What to Look for When Choosing a Voice Over Coach

A voice over actor needs to be trained continually if he or she wants to maintain a robust career in voice over acting. The "Voice of Choice®", Janet Ault explains that her dedication to become a better voice talent is an impetus for her to continue taking classes in different aspects of voice acting, such as improv, audio books, commercial, narration, and other voice over acting workshops.

Investing in a voice over coach is a serious matter, which is why you should carefully choose a coach who can help you reach your goals. There are many good voice over coaches out there but a voice talent needs to set forth his or her goals before actually hiring one.

Say you want to improve your prowess in voicing characters so you can land a job in an animation. A voice over coach with expertise in animation such as Pat Fraley or Bob Bergen would be a wise and sensible choice.

There are, of course, other variables to consider as well.

A voice over coach, like any other coach, teaches you the expertise you need on a personal level, personal being the keyword here. With a coach at your back, you can easily improve your skills and correct your flaws as a voice over actor. It would be beneficial if the prospective coach lived within two hours of where you live; however, many of the top-rated coaches in the country now coach via telephone worldwide. If Nancy Wolfson of Braintracks Audio, one of the country's premier voice coaches, coaches in your vicinity, then luck is on your side. Nancy also provides individual coaching via telephone.

In terms of experience, 10 years in the industry is the benchmark for voice over coaches. Although this can be overlooked in some cases, the 10-year standard ensures that your coach has acquired all the necessary skills and knowledge you need to learn.

If you have found someone that perfectly fits the descriptions stated earlier, do not jump in and hire the person on the spot. Do a background check. Ask actors who have worked with the coach about his or her teaching methods and personality, as well as their personal experiences with them. Their answers might vary but it will give you a basis of what to expect.

You can also ask several known associates of the coach you are considering and get their opinions about him or her. A great reputation is always a good indicator that the person you want to learn from holds a wealth of voice acting knowledge.

If you have decided to hire a person as your voice over coach, he or she must be able to recognize what your voice type is and the sort of work you would be best suited for. Needless to say, this is critical as the coach will assist you in developing the strengths and weaknesses of your vocal capabilities, both artistically and technically.

You can also ask your voice coach how many actors he or she has mentored and how many of them are now successful in their fields.

A good voice over coach will focus mostly on the acting while also taking time out for lectures. If you get to be on the mic for most of the time, then you are certainly learning from an expert.

Janet Ault, a talented voice over actor, has been doing voice over acting for years. Extremely professional with a commitment to excelling as a voice talent, Janet is known in the voice over industry as the "The Voice of Choice®".