Hiring Voice Talent? Consider These Points First..

By Author: Terry Daniel
Total Articles: 46
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A good voice over person can really improve an audio project, whether you are dealing with an audio book, a corporate video, a radio commercial, or any other genre of project in which you want people to listen to a message. But how can you know when you are listening to a good voice-over artist? There are several things you should consider, of course, if you have the money and the time and the knowledge to consider them. However, since time is often in short supply and you may not have the resources to do a nationwide search and take all the time you need to make a decision, keeping a few basic things in mind can help you hire the best person for your project.

Your audience is very important. When it comes to employing vocal talent, you have to consider more than just which voice you find most attractive. You have to think about what your audience will find appealing - and what they will find believable. If you think you can sell more radiator-fluid by letting your customers hear a playful female voice, then that is the voice you should hire. Perhaps all the other radiator fluid providers are using men who sound like ...
... mechanics and you think this will help your store make an impression. However, if you think they are more likely to listen to a guy who sounds like a mechanic, then use that one.

Make sure anyone you hire has your best interest at heart. This isn't as corny as it sounds. As good at their jobs as some of them may be, they are probably doing it for money. They aren't talking to you 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 what type of product they are selling you. Therefore, they should be able to listen to you and make sure they know what you want before they proceed. If you are interviewing an actor and he or she doesn't seem to hear what you're trying to say, 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 actors get by on an attractive voice. For some projects, this may be enough. But if your project requires dramatic pauses, inflection and emotion, then take care that the professional you're thinking of hiring has that sort of training. The way you do that, of course, is two-fold. First, you have to conduct interviews. Run them through situations that are similar to the situations 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 magically know what you need. After all, every project has different requirements.

Your project needs the best treatment that you are able to give it. If you have set aside the finances to hire voice talent, then make sure you set aside the time to ensure you're getting the right one for the project. After all, vocal talent is not created equal. Some are better, and some are better for your project.