How to Become a Voice Actor

I get asked about this a lot. The truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all formula, but there are keys that can really help. 

In 2021 I set out to create a platform that works for both up and coming voice actors and industry veterans in real life. In the process of building acting.skillshub.life, my sister Carren Dujela and our Dev friend Bill Reid did hundreds of hours of research and 1:1 interviews with new and seasoned actors and our 80+ coaches. Here, I share the results of this research, along with four decades of my own experience as a voice actor. 

As a teen living in Birmingham Alabama, I got a job as a Production Assistant at a video production house that was next door to an audio studio. One day the audio studio needed a ‘valley girl’ voice for a spot (industry lingo for commercial) so I popped next door, and to my astonishment, walked away half an hour later having made $35. I was hooked. 

I launched my acting career, cobbling together what became a full-time business doing local radio & tv commercials, trade shows, industrial training films, you name it. A couple of years in, I expanded into the Atlanta market where I discovered the world of Film, TV and National Commercials and made my first foray into union work. This kind of patchwork quilt of cash flow is illustrative of what it takes to make a living as an actor in many markets and even more so today with the growth of online work. 

The voice acting landscape is vast, but one thing I always emphasize is that if you want to join us in this fantastic career, remember that you are starting a new business. Far more than simply having ‘talent’ or a ‘great voice’, success comes from versatility, curiosity, adaptability, solid business habits, consistency and good training. These are things you can have control over, and when you focus on them, the possibilities that stretch out before you are only limited by your work ethic, your courage, your tenacity and the quality of your information. 

We sifted through hours of conversations, classes, coaching and meetings to put together this starting guide for you. Read on, and when you’re done, if you decide to step onto this path, I’m thrilled for you. It’s a great way to make a living and this community is full of some of the best, most talented and most wonderful humans I’ve ever met. Enjoy