Don’t look now, but the work of male voice over actors is all around us.
We hear these voices every day in commercials, documentaries, radio spots, audiobooks and eLearning modules.
Voice-over work is everywhere.
When you need a male voice over artist to advocate for your brand or narrate your story, where do you even begin to look?
After all, you’re not just hiring a voice. A voice over actor can be representative of your whole brand. How do you find a storyteller who fits the bill and also comes to the table with professionalism and panache?
If you’re in the market for a professional voice over artist, here are a few major items to put at the top of your checklist.
Roll up your sleeves; let’s dive in.
1. An Actor With Industry Experience
What kind of voice over work do you need? Depending on the genre of work, not every male voice over artist is the right fit for the job.
A commercial for a Ford truck should sound very different from a documentary for National Geographic, which will have a vastly different quality than an Apple TV ad.
It’s all about versatility.
Just because someone has done a few voice over spots doesn’t mean they have the expertise to nail your voice over request. Someone who excels at conversational male voice over work might not have the right flair to tackle the level of personality or energy needed for another project.
A voice-over actor with years of industry experience will have experience across a wide range of work, from commercials to television and radio as well as every form of narration: e-learning, explainer and corporate narration. They’ll be flexible enough to fit your brand and your story.
2. An Actor With Professional Voice Training
We talk all day long, but that doesn’t mean that we are equipped with the tools and training to convey just the right persona or nuanced message using only our voices. A professionally trained voice actor has spent many hours honing their voice to do just that.
Do they have improv training?
Improv training is an absolute must for voice actors. Why? They have to be able to self-direct from home. A trained professional will have the tools to act and critique the authenticity of their work on the fly.
Voice actors with lots of improv experience will have amassed a large “bag of tricks,” things like personas and depth of emotional range.
They’ll have just the right vocal tools to create a wide range of colors and flavors to make your reading really shine.
One of the pillars of improv is the idea “yes, and.”
“Yes, and” means accepting something as truth and building from there. Whether you’re looking for a bold choice or a finely tuned moment, a voice actor with improv training won’t be afraid to acknowledge and incorporate your needs, adding vitality and a full inner life to each reading.
Have they trained in voice acting?
Someone without any training may be able to create a great effect with their voice, but it might not be sustainable. What happens if you’re part of the way through the recording of an audiobook or e-learning course, and your voice actor develops vocal problems because they haven’t trained in the proper techniques? Or they aren’t conveying the right message?
You’d be stranded halfway through the voice-over race with no way to finish.
A professionally trained voice actor will have the skillset to share your words and your message effectively and sustainably. They’ll know how to pack the right emotional punch every single time.
Have they taken group classes?
“Good artists copy, great artists steal.” — Steve Jobs
A voice-over artist can take a great idea and make it their own, but they only can do that if they surround themselves with truly great work to stay inspired! Professional male voice-over artists ensure they come up with the best content for their clients by taking classes to immerse themselves in the work of other great voice-over artists.
A voice-over artist who takes group classes is willing to observe, to learn from others, to take on new skills. You can trust that they are working to stay flexible; they can adjust on the fly. They see what their peers are doing, what works and what doesn’t. And they’re coming at your project with a whole arsenal of the best ideas of their entire class.
3. A Voice Actor With a Professional Home Studio
How does your voice artist plan to record their work? You need someone who can record and deliver polished, balanced audio files with a quick turnaround. What does this mean?
You can’t waste time with someone who doesn’t have a professional home studio.
You shouldn’t have to put up with traffic noise or other errant noise that can affect the quality of the recording—or deal with poor audio quality because your voice artist recorded using their phone or computer’s built-in mic.
A professional home studio is a soundproof, acoustically treated professional environment. It should be outfitted with high-caliber, industry-leading equipment that’s been tuned and adjusted for exceptional audio quality.
A voice-over artist who uses a professional home studio setup can provide on-demand custom auditions and generate detailed quotes. They can incorporate background music or sound effects with ease and provide you with balanced audio files—sometimes within the same day!
When you work with a professional who has a home studio, they can connect through any digital interface, including Source Connect Standard and IpDTL for live sessions, then offer digital delivery of finished files in any format you need.
If you think a smartphone or laptop mic can do all that, check again.
4. A Voice Actor Who Provides Consistent, Reliable Service
When you need to broaden or add to the scope of your campaign or narration project, you need a voice actor who can jump right in time and time again and recreate your original story with the same tone, pitch and personality from a year or two ago so your message, brand and focus are consistently delivered to your audience.
A professional voice actor should be able to work with precision and attention to detail to provide exceptional voice overs no matter how much time has passed.
5. An Actor Who Offers Fair Market Rates
Are you working with a voice actor who is transparent in how they run their business and how they come up with their rates?
A trustworthy professional voice actor will have spent years developing everything about their work, from his craft to his business acumen. This allows them to provide you with unparalleled service and competitive rates so you end up with a long-term relationship with a trustworthy voice artist who’s invested in you.
You need to hire a voice actor who delivers on value, one whose work is rooted in communication and teamwork, all at an affordable rate.
Where Do You Find a Male Voice-Over Actor Like This?
If you’re looking for someone with all of these qualifications, where do you find a male voice-over artist who checks all the boxes?
Good news. Alex Herring is the male voice-over talent who’ll deliver on all of this and more. Alex has nearly a decade of experience bringing stories to life as a flexible, professional, directable freelance voice artist. His expertise matches everything you’re looking for:
- Industry experience
- Professional voice training
- A professional home studio
- Consistent, reliable service
- Fair and competitive market rate
If it’s professionalism you’re looking for, Alex is ready and willing.
Want to learn more? Let’s chat. It’s time for you to discover the difference a professional voice artist can make.