This Week's Question

This week’s very creative question from Theatre student Michalel Bentley:

Michael:

How big a role does singing and music play in being a good voice actor?

Tracey:

Great question!

They are both great skills to bring to the process. Vocal dynamics, tone, cadence and phrasing are a big part of voice-over work. It’s all storytelling, no matter what kind of voice project you are working on and a musical ear can really help with that.

I have coached many musicians and singers who have become voice actors in the commercial and animation markets - not only singing theme & character songs for cartoons but voicing & singling the brand “musical stings” for major ad campaigns.

Feel free to share your questions about commercial voice-over for future posts on Inside Voice. You can find my contact info on the Home page.

Until next time,

Tracey

This Week's Question

This week, we have a great question for Inside Voice about representation from Michael Bentley - a second year student in the Theatre Creation and Performance program at Red Deer College. Take it away, Michael!

Michael:

In a voice-acting career, is an agent a must, or can you get by without one? If so, is it recommended to have different agents for voice and live action roles?

Tracey:

Many voice actors have home studios, and whether they work in the union or non-union market, their chances of booking a variety of work increase with a reputable, experienced voice agent submitting them (and their voice demo reels) for work.

In most major talent agencies with “programming” (film, TV/theatre) agents, there is a separate voice agent specifically geared to representing talent for narration, e-learning, e-books, promo, commercial and animation work.

I’ve had the same wonderful voice agent for 27 years and I have followed her to different agencies throughout that time. I have a separate agent for theatre, film and TV. That’s called split representation.

Most Canadian agencies represent talent where both of their agents are under the same agency roof.

I welcome your questions for future posts on Inside Voice. You can find my contact info on the Home page.

Until next time,

Tracey