New faces, new people, new stories — this is New Voices.
Here, you'll find in-depth interviews and insightful exploratories with new voice actors who nourish the industry. We are chatting with Evelyne Audet, someone who’s built a long career in the entertainment industry and only this year decided to start a voice acting career.
From TV hosting to radio and journalism, you’ve had an impressive journey. How and when did you decide to start a voice acting career?
At first I was hesitant because in the province of Quebec, everything about voiceovers feels like a closed market. It’s really hard to get in and to make a living out of it.
But I thought, maybe it’s a closed market here, but people outside might need a French Canadian voice. So I did some research and found Voice123. And everything rolled from there, putting together a playlist, applying for some jobs and getting my first job.
And doing it from home, it’s quick, simple and easy.
You kind of just tipped into the next question, what kind of equipment and voice acting microphone do you use?
I researched for a long time before I found the right voice acting microphone. I was thinking about making a real studio, but the costs are crazy. Then my boyfriend found a voice acting microphone called the Kaotica Eyeball. It produces a boxy sound and only costs about $100 – very portable and easy to use.
And then I use Audacity to reduce the background noise.
There are a lot of similarities between your past jobs in the entertainment industry. What are some noticeable differences you've found between them?
It’s interesting because first, I studied to become an actor, then I became a TV host. And In the meantime, I realized that everything that I learned about acting is useful in hosting, but they are not the same thing. They all add up but they are really different, and it’s the experience in both that helps me pinpoint my strengths and weaknesses.
It’s the same with starting a voice acting career. I feel very comfortable with a more corporate kind of project, but if it requires too much acting, I know I have some limitations.
All those years of experience in acting, as well as hosting, they all intertwine together. I know what kind of tools I have in my backpack and how to play around with them.
One of those experiences is writing, and even winning awards for some articles. As a storyteller that is also voice acting, what kind of stories are you most passionate about and what would be your dream script to narrate?
I’m interested in long-format projects like audiobooks. I did some auditions, but haven’t gotten any contracts yet. It’s scary at the same time because doing voice overs for 2, 3, 5, 10 minutes is one thing. But when you have to do 40 hours?!, How can you be consistent? How can you maintain the same exact voice or tone and same spirit on the first day of the recording?
But it’s an experience that I would love to do at some point.
There's a lot of encouragement to just be good at one thing and to give it your 100%, but you've clearly gone against that. What advice would you give to the younger generations - be a jack of all trades, master of none?
My answer might surprise you, but I would advise them not to do what I did. Cause you’re right. I love a lot of things. But it was harder for me to get there. Because I’m good at everything, but I’m not excellent. I’m not the best at one thing. Every time someone has to hire someone, they don’t think about me as the first choice. So my name spins around, but that’s about it.
I’ve worked very hard now that I’ve found what I want to excel at.
So I would say: yes, multitasking is really awesome for a lot of things in life, but for a voice acting career, you’ve gotta find what identifies you.
What are your biggest learnings from 2020?
Next year, it’s going to be 20 years since I began in the entertainment industry.
When I started studying TV hosting, everything I learned was about presentation and articulation. That was good and that was enough. But in 2021 people don’t want that. They want personalities. They want real people., it might be someone that’s not perfect but has a great personality.
So there’s less jobs for people like me. I have to detach from everything I learned in the academy and get back to who I am. That’s one thing I wish I knew before.
In 2020 I lost all my contracts and I had given birth months before. I had been out of the market for a year when the pandemic began. It was really hard.
Now, every time that someone gives me a chance to work, it’s a privilege. Before it was just my job and it was okay. But now every time someone gives me the opportunity to lend my voice, I’m grateful in ways I wasn’t before.
Special thanks to Evelyne for sharing her experience on starting a voice acting career.
Check out Evelyne's profile here! And listen to her most recent voice acting work:
Check out our new section with tips and advice as we bring you Ask the pros
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