Tips and Tricks for your Voice Acting Journey – Joshua Passmore, Starman Studios

​Joshua Passmore, owner of Starman Studios, produces English dubs for animations, films, and video games from all over the world. He shares his experience about getting started as a voice actor, booking jobs, and chasing your dreams in a dynamic industry.

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What's in this article?

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Experience with running an studio

What's the hardest part of running your studio, and how do you overcome this challenge?

I found it difficult to keep a consistent flow of work. COVID-19 wreaked havoc in many industries, including the entertainment industry. We spent countless hours to keep projects coming in to help the VA community have a somewhat steady stream of income.

A big lesson I’ve learned is: being in talks with companies is hopeful; nothing is set in stone until a contract is signed. We must make sure that clear terms are established for our roles and responsibilities, compensation, deadlines, and other important information that is critical to a project’s success.

What do you like best about running Starman Studios, and why?

There are so many fun and exciting aspects to running a studio that narrowing it all into a singular answer is difficult. StarMan has given us the ability to help the community, and our amazing team is capable of accomplishing not only our own dreams but the dreams of others. It definitely a labor of love, but this community is worth it. Anyone who’s on the team believes in the studio wholeheartedly.

What's the greatest challenge of directing a project, and how do you overcome it?

There are a few major challenges that has happened recently:

• Script errors or time code issues. If there’s a human error in the chain of a project, it creates a domino effect and more time has to be taken to rectify it.


• Technical errors. This is a recent challenge, but with remote talent there is a standard program called ‘Source Connect’. It’s a complicated software solution that has many ways of failing if a single thing goes wrong. It’s absolutely maddening during a session. We have had some amazing reads just to have Source Connect mess up on the talents side and make us miss out on a really amazing take. Not that we don’t get it but usually that first one has such amazing energy to it.

Getting yourself Ready for your VA Journey – Building a Home Studio

My first home setup was on the affordable side and I always recommend that for aspiring voice actors till they start booking constant work to see if this is an industry they want to pursue, and if they want to devote themselves to before spending lot of money on more expensive equipment.

• Recording Material. The AKG p220 mic was really good for me alongside the Steinberg UR 12 interface. As for recording software, ‘Adobe Audition’ was what I used.
  
  
• Makeshift Recording Booth. I would suggest always using a closet as a booth till you have funds to build a makeshift one or order an isolation booth. You can build these out of double layered sheet rock in the corner or a room or even build a quilt fort. My first booth was just a quilt nailed to the roof till I built my own isolation booth out of plywood.

Finding Clients

Once you’ve gathered your gear, there are several ways you can start building a list of clients or finding jobs:

• Move to a city that has lots of opportunities and start getting to know the voice over scene in your area. Some directors prefer their actors to live in their areas, or to be close to their offices for in-person recordings.


• Take classes with casting directors who may potentially remember you for work. Sometimes, the best chance of landing a role is through a referral.


• Submit a professional demo reel to studios and agencies that take them. These organisations definitely have a big part to play in finding roles for voice actors. Not only may they introduce voice actors to their extensive network of contacts, but an introduction from them can often convince a client to hire a voice actor.


• Look to online sources like voices123.com if you want to do the pay to play services online.

Dealing with Rejection

The first thing to know as a voice actor is that you’re going to get a lot of rejection before someone takes a chance on you.
 
I’ve submitted audition after audition and sometimes got nowhere. You must have faith in yourself, a great support system and know that you have to work hard and keep training till you start booking on the regular. As the saying goes voice acting is 99 ‘no’s’ before you get 1 yes and it’s our job to audition regularly.

More Useful Tips for Aspiring Voice Actors/Directors

​What are the most important traits that a VA can have when working for your studio?

Professionalism, kindness, and humbleness. Coming in with a good attitude and just being a nice person can get you so much further in this industry than being hard to work with or having a bad reputation. Toxicity is a trait that we don't tolerate and only hinders your career in the long term.

What advice can you give to VAs who hope to land gigs in a competitive media industry?

Tip 1: Be open to learning

​It's easy to tell someone to work hard, and it's true. Take classes. Take as many as you can. Learning and growing is vital to your success. If you're unable to, practice reading scripts or plays. First comes the acting. Then comes the voice.

Tip 2: Be resilient

My teacher taught me to always audition for everything you can get your hands on. You will absolutely get 99 no's before you get that 1 yes. It’s important to not get discouraged and keep fighting for this career if you really want it.

Tip 3: Know why you’re in it

Don’t come into this industry thinking you’re going to be famous it doesn’t happen that way for everyone. The job itself is really rewarding. Every role, every character you voice has the potential to change someone’s life. When I was a kid, cartoon characters were my friends sometimes my only friends and without them, I would have been super lonely. I had the opportunity to actually tell some of these actors what they meant to me. I could see them fighting tears back because when they got into the industry there was no being famous for this job. No one knew who you were.

​To everyone reading...I believe in you and hope you all accomplish your dreams. Remember, this community can be beautiful and can help you though even the darkest of times.

Just remember the golden rule: Keep Moving Forward!

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About the Contributor

​​Joshua Passmore is a Voice & Film actor from Longview, Texas. He decided to begin his on camera career and was cast in The Runners as Xavier, and has since been cast in several other films. Anime and gaming fans can catch Joshua in One Piece, Black Clover, Attack on Titan, Ace Attorney, Overlord III, and Fairy Tale, as well as the game Anima: Gate of Memories, (available on Steam, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch), and many more titles.
 
In addition to his voice work and acting, Joshua also owns Starman Studios, producing English dubs for animations, films, and video games from all over the world, such as the films Divine Fury and The First King: Birth of an Empire. They also recently recorded and produced a music album, Phase by the talented Christie Jade, available on Apple Music and Spotify. Starman Studios also offers voice acting, engineering, and production classes and workshops.