Have you ever watched an animated series, listened to an audiobook, or heard a commercial and thought, “I could do that!”?

If you’ve been thinking about getting into voiceover but aren’t sure where to begin, you’re not alone. Voiceover is one of the most exciting and versatile areas of the entertainment industry. From television commercials and animation to video games, audiobooks, corporate narration, and digital advertising, opportunities exist for talented voice actors across many platforms.

But here’s something you need to know: Having a great voice doesn’t automatically make you a great voice actor. Voiceover is acting. And just like working in film, television, or theater, it takes training, technique, practice, and a solid understanding of the business.

So, where do you start?

1. Understand the Different Areas of Voiceover

One of the first things to understand is that voiceover isn’t just one type of work. Several different areas exist in the industry, and each requires its own approach and skill set.

Commercial Voiceover: Television, radio, streaming, and digital advertising. Commercial work often requires natural, conversational performances that connect with an audience.

Animation: Bringing characters to life through your voice. This requires strong acting choices, imagination, character development, and vocal versatility.

Video Games: Creating believable characters in interactive worlds, often involving emotionally intense scenes, action sequences, and specialized performance techniques.

Audiobooks: Narrating fiction and nonfiction books while maintaining character consistency, storytelling, and vocal stamina.

Corporate and E-Learning Narration: Explainer videos, training materials, presentations, and educational content.

Promo and Trailers: Promotional spots for television networks, streaming platforms, entertainment programming, and other media.

Here’s our advice: Don’t feel you need to master every category immediately. Explore different areas and discover where your natural strengths, interests, and acting abilities fit best.

2. Get Professional Voiceover Training

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is assuming they can jump right into auditioning without understanding the craft. Even experienced on-camera and theater actors can find voiceover challenging because the performance techniques differ. Without facial expressions, physical movement, or visual interaction with another actor, your voice needs to communicate the entire story.

Professional voiceover training can help you develop:

• Script interpretation and analysis
• Natural, conversational delivery
• Vocal variety, tone, and emotional connection
• Microphone technique
• Character creation and development
• Commercial copy interpretation
• Audition and recording techniques
• Confidence behind the microphone

At Actors Connection, we offer online voiceover classes and intensives taught by working voice actors, casting professionals, agents, and industry coaches.

Whether you’re completely new to voiceover or looking to strengthen your existing skills, the right training can help you build a strong foundation.

3. Learn How to Sound Natural

Today’s commercial voiceover market frequently calls for authentic, relatable, conversational reads. One of the hardest things to do behind a microphone is sound like you’re NOT performing. Today’s commercial voiceover market frequently calls for authentic, relatable, conversational reads. Casting professionals often want to hear someone who sounds like a real person having a real conversation, rather than someone announcing a product.

That means learning how to:

• Connect with the meaning behind the words
• Make specific acting choices
• Avoid sounding overly polished or theatrical
• Create a believable relationship with your listener
• Bring your personality into the performance

Remember, the goal isn’t necessarily to have the most impressive voice in the room. It’s to make the listener believe you.

4. Do I Need a Home Recording Studio?

If you’re serious about pursuing voiceover, you’ll eventually need a reliable way to record and submit professional-quality auditions. The good news? You don’t necessarily need to spend thousands of dollars getting started. A basic home recording setup may include a quality microphone, an audio interface if needed, headphones, recording software, and a quiet, acoustically treated space.

But here’s something important: Your recording environment matters just as much as your microphone. A great microphone in a noisy, echo-filled room won’t produce professional results. Before investing heavily in equipment, consider taking a home studio class or consulting with an experienced audio engineer who understands voiceover recording.

You can save yourself a lot of money by learning what you actually need—and what you don’t.

5. When Should I Create a Voiceover Demo?

This is one of the most common questions we hear from actors interested in voiceover. A voiceover demo is essentially your calling card. It’s a professionally produced recording that showcases your abilities in a particular area of the industry.

But here’s our advice: Don’t rush into producing a demo before you’re ready. A professionally produced demo can be a significant investment, and it should accurately represent what you’re capable of delivering in a real recording session.

Before producing a demo, you should have:

• Completed appropriate voiceover training
• Developed strong audition and performance skills
• Identified the areas of voiceover you want to pursue
• Received feedback from qualified industry professionals
• Reached a level where your performances are consistently competitive

You may eventually need separate demos for commercial, animation, narration, or other areas of voiceover. A great demo can help open doors. A demo that doesn’t accurately reflect your abilities can work against you.

