The 10 COMMANDMENTS of VO Every Voice Actor NEEDS
Yeah there are probably more than 10, but that seems to be the traditional number of commandments so that’s what we’re rolling with today.
Completely unlike Moses from the mountaintop, I bring you these 10 Commandment of Voice Over. Trust me, it’s not every day you get 10 commandments from an atheist. 😉
Now before you get your hackles up, we’re playing fast and loose with the word commandments here. There are no hard and fast rules that you should never, ever, ever violate, but these are pretty close. Think of them as my strong recommendations.
As always, you run your own business and career. But if I were you, I’d pay attention.
1. Thou Shalt Get Really, Really Good at Voice Acting First
Before you even think about upgrading your mic, obsessing over branding, or spamming production companies with demos, pause and ask yourself: Am I actually good at this?
Not “my mom thinks I sound like Morgan Freeman” good. Objectively, undeniably, consistently good.
Voice acting isn’t just reading words off a page – it’s acting. It’s script analysis, subtext, and backstory, crafting characters not voices, and knowing how to shift gears seamlessly. No one gives a shit what you sound like. Clients care about the performance.
Ever wonder why top-tier talent makes it look effortless? They’ve clocked thousands of hours in the booth. They’ve worked with coaches, acted in plays, taken improv classes, and made ten thousand tiny adjustments to get to where they are.
How to Get Good:
• Training is non-negotiable. Find a reputable VO coach. Train for months, not days or weeks. Don’t worry about the demo starting out. Do the demo only when you’re competent and competitive.
• Record constantly. Practice reading audiobooks, commercial copy, or animation scripts, whatever you’re training on, daily.
• Develop your ear. Record a piece, walk away, and come back later with fresh ears. Would you hire you? Listen closely to national spots, accomplished audiobook narrators, national animated series. It’s ok to mimic when you’re developing. That’s how we find our own voice.
• Improv and acting classes. Especially if your goal is commercial VO, acting chops help you sound more natural and engaging, and that’s true no matter what the genre.
Remember, clients hire actors, not announcers. If your reads still sound like you’re narrating a PowerPoint, go back to square one. Even if you’re actually narrating a PowerPoint.
2. Thou Shalt Learn to Market
It doesn’t matter if you’e the lovechild of Don LaFontaine and Sally Kellerman themselves (if you’re under 40, look’em up) – if no one knows you exist, the gigs won’t come.
VO is a business, and you are both the product and the salesperson.
Think of it like this: Every time you send out a demo or cold email, you’re planting seeds. Astronomically few, if any, sprout immediately. Some take months. Some, years. And some others never grow at all. But the more seeds you plant, the significantly better your chances.
Where to Start:
• Build a killer website. Simple, clean, and easy to navigate. Include your best demos front and center, and make it dead simple to contact you.
• Direct marketing. Research production companies, ad agencies, and video producers. Reach out directly every damn day with personalized and tailored messaging.
• LinkedIn and networking. This platform is a goldmine for corporate work and connections. Post regularly and engage with producers and creative directors.
• Casting sites. They can be a source of auditions and even some work early, but do not rely on them. They should be but one tool in your business development strategy at most.
The harsh truth? No one’s going to “discover” you. You’re not going to “break” into VO. The faster you accept that, the faster you’ll start booking work.
3. Thou Shalt Not Violate an NDA
NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements) are gospel. Period.
When a client hands you sensitive material, they’re trusting you. Breaking that trust – even accidentally – can nuke your credibility faster than you can say, “I fucked up.”
Even mentioning the client’s name before the project is public can violate an NDA. This means no humblebrag LinkedIn posts about the cool gig you just landed or screenshots of the audition script even with the logo blurred (spoiler: people can still tell).
Best Practices for NDAs:
• Treat all projects as confidential by default. If a client hasn’t given explicit permission to share, don’t.
• Ask for clarification. If you’re unsure what’s allowed, ask the client directly.
• Don’t gossip. Even casually mentioning projects in forums or groups can backfire.
Trust is currency in this industry. Protect it fiercely.
