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Seven Things To Look For In Voice Over Talent

by Terry J. Daniel

When marketers make the decision to hire voice over talent, they aren’t looking for just anyone– they’re looking for a professional. It’s certainly true that the right voice actor or actress for your project can boost the effectiveness of your marketing tremendously, but that means that you must put forth the effort the separate the wheat from the chaff and choose the candidate who is really the best fit for for the job. No matter the exact nature of your project, there are are several key traits that you will want to find in a professional voice actor.

Here are some of the key traits of great voice over talent:

1.The voice over is believable. You need someone who sounds like a real person, not a narrator or announcer. Talented voice over artists should be adept at practicing their ‘non-announcer’ reading and voices, so ask them to read a variety of pieces to make sure they don’t fall into a pattern of reading like a newscaster.

2.A good sense of pitch. Beautiful voices don’t happen by accident– they are cultivated with much practice. Many of the best voice actors are also accomplished singers, and this is because both disciplines require a studied grasp of pitch and tone.

3.He or she is willing to provide you with high quality examples of his or her work. When interviewing voice over talent, it’s essential that you obtain a demo tape from each of your prospects. In addition to granting you insight into the quality of a candidate’s work, this will help you keep your prospects straight after you’re done interviewing.

4.The voice over talent can change and adapt to different types of readings. You can ask the artist to read from different styles of literature to gain an understanding of how flexible and adaptable they are. This is especially important if you’re marketing to different types of people and need varied voices for each segment.

5.The voice over talent can pace themselves. Creating a fluid, seamless voice over takes time, but you need an artist who already has a strong sense of how to pause, speed up, and slow down the message to deliver just the right message.

6.The voice over artist has solid references. Take the time to review references or testimonials to determine if you’re working with an amateur or professional. Voice over artists who have a history of quality projects, working with a diverse set of clients, and providing consistency with their work are strong candidates for your project.

7.The voice over artist has a high energy level. You need to work with someone who can withstand the stresses and pressure of recording, re-recording, and in many cases, starting from scratch. Try to determine if they can articulate and develop a strong voice even when they may be tired or repeating the same piece for an extended period of time.

Hiring the right voice over talent can take time, but there are some key traits to look for during the interview and testing process. Look for any or all of these important qualities during your hiring process to ensure you find the perfect match for your marketing initiative.

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