You will be able to upload your
voice reel, write a detailed biography and add a
photo or graphic. However they really start to
pay dividends when you upgrade to the premium
service that's usually on offer. Targeted work
is funnelled into your inbox and you can then
provide auditions and submit projects to
prospective clients. The main drawback is you
have to pay a fee upfront.
With an agent, the
reverse is true: she or he is your
representative in the voiceover world and a good
one should be actively promoting your vocal
talent and selling you to clients. A not so good
one will just have your voice sitting on their
website waiting for clients to discover you. So
the more proactive they are the better for your
career.
A legitimate voice-over agent will never
charge a joining fee; in fact in some countries
this is against the law. So before signing up,
make sure your prospective representative is on
a commission only basis. The normal range is
between fifteen and twenty percent, though this
can be higher or lower depending on the market
and particular agency. Bear in mind that some
popular agencies may ask you to sign an
exclusive deal and even ask for a concessionary
commission payment; in other words even the work
you get yourself may be subject to a small token
payment of say around five percent. The
reasoning behind this is that you will more than
make up this amount with the work they get you.
Weigh up all the pros and cons and see which
agency meets your needs the most. If in doubt
about a contract, seek professional legal
advice.
So you have decided that going down the
agency route is for you, but the big question
now is how on earth do you go about finding one?
I am afraid the law of supply and demand applies
here. In other words, there are more voice over
artists than there are agents, but this should
not deter you.
Most representatives want to know that you
are going to be a good prospect and earn them
(and you) money, so the first port of call is to
record an impressive showreel. Make your demo
crisp, clear and short; no one wants to sit
through a double album of your greatest
voice-over hits! When sending off your CD, add a
brief covering letter explaining why you want to
be with that particular agent. If you are a
complete beginner explain that you are fresh,
new and can offer something different. Add in a
description of your voice too, but keep this
accurate. If you can't do those "in a world"
type movie trailers, don't say you can.
If an agent rejects you, do not be
disheartened; ask if you can re-apply in a few
months time, or if there are any other agencies
they can recommend. Try gaining some work
through your own endeavours, which will help
your experience and show prospective employers
that you are bankable.
If a client thinks your voice sounds great,
you can bet the agencies will start to take
notice.
It is important to remember that whilst you
don't need an agent to get voice over work,
having professional representation can be very
useful indeed.
