How To Select A Voice Actor For Your Commercial

By: Terry Daniel


A quality voice over professional can really improve an audio project, whether you are dealing with an audio book, a corporate video, a radio commercial, or any other type of project in which you want people to listen to a message. But how can you know when you are listening to a good vocal talent? There are several things you should think about, of course, if you have the money and the time and the knowledge to consider them. However, since time is often limited and you may not have the resources to accomplish a national search and use all the time you need to decide, keeping a few basic things in mind can help you make the best decision for your project.

Keep your audience in mind. When it comes to employing a voice-over artist, you have to consider more than just which voice you find most personally appealing. You have to consider what your audience will respond to – and what they will find believable. If you think you can sell more radiator-fluid by letting your clients hear a sultry female voice, then that is the person you should pick. Perhaps all the other radiator fluid stores are using men who sound like mechanics and you think this will help your store get noticed. However, if you think they are more likely to listen to a guy who sounds like a mechanic, then use that one.

Make sure your actor has your best interest at heart. This isn't as fluffy as it sounds. As good at their jobs as some of them may be, they are probably doing it for money. They aren't trying out for the part because they think you're going to save the world from fluidless radiators and they think that is a good cause: They are voicing your project to get paid. However, they should be concerned about the quality of the product they are providing you. Therefore, they should be able to listen to you and make sure they know what you want before they do the work. If you are talking to an actor and he or she doesn't seem to want to know what you're saying, then no matter how good a fit for your product the voice is, they won't give your needs much thoughtful consideration.

They should understand the relevance of timing. Many voice professionals get by on an attractive voice. For some projects, this may be exactly what is needed. But if your project has to have dramatic pauses, inflection and emotion, then ensure that the professional you're considering has that sort of range. The way you do that, of course, is two-fold. To start with, you have to conduct auditions. Take them through situations that are similar to the ones you are going to require. The 2nd part of that, ideally, is for you to know your own project well enough to know what you require from the actor. Don't expect that he or she will automatically know what you need. After all, every project is different.

Your project deserves the best treatment that you can possibly give it. If you have set aside the finances to hire a professional voice artist, then make sure you set aside the time to ensure you're getting the right one for the project. After all, voice actors are not created equal. Some are better, and some are better for you.


About the Author: Voice Over Artist Terry Daniel Provides High-Quality Voice Talent for All Types Of Media. Visit: AmazingVoiceTalent.com to Listen To Terry's Free Online Demo!