"From Fun Voices to Work-from-Home Lifestyle: Understanding the Voice Acting Industry and How to Succeed as a Voice Actor"

Voice acting can be a dream job for many people, with its fun voices and the ability to work from home. However, before diving headfirst into the industry, it's important to understand what the industry looks like and the best ways to become a successful voice actor.

Voice actor is similar to a screen actor in that they rely on acting skills to play a part, whether that's for entertainment or disseminating information. The main difference is that they don't appear on screen. Instead, voice actors perform in a recording studio and their voice is the star of the show. The need for voice actors is on the rise, with the industry seeing a 900% increase in jobs over the previous three years.

To become a voice actor, there are a few skills and equipment that are typically required. Enunciation, vocal pacing and pausing, and inflection are all important skills to practice. Additionally, voice actors will need to have access to recording equipment and create a reel of their work, also known as a demo, to showcase their skills and land jobs.

The types of voice work available to voice actors are vast, including films and TV, dubbed foreign-language films, commercials and movie trailers, and video games. Voice actors for films and TV provide narrative or character voices. Dubbed foreign-language films require the voice actor to deliver accurate timing and inflections to match the on-screen visuals and mouth movements of the actor speaking in a different language. Voice actors in commercials and movie trailers typically have to match the tone of the brand or advertisement. Video game voiceover work is similar to voicing cartoon characters for animated shows, but usually involves recording individual vocal prompts as a character.

Aside from entertainment, voice actors can also work in other industries such as education, corporate training, and e-learning. Corporate and e-learning voice actors typically provide narration for training videos and educational material, while some even provide voices for phone systems and GPS navigation.

The voice acting industry is constantly evolving, and new opportunities are arising all the time. For those who are interested in pursuing a career in voice acting, it's important to stay informed about the industry, practice your skills, and create a strong demo to showcase your talents. With hard work and dedication, you can make your dream of becoming a successful voice actor a reality.