8 Ways How To Find Local Voice Over Jobs for Beginners
A lot of voice actors are so fixated on digital casting sites and global opportunities, they’re ignoring the untapped potential right in their own backyards. If you’re not finding local voice over gigs, you’re leaving money on the table.
The Myth of the Big City Only VO Career
You don’t need to move to LA or spend your life glued to Pay-to-Play audition sites to make a living as a voice actor.
I get it. Those voices on broadcast and streaming ads sound like they’re beaming in talent from Hollywood backlots. But the reality is, local businesses, nonprofits, schools, and creative agencies are desperate for reliable, talented voice actors, often with little or zero competition.
Get our FREE Local Gigs Kickstart Guide and start finding work in your own backyard. Click the image above.
I’ve seen it firsthand. When I started as a part-time voice actor, I was convinced there wasn’t a single paying gig in my town. But when I looked closer and started asking the right people, doors opened everywhere. Local gyms wanted new class promo videos. The community theater needed a narrator. Local colleges had animation students hunting for voice talent. All it really took was showing up and introducing myself.
Let’s break down how you can find and land these opportunities before your competition even realizes they exist.
HUNT Where You LIVE: Why Local Matters
Local Gigs Mean Less Competition and More Trust
Everyone’s scrambling for the same jobs on Voices and Voice123. But who’s calling the neighborhood nonprofit that needs a heartfelt PSA for their fundraiser?
When clients can meet you in person, even once, you build trust instantly. You’re not another faceless freelancer. And guess what? Many local businesses prefer hiring someone from here, someone who understands the local vibe, accent, or community story.
Repeat Work and Word of Mouth
Once you’re known locally, you’re not just another audition. They call you first, over and over. Last year, I was hired as the voice of a state-wide physical therapy chain by a local agency because I delivered, was easy to work with.
1. Mine Your Local Network, Even If You Think You Don’t Have One
Think you don’t know anyone who needs a voice actor in your town? Think again. Here’s where to look:
Friends, Family, and Your Day Job
Ask friends working in marketing, education, or media if their organizations use video, podcasts, or phone systems.
Chat up your gym, church, library, or community center staff. Do they hire for phone greetings or event videos?
Even your own workplace may need internal videos or training modules. Ask HR if you can provide an audition.
Local Business Outreach
Make a hit list of local businesses with a media presence… gyms, real estate agents, auto dealers, hospitals, colleges.
Walk in, call, or DM them on social media. Keep it simple: “Do you ever need local VO talent for your videos, commercials, or phone messages? I’m a professional voice actor based right here.”
Email your demo. Don’t have one? Record short custom auditions or samples for each type of client.
2. Tap Community Creative Hubs
If you feel awkward cold-calling, get visible in places where creatives gather. These are pipelines for local gigs.
Community Theaters and Indie Films
Many community theaters need narrators for shows, local documentaries, or audio guides, but they rarely post castings online. Visit their offices or reach out on social media. Offer your services for upcoming projects or table reads. Small theaters are always stretched thin and open to new talent.
Indie filmmakers also often need VO for trailers, dubs, or animations. Attend local film festivals, join Facebook filmmaking groups, or connect with film students at nearby colleges. Don’t just pitch. Offer to help for a short film or student project to build relationships.
Colleges, Radio Stations, and Public Access TV
Campus radio stations might need fillers, PSAs or ad reads. Volunteer for production experience and get quick demo material.
Public access TV often runs community announcements. Reach out offering your voice for intros, credits, or narration.
College audio/video departments constantly create content and need fresh voices.
3. Embrace Direct Outreach: The Art of Showing Up
Most part-time voice actors hide behind emails (and that’s all you can to outside of your home parket). Local gigs are often won by being face-to-face with the decision makers and their networks.
Boots on the Ground
Attend business networking events, Chamber of Commerce mixers, or creative meetups. Bring business cards and a 20-second pitch: “I’m a local voice actor. Who here’s shot a commercial, podcast, or training video in the last six months?”
