Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Sound Advice Voice-Over Podcast

As a kid I fell in love with short stories in large part from hearing old radio theatre-style recordings that often played on the radio throughout October leading up to Halloween.  I especially loved Ray Bradbury’s “The Martian Chronicles”.  So much so, I adapted my own version of a few of his wonderful “Twilight Zone-ish” […]

Acting is very much like playing poker. If you intend to play, if you hope towin, you need to play your hand well, and, frankly, you need to risk.Yet, far too many talent kill a perfectly wonderful opportunities to createby second-guessing what little direction they are given. Perfectly capable,creative talent completely shutting down at the […]

Listen to Actors’ SOUND ADVICE co-founders, coaches, and seasoned voiceover demo producers, Kate McClanaghan and Jeff Finney discuss one of the most elusive and sought-after performance styles in the voiceover business.

As actors we’re generally expected to be versatile enough to play everything. Or at least that’s the general consensus regarding acting as a profession, and not simply from actors and their coaches. Of course, precious few rise to the occasion for the simple reason none of this work is all that easy. Mastering the skills […]

If you’ve been pursuing voiceover work on your own in America for the past decade or more, chances are you’ve been following a business model that concentrates almost strictly on securing work all by yourself, or DIY, by procuring jobs primarily through excessively low-paying sites like Fiverr, Upwork and a few Pay-to-Play (P2P) platforms. Nevertheless, […]

Summer is calling. We’re moments away from family reunions, vacations, and long weekends for the first time in a really long time for most of us! So, here’s a bit of advice that will keep you in good graces with your talent agents and potential clients: if you know the dates you won’t be available […]

Passion and instincts account for a great deal, but neither will get you anywhere unless you dedicate yourself to keeping your skills sharp, while relentlessly pursuing the work. It’s there to be had. Let’s assume you have a work ethic that won’t quit, and everyone says you have a remarkable voice. Terrific. Question is: do […]

Understanding who you’ve created your demos to service most is typically overlooked by both seasoned and novice talent alike. Yet, it’s the endgame, and why this should be your primary focus from the very start. Certainly there are no absolutes in voiceover but there are a number of elements you should consider when first pursuing […]

If the adage, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit” holds up, then it stands to reason the habits we practice, whether by design or default, ultimately determines our strengths.  With that, I give you five habits to strengthen your performance abilities. 

Here are a few key industry insights to improve your bottom line, elevate your brand, instill confidence, and expand your small business as an actor, on- or off-camera!

You might be relieved to discover the best advertising… isn’t advertising at all. By that I mean the adage, “less is more” applies when it comes to art directing your graphics that will allow you to make your name known and associated with being a professional voice talent with taste and an elevated aesthetic.  Here […]

Typically training for the average actor and voice-over are categorizes into one of three camps: beginner, intermediate or advanced. Problem is: nothing in this business is lumped into those categories; you’re either a professional or you’re not, right out of the gate.

You build your professional reputation as a voice talent and as an actor by consistently delivering exceptional auditions. Lots and lots and lots of them. Which is why persistence and tenacity serve you so well to succeed in this, or frankly, any business.   So, how many auditions do you imagine it takes to land a single voiceover job? Five? […]

Voiceover demos, by definition, are a professional demonstration of what you do best and what you want more of. Yet many well-meaning, even experienced talent fall prey to many of the following misconceptions regarding what should and shouldn’t be included on your voiceover demos.

