Become a Voice Actor in Canada in 6 Steps
Is becoming a voice actor in Canada something you’ve always wanted to do? If that’s the case, fasten your seatbelts and hold on tight!
Needless to say, having a wonderful voice isn’t the only thing that leads to a successful voice-acting profession. A voice actor isn’t simply someone with a fantastic voice; they’re also someone with ambition, refined talent, and sound business judgment.
If you’ve arrived at this page, you’ve probably wondered, “How can I become a voice actor in Canada?”
The decision to choose this career route, however, must be carefully considered. You must assess whether or not it is right for you, just as you would with any major work move or new activity.
To help you understand how to become a voice actor in Canada, we’ve created this comprehensive guide that covers all the information you need ranging from, their salaries, tasks, and responsibilities, including steps and procedures to become one, with much more!
Who Is a Voice Actor?
A voice actor is a performer who utilizes their voice in advertisements, animation, audiobooks, video games, and instructional content to entertain, narrate, or market items. In addition, a voice actor must be able to do impressions, mimicry, and character voices in addition to acting.
Because voice actors are rarely seen on-screen, their sole means of expressing their emotions is through their voices. To provide the greatest performance possible, voice actors must train and practice religiously, constantly refining their vocal skills.
What Does a Voice Actor Do?
Basically, a voice actor reads and records copy, scripts, or other written material in a vocal booth or recording studio, either directly or performatively, depending on the project’s needs. To acquire the required performance for the show or soundbite, voice actors must shift inflections, present diverse delivery, enunciate precisely, and adjust their tone.
Similarly, voice actors use their voices for cartoons, anime, video games, advertising, narration, audiobooks, dubbing, e-learning, and promos. Many professional voice-over artists have a soundproof home studio where they may record, audition, or practice.
Skills required to become a voice actor
The following are the important skills that voice actors employ to advance their careers. In other words, you must exhibit these traits to become a successful Voice actor in Canada:
- Vocal talent
- Acting skills
- Technical knowledge
- Confidence
- Persistence
- Marketing
Qualifications to become a Voice Actor in Canada
Generally, you don’t need any formal degree to work as a voice actor in Canada. But, Completing voice acting classes from reputable training institutes or working with a voice acting coach will provide you with the basic skills and information you need to succeed in the part.
What Are the Benefits of Becoming a Voice Actor in Canada?
Although the voice-over market is extremely competitive, there are numerous benefits for those who are fortunate enough to acquire continuous voice-acting jobs:
- Work from home: Many voice-over assignments may be recorded in a home studio, allowing you to work from home and avoid commuting and parking fees.
- Make your own hours: Some voice actors begin by working part-time to supplement their income from their day job. Working part-time allows you to be more flexible with your schedule, allowing you to pick and choose when you work and audition, allowing you to create a plan that best matches your needs.
- Furthermore, working as a voice actor also gives you the opportunity to be your own boss. You have complete control over your schedule and the jobs you accept or reject. Once you’ve established a regular work schedule, you’ll be able to be more selective about the jobs you take on.
- Sometimes, projects have the potential to be financially rewarding. Commercial voice-acting employment may be quite profitable, with some jobs earning hundreds or thousands of dollars for a quick spot on national radio or television.
Voice actor salary
Voice actors, often known as voice-over artists, earn $45.35 per hour on average. Many people make money by doing freelance work or working for a studio as recurring characters in animated series or video games. In fact, in some metropolitan locations, voice actors can make more. Many entertainment studios record projects in Toronto, Ontario, and Calgary, Alberta, which may provide high-paying chances for voice actors.
Steps to Become a Voice Actor in Canada
Here are a few things you can do to improve your chances of becoming a successful voice actor:
Step 1: Take Acting Classes
Voice acting necessitates good acting skills in addition to producing impressions or utilizing a comedic voice. There are three effective methods for learning voice acting:
- Hire an acting coach for individualized instruction.
- Participate in group voiceover sessions.
- Consider enrolling in a drama voice acting school.
The learning paths outlined above will help you improve your pronunciation, breathing, and delivery skills, allowing you to become a more confident and skilled performer. You’ll also study concepts, strategies, and tactics that will help you prepare for auditions and voice-over jobs.
Sometimes, to satisfy the needs of its clients, voice-over coaches often provide multi-level instruction. And, If you are a beginner, you should pursue generic training, whereas experienced voice-over artists should pursue specific instruction in each niche.