Invest in your skills first. Then invest in your demo.

6. Do I Need a Voiceover Agent?

Not necessarily when you’re first starting out. While established voiceover agents can provide access to valuable auditions and professional opportunities, most beginners should focus on building their skills before pursuing representation. In the meantime, you can begin learning about the business, researching reputable casting opportunities, and developing relationships within the voiceover community.

When you’re ready to seek representation, agents will generally want to hear competitive demos and know that you can consistently deliver professional-quality performances. At Actors Connection, our voiceover seminars and intensives can also provide opportunities to learn directly from industry professionals and gain insight into what agents and casting directors are looking for.

7. Practice, Practice, Practice!

Just like any other area of acting, voiceover is a skill that improves with consistent practice. You don’t need to wait until you have an audition to work on your craft. Try recording yourself reading commercial copy, experimenting with different character voices, narrating short passages, or interpreting scripts in different ways. Then listen back.

Ask yourself: Do I sound believable? Am I connecting with the material? Am I making interesting choices? Would I want to keep listening?

Recording yourself regularly can help you recognize habits, develop confidence, and become more comfortable working behind the microphone. And don’t underestimate the value of feedback from an experienced coach. Sometimes one adjustment can completely transform a read.

8. Understand That Voiceover Is a Business

Voiceover can be a rewarding creative career, but it’s also a competitive business. Successful voice actors aren’t just talented performers. They’re also professionals who understand marketing, auditioning, networking, technology, and client relationships. As you develop your skills, you’ll also want to learn about:

• Finding legitimate voiceover auditions
• Building relationships with casting directors and agents
• Creating a professional online presence
• Understanding industry rates and contracts
• Managing your recording and audition workflow
• Protecting your voice and recordings from unauthorized AI use

The voiceover industry continues to evolve, particularly with remote recording technology and artificial intelligence. Staying informed and understanding your rights as a performer is becoming increasingly important.

9. Be Patient and Enjoy the Process

Here’s something we tell actors all the time: You don’t have to figure everything out at once. You don’t need a professional studio, multiple demos, an agent, and a website before taking your first voiceover class.

Start with training. Discover what you’re good at. Get feedback. Develop your technique. Build your confidence. Then take the next step. Voiceover is a highly competitive field, and building a career takes time. But with the right preparation, persistence, and professional guidance, you can begin creating opportunities for yourself.

Ready to Explore Voiceover?

Whether you’re an experienced actor looking to expand into a new area of the industry or someone who’s always been curious about working behind the microphone, voiceover can offer an exciting creative challenge.

At Actors Connection, we offer a variety of online voiceover classes, intensives, and seminars covering commercial voiceover, animation, video games, audiobooks, home studio technology, demo preparation, and the business of voiceover.

Our programs are designed to help actors develop their skills, learn from experienced professionals, and better understand what it takes to compete in today’s voiceover industry.

Your voice is unique. The next step is learning how to use it professionally.

Explore Voiceover Classes and Intensives at Actors Connection →

Actors Connection has been helping actors develop their craft, build industry relationships, and take the next steps in their careers for decades. Explore our online and in-person programs at ActorsConnection.com.

At some point in almost every actor’s career, the thought hits: “I need a talent agent.”

Maybe you’ve been submitting yourself for roles and feel like you’ve hit a ceiling. Maybe you’re seeing other actors getting auditions you never seem to hear about. Or perhaps you’re graduating from an acting program, moving to a new market, or simply feel ready to take the next step in your career.

Having a strong talent agent on your team can absolutely help open doors. But before you start emailing every agency you can find, there’s a more important question to ask:

Are you ready for an agent—and do you know what kind of agent you’re looking for?

First, Understand What an Agent Can—and Can’t—Do

A talent agent is an important part of your professional team, but signing with an agent doesn’t automatically create a career. An agent can submit you for appropriate projects, pitch you to casting, negotiate contracts and advocate for you professionally. They may also have access to opportunities that aren’t available to actors submitting on their own. But your agent cannot do all the work for you.

You still need to train. You need strong marketing materials. You need to know how to audition and self-tape. You need to understand your casting, your strengths and the kinds of roles you can realistically pursue. Most importantly, you need to remain an active participant in your own career. Think of representation as a business partnership, not someone you hire to take over your career.

Ask Yourself: Am I Actually Ready?

