How to get a Voice Agent

Finding the right Voice Agent!

Why do I need a Voice Agent?

The “Voice Arena” is a large competitive market place, and you will find it hard to enter without a dedicated Voice Agent. Employers, like advertising agencies, or Corporate video producers, often rely on the voice agent as a “filter”. They know that agents are bombarded by people wanting to get into the voice-over business, most of which are not talented enough or ready to break into it yet.

Clients feel more comfortable booking a voice through an agent since they know an agent would not take on any voice-over artist that wasn’t able to do the job and let their agency down.

A voice agent's job is to sift through all the voice reels that they get, choose the ones they think will make them money and then present them as professional voices to casting directors, producers, ad agencies and companies who are looking for voice artist’s for their various productions.

What do I need to get started as a Voice-Over Artist?

The first thing you will need, is a professionally produced Voice Showreel. Because you are competing with working professionals that already have a great voice Showreel, yours must sound just as professional if you are to succeed.

Agents listen to many Voice Showreels from "would be" voice artist's and make their decision to listen further within the first few seconds. To keep their attention, you must have the highest quality Voice Showreel possible, showing as many vocal deliveries in the shortest amount of time.

Once armed with this Voice Showreel, (your calling card) you have to start the process of contacting the voice agents. Now there are two schools of thought here, to phone first or to send and hope.
A good voice agency will “audition” their voices. They won't just represent anyone who sends in a voiceover showreel and most will not work with inexperienced newcomers, so you will have to show that you have had experience or some form of voice training. If they like what they hear on your CD, they will call you in for an interview. But even if they choose you, there is no guarantee that you will get regular work as a voiceover artist.

If they agree to represent you they will put extracts from your showreel on their “House Reel" or “Agency Reel” (a CD containing the voices of all the artists’ they represent). They then market this CD to producers and others who might require voice-over artists’. Even if you are not on the “house reel," because you missed the deadline for manufacturing", they will, if they have one, put you on their website.

When a call for a particular type of voice comes in, they will either send the potential client their “Agency CD”, or if the client has already heard a voice they like (hopefully yours) they will call you and send you along to the session or audition.

The agent handles the details of the booking and negotiates contracts and your fee.

How do I get a Voice Agent?

Even as an existing voice artist, it’s still difficult to get an agent. Most Agents try to keep their “crew” of voices down to a manageable size. They will also want variety among their performers, and will not represent a voice or style they already have.

Most voice agencies can be found in “Contacts” published by The Spotlight or through a search on the internet. There are even some dedicated websites (like ours) that have an online directory of them all. www.theshowreel.com

Sending out unsolicited Voice Reels, to agents is the same as a composer sending out a complete album of his or her work and expecting the publisher to stop everything and listen to all of it. Highly unlikely to happen.

You need to phone an agent before you send in your Reel. You in a sense have to be invited to send it in. It’s polite to be asked. Besides that, they are always busy, and finding time to listen to voice showreels they are not expecting or have not specificaly requested will not happen.They are just too busy negotiating contracts, booking sessions, keeping their clients happy, doing all the things that make the agency money to drop everything and llisten. So unless you are a known celebrity and they approach you, always, always phone them first and hope they invite you to send it in.

The downside to this is that your phone-call is now an audition. So plan it carefully, write down a small script, practice it and then call them. Once you get through to the agent, treat everyone who answers the phone as someone who has the power to hire you.
All the agent is thinking about is “ can I make money from this voice”?, and you have to persuade them that you can.
Also stand up while on the phone. It gives you a better energy and you will come across more professional. And remember SMILE. It will show, even down the phone.

Their three stock answers will be sorry we have someone just like you, our agency books are full, we have just finished our house CD. Ask them when it would be a good time to call again, one month or two, take their name, thank them and move on to the next agent.


The other way!

There is of course another way to potentially get an agent. Bring them work. Or put it another way, what sounds better to an agent? Another call from an unknown voice –over wanting representation.” Hi my name is so and so, you don’t know me but I really am good at voice work honestly. If I could just send you my reel …..” or “ Hi my name is so and so, I am a professional voice-over artist and have just landed the new “Butchers” Dog Food Commercial. As I am in-between representation, I was wondering if you could handle the contract and fees for me. I will of course pay you your regular commission.”… Much better.

It is of course much easier to bring a job to an agent if you are well established or indeed already working, but any job you can get yourself try and offer it to an agent. There is no guarantee that they will take you on after they handle the job for you of course, but you are in a better position than you where. Either way you will make an impression.

Your Voice Pack.

If you are lucky enough to be asked to send in your reel, here are a few tips for you. Once the agent says yes, I’m interested please send it in, ask for their name, you will need it to personally address your voice pack to them.

Mark on the outside of the envelope “AS REQUESTED” they will be more likely to put it on the “ to open” file rather than the “bin it” one.

Do not wrap it up as a present to them, hoping they will find it funny and then decide to listen to it. They won’t. – Nice idea though!

Your submission pack should include your Voice Showreel and a cover letter.

It can be frustrating to get an agent to listen to your voice showreel or take your phone calls. Follow up with weekly phone calls until you get feedback on your Reel. If they like what they hear they will call you in for an interview. They basically want to meet you and make sure you are professional and up to do the job.

"Making money does not make you professional - Being professional makes you money"!