- Look for major media markets.
- If you’re online, you’re in line for a job.
- Conferences allow you to meet producers face to face.
- Talent agencies can help, but aren’t necessary.
Location
Get into the major media markets: Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Francisco. Also look for mid-market media places. And even the small market areas have local radio or television stations that you can work for.
Online Presence
Nowadays, location doesn’t matter as much. If you post your demo reel online, anyone can see it, anyone can hire you. You should have a website and you should also post on relevant websites.
Helpful places to post or find jobs:
- Craigslist: under Talent/ Voice or Tv/Radio/Flim
- BAVC Bay Area Video Coalition
- Film Arts Foundation
Also, if you would simply like to get feedback for your work, you can post it up on certain sites like Edge Studio. Voice-over artists will give you advice on your work.
Conferences
There are always local groups and resources. All sorts of media related industries have conferences, workshops, and parties where you can meet and great people in the business. For example, the Reel Directory of Northern California has an annual party with groups of video producers, video game programmers, and other producers.
Conferences are a great place to network. It’s not where you go to get a job, but you may meet someone who will give you your next job. For example, you have the opportunity to talk to a producer and give them your card with your URL on it, so they could listen to your demo reel. Or you get their information and send them an email, to make sure that they hear it.
The largest broadcasting conference is the NAB Show in Las Vegas, but you have to pay to attend. Starting out, the best conferences are local ones, because. Local producers would be most likely to hire you. NATPE, the National Association of Television Program Executives, has a local chapter in any media market and they have regular events.
Working With a Talent Agency
I have been represented by two talent agencies in my career. They got me auditions, but none of those worked out. The agency didn’t really evaluate the style of my voice, so they sent me to projects that weren’t right for me. But it’s still good to go to auditions. You get your name our there, you meet people.
Since I do voice-over work as a side job, I don’t think I necessarily need a talent agency. But if I did it full time, I would definitely be apart of an agency.
You get started first by sending them your demo reel, and then follow whatever instructions they give you. Then they decide if you fit with their talent pool. They don’t charge for representation. They only ask for 10% of billing. But that’s nothing. Especially if they find you a good job.
Some Top VO agencies:(Keep in mind, many agencies do NOT represent VO talent, so contact them to make sure.)
Stars, The AgencyAffinity Model & TalentLook TalentJE Talent