Let’s assume you have a work ethic that won’t quit, and everyone says you have a remarkable voice. You can have all the talent in the world, but it’ll die on the vine without drive and momentum. Your passion and instincts account for a great deal, but neither will get you anywhere unless you dedicate […]

You practiced, practiced, practiced… but still, no Carnegie Hall! So, what happened? Well, a number of things could be in play, or entirely absent from your auditions, as the case may be. Here are 5 reasons you probably didn’t book that last audition…

As an actor, you’re most often asked to just be yourself. Come to think of it, this could be said of all manner of business, just maybe more so as an actor. Those casting are most interested in you being you. In fact, you’re expected to be the most dynamic, comfortable, spontaneous “YOU” you can […]

There’s a common misconception in our culture that states if a road proves too difficult then maybe “it wasn’t meant to be.” Instead, I happen to think the opposite might actually be true. If you are on the right path, then you’re likely to face far more opposition than you ever may have imagined. I […]

It may come as a surprise to most people as to what a casting director actually does, even if you’ve considered yourself a professional talent for a number of years. Casting agencies select talent they feel are most suitable for the specific job at hand from talent agencies based on the individual talent’s professional promotional […]

“Ambition is the first step to success. The second is action.” There are a few key basics voice talent should know about this industry from the onset that’s either required of you or you can expect as industry standards. Hopefully, understanding them from the start will improve your ability to create, secure work and navigate […]

Listen to SOUND ADVICE founder & author of The SOUND ADVICE Encyclopedia of Voiceover, Kate McClanaghan, defines:

For decades now, legions of actors have emerged from assorted acting schools across the country harboring a deep aversion to pursuing and accepting commercial work. Yet, if you scratch the surface a bit, you’ll probably find this unfounded antagonism typically stems from the misguided notion you’d become “a sellout” if you perused commercial opportunities. It’s […]

Avoid one of the greatest mistakes budding voice talent make and why to give your voiceover career the best opportunity to achieve the greatest results. Here are a few key industry insights to improve your bottom line, elevate your brand, instill confidence, and expand your small business as a voice actor.

Listen to Actors’ SOUND ADVICE seasoned voiceover demo producer/ career coach, Kate McClanaghan offers expert guidance and insight into how to navigating your career as a voiceover. Regardless of your experience level, those auditioning, or most likely to hire you, will assume you’re a professional actor and expect you to know your job both in […]

There was atimenot too long ago when it was commonplace to audition for voiceoversin frontof producers at ad agencies, in various recording studios, in front of castingdirectors, or at your local talent agencies where you’d be offered direction in real time.Obviously times have changed.Since the pandemic it’s safe to say pretty mucheveryaudition, on or off-camera, […]

The quality of your auditions when recording from home is as important as your performance. In fact, it’s never mattered more than it does today. Since COVID, production demands now require every voice talent to not only be well-trained and prepared to deliver their best at a moment’s notice, but we’re also assuming the quality of your […]

You may have asked for feedback in the past simply for a lack of anything else to say, and you hadn’t thought it through beyond this point. Or maybe you wanted praise for your remarkable vocal prowess. (It’s only human to require some form of acknowledgement that you’re on the right track.) Yet, if you’re […]

Let’s say, hypothetically, you come from a business background and always wanted to transition to voiceover. Let’s say you’ve been doing a bit of “fact finding” and finding a lot of contradictory information about this business. Not the least of which, will any one tell you honestly if you can cut it as a voiceover? […]

Acting is empathy.The best performances are achieved by having a deepacceptance and understanding of the unique realities of the individual role,character, story, personae, or voice.This is precisely why the individual artist is so critical to the success ofevery production.

There is no success without failure. Its only accomplished after overcoming obstacles, both perceived and unexpected, that demand we experience both to even conceive the difference.

Here’s a question you need to honestly ask yourself: How coachable are you? It’s fair to assume you’re about as coachable as you are ‘direct-able’. If you can’t be directed, it unlikely you’ll play well with others either. And acting, even voice acting, is often a team sport. You want to please yourself, but only […]

How much time does it take to establish your voiceover career? How much time and attention does it take to establish and maintain any small business?

