Auditioning for voice over jobs can be daunting. Mission Audition can help! In this podcast, the team at Voices.com exposes what exactly makes a good (and not so good) voice over audition. In each episode, voice talent on Voices.com audition for a specific category of voice over job that we’ve posted, and a selection of reads are critiqued before the job is actually awarded! Packed with highlights of problem areas, and tips for solving them, Mission Audition will expand your knowledge of the way that clients hire, common pitfalls to avoid, and the extra touches you can add to ensure your auditions have the best chance of being the one that impresses the client. Our mission is to help you audition better!
AI, Accents, and Your Competitive Edge with Toby Ricketts
Join Vanessa, Tara, and accent connoisseur Toby Ricketts on this riveting episode of Mission Audition. We hold nothing back in this episode exploring AI voices, the ethics of AI, and how having a toolkit of accents will boost your your voice over journey. Every 2nd brief that comes along now is asking for ‘real people’, […]
1/22/2024 • 0
Becoming a Utility Actor with Nicki Burke
Join our special guest voice over coach Nicki Burke with Vanessa and Tara on this month’s Mission Audition. On this episode we dive into what clients want, archetypes of animation, and how to utilize your unique acting skills to become a utility actor. This episode is chock-full of new and useful voice acting insights and […]
11/24/2023 • 0
Hiting the Character Target with Bertrand Ruffieux
What does voice over and slack lining have in common? Let Bertrand Ruffieux tell you all about it. Bertrand explores the importance of connecting with oneself, pacing, and editing in this episode of Voice Over Experts. You won’t want to miss it! Contact Bertrand: INFO@BERTRANDRUFFIEUX.COM More from Voices:https://www.voices.com/blog/how-do-you-get-into-character/https://www.voices.com/blog/shotgun-microphones/
10/26/2023 • 0
The Success is in the Tagline with Luis E. Garcia
Join this month’s special guest Luis E. Garcia, Tara, and Vanessa on another riveting episode of Mission Audition. Luis talks shop on how to upgrade your studio, deliver quality audio, and the importance of taglines in voice over advertisements. You won’t want to miss the advice from this month’s VO pro Luis E. Garcia! More […]
9/21/2023 • 0
Honest Industry Insights with Jordan Hunter Jones
Strap in your seatbelts everyone, because this episode is a ride! Our hosts Vanessa and Tara invite coach Jordan Hunter Jones to deliver some voice over truth on this month’s auditions. We hear some very competitive auditions, and some not so much. This month’s coach Jordan is here to deliver the honest truth that voice […]
8/31/2023 • 0
Acting Your Way Into a Soft Sell with Sarah Troyer
Do you know what the difference between a hard and soft sell is? How about navigating challenging scripts for small business clients? Join Vanessa, Tara, and our special guest voice coach Sarah Troyer on this episode of Mission Audition, where we answer those questions and more! More about Sarah: https://sarahtroyer.com/ Spice up your auditions: https://www.voices.com/blog/art-of-audition/ […]
7/27/2023 • 0
A Behind the Scenes Look Into Casting with David Goldberg
Have you ever wondered who is listening to your auditions? What about how the does and dont’s of a 2 take audition? Our coach for this month David Goldberg has the all those answers and more! Plus, David has a bonus homework assignment for all voice actors that will simulate a real life casting scenario. […]
6/29/2023 • 0
Mastering the Mental Game of Voice Acting with Megan Fahlenbock
Join us in this episode of Mission Audition as we dive into a candid conversation, Megan shares invaluable insights and advice for aspiring voice actors looking to succeed in the industry. Megan’s sports background brings a unique perspective to the mental game of voice acting, emphasizing the significance of clarity, script analysis, and boosting your […]
5/25/2023 • 0
The Script is the Roadmap with Dan Friedman
Get ready for an exciting episode of Mission Audition featuring the veteran voice over coach and live sound engineer, Dan Friedman! In this episode, Dan discusses the importance of balance in one’s voice over regime – drawing from his latest book “Zen and the Art of Voiceover”. Discover how understanding your emotions can enhance your […]
4/28/2023 • 0
Align Your Voice and Find Your Power with Aurelia Michael
Join professional voice actor and life coach Aurelia Michael and the Voices crew as they listen to and critique voice over auditions. Aurelia offers her positive mindset, life tips, and suggests that auditioning for absolutely everything might not actually be the path to success. In this episode, Aurelia discusses the importance of vocal alignment in […]
