Is Voice Acting Right For You?
Not every valuable opportunity in acting comes in the form of on-camera roles. Voiceover work is becoming increasingly popular these days, mostly due to its flexibility. Child actors, who still have their education to consider, may benefit from work that offers this type of flexibility.
Voice acting is a broad category, just like on-screen acting. So, where do you start? Here is a breakdown of some of the most important facts to consider before making the decision to pursue voiceover acting.
What is Voice Acting?
Voice actors lend their skills to many different roles, like audiobooks, commercials, movies, animated TV shows, video games, and more. The skills one would need to develop for voice acting can cross over into on-screen acting, but it is a discipline all its own, with unique circumstances and opportunities.
We encounter voiceover work all the time. Many commercials don’t feature on-screen actors, but voiceover artists supplying all the important information. Just because an actor isn’t visible doesn’t mean they aren’t acting. Voiceover work can be even harder to perform effectively, since body language and movement are nearly impossible to convey through voice.
Voice acting is a competitive and lucrative industry, and full of valuable opportunities for the actors who pursue it.
Should Your Child be a Voice Actor?
There is no bad time to start acting, if you want to act. But of course, different traits lend themselves well to different opportunities. Young people naturally possess many qualities that are necessary for voiceover work – namely, a creative mind and strong imagination. Much of the media children consume is full of voiceover work, so they may already be interested in mimicking the fun voices they hear.
But even without an innate knack for doing voices, if your child expresses a desire to learn and grow their acting skills, voice acting is a great choice. Resilience is necessary for any discipline in acting because of the prevalence of rejection, so you and your child should be aware of this before starting out.
Dispelling the Myths
There are a lot of myths surrounding voice acting and the kinds of opportunities this industry might present. Contrary to some beliefs, children do have a place in voice acting and can be just as successful as adults. Much of the media consumed by children is performed by actors of the same age, so a child actor with skill and versatility is likely to succeed. Even as children grow and their voices change, work opportunities will not end for them. They simply will have to shift the sorts of roles they audition for accordingly.
If your child wants to break into voice acting, the best thing to do is to get them professional training and start building their skills as soon as possible. While they may face many of the same challenges as on-screen acting, if they have a strong support system in place, they will be equipped to handle the obstacles along the way.
It takes practice, commitment, and time to build a career in voice acting. If your child has the passion and drive, then nothing should stop you from jumping in. Keep these tips in mind to maintain a healthy voice, and you’re all set to start!