Before approaching agents, take an objective look at where you are right now. Are your headshots current and representative of how you actually look? Is your resume professional, accurate and competitive? Do you have strong footage—whether that’s a demo reel, clips or other performance examples—that shows what you can do? Are your Actors Access and Casting Networks profiles complete and current? Can you deliver a professional self-tape when an audition arrives? Are you actively training and keeping your skills sharp?

And perhaps most importantly: Can you clearly explain who you are as an actor and what kinds of roles you’re pursuing?

You don’t need a massive list of credits before looking for representation. But an agent should be able to look at your materials and understand how they could begin submitting and pitching you.

Don’t Just Look for “An Agent”

One of the biggest mistakes actors make is sending their materials to dozens—or even hundreds—of agencies without doing enough research.

Your goal shouldn’t simply be: “I want an agent.”

It should be: “I want the right agent for where I am in my career.”

Research agencies before contacting them. Who do they represent? What areas do they specialize in? Film and television? Theater? Commercials? Voiceover? Print? Does the agency work with actors at your career level? Do they already represent several actors who are very similar to you? Is it a boutique agency where you might receive more individual attention, or a larger agency with more departments and resources?

There isn’t one “best” agency for every actor. A smaller agency that’s excited about developing and pitching you may be a much better fit than a prestigious agency where you get lost on a large roster.

Get Your Materials Ready BEFORE You Submit

Don’t wait until an agent responds to realize your materials need work. Your representation package should be ready before you begin reaching out. That means having professional headshots, an updated resume, strong footage when appropriate, complete casting profiles and a concise professional introduction. Your email doesn’t need to tell your entire life story.

Agents are busy. Introduce yourself. Give them a reason to be interested. Highlight something relevant about your experience, training, recent work or casting. Include links to your materials and make it easy for them to learn more about you. Then get out of the way and let your work speak for itself.

Find Ways to Meet Agents

Cold submissions can work, but they aren’t the only way to find representation. Referrals from acting teachers, casting directors, managers, coaches and other actors can help create an introduction. Industry seminars, showcases and networking events can also give you an opportunity to meet agents and learn what they’re currently looking for.

But don’t approach every interaction thinking: “How do I get this person to sign me?”

Instead, focus on presenting your work professionally and building relationships. You may meet an agent today who isn’t right for you—or doesn’t have room on their roster—but remembers you six months from now. Careers are built over time.

You Got a Meeting. Now What?

Getting an agent meeting is exciting, but remember: You’re interviewing them, too.

You want to understand how they see you and your career. Ask about the types of projects they would submit you for. Find out how they communicate with clients. Ask what they expect from you. Talk about your goals and listen carefully to how they respond. You should leave the meeting with a clearer understanding of whether this feels like a productive partnership. Don’t become so focused on getting representation that you ignore whether the representation is actually right for you.

What If You’re Not Getting Responses?

This is where many actors become discouraged. You’ve submitted to 20 agents. Nothing. So you submit to another 50. Still nothing. Before sending another 100 emails, stop and evaluate what’s happening.

The problem may not be your talent. Your headshots may not be positioning you correctly. Your footage might not be showing your strongest work. Your credits or training may need development. Your email may be too generic. You may be targeting agencies that aren’t appropriate for your current career level.

Or your overall package may simply not be communicating a clear picture of where you fit in today’s marketplace. Instead of endlessly repeating the same submission strategy, get objective feedback and make adjustments. Another suggestion, consult with Nicole Wichinsky, a former talent agent and get her opinion.

Remember: Getting an Agent Isn’t the Finish Line

One of the biggest misconceptions actors have is: “Once I get an agent, everything will start happening.”

Representation can be a major step forward, but it’s still just one piece of your career. Actors with agents still need to create opportunities. They still network. They still train. They still maintain relationships. They still update their materials. They still submit themselves for appropriate projects.

And sometimes they eventually realize they’ve outgrown their representation and need to make another change. Your career will continue evolving—and your professional team may evolve with it.

So, What Should You Do Right Now?

If you’re saying “I need an agent,” start by changing the question.

Instead of asking: “How do I get an agent?”

Ask: “What would make the right agent excited to represent me?”

Then work backward. Strengthen your training. Make sure your headshots represent you accurately. Build your footage. Update your casting profiles. Know your strengths. Research the right agencies. Learn how to communicate professionally. Meet people in the industry. And continue acting. Because the strongest position to approach an agent from isn’t desperation. It’s momentum.

You want to be able to say: “Here’s who I am. Here’s what I do well. Here’s where I’m going. And I’m looking for the right person to help me get there.”

