VO Pro: The Business of Voiceover and Voice Acting

Thinking about becoming a voice actor? Wondering if you’ve got what it takes to actually make money in the voiceover industry? 

In this video, I’m pulling back the curtain and giving you the real, no-BS, no-hype voiceover career advice you wish someone told you before you dropped cash on a mic and a dream.

💥 I’ll cover:
✅ What voice acting really is (and what it’s NOT)
✅ The truth about voiceover income potential
✅ The pros and co...

🎙️ Can AI really replace voice actors… or is that just hype?

AI-generated voices are getting scary good—and fast. But what does that mean for real working voice talent? In this video, we expose how AI is already changing the voiceover industry, the real risks to your career, and what you can do right now to stay ahead of the curve.

If you’re a voice actor wondering how to compete in a world of synthetic voices, this is the video y...

There’s a moment every voice actor dreams of—when a client emails, not for an audition, not to ask about rates, but to say, “Hey, we’ve got another project for you.” No hoops, no hurdles, no audition, just repeat business landing straight in your inbox.

If you’ve been in the game for any length of time, you know that getting work isn’t the hardest part—getting clients to come back is where the real magic happens.

So, what’s the sec...

If there’s one question every new single solitary voice actor who’s starting to seek work asks starting out it’s this: How much should I charge?

If you're just starting out, the answer isn’t as simple as “pick a number and hope for the best.” Rates in voiceover aren’t arbitrary; they’re based on industry standards, market value, and genre. 

So let’s break this down the right way, because guessing—or even worse, undercharging—can do...

Why would anyone in their right mind PASS on a $1.1 million audition? And Paul, aren’t you the one always beating us over the head with, “Stand up for pro rates, “Know your worth,” “Make it worth your time,” and on and on?

First of all, who ever said I was in my right mind?

Secondly, I absolutely beat the drum of “Stand up for pro rates, “Know your worth,” and “Make it worth your time.”

So why did I pass on a 1.1 million-dollar com...

So, you’ve decided to get into voiceover. 

Whether you’ve decided you want to do this as a career or just looking to make some cash on the side, you need gear. 

But not just any gear. The RIGHT gear. Because no one wants to overspend on a mic that makes you sound like you’re recording in a rest stop bathroom.

Lucky for you, I’m here to guide you through the maze of audio equipment and get you set up for success. 

Mics: Audio-Techni...

Marketing directly to prospects as a voice actor can feel like standing on a diving board, staring into the deep end, and wondering if there’s a shark or a nuclear bomb in the water. 

You’ve probably heard about cold emailing and thought, “That’s just spam, right?” Or maybe the idea of bothering someone with an unsolicited email gives you flashbacks to awful networking mixers where everyone exchanges business cards and fake smiles....

You have the passion, the talent, and the excitement to kill it into the world of voiceover. But there is more to success in this industry than having a smooth voice and good gear.

Voiceover is a mix of artistry, business, and endurance. It requires strategy, dedication, and a commitment to long-term growth. To make it past the early stages and build a career that lasts, you need to master eight critical resources. 

These go beyond...

Completely unlike Moses from the mountaintop, I bring you these 10 Commandment of Voice Over. Trust me, it’s not every day you get 10 commandments from an atheist. 😉

Now before you get your hackles up, we’re playing fast and loose with the word commandments here. There are no hard and fast rules that you should never, ever, ever violate, but these are pretty close. Think of them as my strong recommendations. 

As always, you run yo...

Fact: Women account for over 40% of the fan bases of the NFL, MLB, and NHL. 

Fact: Women comprise 47.7% of viewership of Super Bowl 58. 

Fact: Media coverage of women's sports has nearly tripled in the last five years. 

So why isn't a female voicing this? "NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship. Attendance is encouraged. Passion is mandatory. Buy your tickets today at ncaa.com." 

And why can't a female voice this? "It's mo...

Voice acting is an art, but landing clients? That’s a science—and one that can feel like a unicorn hunt if you don’t have the right tools in your box. 

Sure, word of mouth, referrals, and P2P and gig sites are all fine and well, but if you’re serious your business and about building a steady stream of clients, scalable lead generation and outreach is a strategy and skill you have to develop.

I’ve tried a lot of different lead gener...

Today we sit down with Casting Director, VO Coach, voice actor, and head of Voiceover Activate, Libby Clearfield. Libby shares her journey from theater to voiceover, her experiences in casting, and the challenges and rewards of freelancing. 

She also chats about the impact of AI in the industry, the importance of following directions in auditions, the value of community among voice actors, the significance of building relationships...

So recently a big healthcare advertising agency reached out to me through my website and handed me a great non-broadcast project for a massive pharmaceutical company. They handed me the project, no audition necessary. 

And there are more jobs on the way. It looks like, fingers crossed, they’re going to be a great partner and a recurring client.

So how did I get this primo client, you might ask. Did I market to them for months with ...

Alright, let’s talk about the mental game of going full-time as a freelancer. I’m talking about the shifts that take you from “Hey, I’m doing this voiceover thing on the side” to “This is what I do. Period.” 

The mindset stuff is just as gritty and real as all the tangible things you’re already doing to make the work happen. But the mental side is where you’ll make or break yourself long-term. 

Let’s walk through the shifts that ge...

Today, we’re diving into voice over conferences—what they are, why they’re a must for serious voice actors, and how to navigate your first one like a pro. If you’re a new voice actor looking to grow your skills, connect with the VO community, or even just see what all the buzz is about, stick around. 

From why to attend, to a practical VO Conferences Survival guide packed with tips, we’ll walk you through everything you need to kno...

Kevin Kilpatrick and Bobbi Maxwell, hosts of the Making Wavs podcast, join me to discuss their backgrounds in radio and how they transitioned into voiceover. 

Kevin primarily works in automotive and e-learning, while Bobbi focuses on commercial work, particularly in the automotive and political genres. They also talk about the advantages and disadvantages of coming from a radio background in voiceover. 

The conversation covers topi...

In this first-ever chat with our friend and colleague, we chat with the Queen of LinkedIn for VO, Tracey Lindley about her journey into the voiceover industry, her experiences with LinkedIn, and the importance of community and organization in building a successful career. 

Tracy shares her unique background, the challenges she faced as a voice actor in a midsize market, and her strategies for networking and marketing herself effect...

Alright, so you’ve landed a big commercial gig, and the client’s ready to pay you thousands to use your voice. You’re stoked, right? 

But then, buried in the contract, you see it: in-perpetuity rights. Sounds fancy, sounds official, but what does it actually mean? 

And why should you, as a voice actor, care? Let’s break this down. This is In-Perpetuity Explained.

Make sure you stick around because there is a scenario around in-perp...

Tom Dheere, known as the VO Strategist, shares his origin story as a voice actor and discusses the changes in the industry over the past 30 years. 

Tom emphasizes the importance of being a good storyteller and adapting to the evolving industry, including the use of AI, and offers guidance and mentorship to voice actors, helping them navigate the industry and make informed decisions. 

He also discusses the potential impact of AI on ...