fuels creativity and brings authenticity to every performance.

I consume the types of content that I love to work on! Whether it’s character VA for anime and video games, or commercial VO; I listen to the skills and nuance that other artists display. When I hear something I like that I think will work well within my range, I implement it!

I stay inspired to continuously improve by working with a voice over coach. My coach has helped me immensely from the time I first started until now. I produced corporate, medical, e-learning, and commercial demos with this same coach, who made sure I was ready before I recorded each one. She was and continues to be a constant source of support and guidance. Get yourself a reputable coach. Reach out if you need a recommendation.

I also follow other voice actors on social media to see what they're posting and working on. This helps give me ideas for my own social media content and stay current with trends and issues in the voice over world. I have yet to attend a voice over conference, but it's on my list of things to do in the near future. 

Find a reputable coach and train, train, train. Voice-over isn't only about having a great voice. It's a craft that must to be learned and practiced. I've been a VO for about a dozen years and still train regularly.

But beware, there are many many unqualified coaches out there who only want to separate you from your money. Find a coach with real, verifiable experience, and who understands the current and potential state of the voiceover industry. 

My personal bias is I only coach with top-tier producers, directors, casting directors, and agents. I have never trained with someone who is also a voice talent. Be prepared to spend $100-$200/hr. Or seek out small group classes or workouts that will keep the cost down.

Good luck!

I stay motivated and continuously improve my voice-over skills because this is a business I’m extremely proud of. My inspiration comes from creating projects like YouTube content, courses, and exploring new tools, software, and equipment.

I step outside of my comfort zone.

When things feel comfy and secure, then I know it's time to take a leap into the unknown. I may join a community, reach out to someone I don't know and ask a question, post something I feel may spark intrigue or even create a new Fiverr gig.

Getting bored can lead you down a path of uninspiring work. People can also sense my mood before I do so I have learned to listen to my internal thoughts and feelings and give them credibility. I use my anxious feelings and turn them into action. It may take me longer to get up the courage to move forward but once I do there is no stopping me.

My strengths are emotional intelligence and reading the room. But my weakness (I feel) is that I can be shy even though I may seem outgoing. Shyness stops me from approaching people and getting answers or letting people know my opinion or getting what I deserve. Because I know this about myself, I will ask myself, "what would my mom do?" She writes amazing letters to companies when she feels wronged. She can also speak to people and get her way when she feels something unjust.

Developing these people skills is something that actually inspires me because they can be so difficult to do. 

Even though Fiverr is an online platform, you are dealing with REAL PEOPLE! Never forget that. It's people with families, bills, health issues. That doesn't mean you go beyond professional boundaries but rather have an understanding and an empathy for others. I understand the idea of getting a project to someone on Friday before the weekend (even if you deliver it early) because they may have important family time planned.

There are so many colleagues on Fiverr who understand and appreciate the same feelings....especially on the Forum. Sometimes just hearing real challenges come from someone else can help me feel normal.

Recently, I decided to volunteer my voice skills and that opened up a Pandora's box! Which means, I had to learn about more things than just sending a great voice over to help a movement or organization. It pushed me to uncover things that I may need help or training with among other things. Sometimes it's not about the skills but being able to connect with the people who need them. It requires asking questions you may not be so comfortable asking, like "can you listen to this new demo and give me your feedback?" because you better be open-minded to getting feedback.

Getting feedback can help guide me...not change me...but give me a nudge in the right direction and that inspires me to be better than I was yesterday.