Volunteer to emcee community fundraisers or events. Most small nonprofits can’t afford a voice, but you can get on the mic and be noticed by everyone. For years, I volunteered as the VOG for the Richmond (VA) Ad Club awards here in town because every agency in town attends and I got to not only network at the pre and post show parties, but the decision makers in the room got to hear my voice and see my name.
Leave flyers or sample CDs at local editing houses, ad agencies, and recording studios.
Direct Mail Still Works
Send short printed notes or postcards with your photo and link to your demo to agencies, studios, production companies, and media outlets nearby. No one does this anymore and it can cut through the clutter.
4. Leverage Local Online Communities
Facebook Groups, Nextdoor
Join local Facebook groups for creatives, small business owners, and nonprofits. Offer to read event promos, podcast intros, or explainer scripts.
Post samples (not spam!) in community groups with a note: “If your business or group needs an authentic local voice, I’m here!”
Local Job Boards and Gigs Sites
Sites like Craigslist, Patch, or even school district and local government boards often list gig work Don’t ignore these!
Monitor local event calendars for opportunities to volunteer or audition as a reader or announcer.
5. Partner with Local Creatives
The easiest way to find paying jobs? Collaborate with other freelancers who serve the same clients.
Videographers, Podcast Producers, Copywriters
Make friends with local videographers, podcast editors, graphic designers, and web developers. They’re constantly looking for voice talent to complete projects and are happy to recommend you if you’re reliable and make them look good.
Agencies (Big and Small)
Local marketing agencies, though they may have a go-to talent list, are always on the lookout for new voices, especially for smaller clients or backup work. Drop off your demo in person and offer to audition so they know how fast and easy you are to work with.
6. Give Before You GET
The Power of Strategic Volunteering
Not every gig needs to pay upfront. Sometimes, doing one quick, high-profile free job for a local nonprofit or startup lands you multiple paying clients from their network. One well-publicized event voiceover beats a dozen hidden unpaid projects.
Offer to voice a school’s theater promo video, a startup’s website intro, or the town’s holiday parade announcements. Ask for credit or a testimonial in return (and always request a copy of the audio/video to use in your portfolio).
7. Get Serious About Your Local Brand
Your Local SEO and Social Proof
Set up your Google Business Profile as a voice actor so locals find you in “voice talent in [your town]” searches.
Get reviews from satisfied local clients. Even a two-line testimonial carries big weight.
Consistency Over Perfection
Don’t obsess over the slickest business cards or fanciest website. What matters most is showing up over and over. The more visible you are, the more your town will view you as the local voiceover authority.
8. Build Momentum - Don’t Let Small Jobs Fool You
The Domino Effect of Local VO Work
The low budget local ad read or community theater narration might not seem like your dream job, but the real payoff is momentum. Each small credit leads to a bigger one, new contacts, and eventually major gigs or agency connections you can’t get anywhere else.
Keep track of everyone you work with locally. Follow up, thank them, and ask who else they know who hires for voice work. You’ll be surprised how quickly your local client list snowballs.
What Nobody Tells You About Going Full-TimE in Voice over
You don’t need a dozen agents to go full-time. You need a steady pipeline of gigs from people who know, like, and trust you. For most successful voice actors, that steady pipeline starts locally and grows outward.
I’ve met actors who built six-figure VO incomes getting their starts recording phone prompts and e-learning demos in small towns because nobody else bothered to ask for those gigs.
If you’re hungry to go full-time, stop waiting for a big break from New York or LA. Create your own luck in your own zip code and watch your bookings and confidence soar.
How to Start Landing Local Voice Over Jobs This MONTH
Step 1: List five local organizations (business, theater, nonprofit, or media) and reach out by phone, email, or in person this week offering your demo and a short, personalized pitch.
Step 2: Attend one local networking event, creative meetup, fundraiser, business mixer, or open mic. Bring cards and let people know you’re a local voice actor.
Step 3: Pick one online local group (Facebook, Nextdoor, etc.) and post a short sample, offering your services to the community.
Action beats overthinking, especially in a market your competitors are too distracted to notice.
Stop chasing on autopilot. Start building your VO business right where you are.