Feb. 7, 2023

35: How To Succeed In Voiceover, with Gina Scarpa

35: How To Succeed In Voiceover, with Gina Scarpa

The belief that you need to have a “great voice” is just one of the myths that today’s guest dispels about the voiceover industry. Last year, Gina Scarpa voiced over 250 different projects as a professional voiceover actor. Having worked in the...

The belief that you need to have a “great voice” is just one of the myths that today’s guest dispels about the voiceover industry.

Last year, Gina Scarpa voiced over 250 different projects as a professional voiceover actor.

Having worked in the industry for the past 9 years, her track record of happy clients include VistaPrint, Burger King, Xfinity, and L’Oreal.

One of Gina’s superpowers is helping aspiring voiceover actors discover what genres would be the best fit for their voice and personality. You would be amazed at the variety and sheer number of genres available in the industry, beyond the ones most people think of, like commercials and animation.

In today’s episode, you’ll learn from Gina,

  • How much it costs to get started as a voiceover actor and, what you should do BEFORE spending any money,
  • Insider tips for setting up an at-home recording studio space,
  • What you can expect to earn, and what resources you can check out to understand what you should be charging in each genre,
  • The best places to find agents to represent you,
  • The biggest mistakes aspiring voiceover actors make that cause them to quit or not get booked, and so much more.

Be sure to catch the end of episode takeaway to discover who you will absolutely not want to share your side hustle goals with. This tip helped me become a bank manager by the age of 22 and will help you move forward towards any goal you set.

What You’ll Hear:

04:30 The beginnings of her voiceover career - Fiverr and Upwork

08:03 A plethora of opportunities for voice actors

09:29 Get used to “uncertainty”

10:55 Do you need to have a performance or broadcasting background, and a “great” voice?

13:20 Gina’s superpower - helping people determine their niche in voiceover

14:40 What it ‘really’ takes to make it in the industry

16:26 What to expect for your start up costs - about $750 for your home studio

19:11 Next level expenses - clips, demos, website

20:25 Entry level demos - around $1,000+ but you can start with clips

22:00 What you can expect to earn

22:31 Two resources to learn industry-standard rates

23:00 Your first year - $10,000, $50,000…it really depends…and it takes hustle!

23:50 Marketing, networking, promotion, never stops

25:42 When to get an agent and what percentage they take and how to find them

27:40 What a manager does and what they charge

31:30 Here’s how one agent weeded out many of the 1200 submissions she received (and it had nothing to do with the person’s voice!)

32:42 Getting work and making connections through workshops

34:25 For success in the industry, people need to get to know who you are

35:40 A better way to keep in touch with people…without being annoying

37:04 The biggest mistakes made by aspiring voice actors

37:45 Gina’s awesome way of reframing “rejection”

38:54 The creation of Positive Voices Studio

42:18 Free and paid voiceover communities available for support

44:14 Gina’s best tip for taking action

Takeaway

46:00 The value of someone in your life who can see more in you than you see in yourself

46:50 Why you want to be very selective about who you share your “big’ dreams and goals with

48:51 The connection between your thoughts and your results

 

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Be on the show!