“I HAVE A COOL VOICE AND WANNA BE A VOICE ACTOR!” I got two words for you.

💀😱BUSINESS MARKETING😱💀

Ok, now that maybe 85% of you are are gone. Yes, marketing a business. Paying t-taxes😱.

All that and more in the most deceptively “easy” to get into career. Being a voice actor.

“People don’t walk onto a construction site and think they can operate a crane because they “like cranes.” But voiceover attracts folks who grew up with microphones on their phones, karaoke apps, and podcast dreams. It FEELS accessible. You can make sound come out of your mouth, so it’s easy to believe that’s all there is to it.

The truth is that voice acting lives at the intersection of acting, audio engineering, business, and marketing. That’s four disciplines people spend entire careers mastering. But since it happens in a quiet booth instead of on a stage, it looks deceptively simple.

Other industries don’t get this level of “I can do it tomorrow” enthusiasm because they have visible barriers. You can’t fake a law degree. You can’t bluff your way into surgery. But you can buy a USB mic and start auditioning from your bedroom. And a lot of people confuse ACCESSIBILITY with ABILITY.”

BeigeListed - Reddit 2025

https://www.reddit.com/r/VoiceActing/comments/1o59i9d/is_va_the_only_industry_people_dont_think/

An excellent comment on a reddit post I saw recently that perfectly captures it.

Exploring the Voice Over Iceberg: A Complex Industry not for the impatient.

Let’s check out the overused iceberg analogy to discuss Voice Over

The world of Voice Over is certainly like an iceberg. super cool looking (cheesy certainly pun intended) on the surface but with a ton of unseen parts beneath there's a lot going on beneath the surface that most people aren't aware of. Many people believe that being a successful voice actor is simply a matter of having a good voice and being able to read a script, but the truth is that there is A LOT more to it than that.

The tip of the iceberg: The cool voice trap

“Hey, my voice is deep, and epic and cool! I can do this!” Yea yea, maybe. I have a unique voice too but you first need to understand how to use that awesome voice you’ve got there.

The tip of the iceberg in the VO world is the awesome voice you hear in the final product. The voiceover that you hear on the radio, television, or in a game. It's the finished product that audiences are exposed to, and it's what most people think of when they hear the term "voice over."

However, what many people don't realize is that getting to the point where you can record a finished voiceover is a long and difficult process. You need to be able to read a script (shocker) and deliver it in a way that is engaging and compelling. You also need to be able to take direction and make adjustments on the fly. These skills can take years to develop and hone. People spends many many years honing this craft.

The hidden depths

Beneath the surface of the VO world lies a complex and competitive industry that requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. The truth is that breaking into the VO business is not easy, and many people who try don't succeed.

👻💀MARKETING💀👻

Hope I didn’t scare ya too badly

I’m just gonna rip the bandage off now. Say it with me everyone, “Voice over is a business and successful businesses need good marketing.” One of the main reasons why it's so difficult to get into the VO industry is that there is a lot of competition. There are thousands of people who want to be voice actors, and only a small percentage of them will ever make it. This means that you need to be extremely talented, well-trained, and persistent if you want to succeed. On top of that, people kinda sorta of need to know you exist. You can sound like Insert cool voice person here all day but if nobody knows or cares, then it doesn’t matter.

Another challenge facing aspiring voice actors is the need for high-quality equipment and a quiet recording space. You need a microphone, headphones, a computer, and software to edit your recordings, as well as a soundproof booth to record in. All of this is expensive and difficult to set up. If you audio is scuffed then your auditions are dead on arrive most of the time unless they are absolutely IN LOVE WITH THAT READ. You can maybe get away with it sometimes if they are willing to work around you securing a studio in some way. You probably aren’t going to get that, especially if you are not well known and trusted to deliver.

TLDR:

1. GET TRAINING! (YOUR COOL VOICE ISN’T ENOUGH. LEARN HOW TO USE IT EFFECTIVLY)

2. INVEST IN GOOD GEAR (YOUR COOL VOICE NEEDS TO SOUND GOOD)

3. GET TRAINING!! (REFER TO STEP 1)

4. LEARN TO MARKET YOUR BUSINESS! (WHO WILL PAY YOU VOICE ACT IF NOBODY KNOWS YOU EXIST???)

5. GET TRAINING!!! (SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK)

Is coffee killing your voice?

Ah, Caffeine. Society’s most normalized addiction

I’m sure caffeine needs no introduction. I like many others started the day with a cup o joe or perhaps downed an energy drink to keep on chugging through a long day. Recently I’ve conducted some very non-scientific tests to see how it affects me and long story short, I found that my vocal fatigue was much worse at the conclusion of a day.

I used to work at a Vitamin Shoppe and we sold ALOT of caffeine. Energy Drinks, caffeine pills and pre workout powders were certainly some of the best sellers and I used to consume around 400mg (4 cups of coffee worth) daily with how tasty some drinks were and with the good ole employee discounts we got.

Whether you're a professional singer, voice over artist, public speaker, or just someone who enjoys a good conversation, the health of your voice is crucial. You might already know that factors like hydration, diet, and sleep can affect your voice, but what about caffeine? That's right, the same substance that keeps you alert and focused can also have an impact on your vocal cords.

How does caffeine work? Caffeine is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system, increasing alertness and reducing fatigue. It keeps you going through the daily grind by blocking the neurotransmitter adenosine, which normally helps us feel sleepy. When adenosine is blocked, other neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine become more active, leading to increased energy and focus. These effects can be useful in many situations, but they can also affect the voice.

One of the primary ways that caffeine affects the voice is by dehydrating the body. Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it increases urine output and can lead to dehydration if not balanced by enough water intake. When the body is dehydrated, the vocal cords become dry and stiff, which can lead to hoarseness, cracking, or other vocal problems. Additionally, caffeine can cause acid reflux, which can further irritate the vocal cords and lead to a sore throat or coughing.

Caffeine can affect the voice is by increasing muscle tension. Caffeine stimulates the release of adrenaline, which can cause muscles to tighten up. The same chemical that keeps you alive in a tense situation and keeps your neighbors annoyed when you’re yelling at the top of your lungs when your team scores or you get dropped in a video game. This tension can affect the muscles in the throat and neck, which are crucial for proper voice production. When these muscles are tight, it can be harder to control the pitch, volume, and clarity of your voice. So what should you do?

1. Stay hydrated (Who would’ve guessed!?) Drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially if you're consuming caffeine. This will help keep your vocal cords hydrated and flexible. At the Vitamin Shoppe, the amount of complaints I would get from customers who just needed some more water throughout the day was staggering. Hydration can help with many other health related things.

2. Use a humidifier. A humidifier can add moisture to the air and help prevent your vocal cords from becoming dry and stiff