Voice Over Work
Voice over work refers to the use of excellent voice quality and speaking abilities. It also signifies the proficiency in interpreting and reading skills for narrating a movie or lending a voice for a film character.
Voice over artists can get employed in various sectors such as TV commercials, movies, cartoon films, radio commercials, instructional videos, etc. Their voice can be projected live or may even be prerecorded. They first learn and understand the script prior to final performance. Rehearsals are an important part of the voice over work. No artist will ever put himself for final performance without rehearsing.
Requirements of Voice Over Work
The requirements of voice over work are given below:
- Professional course in voice modulation, radio management or voice jockeying
- Excellent reading and listening skills with a flair to write and verbal communication abilities.
- Sound knowledge about voice modulation, voice styles, articulation, interpretation, tone, voice projection, pitch, word emphasis, and pronunciation
- Familiarity about two or more foreign languages as voice over work can be different languages too
- Recordings of your best voice demo that will showcase your voice skills to the recruiter. A formal head shot is also expected by the recruiter along with your resume
- Professionalism in attitude and dressing sense is the key for any voice over audition
Job Profiles of Voice Over Work
There are various job profiles that can be listed under voice over work. They are as follows:
- Cartoon Voice Over Artist: These artists are involved in producing different voice forms for the cartoon characters in a cartoon film or television program. In some cases, these cartoon voice over professionals make use of variant intonation, natural voice, and dictions to bring out the reality of a particular character. Some may even produce innovative, unique and fascinating voices for producing new cartoon characters.
- Book On Tape Voice Over Artist: Book on tape voice over artists are typically involved in the job of sharing their voice to a book on tape. The authors and writers of books primarily prefer using their own voices and other voice resources to highlight the content in the book. However, the publishing organizations search for talented voice over professionals from external resources to tape the words of the book. These professionals examine and study the book before going into the studio for recording.
- Commercial Voice Over Artist: Commercial voice over artists are mainly involved in the tasks of marketing or promoting a service or product. They may deliver an important message through the commercials. Those with amusive and communicative voice or intonation can be hired for amusement park, entertainment location or vacation commercials. For dramatic commercials, artists with serious and deep intonations can be used.
- Documentary Voice Over Artists: Documentaries are mostly scripted and use a subject of a film for narration. Documentary voice over professionals are responsible for dictating the tone of the narration. These artists have great skills of voicing the narrative simultaneously as they watch the images on the screen. They first understand the subject matter to portray best vocal quality.
Salary for Voice Over Work
Salary compensation for voice over artists generally depends on the type of field, location, size, and quality of voice.
On an average, these artists typically earn $16.59 approximately as an hourly wage. Whereas, the highest amount of salary drawn by these professionals was $29.57 per hour.
According to the recent salary statistics, voice over artists associated with commercial advertisements agencies receive between $75 and $400 as an hourly compensation. While those working for preeminent studios earn an hourly salary that ranges from $300 to $500 for the first working hour. From the next hour, the artists usually receive a compensation that ranges between $200 and $350 per hour.
With an advancement and growth in the film; radio; and animation industry, the job prospects of voice over work will increase at a faster rate than earlier.
