This is one of the most common questions I hear from people who want to get into voice over or have just started.

If you are thinking of contacting agencies such as RMK, EM Voices, Scout Management (some of the largest VO agencies in Australia) there are a few things you need to consider.

Firstly – do you have the skills and experience? That’s a longer discussion point but it’s a good place to start if you want to talk about getting work.

Why do you think you need an agent? (Yes Andy & Cecelia have one, but everyone’s path is different)

If the answer is “to get work”, then you should know that having an agent doesn’t guarantee that, plus you’re less likely to be considered for representation if you haven’t been able to book your own work and prove you can make $$ already (a bit of a catch 22 right?). Many of the Voice Over artists we know worked independently for quite a few years before talking to any agencies.

How does Voice Over / Voice Acting fit in with anything else you currently do (like other employment). If you currently work a 9-5 type job with little or no flexibility then those are not the type of agents you should be talking to. For example at 2.42pm today my (Andy) agency called and asked when I could be available for an urgent job for a radio station in another state, to be recorded in my own studio with them directing over the phone. My answer was “how about right now?”. The Job was done by 3.10pm.

Sometimes that call is at 10am with a request to travel across the city to another studio within a few hours.

Ok so….ummm how do I get work?

There are other types of agencies you can look at that are more suitable if you only have the ability to record in your own space and in a time that suits you (in the evening for example because you work or study full time).

Some of these agencies pay lower rates. For example Hardy Audio, The Voice Market & Purple Wax. They use rosters of talent and rarely make talent audition for jobs.

Then, casting websites.
Starnow, Voices.com, Voice123, The Voice Realm (and more).
Here, expect to audition for jobs, knowing that you’ll be competing directly against others who want the same gig. Yes, you’ll need the ability to create a good recording of yourself. Start Googling “home studio” and you’ll get the idea.

This is my no means a comprehensive guide but hopefully a thought starter for some of you just getting started.