Why Most People Never Make $$$ in Voiceover
Why Most People Never Make $$$ in Voiceover
Why Most New Voice Actors Never Make a Single Dollar
Why is it that so many people who start in voiceover never make a single dollar?
It usually isn’t because they don’t have a good voice. And it doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t have the talent to succeed.
More often, they simply start the wrong way.
I work with a lot of brand-new voice actors, and when they tell me what they’ve done up to that point, I frequently hear the same mistakes. They’ve spent months researching, bought equipment they probably didn’t need, created a homemade demo, signed up for audition sites before they were ready, and then wondered why nothing was happening.
That doesn’t mean they can’t succeed. It means nobody showed them the right order in which to do things.
So let’s look at some of the biggest reasons aspiring voice actors never make money—and what you can do differently.
1. They Never Get Out of Research Mode
If you’re reading this article, there’s a good chance you’ve spent some time researching how to become a voice actor.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, the entire purpose of my Voiceover Blueprint YouTube channel is to provide free information to people who want to start and grow a profitable voice acting business.
The problem begins when research becomes a substitute for action.
You watch one video about microphones. Then another about recording booths. Then somebody tells you that you need a certain interface. Another person tells you that microphone is terrible. Then you find a video about demos, followed by one about agents, followed by 15 videos about pay-to-play sites.
Before long, you’re drinking from a fire hose.
There’s so much conflicting information that you become overwhelmed and do nothing.
At some point, you have to start.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t even have to be particularly organized.
Start messy. Just start.
Taking one small step will teach you more than watching another 50 videos about what that first step should be.
2. They Create a DIY Demo and Start Marketing It
This is one of the biggest mistakes I see new voice actors make.
They record a few scripts themselves, add some music, call it a demo and immediately start sending it to production companies, casting directors and potential clients.
The problem is that your demo isn't being evaluated in a vacuum.
You're competing against professional voice actors with professionally produced demos.
When a producer listens to several demos for a project, yours needs to sound like it belongs alongside those professional demos. If it sounds noticeably homemade, you may have eliminated yourself before the producer ever gets a chance to evaluate what you can actually do.
Your demo is one of your most important marketing tools.
Before you begin serious direct outreach, make sure your performance skills are ready and that you have a professional-quality demo capable of competing in the marketplace.
3. They Join Pay-to-Play Sites Too Soon
Another common mistake is signing up for pay-to-play audition platforms before you're ready.
The thinking usually goes something like this:
"I want to become a voice actor. I need auditions. This website has auditions. I'll sign up."
It sounds logical.
But there's a problem.
You're not just competing against other beginners. You're auditioning alongside experienced professionals who may have spent years developing their performance, recording and auditioning skills.
If you haven't developed those skills yet, you're probably going to struggle.
You submit audition after audition and nothing happens.
Eventually, you start wondering whether you have what it takes to be a voice actor.
The problem may have nothing to do with your potential. You may have simply entered the competition before you were ready.
4. They Don't Have a Process
This is really the common thread connecting most of these mistakes.
Successful voice actors don't simply buy a microphone and start looking for jobs.
There needs to be a process.
You develop your performance skills. You learn how to record and edit. You create a recording environment that produces professional-quality audio. You get the appropriate demos. You learn how to audition. You develop your marketing strategy. Then you begin consistently putting yourself in front of people who hire voice talent.
There is a progression.
When you try to do everything simultaneously—or skip several steps—you make an already challenging business much more difficult.
That's why I don't think the biggest problem facing most new voice actors is a lack of talent.
It's a lack of a system.
5. They Become Obsessed With Gear
This one can become a huge distraction.
What's the best microphone?
Which interface should I buy?
Should I get a Sennheiser? A Neumann? A Rode?
What acoustic panels should I use?
How big should my booth be?
Suddenly you've spent three months designing the perfect studio without recording anything.
Here's something important to remember:
Your recording space only has to sound good. It doesn't have to look good.
Some very effective home studios aren't particularly impressive to look at.
Moving blankets, PVC pipe, clothes hanging in a closet, pillows and other basic acoustic treatments can sometimes produce surprisingly good results.
The same applies to equipment.
You don't need to spend thousands of dollars on your first microphone setup. There is plenty of affordable equipment available today that can produce excellent results when it's used in a properly treated recording environment.
Don't let the pursuit of the "perfect" studio prevent you from creating a good one.
So What Does "Getting Started" Actually Look Like?
If you've been researching voiceover but haven't actually started, make today the day you do something.
Here are a few practical first steps.
Build a basic recording space. You could create a PVC-and-moving-blanket booth or clean out a closet and experiment with turning it into a recording space. That's how I started.
Get an inexpensive microphone setup. There are plenty of affordable microphone bundles that contain most of what you need to begin practicing.
Download recording software and learn how to use it. You can start learning the basics of recording and editing before you even own a professional microphone. Use the built-in microphone on your computer if necessary. You're not sending these recordings to clients yet—you're learning.
Practice reading copy. Record yourself. Listen back. Try it again. Start becoming comfortable behind the microphone.
Consider professional coaching or training. If you want to accelerate the process and avoid some of the common mistakes new voice actors make, working with an experienced coach or joining a structured training program can give you a roadmap instead of trying to figure everything out yourself.
The important thing is that you're doing something instead of endlessly preparing to do something.
You Don't Need to Be Ready. You Need to Begin.
If there's one thing I want you to take away from this, it's this:
Stop waiting until everything is perfect.
Your first recording space probably won't be your last recording space.
Your first microphone probably won't be your last microphone.
Your first recording probably won't sound great.
That's okay.
You improve by doing the work.
Research enough to understand your next step—and then take it.
Because you can't build a voiceover business while you're permanently preparing to start one.
Want Help Taking That First Step?
If you're thinking about becoming a voice actor and want to better understand what it takes, I host a free Voiceover Blueprint webinar every Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Zoom.
I'll walk you through some of the steps involved in getting started, and you'll have an opportunity to ask me your voiceover questions directly.
It's completely free to attend.
As a thank-you for joining me, you'll also receive a digital copy of my book, The Voice Over Blueprint, along with the audiobook version.
You can find the registration link in the description or pinned comment on my YouTube channel.
And if you're wondering whether you've waited too long to pursue voice acting, check out my video about why it's never too late to become a voice actor—and why right now may be a great time to start.
The most important thing?
Take that first step.
Ready to take the next step? I'm hosting a free 1-hour webinar this Tuesday night at 6:00 PM Pacific / 9:00 PM Eastern where I'll go deeper into everything it takes to start a voice acting career from home—including how to land your first gigs with little to no upfront cost. Plus, everyone who shows up gets a free copy of my book, The Voiceover Blueprint (audiobook and ebook). Sign up using this link.
Download My Latest Beginner Mistakes in Voice Over - Quick Start! https://thevoiceoverblueprint.com/beginner-mistakes
Discover the Voice Over Blueprint™: https://thevoiceoverblueprint.com/vobp
The content on this channel is for educational and informational purposes only. While I share tips, strategies, and guidance based on my experience as a professional voice actor, there is no guarantee of earning income or securing voiceover work by using the information provided. Results vary depending on individual effort, skill level, market conditions, and other factors. Viewers should use their own judgment and take personal responsibility for their voiceover career decisions.
