What drew you to the world of voice-over work, and how did you get your start in the industry?

Unlike a lot of these awesome folks who have answered this question, I had nothing to do with Voice Over before I started. I met someone who told me they were getting into it and I just had a ton of questions! I have always loved media and creating videos and things. I started a YouTube channel but it just took so much work! 

I started doing research into Voice Over and realized it could be a really lucrative side-hustle that wouldn't require a ton of my time but could actually pay pretty well!

I found a teacher who had really good advice who recommended against all the hype that many people get caught up in. He said to get an ok microphone but make sure your recording area is treated well. Then start working on a DIY Demo so you can start getting work. After you start making a little bit of money, pay someone to produce a professional commercial demo and start marketing. 

It's an amazing profession and it will give you back what you put into it. But like many other creative-type careers, it can take a while to get going. That actually makes it a better industry because it weeds out the people who aren't willing to stick with it to make something for themselves! 

I hope if you're reading this, you'll feel inspired to get started and stick with it! I would love to connect if you have any other questions!

I've always been fascinated by the world of voiceover.  Even in my youth I would keep track of various cartoon characters voiced by the same actors.  I got my start recording radio ads from a local recording studio, thanks to a connection I had.  A big part of this industry is getting your foot in the door, so once I had some samples to share with potential clients, I found more opportunities in the industry.

I started public speaking when I was in Elementary school. I was really good at it. Winning competitions and so for.  I also had a passion for music.  So when it came time to look at career options, I thought, why not try radio.  

I started working in broadcasting as a coop student in high school. They kept me on and I has the chance to do a bunch of small bit parts in commercials.  Eventually I landed an on air gig. And commercial voice over was just part of the job. But I enjoyed it! 

After 13 years in broadcasting I decided to seek a new career. And I went back to university to become a Chiropractor. Freelance Voice over paid the bills. And the more my side hustle grew the more I grew to love the variety of projects I took on and the clients I met.  

I am now working my dream day job as a Chiropractor, but voice over is still a part of my life. I just enjoy using the skills I have to bring projects to life. And now 30 years later, I'm still voicing away and loving it. 

I've always been fascinated by radio, and when I was little I wanted to be an FM radio announcer and DJ. I started as a DJ at school parties and as soon as I graduated from high school I went to do electronic engineering. It didn't take long for me to get an internship as an audio operator at the best radio in the city in Rio de Janeiro. Then I went to Journalism and set up an advertising agency. I recorded many movies for clients and improved my vocal techniques. Today I'm an announcer, voice actor, writer and audio producer. I have a professional studio for recording advertising voiceovers, dubbing and audio production. And I also have a Webradio.

———-

Eu sempre fui fascinado por rádio, e dez de pequeno queria ser locutor e DJ de rádio FM. Comecei como DJ em festas da escola e assim que me graduei do high school eu fui fazer engenharia eletrônica. Não demorou para eu conseguir um estágio de operador de áudio na melhor rádio da cidade no Rio de Janeiro. Depois fui para Jornalismo e montei uma agência de publicidade. Gravei muitos filmes para clientes e fui aprimorando minhas técnicas vocais. Hoje sou locutor, dublador, redator e produtor de áudio. Tenho um estúdio profissional para gravações de locuções publicitárias, dublagens e produção de áudios. E tenho também uma Webradio. 

I was a journalist, documentary maker and presenter for many years when I was working outside of the UK, so using my voice to engage an audience has always been a huge part of my work. I was also asked by a number of local companies to be the voice of their English language advertising. That's where I got the idea that there might be a career in this. When I moved back to the UK I set up my website, trained with some of the best VO coaches in the country,  and started to look into how best to market myself to potential customers. Everything has grown from there!

My path to voice over was pretty unconventional. After college I was a  play-by-play guy and loved it for years! My broadcast partner and I had a radio show at a local station that we no longer wanted to be part of so we had the idea to start a show online (this was just before podcasts really took off...we didn't even know it was a thing).

The show was going to be at a local sports bar , I put a huge dent in my credit card buying all the equipment, and just before we were set to launch the show, the bar shut down and my partner chose a career change . There I was with all this gear and nothing to do with it. I didn't want to be on the road for the rest of my life so I gave up hockey and got a regular job .

But through purchasing all the equipment, it changed my youtube algorithm and I learned about doing voice over from home. I'd always been a fan of the idea, but never wanted to move to LA or NY . So I took a few classes online, cut a demo with the gear I had, and launched my career in 2015. Went full-time in 2017 and never looked back.

 When I was studying for my bachelor's degree in Theatre Acting, vocal training was my favourite class. I became fascinated by the mechanics of speech and the different ways I could use my voice to portray so many different things!

 After I graduated, I landed my first two voiceover jobs at around the same time. One was an educational animation in which I voiced the character of a young boy potato from space and the other was for a luxury vintage car rental service for which I was the voice of Natalie, a Rolls Royce, who tells her story to prospective customers in the showroom!

 I received great feedback for these two very different voiceover recordings and from then on, I was hooked! I couldn't wait upgrade my microphone, level up my audio editing skills and build my first home studio. I still do theatre occaisionally, but voiceover has taken the lead as my main passion!

People always said I have a voice that would be perfect for radio. That and I'm obsessed with music & audio. When the pandemic hit in 2020, a voice actor who was part of a music composition forum with me reached out and compelled me to begin my voice acting career here on Fiverr and it's a joyful and wild ride ever since. I now have the privilege of calling the Kansas City Chiefs, Discovery Channel, Bosch, Bugatti, and Jollibee either current or previous clients and we all found each other through this platform. Pretty amazing stuff! 

Thanks for your question!