Here at Actors’ SOUND ADVICE, we coach all our voiceover clients to establish and expand their performance, promotion, and production routine to develop the most agile, creative, and effective abilities in order to advance their careers as working talent. Which initially begs the question: What does it take to go the distance in this business? […]

To earn a living as a working talent, there’s no question of the value and importance of expanding your professional skills beyond a single medium, such as strictly stage, or solely on-camera—especially today! One of the best ways to diversify your skills is by committing yourself to mastering voiceover. In fact, you may be surprised […]

We’re moments away from family reunions, vacations, long weekends, and some well-deserved time off. So, here’s a bit of advice that will keep you in your talent agent’s good graces well beyond the holidays…

It’s no secret to anyone who knows me that Thanksgiving is my all-time favorite holiday. And the most enduring Thanksgiving Day memory I have began when I was fifteen, and, well…it’s a story that honestly may never end.

Your type can and will eventually change. Type can be especially elusive in voiceover for a number of reasons, besides the obvious: we can only hear you. Therefore the audience must imagine what you look like; how you feel, what you think, how you approach the world, or at least the world your voiceover immediately […]

You have to study the medium you intend to work in if you hope to feed your imagination—which ultimately reflects in your performance. Lucky for us, today we’re able to view and study television, voiceover, film, and commercial work with greater ease than ever and from almost anywhere.

This is our final podcast offering in our month long homage to creepy storytelling and to Halloween. This is the remarkable result of gathering a few of my most talented friends a few years back after divvying up roles between the apple cider and donuts.   We hope you enjoyed these stories we’ve presented all […]

“The Revolution shall NOT be televised,” as Gil Scott-Heron famously said. When it comes to the backstory that provoked the dual writers and actors’strike no truer word were spoken. The key details of how and why these two vital, creative industry Guilds entered into this collective strike hasn’t been widely delineated, partly because the AMPTP […]

This is our third recorded offering in our month long homage to great storytelling and to Halloween. This podcast is the remarkable result of gathering a few of my most talented friends in our LA studio one crisp night a few years back after divvying up roles between the apple cider and donuts, which I […]

Regardless of whether you’re on-camera or off-, engaging your imagination is required of you as a talent. Discover a key element that will assist you with every take, regardless of your skill level, and allow you greater spontaneity, expression and subtle, yet discernable, variety. Discover in this podcast: • The impact on your audience when […]

This is our second recorded offering in our month long homage to great storytelling and to Halloween. Adapted from Ray Bradbury’s “The Martian Chronicles”, we present our spin on this Twilight Zone-inspired tale, performed by a few of my most talented friends in our LA studio one crisp October night a few years back. This […]

Whether you’re a SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild & American Federation of Television & Radio Artists) member or not, you probably heard the American actor’s union has joined with the Writer’s Guild (WGA) in an historic strike that will continue to be an industry gamechanger, bringing about some of the most dramatic impacts to the entertainment […]

As Actors’ SOUND ADVICE, we strongly encourage all non-union voicetalent to apply some basic union policies and standards to their voiceovercareers to achieve the best, most professional results in their careers. Hereare a few key industry policies to improve your bottom line, elevate yourbrand, instill confidence, and expand your voice acting business.

Conventional wisdom teaches us that mastering all manner of performance styles and offering the widest possible range of characters is how to be read as versatile. And while that’s certainly true, the fact remains that the most consistent direction you’re likely to hear, regardless of the genre or medium, is “just be yourself.” And after years […]

One of the many benefits of being a voiceover today over any other time in history is the fact that every session is as near as a simple ‘digital patch’. No need to travel to another town, state or country to record in the same studio where the client who hired you may be. Recording […]

Beyond your sparkling personality, dulcet vocal tones, and unlimited imagination—your voiceover demos are the most important tool you have to secure work in this business. They are the vehicle you’ll benefit from most to drive your career… provided they’re done right! So, how do you know when you need a new one?

Discover some of the best-kept industry secrets that will help you develop the most sought-after skills in the voiceover business. Learn what producers, directors and casting professionals need, want and expect from you as a professional voiceover talent that no one else will likely impart to you!

Regardless of whether you’re delivering a take for an on-camera or voiceover performance, no one wants only a single delivery from you. Every take requires spontaneity, expression and subtle, yet discernable, variety—regardless of your skill level. So, what do you do? Discover: • The Goal of Every Take, Every Performance • How to Offer a […]