If you are looking for a commercial voice over artist, then you have already developed your characters and created your script. Your next step is to post your job and review the applicants’ qualifications and samples. As you narrow down your selection, you may send your script to your prospects for a sample recording.
Script and Specification Knowledge
Your project is important, to you or to your company, and you should find a voice talent who values your project as much as you do. One way to determine this is to listen carefully to your prospective talents’ audition recordings to determine their level of knowledge about your project. Also, note the actors that ask questions or request further details about the character and purpose of the job.
Character Embodiment
Your voice over needs to be believable. A great actor portrays a character to such an extent that the actor is the character. Voice over talent is no different. Your audience needs to believe that the voice over professional is the character. You don’t want to hear the actor on the audition, you want to hear the character. You may have to listen to hundreds of audition tapes, but you should be able to hear the character almost immediately.
Number of Recordings
A professional voice talent will provide you with more than one take of a voice script, which is valuable because you need to hear the actors’ versatility. Also, those who provide additional takes are typically more dedicated to their jobs and value their work. Their recordings should also be produced to the extent that others can see the direction of the character and script as well. Although professional production is not necessary, the takes should be high quality.
Diction and Pronunciation
Search for voice actors who know the language and can pronounce every word in your script properly. They should also have clear enunciation so the audience can clearly understand what is said, unless the character mumbles at which point you want someone who speaks unclearly well.
Spend some time listening to the audition tapes you receive, and don’t be afraid to listen to them more than once. Time is valuable, but so is hiring the right person for your voice over project.