Audio production education, accent training, reduction, demo creation, marketing, character voice development, and more are some of the topics they address.
Step 2: Determine whether you want to work as a full-time or part-time voice actor
Voice acting job requires training, professional recording equipment, demos, and promotion. If you want to make it a full-time job, the cost will rise. You can start working as a full-time voice actor straight immediately if money isn’t an issue.
If your current financial situation isn’t ideal, though, you should start part-time and invest in reasonable instruments. There are many free tools available on the market that can educate you on fundamental knowledge and skills without breaking the bank.
Once you’ve completed a few projects and gained some experience, you’ll be in a better position to further your career.
Step 3: Record Demos
You’re ready to start constructing a voice-over demo reel if you have the necessary professional recording equipment. It’s a dialogue or a collection of phrases recorded in many voices.
It’s a good idea to keep your character and commercial demonstrations distinct.
To get recognized, you can either upload them to audition platforms or send them to talent agencies.
Step 4: Give Auditions
The voice actor selection procedure begins with auditions or live performances of an act. You may have several options for voice actor auditions in Australia; nevertheless, only attend auditions for parts that best match your abilities.
Open casting calls, specific websites for voice artists, gaming production houses, production businesses, and pay-to-play sites like Bodalgo.com, Voice123, Voices.com, and Mandy.com are all wonderful places to find auditions and voice-acting employment online.
When going to an audition, it’s a good idea to study the role, practice reading your lines, have good pronunciation, and avoid drinking or smoking. Regular practice can help you establish an engaging voice that will pique the casting crew’s and audience’s interests.
Step 5: Sell your Skills
The first step in selling your expertise is to establish an online presence that shows your professionalism. It should include favorable client testimonials and demonstrate your active involvement in managing relationships with voice actor communities and clients.
Such a strong internet presence not only demonstrates your abilities and professionalism, but it also informs your clients that they have made the right choice in hiring you as a voice actor.
Social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook are excellent ways to connect with the large and supportive voice-over community. These are open-access platforms where you can meet other voice artists for free.
To market your talent and gain local chances, create a Facebook profile with your portfolio, services, and contact information.
Step 6: Network Yourself
Basically, you can use networking to find work, make friends, and learn more about different facets of the voice-acting industry. By broadening your social network, you can improve the likelihood that an opportunity will present itself through someone you know. It’s crucial to aid your connections in any manner you can because networking is a two-way street. Whatever you have to offer, make the most of it to show your contacts that you care about their success.
Career Opportunities for Voice Actors in Canada
A voice actor has a plethora of job choices to choose from. You can work full-time or part-time in a firm, an agency, or own and operate your own audio-recording studio.
In addition, to have a successful career as a voice actor, you must be aware of all available voice actor jobs and select the one that best fits your skill set.
So, here are a few examples of genres that frequently use voice-over artists:
- Television programs
- Radio and Television Advertisements
- Radio dramas
- Video games
- Audio play shows and Audiobooks
- Documentary films
- IVR phone systems
- Training or Online Learning
- Scripted podcasts
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do voice actors make in Canada?
In Canada, the average annual salary for a Voice Actor is $117,977.
Is a voice actor a good career?
Absolutely yes! Having a wonderful voice isn’t the only thing that leads to a successful voice-acting profession. In addition, a voice performer isn’t simply someone with a fantastic voice; they’re also someone with ambition, refined talent, and sound business judgment.
Is a degree required to work as a voice actor?
No. You do not need a degree or formal education to start a career as a voice-over performer. Voice actors are known for lending their voices to animated characters in television episodes and films. Those wishing to enter this area may benefit from a bachelor’s degree or acting training.
How long does it take to be a voice actor?
Usually, it takes 5-10 years, but if you persist with it, you’ll get there! Work from home and on your own time: One of the most compelling reasons for people to pursue voice acting is the option to work from home and on their own schedule.
Conclusion
To summarize, voice acting or voice-over is a fascinating career choice for those with the necessary enthusiasm, drive, honed talent, and strong business acumen.
This unusual career exposes you to new ideas, people, and expertise in new sectors on a regular basis, ensuring that you are never bored while working in it.
We hope this guide has given you more confidence in your decision to become a voice actor in Canada.
