Could I have a career in voiceover? Everyone says I’ve got a great voice. And only the other day I was a shop and a sales assistant commented on my “a lovely voice?” How hard can it be?

Well, certainly having a great-sounding voice is important, but unless you know how to use it you are not going to get very far. The majority of voiceover artists are actors or start off as actors, which is useful as you never know what’s going to be thrown at you.

Whether you’re an actor or not, you have to be able to cold read something that’s just been given to you with the right feeling and intonation.

You must also be able to take direction. A director might want something else, for example, a more animated read, and you have to change gear immediately and deliver.

If you think you “can easily do that,” then you need to present yourself to potential clients or agents. You should start by creating a voice reel, a recording of scripts that suit your voice and would genuinely be likely to cast you.

This involves around 10 pieces that show your range across commercials, documentaries, corporate work, and the multitude of other applications that require voiceover.

Your voice reels should be recorded professionally with good sound quality, great music, and sound design, all edited down to a punchy 2-minute reel of your greatest reads.

“A professional voice reel requires around 10 pieces that really show your range across commercials, documentaries, corporate work, and the multitude of other applications.”

Now, this is where the hard work starts. You need to get your reel out there on your own website or present it to potential clients and voice-over agents.

A good agent is literally worth their weight in gold. Like almost anything in life, you really need to work your corner, and funnily enough, the artists who work hardest get the work.

Then the day arrives: your first job. Make sure you get the script in advance, do your homework, and give your script a good read-through.

If there’s a film, watch it and find out as much as you can about the project. It’s also a good idea to research the company online.

If it’s a commercial, knowledge is power, and the better you understand what you’re talking about, the better it comes across. Get there in plenty of time; you are being paid by the minute, and every minute counts.

VOS Rule: The client is always right, even when they are wrong. You are there to make their vision work and convey the message they want to get across.

Look after your client, and they’ll look after you and bring you back to record more. They may even tell their friends in the business how good you are, and before you know it…