That’s a much stronger way to begin a professional relationship—and a much stronger way to build an acting career.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Actors Connection offers classes, seminars, showcases and career programs designed to help professional actors strengthen their materials, meet industry professionals and better understand the business of building an acting career.

Whether you’re preparing to seek representation for the first time or you’re ready to find a better fit for the next stage of your career, the goal isn’t simply to get an agent.

It’s to be ready when the right opportunity arrives.

If you’re an actor looking to book television work in or around New York City, the local industry is bustling with activity. Currently, there’s a robust TV casting landscape across the Empire State, featuring 41 major productions actively looking for talent.

Every listed project operates under SAG-AFTRA contracts, offering union talent a wide variety of roles spanning prestige cable dramas, network mainstays, and big-budget streaming hits.

Here is a breakdown of what’s casting right now and where the biggest opportunities are landing.

Prestige Streaming & Premium Cable Heavyweights

Streaming platforms and premium networks are heavily represented in NYC right now, with several high-profile projects setting up their casting bases here:

• HBO & Max: High-end period drama The Gilded Age just wrapped casting for Season 4 with The Telsey Office. Other major projects include Season 2 of The Chair Company (Beke/White Casting), along with limited series Bluebird and The Chain (Ellen Lewis Casting). The White Lotus (Season 4) is also handling casting out of Meredith Tucker’s NY office as the next season is filming in France.

• Netflix: The streaming giant has a massive footprint in the region. NY offices are actively casting long-running hits like The Night Agent (Season 4), as well as upcoming titles like The God of the Woods (Laura Rosenthal Casting), Enigma Variations (Cindy Tolan Casting), The Retrievals (Avy Kaufman Casting), The Roman, Pagans, and Big Mistakes (which films nearby in New Jersey).

• Apple TV+ & Paramount+: Apple TV+ is filling out rosters for Season 3 of the hit Severance and the Jon Hamm-led Your Friends and Neighbors (Season 3). Over on Paramount+, Dexter: Resurrection is casting its second season, alongside Discretion (starring Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning) and School Spirits (Season 4).

Network Procedurals & Long-Running Franchises

For actors seeking recurring or guest-star roles on staple network television, the major networks are operating at full capacity. High-volume procedural powerhouses continue to drive a significant portion of New York’s audition workflow:

• Dick Wolf & Procedural Powerhouses: Jonathan Strauss Casting remains a central hub for major network TV, running casting for long-standing mainstays including Law & Order (Season 26), Law & Order: SVU (Season 28), FBI (Season 9), and Chicago PD (Season 14).

• CBS, ABC, NBC, & FOX Favorites: CBS continues strong with Elsbeth (Season 4), NCIS: NY, Sheriff Country(Season 2), and new series like Cupertino. ABC is casting Will Trent (Season 5) and new spin-off 9-1-1: Nashville. Over at FOX, Christine Kromer is leading casting for Best Medicine (Season 2), while Julie Tucker & Co. is handling Doc (Season 3).

Top Casting Offices to Watch

If you are tracking where the work is coming from, a handful of prominent NYC casting directors currently manage the bulk of these active rosters:

Whether you are aiming for a multi-episode arc on a prestige series or a guest spot on a classic primetime procedural, New York’s casting ecosystem is running at full steam across every major network and streamer. Keep your headshots ready and your reel updated!

In the corporate world, ROI (Return on Investment) is straightforward. You spend $10,000 on an ad campaign, you make $25,000 in sales, and your ROI is a beautiful, mathematically sound 150%.

In the acting world, you spend $500 – $1,000 on new headshots per year, $300 per year on casting site subscriptions, and $150 a week on scene study classes and/or intensives just to go to in-person auditions or self-tape for a commercial or TV series that you might never hear anything about after submitting.

When your out-of-pocket expenses are guaranteed but your revenue relies entirely on someone else saying “yes,” how do you measure ROI?

If you solely look at the financial math, the equation can look pretty grim during the dry spells. But over time, I’ve realized that surviving—and thriving—as an actor requires completely redefining what “return” actually means.

1. Auditions as R&D (Research & Development)

In business, companies sink millions into R&D knowing that most prototypes will fail. They don’t view a failed prototype as a loss; it’s just data.

As an actor, your audition is your R&D.

The Cost: Time, gas, memorizing lines, emotional energy.

The Traditional ROI: Zero (if you don’t book it).

The Reframed ROI: A relationship built with a new casting director, a sharp workout for your cold-reading skills, and data on what choices worked in the room.

