What a typical day looks like for a Voice Actor

The life of a voice actor is filled with creative challenges, varied projects, and a blend of flexibility and discipline. While every day is different, there are certain routines and tasks that most voice actors engage in regularly. In this article, we’ll take a look at what a typical day looks like for a voice actor, including their work schedule, recording sessions, client interactions, and the continuous pursuit of professional development.

1. Morning: Preparing for the Day

Many voice actors start their day by preparing both physically and mentally for their work. Like any professional, taking care of their health, maintaining their equipment, and reviewing their schedule for the day are crucial to ensure a productive day of voiceover work.

• Vocal warm-ups: Just like singers, voice actors need to warm up their vocal cords before diving into a recording session. Morning warm-ups may include humming, tongue twisters, or exercises to stretch the vocal cords and improve diction, pitch control, and range.
• Check equipment: Many voice actors have a home studio setup, so part of the morning routine involves checking microphones, audio interfaces, and software to ensure everything is working correctly. Technical issues can lead to delays, so this step is crucial for efficiency.
• Review scripts: Whether it’s for a commercial, video game, or audiobook, reviewing scripts before recording is essential. Voice actors go through the material to familiarize themselves with the content, adjust to the tone, and make notes on how they will approach different sections of the script.

2. Mid-Morning: Auditions and Client Work

In the mid-morning, voice actors typically focus on auditions and client projects. Freelance voice actors often juggle multiple auditions each day, especially if they’re working through casting platforms like Voices.com or Voice123.

• Auditions: Voice actors often begin their day by submitting auditions for various projects. These auditions can come from online platforms, direct clients, or agents. Each audition requires a tailored performance, so voice actors may spend time experimenting with different reads, emotions, and character choices.
• Recording for client projects: Once the auditions are completed, many voice actors will record for active client projects. This could include voiceover for commercials, e-learning modules, or even character voices for video games. During this time, the actor must maintain high energy, focus, and ensure they’re delivering the client’s vision.
• Client communication: Throughout the day, voice actors often check in with clients to confirm project details, review feedback, and submit completed recordings. Clear communication with clients is vital to maintain professionalism and build long-term relationships.

3. Lunch Break: Rest and Recharge

Voice acting requires a lot of energy and vocal stamina, so taking regular breaks throughout the day is important. During lunch, voice actors typically rest their voices, hydrate, and recharge to ensure they’re ready for the second half of the day.

• Vocal rest: Voice actors need to give their vocal cords a break after a few hours of speaking. During this time, they may avoid speaking, focus on hydration, or engage in light vocal warm-down exercises.
• Relax and refuel: Lunchtime is also a chance to relax and recharge. Whether it’s a quick meal or a longer break to relax, taking care of mental and physical health is key to a productive day of work.

4. Afternoon: Recording Sessions and Editing

In the afternoon, voice actors often return to the recording booth to continue working on ongoing projects or recording additional auditions. This period can also include some post-production work, such as editing and refining audio files.

• Recording sessions: The afternoon is often dedicated to long recording sessions, particularly for projects that require multiple takes or longer scripts, such as audiobooks or e-learning modules. This part of the day may involve recording large blocks of dialogue, doing multiple takes, and refining the delivery to meet the client’s expectations.
• Post-production and editing: Many voice actors are responsible for editing their own recordings. This might include removing background noise, adjusting volume levels, or cutting out unnecessary pauses. They may use software like Adobe Audition, Audacity, or Pro Tools to ensure the audio is polished and ready for delivery.
• Client feedback and revisions: After submitting initial recordings, voice actors often receive feedback from clients. During this time, they may need to make adjustments to their performances or redo certain sections of the recording based on the client’s preferences.

5. Late Afternoon: Business Tasks and Professional Development

The late afternoon is often reserved for business-related tasks, professional development, and preparation for the next day. This time allows voice actors to stay on top of their administrative duties while continuing to improve their craft.

• Client invoicing: Freelance voice actors need to keep track of their earnings and ensure that they’re invoicing clients properly. The late afternoon is often when invoices are sent out, payment schedules are reviewed, and financial records are updated.
• Marketing and networking: Many voice actors spend time each day promoting their services on social media, updating their portfolios, and connecting with potential clients. Networking is crucial to building a steady stream of work.
• Professional development: Voice actors often dedicate time to improving their skills. This could include listening to voiceover podcasts, taking online courses, or practicing new techniques. Continuous learning is important to staying competitive and enhancing their craft.

6. Evening: Rest and Recovery

After a full day of recording, editing, and client work, voice actors need time to rest and recover. The evening is often dedicated to unwinding, relaxing, and ensuring that they’re ready for another day of work.

• Vocal recovery: Just as athletes need to rest their muscles, voice actors need vocal recovery. Evening is a time for voice actors to relax their vocal cords, hydrate, and avoid overexertion.
• Relaxation and downtime: Relaxing activities, such as reading, watching TV, or spending time with family, help voice actors wind down after a busy day. Taking time to recharge is essential for maintaining mental and emotional health, which in turn enhances performance.
• Sleep: A good night’s sleep is crucial for vocal health. Voice actors need sufficient rest to keep their voices strong and their energy levels high for the next day of work.

Conclusion

The typical day of a voice actor is filled with a mix of creative performance, technical work, client communication, and self-care. Whether recording for a commercial, performing character voices for a video game, or submitting auditions, each day brings a new set of challenges and opportunities. By staying organized, maintaining vocal health, and dedicating time to professional growth, voice actors can build successful and sustainable careers in this dynamic and rewarding field.