Feb 7, 2023
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
Connect with Gina:
- https://ginascarpa.com/
- https://positivevoicesct.com/
- https://twitter.com/ginascarpa
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-scarpa-874baa22/
Connect with Joan:
Be on the show!