In the competitive world of Voice Over, it can be extremely helpful to have a strong relationship with a talent agent to help you navigate the business and present opportunities. The idea of partnering with a voiceover talent agent is exciting, and parents may be anxious to take this step for their child. However, before doing so, here are some key points to keep in mind.
Are you ready?
Has your child had voiceover training? Coaching is key in developing your child’s voiceover career. Doing voiceover, and doing it well, is a lot more than just talking into a microphone! Make sure you have invested in specific voiceover training before approaching an agent. The skills will make your child a more valuable part of a roster, improve auditions, and lend credibility to your child’s portfolio, especially if he/she doesn’t have extensive voiceover credits.
If you received a voiceover audition today, do you have the know-how and equipment to record the audition? The ability to record quality audio from a home set-up is a must-have skill in the market right now. More and more voice over talent are also becoming “engineers” and “editors” on top of being voice talent! Be sure you know how to record and edit quality sounding audio so you may represent your child, and the agent, in the best light possible to the end client or casting.
Do you have a voiceover demo? Having a professionally produced demo is a critical marketing tool useful for pitching a voiceover agent. Invest in a demo after coaching, and work with a professional – no home “produced” demos! Demos should accurately represent your child’s current sound (young voices change quickly!) and should showcase a range of delivery styles. Also, your genre of demo should match your targeted agent. For example, if you are trying to secure an agent that works primarily in commercials, you need a commercial demo. If you are aiming to pursue animation, a character animation demo is best suited when approaching the agent.
If you booked a voiceover job today (yay!) do you have the know-how and equipment to record a professional sounding recording from home? Given the current state of the entertainment business, accessibility to a professional recording studio and professional engineer is challenging right now. What if you booked a job? Is your home recording set-up able to provide quality sounding audio acceptable for the client? If you are ready to book, consider investing in a sound consultation for your space. There are experts in this field who will test your home sound and make recommendations for improvement so you can sound your best! Having the ability to record quality audio from home is definitely an advantage and a selling point for talent presenting themselves to talent agencies.
Timing is everything!
As with everything in life, timing makes a difference! If you submit to a voiceover agent and do not get accepted, there is typically a 6 month or even a year waiting period before you may resubmit, so do your best to approach the agency at a receptive time. It can be helpful to call your desired agency in advance of submission and ask if they are currently accepting new child voiceover talent. They may accept talent year-round, or they may only consider new talent during open call periods.
Location, Location, Location!
It is possible to have more than one voiceover agent, as long as you don’t overlap representation location and have more than one agent in the same geographic market. Although you may think of approaching voiceover representation only in your specific area, if your market is not a major hub for voiceover work, don’t let location be an obstacle for you. Many voiceover specific agencies have talent on their rosters from all locations. As long as you have quality home recording or convenient access to a professional studio arrangement when accessibility becomes available again, you can submit to voiceover agents across the country, and even internationally.
Do your homework.
Before approaching a potential voiceover agent, be sure to do your research on their agency. Visit their website, IMDb, and social media pages. Get an idea of the spectrum of talent they already represent and the types of voiceover jobs they book. Do you bring something new to the table? Or do they already represent many child voice talents in the exact same age range and demographic? Consider submitting to agencies where your talent offers something unique and beneficial to their roster. Being more strategic and targeted in your submission strategy can increase your chances of securing representation.
Referrals can help.
Although not a guarantee (nothing in this business is, right?) having a professional referral, such as a voiceover coach or client, when approaching a voiceover agent can be helpful as part of an agency’s overall decision-making process.
Pay attention to details.
When submitting to a voiceover agent, be sure – and then doubly sure – that you are following submission instructions precisely. These are typically found via the agent’s website. If you are not submitting via a website, and are sending an email via an industry referral perhaps, be sure your email is professional, concise, and includes pertinent details like your child’s vocal demographic, your availability and recording capabilities, and a voice demo in “mp3” format.
Last thoughts.
Partnering with a great voiceover agent can be an excellent step in furthering your child’s voiceover career. Be Patient. Be prepared. Take your time to find the right fit. And if your child is not accepted onto a particular roster with your first submission, don’t give up. Keep working. Keep researching. Keep trying. Eventually you will find the right fit for you and your child’s voiceover goals.
