Getting Into The Voiceover Industry in 2025

A lot of people ask me about getting into the Voiceover industry. I mean, a LOT. And tbh, I totally get it -- Voice Over is awesome and there is nothing better than being paid to act and play at the microphone. If you're interested in getting started... welcome! Hope you're not scared of small, enclosed spaces (Kidding. Your recording booth shouldn't literally give you claustrophobia). 

First off, I just need to mention that some people come to Voiceover hoping it will be a super lucrative side hustle that they'll jump into overnight and make wads of cash. There are voice actors out there with that story -- kudos to them! -- but that is not my testimony, nor is it the testimony of most of the professional voice actors that I know. 

Being a Voiceover Artist is a business and, like any business, it requires investment of time, training, and money to get it off the ground. Probably more time and training than you planned, but trying to bypass those crucial building blocks will quickly stall your career. Entrepreneurship is a long game. I'm talking years, not months.

Here are two ways you can start building the foundation for being a professional voice actor or narrator in 2025:

Education and Research

Start by researching and consuming the avalanche of free, affordable, and accessible streams of information that are readily available on the internet. Webinars, podcasts, on-demand training programs, YouTube channels, blogs, websites... you would be shocked at how much education you can access if you just start looking. Make it your job to learn everything about Voice Over -- genres, techniques, recording technology, business practices, fair rates, etc. Figure out what your goals are and what types of voiceover you want to do.

Training and Coaching

Once you've got an idea of where you want to start, you need to take acting lessons. I'm not saying you need to get a college degree in acting, but you need to take multiple acting classes to understand the techniques and tools of the actor. (Because that is what you are...an actor!) 

After you've delved into acting, you need to get Voice Over specific training from reputable Voice Over teachers and coaches. Group classes are fantastic, but I highly recommend also investing in private 1-on-1 coaching.

Once you've trained for a while (I would not recommend less than one year, but everyone is different), your coach or teacher will be able to give you an honest opinion about whether you are ready to record a professional demo and start trying to book work.

Those are just some basic first steps for getting started in Voiceover. There's a lot of advertising out there selling you the idea that you can buy a USB Microphone and start making six figures right now by recording in your closet! I wish that were true. But, building your own business and pursuing your art are challenges worth pursuing intentionally and excellently.

What other questions can I answer for you?

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