If a casting office starts calling you back for different projects, your investment is paying off, even if your bank account hasn’t caught up yet.

2. Managing the Overhead

Every business has overhead—the baseline cost to keep the lights on. In acting, your overhead consists of headshots, reel editing, self-tape gear, and union dues.

The trap many actors fall into is thinking that more spending equals more bookings. It doesn’t. Spending $3,000 on a masterclass won’t fix a weak headshot, and buying a cinema-grade camera for self-tapes won’t compensate for a rushed performance.

The Rule of Thumb: Optimize your essential tools first. A clean backdrop, a decent ring light, and a smartphone usually give you a 90% higher return than an expensive, over-engineered home studio. Keep your overhead lean so a dry spell doesn’t force you out of the game entirely.

3. Diversifying the Portfolio

No smart investor puts 100% of their money into one volatile stock. Yet, many actors put 100% of their identity and income potential into booking acting gigs.

True ROI comes from diversification. This is why you see actors creating their own web series, writing screenplays, hosting podcasts, or mastering voiceover work.

By creating your own work, you transition from a passive job-seeker to an active producer. The ROI of writing your own short film isn’t just the potential festival run—it’s the guaranteed footage for your reel and the agency you take back over your career.

The Ultimate ROI: The Long Game

If you measure your acting career purely by the financial return of the current fiscal quarter, you’ll burn out. The actors who stick around are the ones who treat their career like a venture capital fund: they accept the short-term losses because they believe in the long-term value of the asset (themselves).

Every class, every bad audition, and every indie project with free catering is a deposit into your creative capital. When the big booking finally lands, it isn’t luck—it’s the compounding interest of a hundred tiny investments no one else saw you make.

There is an undeniable, electric hum that vibrates through the air when you step off the elevator at Pearl Studios (500 8th Avenue). For actors in New York City, this isn’t just a building with mirrored walls and sprung floors—it’s a launchpad where auditions, rehearsals and classes happen daily.

Besides our invaluable Actors Connection online classes, we’re thrilled to also offer in-person classes and showcases in the heart of the Midtown Theater District at Pearl Studios.

If you are looking to get your foot in the door, shake off the audition rust, or get face-to-face feedback from the industry’s top movers and shakers, here is everything you need to know about navigating your next in-person class with us.

Why In-Person at Pearl Studios Hits Different

Acting relies on reaction, chemistry, and reading the room. Taking an Actors Connection class in person at Pearl Studios brings back the elements that make live performance thrilling.

• Real-Time Adjustments: When a top casting director or acting coach gives you a note in person, you can feel the shift in the room instantly.
• Organic Networking: The connections you make in the hallway or waiting area with fellow actors are just as valuable as the business relationships you build with the industry guests.
• The Audition Vibe: Walking into a bustling Midtown studio mimics the high-stakes environment of a real Broadway, Film, or TV call. It builds the exact creative muscle memory you need.

Navigating the Location: What to Expect

Pearl Studios is centrally located in Midtown Manhattan between 35th and 36th Streets on 8th Avenue, just steps away from Penn Station and the Theatre District.

If you are scheduled for an Actors Connection class or one of our 3-day NY Connection showcases, keeping these arrival logistics in mind will help keep your pre-class jitters at bay:

• Check Your Morning Email: Day of Class.

Our AC staff will email you the exact studio assignment the morning of your event. Pearl Studios spans multiple floors (3rd, 4th, and 12th floors).

• Arrive 10-15 Minutes Early: Arrival Window.

Give yourself a buffer to clear building security, navigate the elevators, and find your designated room. Please remember to bring your ID as you will need it to enter the building.

• Sign In with the Host:

Locate your studio and check in with your Actors Connection host. If you’re performing a scene, they will also function as your reader. Make sure you have a copy of your scene with their role(s) highlighted for them. If you’re performing a song, make sure your audition book is with you and ready for your accompanist.

• Prepare Your Mindset: Before You Go On.

Utilize the holding areas or hallway space to ground yourself and relax. Treat the environment like a professional booking from the moment you step off the elevator.

Pro Tips for a Successful Session

Bring Your Materials: Always have up-to-date physical copies of your headshot and resume ready. Make sure the “My Info” section of your Actors Connection online account is fully updated before you arrive, too, as industry guests often reference it Digitally.

Whether you are performing a scene for a legit agent or participating in a commercial agent showcase, focus on the work. Industry guests at Actors Connection aren’t just looking for perfection—they want to see how you take direction, handle adjustments, and showcase your authentic self in a live setting.