How to Hire Voice Talent (aka Find the Voice in Your Head)

You have a story for your brand and you need the right voice to share it with your clients/customers/heroes.  It might seem overwhelming with the number of options that pop up when you do a quick Google search for voice over talent.  What keywords do you use?  How do you sift through the choices?  How do you know if you’re hiring a pro?  There are plenty of ways to find a talented, reputable voice without feeling like you want to pull your hair out. Read on to make the hiring process a whole lot easier.

Projects in every industry may need the help of a talented voice actor at some point. I’m talking commercials for TV/radio/web, training videos, podcasts, video games, apps, or, even a voicemail system for your office. Adding a professional voice to your project can bring your ideas to life and captivate your audience with your messaging.

How Do I Find the Talent?

There are a ton of talented voice actors out there, each with their own experience and skillsets to offer. From novice to seasoned veterans, you'll find plenty of options. Here are some ideas for sourcing talent.

1. Agency Rosters: If you want a hands-off experience to find your talent, consider contacting an agency or using a production roster. They'll do all the heavy lifting to find the right voice for your project, from gathering auditions to negotiating prices. Of course, you're often going to find a higher cost associated with an agency because they're handling the entire process for you. It might be worth the money if you need to find a voice actor quickly, need “vetted” talent, and don't have the time to do a full search.

2. Word of Mouth: An easy way to find a good voice actor is to think about the voices you already like listening to. If you hear a voice that you think would be the perfect fit and can contact the business, reach out directly and ask who they hired. They'll be able to provide you with contact information and give feedback on the experience they had with the voice actor.

3. The Voice Actor's Website: Most voice actors have their own websites that include demos, bios, recording capabilities, and a way to contact them. Contacting your talent directly can help you find a fair price for both parties involved. When searching through websites, consider the type of voice talent you're looking for. What language, ethnicity, age range, and gender do you need for your voice work? Knowing what you need will help you to sort through the talent.

4. Pay to Play (P2P) Websites: Websites like Voice123, CastVoices, Voquent, and Voices.com have databases with hundreds of voice actors to choose from, usually accompanied by reviews and samples of their voice work. You're able to contact talent through the platform to request a quote and book your project. The benefit of using these websites is that you have the third-party company's safety net and protection if there are any work issues. However, you may be charged a fee to use the platform's services.

I Found a Voice Actor, Now What?

Through your search, you've probably found a few voice actors that you like. Before choosing to work with your talent you should request some more information to ensure that this is the right fit for your project.

• Listen to Demos: Every voice actor will have demos listed to showcase their talent and range. If you can't find what you're looking for from their samples, reach out and request a demo and be specific about the tone/style/performance you're looking for. Most talents are usually happy to accommodate a request to showcase their abilities.

• Ask for An Audition: If you like what you hear from your voice actor, you can request an audition. An audition usually includes 1-2 takes of a partial script or the entire script depending on the length and genre of the project. Feel free to add a deadline to the audition if needed. For me, the more information you can share the better.

• Know What's Included: Ask what's included in their voiceover project rate or better yet, ask for their Rate Sheet and Revision Policy. How many revisions are included in the rate? Is there a fee for script changes? What is the expected turnaround time for your project?

• Managing expectations is a good thing for all parties involved!

Rates and Negotiation 

Once you've found your talent, it's time to talk price. First, remember that you're paying for the quality of the service you're receiving. Going for the cheapest talent will not yield the best result.

Rates in the voice industry are established based on a variety of factors, including:

• Usage/Impressions of Content

• Broadcast vs. Non-Broadcast Content

• Paid Placement on Social Media and streaming platforms

• Session Fees

• Production costs

• Extras like Sync to Picture/Video, Proofreading, Mixing/Mastering, etc.

It's also important to note that individuals can set their own rates for their products, which can vary due to the level of experience, size of the job, and bulk packages. If you're curious about what the standard rates could be for your project, you can check out the GVAA Rate Guide or Gravy For The Brain for a starting point. These rates are only an estimate and will vary depending on your specific project.

If you're unsure what to charge or what your budget should be, ask the talent to quote your project for you. However, don't feel overwhelmed by the first bid they throw out. There is usually some flexibility within the rate to negotiate. Most talent, including myself, will strive to find a middle ground and welcome the opportunity to collaborate with you on your project.

If there is no room to negotiate or you feel the price is unfair, you can compare it to other voice quotes you've received from other talents. Again, remember you're paying for the voice actor's experience and your individual project needs, so a well-known voice actor will always cost more than a newbie with limited experience.

Start Your New Voice Project

You made it! After this entire process, you've now hired your voice talent. There are a few details any experienced voiceover talent will ask for after they've been hired, so make sure you're prepared with the information they need to make your project a success:

• What is the deadline for the project?

• What is the file format required for the project?

• How do you want the files delivered (FTP, Dropbox, WeTransfer, email)?

• To whom should the invoice be sent?

Final Thoughts

Hiring a voice actor, just like any service, is a process. However, taking the time to find the right voice actor for your project will ensure a beneficial client-customer relationship and guarantee you'll have the desired end-result for your project. Good luck with your voice talent search!