I’m Sonja, VO Casting Specialist at Backstage. My voiceover career started in my senior year of university. I took a speech class as an elective, and my professor told me I had a million-dollar voice and needed to do something with it. He introduced me to the online casting community, and I jumped right in. I quickly realized that voice acting is A LOT harder than it sounds; you have to be a performer, understand the nuances of voice recording, and run your own business. I felt overwhelmed but saw that one of the largest online casting platforms was hiring. Then I thought, ”What better way to learn about the industry than to work on the casting side?”
Online Voice Performer Casting
I found working in casting to be my passion, and it has led me to my current position at Backstage, where I connect talent to the best voiceover jobs and help build careers. I absolutely love my job and am excited to share the opportunity Backstage presents to all of you voiceover stars. Let’s start with four top tips on how voiceover artists can maximize their audition performances.
- Read the casting brief carefully and only apply for roles you fit!
- Ensure your sound quality is the best it can be.
- Jump right in, Don’t slate or name or anything, just start reading the script.
- Train! If you are serious about becoming a voice actor, then training is super important.
Your Performance and Demos
In my 10+ years working in the voiceover industry, I have helped talent by bringing the best jobs to the platform. Through my work, I have helped talent all over the world land their first jobs and grow their careers. I think demos are still important because not all casting calls require a custom audition. Many casting directors still want to hear a demo before they decide who they want to audition for them. Plus, having a demo of each voice style will showcase your range and abilities. Performance is performance, whether it be in front of a microphone, camera, or live audience. Your skills are transferable so why not expand your craft and pursue all areas of the wonderfully robust creative industry?
Voice Performer Making the Jump
Backstage truly is an excellent career resource and is also a great place for voice actors to find on-screen work and vice versa. You can also check out the Backstage magazine, where we interview industry experts and celebrities weekly. This gives voice actors the inside scoop about what it takes to be a working professional in today’s creative industry. At Backstage, we put the voice actor first and aim to foster an environment where everyone has an equal opportunity to be discovered. So what are you waiting for? Make the jump as I did; you never know where you may land.
The Voice and The Performer by Sonja Smith Business Development, Voiceover Casting at Backstage
