Lessons I’ve Learnt as a Voice Actor – Reece Bridger, No Studio In Particular Ltd

Reece is a voice actor with 6 years of experience, and a writer with over twice as many years under his belt. Drawing from his experiences as a voice actor and director, he shares key strategies that VAs may use to stay afloat in a competitive industry.

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what's in this article?

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Among other things, I often serve as a voice actor for characters and interactive media; I also offer a voice casting and management service that begins with negotiations about budget and workload, and extends across the whole casting and recording process until the completion of the project (and sometimes even beyond that!)
 
The following tips have helped me on my VA journey:
 
Build a High-quality Recording Studio
 
Update your Recording Material. A decent microphone and interface are definitely paramount (I’d recommend an AT2020 and Scarlett Solo combo).
 
Floorspace over style. A lot of people don’t consider recording space until it starts becoming a problem. Be sure to prioritise floorspace over style – if properly treated, a medium-sized multi-purpose room can produce an even better sound than a tightly-restricted but dedicated space.
 
Tune In to What’s Happening in the Industry
 
Keep an ear to the ground and be ready to put yourself out there. If you’re responding to a casting call, follow the instructions carefully and consider what you might not need to send with your application.
 
Stay Enthusiastic and Have your Materials Ready
 
If you’re approaching a potential client, be sure to have your materials at the ready and make a memorable first impression. Above all, never underestimate the value of the six magic words: ‘What can I do to help?’
 
Be Confident
 
There’s any number of problems you might worry about when you approach a potential client or go for an audition, but too many people get worried and stop even before that. Just finding the confidence to go for opportunities as they arise is the first hurdle, and it proves you can overcome any of the other challenges that you might face after that. You already made it this far, so why not keep going?
 
Keep Improving
 
Find Ways to Improve the Quality of your Recordings. Never stop trying to learn and improve. Your recording quality and environment can always be made better with some tweaks and finishing touches to your setup.
 
Always Improve your Skills. Never turn down an opportunity to learn new skills or hone what you already have; additionally, everyone should strive to learn related skills to VO, like basic audio engineering, ADR practice, theatre skills and improv, and even a little practical psychology if you’re really interested.
 
Be Open to New Experiences
 
Be open to new experiences and learning from new sources; put down the anime and watch some drama films, maybe even foreign films, to pick up some new mannerisms and adapt into your own character styles. Never assume you’ve mastered anything - there’s always more to learn!

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about the contributor

​Reece is a voice actor with 6 years of experience, and a writer with over twice as many years under his belt. He has worked on a number of creative projects including books, webseries and video games, as well as a science museum in Austria. Reece is the founder and director of No Studio In Particular Ltd, a media production company that offers voice casting and management services to indie projects and teams.