Question about voice acting

[AsianBlossom]

Okay, I wasn't sure where to put this, so I figured in the "General Topics" section. My brother and I would like to become voice actors and were wondering if anyone on here had any tips on how to get into that. Since there was a VA on here once I thought I might as well ask. Any help at all is appreciated. Thanks!

[Fish and Chips]

Your best strategic step would probably be to move. If you're talking about for Anime, most voice work is performed in California and Texas, maybe in New York, where the distribution companies are based. They're not going to feel like flying you in for a test run, so either be prepared for a long commute or live conveniently near to the recording studio.

[AsianBlossom]

How about Orlando? Anything near there?

[The Doctor]

I haven't heard of anything...yet. However, I have a friend who I can hook you up with as far as email goes.

His goal is voice acting too and he knows alot about how to get in to the industry. Some of his close friends are professional voice actors who've done alot of anime. He even met the guy who played Mugen (Samurai Champloo), Makoto Shishio (Rurouni Kenshin) and Spike Spiegal (Cowboy Bebop).

[Dunedan]

You might have to work your way up to anime though... I would suggest trying to get connections to local animators and filmmakers. Having your name on the credits and the experience alone in some smaller films would be helpful to you.

[ChristianKitsune]

Okay, Last year a very famouse Anime Voice actress came to an anime convention I attended... She was actually ADV's first VA, Tiffany Grant.

She told a group of us that in order to get into anime Voice acting, you need to do a few things:

1. TAKE CLASSES ON ACTING!- She said that the most important thing is to know how to act, take classes in high school and even college classes on it.
2. You will need to move to Houston, Texes or Fortworth, or even New York. She said that this is pretty much where you need to be to get anything. Houston is whwere ADV is located and Fort Worth is where Funimation is located- these are two very prestigious anime dubbing places.
3. You will also need to audition, of course. ^_^
4. Anime Voice acting won't necassarily pay the bills... you might consider other things like Theater, and even annoying commercials, XD

Hope that helps!

[The Doctor]

One thing my friend told me is that if you live in a city where there's voice acting, look for the ones that are having open auditions and go there.

They'll be for bit parts, but it's better than nothing.

[Raiden no Kishi]

Go to YouTube and find recordings of voice actor panels [I'd suggest starting with some of Vic Mignogna's panels], as this is a question they are asked constantly. Plus, you'll get some entertainment out of it too. [the phrase "Colonel Mustang is dead sexy" comes to mind . . .]

.rai//

[Denimcat]

They have voice acting workshops at pretty much every anime convention, usually led by someone already in the industry. Go there.

[AsianBlossom]

Thanks everyone! I'll definitely look into those college acting classes, and see if I can do anything about the conventions (I think there's going to be one nearby in April or something...).

[mitsuki lover]

Vancouver,B.C. would be another place for VAs since Ocean Studios is located their and they do work for such Viz licenses as Inuyasha,Zatch Bell,etc.

You will have to take drama in college so pick a school that has a good drama department.

Also I suggest vocal lessons and that you join a choir as that expierence would help with voice training.

And have a plan B and C ready.Figure out what type of non-acting jobs you would like to have well you are working your way through acting.
Actors cannot survive on acting alone until they 'Make It' and generally this takes several years,15 or so years would be a optimistic assessment for the normal
VA.

So figure out what else you want to do that and have that as a minor.

Also practice practice and practice.Read anything you can into a tape recorder.
It will help you to perfect your style and voice.

Finally be ready to get rejected and for total failure.
Being an actor of any type may seem glamorous but remember for every successful actor or actress there are 100s of wannabes waiting tables or washing dishes.

[KhakiBlueSocks]

Okay, Last year a very famouse Anime Voice actress came to an anime convention I attended... She was actually ADV's first VA, Tiffany Grant.

Yeah...being married to Matt Greenfield doesn't have ANY bearing on that at all... ]
[size=134]
Point being--it's all about who you know in the business. I recommend putting your name out there as much as you can.

[mitsuki lover]

A lot of the time it is.

But seriously take my advice and have a good minor in something other than acting that will help you land a good career if you can't get into
Voice Acting.
The major problem is that so many people aren't willing for the long
haul it takes to become a success.

Also a lot of Voice work will be simply boring mundane stuff.If you want to pay the bills with Voice work you will have to find out that sooner or later
it's not all anime and cartoons.A lot of the times it will be reading for cat and dog food commercials and other unexciting things like that.

[AsianBlossom]

I realize that; voice acting is more of a fun side job I'd like to have...more of a dream job actually. I have some back-up ideas, though.

[KhakiBlueSocks]

Oh yeah, it would also help if you had some singing experience. Many great V/A's out there have had some sort of singing in their background, and you'll never know what a particular role would require you to do.

Prime example: Nerima Daikon Brothers--a MUSICAL anime, required it's three main characters to break into song at a moment's notice!

[MyrrhLynn]

I'd like to suggest you check out http://voiceactingalliance.com/board/ (Voice Acting Alliance) they are all non professional voice actors on there so don't expect any job offers. But they are always looking for people for projects, so it would be a good and fun way to get some practice (especially with lip syncing). There are some people on there who are EXTREMELY talented (and some that really aren't :\ ) but it would be a really fun way to get some anime related experience in.

Also it will allow you to see if you actually like it. People come on there all the time and are like "oh I love voice acting I'm going to do it for a career!!!!111" but then after they get asked to redo their lines 5 times they decide it is too much work and leave to never come back. Not that I'm saying you're like that though...

[AsianBlossom]

Cool! I'll definitely have to look into that.

[Etoh*the*Greato]

Something you'll want to also keep in mind. I read this in an interview with the lady who originally did Rei's voice in the first american release of Eva. She did an article on getting in to voice acting (There was a very long time where I wanted to do so myeslf ^-^) and she said that almost no one makes their main pay off of it. It's going to have to be a side job. If you want it to be your main job expect to be doing ALOT of commercial voiceovers. Don't be snobby like a lot of people are and say you're only going to do anime or cartoons in general. Unless you make it huge you won't have that luxury.

[AsianBlossom]

Thanks.

BTW, I checked out the board and got a log-in...now all I have to do is wait and see if I get the part I just auditioned for!