4. Thou Shalt Not Post Audition Scripts
Once again, for the people in the back: Audition scripts are not yours to share.
Even if you’re just looking for feedback, posting audition copy is a huge no-no. Clients often recycle scripts or pull them directly from upcoming campaigns. When those scripts end up floating around social media, it reflects poorly on you and the entire VO community.
Instead, get feedback on practice scripts, generic copy, or old scripts that aren’t under NDA. Better yet, book a reputable coach for one-on-one guidance.
Think of it this way: If you respect the work, the work will respect you back.
5. Thou Shalt Not Ask Thy Brother or Sister for Leads
We’ve all been there – you see a fellow VO thriving and think, “Hey, maybe they can share their leads.”
Don’t do it.
Asking for leads puts people in an awkward position. Your peers worked hard to build relationships with clients. Handing over those contacts feels like giving away their trade secrets – and frankly, it’s unfair to ask.
Instead, ask about strategy.
• “How did you land that gig?”
• “What’s been your most effective marketing method?”
• “How do you structure your outreach?”
If you’re going to be successful in this business, you need to learn to generate your own leads.
The best way I know of, and I recommend it with obvious and unapologetic bias, is the VO Freedom Master Plan, where I teach you step by step how to generate your own leads and properly market to them to build your VO career.
Learn the process. That’s far more valuable than someone else’s leads.
6. Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s Career and Accomplishments
It’s easy to scroll through Instagram and feel like everyone’s booking massive campaigns and winning all the awards while you’re voicing phone menus for Bob’s Plumbing.
Here’s the reality: You’re not seeing the full picture.
Most people don’t post about the dry months, the gigs they didn’t get, and the years they spent grinding before landing big-name clients. Stay in your lane and trust the process.
Your job is not to have my, or J. Michael Collins’, or Carin Gilfry’s career. It’s to have your own. The only person you need to compare yourself to is you. Are you a better actor than you were a month ago, 6 months, a year ago? Are you 1% better today than you were yesterday?
Celebrate others’ wins, but don’t let them overshadow your own. Every gig – big or small – builds momentum. Take stock of your own wins, no matter how tiny, every week if not every day.
7. Thou Shall Not Make Idols
Admiring top talent is normal. Trying to be them? That’s where things go sideways.
Your unique voice and style are your superpowers. Trying to imitate someone else dilutes your authenticity. Sure, study the pros, but don’t lose sight of your individuality.
Clients aren’t looking for the next Nancy Cartwright. They’re looking for the first YOU.
8. Thou Shall Remember the Sabbath
Voiceover can easily bleed into every corner of your life. Before you know it, you’re auditioning at midnight and answering client emails on Sunday morning.
Burnout is NOT a badge of honor. Take breaks, recharge, and remember that your voice needs rest to perform at its best.
Set boundaries. Block out days to reset. You’ll thank yourself later.
This is a long game. Cal Ripken Jr. the famous Iron Man of baseball said and I’m paraphrasing here… its a long (162 games) season. You can’t go 100% every single day. You have to pace yourself.
9. Thou Shall Seek to Give, Not to Get
Want to be remembered in this industry? Give back.
Share advice, recommend clients, and offer guidance to newcomers. The more generous you are with your time and knowledge, the more opportunities seem to flow your way.
The VO community runs on collaboration, not competition. In short, don’t be a dick.
10. Thou Shall Not Be a Critic from the Sidelines
I love this thought from Brené Brown: if you’re not here in the arena getting your ass kicked with us, we don’t give a shit about your opinion.
I see so many critics, so much judgement from people who are too scared to commit to the craft, who work for free or shitty wages because they don’t value their own work, who think they know it all, who sit on Twitter and Reddit and wherever and teardown the people who are in the arena, who are getting their asses handed to them, and the critics themselves don’t have the guts to get in the game.
So, if you’re not in the game, shut the fuck up. Don’t tear down those who are.
Again, 10 strong recommendations for your voice over career. Follow them or don’t, it’s up to you.
Did I miss any? Do you disagree? Let me know in the comments.
As always, I wish you all the best.