So you’re a new Voice123 client? Wonderful – and welcome! Needless to say, learning to find your way can be a chore, as can how to best navigate a voice actor’s Voice123 profile. Consequently, we’d like to provide you with a useful map – but first, imagine this…
Close your eyes!
No, seriously – once you’ve read this section, just for a few seconds. Why? We want to provide you with some context. We’re going to take a stab in the dark and guess that the last time you were at an all-you-can-eat buffet was before the pandemic struck, right? And although that might seem like a lifetime ago, try to cast your mind back to the restaurant. Remember the excitement that built while looking longingly at everything on offer? Or maybe you remember thinking, ‘Where should I start?’ The juicy buffalo wings, or that succulent fillet, perhaps go straight to dessert with a divine-looking mousse or chocolate fudge cake? 😀
What does that have to do with voice acting, you ask? Great question!
As strange as it sounds, navigating voice actor Voice123 profiles can be just as challenging as choosing what you want to eat at a buffet. There are heaps to go through, and they all look and sound amazing! So, where should you start?
While we can’t really get into what you should eat first, we can certainly point you in the right direction. So, here’s our advice on what you should keep your eyes focused on regarding a voice actor’s Voice123 profile.
First … what exactly is a voice actor’s Voice123 profile?
Simply put, it’s a résumé. It covers the main details of a voice actor’s career; experience, achievements, portfolio, and bio. It may not be as detailed as an actual resume, but that’s kind of the point. Instead of long summaries that drone on about everything a voice actor has done, a profile only contains the highlights.
It’s like introducing a colleague to a new client. You wouldn’t talk about how amazing he is at beer pong (even though he’s better than you) or rave about how he trained his dog to shake paws (which your dog can’t do). You’d only mention, “His name is Tom and he’s great at negotiating. He’ll get you the perfect settlement.”
This is why voice actor Voice123 profiles don’t have skills like ‘good at volleyball,’ or ‘love to go fishing on weekends.’ They are clear, concise, and follow a basic structure.
- Who I am,
- What my voice sounds like,
- And what I’ve done,
- Also what I can do,
- As well as what other clients think of me.
But even though these are all great points to know, how can they help you to make the right choice? Well, here’s what to look for when panning for voice actor gold!
8 Vital points to check on a voice actor’s Voice123 profile
1. Check the median response time:
This is the average time that a voice actor takes to respond. This is crucial if you’re on a deadline and can make the difference between receiving a reply within 3 hours or 13. While you’re there, check when the voice actor was last active. A few hours ago means that s/he checks in regularly. 3 months ago … well, enough said.
2. Read the About section:
Focus mainly on:
- Type of voice; eg. warm and friendly or motherly and conversational
- Turnaround time and studio facilities
- Voice acting expertise
3. Glance through their known work:
This helps you to learn what brands s/he has worked with to see if your brand can gel with a similar sound or if there is a potential industry conflict.
4. Learn from their reviews:
When someone takes the time to leave a review, it’s either because they were impressed or frustrated enough to do so. This will you give you a great insight into how the voice actor gets along with their clients and if you’ll be able to form a long-term relationship.
5. Confirm necessary project requirements:
Ensure the language, gender, and location line up with what you’re looking for.
6. Double-check delivery options:
Do you need digital files? Want to dial in through source connect? Need to provide remote direction? Check if the voice actor has this enabled on their profile.
7. Look for additional vocal abilities:
So the voice actor is friendly and warm, but can she do that while also sounding like Scarlet Johannsen? Or can she also do a female-senior voice so that you only need to hire one voice actor for both roles? This section can confirm that for you.
8. Check their accepted payment methods:
If you can only pay via check or PayPal, ensure the voice actor can receive the payment to avoid unwanted payment delays.
What to listen out for in samples on a voice actor’s Voice123 profile
On Voice123, voice actors can create individual playlists according to different categories. This makes it easier to find relevant genres so you don’t have to fast-forward through 2 minutes of commercials before getting to the explainers.
To find these voice over samples, use the search feature filters. For example, English-USA, female-adult, and advertisement pick up 6190 results! But if you add ‘persuasive’ to the search bar, it picks up specific samples with that keyword. And now, you have 24 promising results!
When you find one that’s perfect for your project, get in touch with the voice actor and copy the sample link so you can share which one interests you. But avoid ‘We liked this sample’ like the plague! The more specific you are, the better.
Kinda like how customers at Starbucks have their specific orders like ‘Vanilla latte please, soy milk, sugar-free vanilla syrup, and hold the cinnamon.’
That’s exactly what you want to do when communicating with a voice actor. Something like, ‘We liked the tone in this sample, so it can be just as friendly, but a little more persuasive. Also, can you increase the pace to fit into a :15 second spot and leave the breaths so that it sounds more natural?’
Closing Thoughts
Choosing a voice actor is easy. Choosing the right voice actor? Not so easy.
It’s not like a pair of sneakers that can be returned for another size, or backing out of a parking spot because it was too small. Or even like a song on a Spotify playlist that can be replaced.
That’s why it’s good to settle on what you want before you start your search. It can save time and help you to sift the gold from the stones so you can find the one that has the special X factor you’ve been holding out for.
So, now that you know how to best navigate a voice actor’s profile, check out our guide on how to best find and direct voice actors. Then head on over to Voice123 and unleash the search genie.
And now, while you can not only wish for a voice actor, but find the perfect one by knowing how to best navigate a voice actor’s Voice123 profile, we wish you every success!
