Why Working with a VO Agent Can Transform Your Voice Acting Career

 

Breaking into the world of voice acting can definitely be tough. There’s a lot more to the industry than just having a good voice; there are auditions, contracts, and everything in between. A voice-over (VO) agent will be there to support you as you begin your career in voice acting, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced voice actor.

What Are VO Agents?

A VO agent/voice-over agent (VO agent), commonly called an agent, is a person who represents and promotes the work of other voice actors as it relates to obtaining work/acting jobs within different industries such as commercials, animation, video games, audiobooks, corporate narration, etc. An agent acts as a liaison between talent and the production company that is casting a project. The VO Agent allows voice actors to save time by bringing auditions to them instead of the voice actors spending hours looking for auditions.

Greater Opportunities for Work

The most prominent benefit to using a VO agent is access to many top-caliber, exclusive auditions. Generally speaking, most production companies, as well as top-tier clients, prefer working through agents rather than posting an "open call" for casting calls. Therefore, without representation, you may not have any opportunity to go after the most lucrative, prestigious projects.

Secondly, your agent understands your voice type, strengths, and niche. Therefore, when the agent submits you for various roles, they will submit you for roles that are best for you. This increases your chances of booking jobs and building a strong reel or resume.

Negotiations for Pay for Earnings

Negotiating the amounts you get paid can be challenging at first (especially if you're new to the industry). A VO agent handles these negotiations for you, helping to ensure that you're receiving the correct amount of money for your work. Because your agent is familiar with the industry standards, including usages, usage rights, and terms of contracts, this type of representation will also provide you with protection from underpayment and/or being taken advantage of financially.

In addition to helping you earn more money, a VO agent's professional representation also provides you with an increased level of credibility as a voiceover actor.

Career Growth and Development

A quality voiceover agent doesn't just help you get work; they assist in building your career. They can supply much-needed input on your demo reels, point out where to strengthen your technique, and offer suggestions on which opportunities could be a good fit for you. Agents will also stay current with trends of the VO industry and will help to keep you up-to-date or to change niches (for example, from e-learning VO to video games).

Providing Time Savings and Less Stress

Auditions, managing communication with clients, and managing contracts can easily overwhelm a voice actor trying to manage all of these factors independently. A voiceover agent assumes all of these responsibilities for you as a voice actor, allowing you to concentrate on recording, ongoing training, and enhancing your performance, saving you the time required to manage these activities. Fewer burdens of operating as a freelancer allow you to focus on doing your best work while a voiceover agent runs the business aspect of your career.

Resources for Making Connections in Voiceover

Relationships are key to success in the voice-over industry. Voice-over agents connect with casting directors, producers, and studio owners and use their connections to help you find work you wouldn't otherwise be able to access as an individual actor.

Over time, a strong history of consistent bookings with your voice-over agent will help to establish you as reputable and allow you to cultivate long-term relationships with customers.

Should You Get an Agent?

While working with a voice-over agent can benefit voice-over actors in many ways, it is essential to understand that representation is generally targeted for voice-over actors who are already established in the industry and who can provide professional-quality voice-over auditions using a demo reel.

If you are an inexperienced voice-over actor, you should focus on building your voice-over skills and developing a strong portfolio of work before seeking out representation from a voice-over agent. Once you feel comfortable with your skill, seek acting agents for help in obtaining professional voice acting work.

In Summary

There are many ways to develop and advance your voice acting career, and one good way to enhance your opportunities is by working with a voice-over agent. Agents use their connections to help you find voice-over opportunities and can provide valuable guidance in managing your voice acting career. This allows you to devote your time to what you do best: bringing your voice to scripts (and bringing them to life).