What Casting Directors Look for in Voice Over Actors Today

Voice-over acting is an expanding area with opportunities in many different industries from advertising and entertainment to e-learning and mobile apps. However, while the demand grows, so too does the competition. Many aspiring voice actors, in fact, enter the field believing that having a good voice is all that is needed. In reality, casting directors today expect a lot more. They are looking for a combination of talent, skill, technical readiness, and professionalism. Let’s explore what casting directors are really looking for, when they are hiring voice over actors.

Clear and Natural Voice

A clear and natural voice is still the most fundamental requirement for any voice over project. When casting directors are listening to your audition they are looking for a clear and pleasant voice that is easy to understand. This doesn’t mean you have to have a low baritone or have a “radio voice.” What is more important is your clarity and control. If someone speaks very quickly, mumbles, or mispronounces words, it distracts from the message. A natural speaking voice is more often preferred because it creates comfort and connection for the listener. Whether you are voicing a product advertisement, or a character in a video game, sounding authentic and relatable means more.

Diction and Pronunciation

Good diction refers to speaking each word clearly and correctly. We typically hire voice over actors to read messages so that listeners will understand the message quickly and easily. This is very common in the e-learning space, medical narration, and corporate training videos, where there absolutely has to be accuracy in terms of pronunciation.

Sometimes directors will even reject an otherwise great-sounding voice for an actor that has a bad habit of mispronouncing key terms or does not sound easy to follow as a whole. If you have a good ear, are communicative in that you will check difficult terms to get accurate pronunciations, and if you are willing to check a couple of sources to correctly pronounce complex terms, it speaks volumes to your commitment to developing your craft.

Acting Ability and Emotional Range

Doing voice over work is not simply reading a line. It is a performance. Every script is written for a purpose, whether to entertain people with humor, communicate information, or bring about an emotional response. Casting directors are always on the lookout for voice actors who can embody creative performance. For example, in commercials you will sound enthusiastic and persuasive, while in animation, you will gain emotion, energy and timing, as you bring a character to life. 

A good voice actor understands the style of the script or type of responses needed to interpret the script with the appropriate emotional response – even requiring short phrases to have the correct emotional response to be believable, while giving the performance behind the words to connect with the listener. 

Vocal Versatility

Adaptability is a very valuable skill for voice over, and casting directors are always looking for someone who can voice multiple characters, speaking styles, or tones. A versatile actor can narrate a cheerful backstory in one job, then act out a dramatic movie trailer or read for video games, or animated content, in the next. The tone could be upbeat, somber, or serious if it were a corporate video, but sometimes could be a narrator voicing a hero, villain, or animal. 

If you can create an adjusted version of your voice to fit different moods, age, or energy levels, you will be even more marketable. The voice over actor who can produce variety tends to book more jobs because they become more marketable than the voice over actor who only offers a singular style of voice. 

Script Interpretation

Reading a script goes beyond simply reading the lines. It’s additionally about comprehension of the script’s communication and that you can successfully relay that message. A casting director wants an actor to read “between the lines” and understand the message behind the message. 

For example, one line in a public service announcement needs to be read with sincerity, vs a line in a comedy animation that requires a proper rhythm and timing to land as humorous. Effectively interpreting a script indicates the actor is thinking about their task not just to read, but to determine the best way to communicate the words to the audience.

Quality of Home Recording Setup

In today’s remote work environment, it’s rare to find a voice over job that requires travel – most jobs are completed from home, and therefore casting directors want you to have a good quality recording set up. You can’t get away with simply using the microphone built-in to your laptop; no, no! Your recording must be clean – no background noise, no echo, and no distortion. 

Clean recording means you must have a good microphone, soundproof your area (acoustic foam or blankets) and have a basic understanding of sound editing (audio software). Trust us, if your sound is poor, a casting director isn’t going to listen any longer than a few seconds. Having clean sound indicates to the casting director that you’re serious and psychologically prepared to work professionally, while sitting in your home studio. 

Taking Direction

Voice over gigs typically come with a direct or producer who has a particular vision for the project. You may be asked to change your speed, change your tone, or emphasize different words from the last take. Casting directors like a voice actor who will take direction and apply it with little effort. This shows flexibility and a team player that will make the recording and production more efficient. If you are difficult or rigid in the voice recording, you may be cut out of the process for future work. If you show that you can listen, change, and extend yourself, you will be someone the casting director wants to work with again. 

Professionalism and Communication

In addition to your performance capabilities and audio quality, casting directors are assessing your professionalism and reliability. Do you submit files on time? Do you follow and respect instructions? Do you reply promptly to an email or inquiry? 

Small details can make the difference. For a fast-moving production team, if a talented voice over actor is disorganized or late, they will be a problem. Conversely, if you are a talented voice actor with clear communications, you follow the file naming protocol, and are able to submit high quality tasks on time, you will be called back to work. Reliability is at least as valuable as talent.

Demo Reels and First Impressions

Your demo reel is generally the first thing a casting director hears, and it needs to make a strong impression. A good demo can exhibit your range featuring different voice over samples–a commercial, narration, some character voices and a promo piece. A demo should be professionally recorded, fairly short (around one minute), and clearly labeled. Casting directors regularly work through several dozen, if not hundreds, of demos, so your demo should stand out quickly. A demo that is poorly done can easily turn the masses off before even getting registered to audition.

Passion for the Craft

Lastly, casting directors value a voice actor who enjoys the craft. Conveying that passion in your performance, attitude, and desire to learn all matters. Voice over work can be strenuous and long. It takes more than a good voice to hold up. Directors appreciate talent that is always learning, open to directions and simply loves what they’re doing. It could be attending a class, purchasing better gear, or continuing to grow in your performance by learning a new technique. A passionate actor is a serious actor and someone looking to build a career instead of just booking a quick gig.

Final Thoughts

Voice over performing is an art and a skill. Today’s Casting Directors want a lot more than just a pleasing voice. They are expecting actors who can act with feeling, handle a range of different projects, create studio quality recordings and be professional through the job. If you are trying to break into voice-over or looking to improve your chances of becoming cast, you should ideally work on your craft, get a solid setup, and know what the client needs. The more you meet those expectations, the more opportunities will develop.