3/30/2023 • 0
Breaking Down the Script with Jesse Adam
Join seasoned voice actor Jesse Adam for this month’s Mission Audition. In this episode, Jesse breaks down exactly how to approach a script. Starting with problem, solution, and finally: call to action. Jesse also goes into detail on other snags that might stop voice actors from achieving success in the voice over industry. Jesse offers […]
2/22/2023 • 0
Stand Out in Complex Auditions with Anthony Pica
Join Anthony Pica and the Voices crew on this episode of Mission Audition. Anthony emphasizes the importance of bringing one’s unique perspective and interpretation to the project, especially when faced with something that doesn’t align with one’s usual style. Anthony also mentions the importance of physical voice acting, and creating your own characters or archetypes […]
1/26/2023 • 0
A Year of Auditions and Top Voice Over Tips of 2022
On this special episode, we explore Mission Audition’s editor and producer Geoff Bremner’s top moments of the year. We will learn everything voice over – from audio editing and mixing to conversational reads, to mindset. Join eleven hand-picked voice over industry masters on this must-listen episode of Mission Audition. This year’s coaches: Tommy GriffithsRachel AlenaBruce […]
12/22/2022 • 0
Voice Over Play by Play with Melissa Moats
On this episode, seasoned voice actress Melissa “Lady Luck” Moats gives honest and detailed critique line by line. She covers it all: how to not sound too much like an announcer, pacing, which parts of each audition she loved, and which parts could use some improvement. Join Evan, Vanessa and Melissa on another fun episode […]
11/24/2022 • 0
Mastering Gaming and Animation Voice Acting with Shelly Shenoy
Join Shelly, Evan, and Vanessa on a journey into the nuances of becoming a successful Game and Animation Voice Actor. Shelly talks about how to stand out and how to identify important notes to hit in a script, even when they are unwritten. This episode is a must listen if you think you have the […]
10/27/2022 • 0
Nailing the Narration with Anthony Reece
Join Anthony Reece to learn how to craft an outstanding narration read. In this episode, you’ll learn everything you need to mark up your script and show competence with confidence! Anthony shares his invaluable insights and experiences on nailing the narration, offering a wealth of knowledge for aspiring voice actors. From mastering vocal techniques to […]
9/28/2022 • 0
Pacing, Authenticity, and Getting Out of Slumps with Gina Scarpa
Join Gina, Kyle, and Vanessa on a voice over journey critiquing this month’s audition submissions. In this episode, they find that ‘just right’ pacing, bringing personal flair to your read. Gina delves into the importance of finding your unique voice and maintaining authenticity in your performances, emphasizing the power of connection with your audience. Gina […]
8/31/2022 • 0
It’s All About Belief with Bill DeWees
On Today’s episode of Mission Audition, we are joined by Talent and Voice Coach Bill DeWees. Bill hones in on how to approach a piece of copy and how to sound more natural and genuine. We discuss the small variations that make all the difference in today’s Voice Over market. Find Bill: https://voiceovertrainingnow.com/votn-lp Home
7/27/2022 • 0
Becoming a Performer with Kim Handysides
On today’s episode of Mission Audition, we are joined by talent and voice coach Kim Handysides to discuss the Performer’s Mindset of engaging with a script in a natural way. From developing your unique voice to honing your acting skills, Kim provides invaluable insights and practical tips for aspiring voice actors. She delves into the […]
6/29/2022 • 0
Audio Production 101 with Bradford Hastings
On today’s episode of Mission Audition, we are joined by Bradford Hasting of HastingsVO, to discuss the do’s and don’ts of audio production. Bradford is dialing in on how to make your audio sound more natural and polished rather than overly processed, which is vital in today’s voice over market. With his help, we hope that you will […]
5/31/2022 • 0
How to Master the Modern Conversational Read with Andrea Collins
We’re talking about the conversation read. Start the process by thinking about how you would talk to a friend in a coffee shop. Today on Mission Audition, we welcome Andrea Collins. Andrea is an award-winning voiceover artist working with some of the largest brands in the world like Google, Facebook, Dove, Amazon, Spotify, iHeartRadio, People, […]
4/28/2022 • 0
How to Nail an Audition with Bruce Kronenberg
Our aim for this episode is to provide you with everything you need to know to nail a voice over audition! Joining us to share his expertise is professional voice over instructor, Bruce Kronenberg. Bruce has had an impressive 25-year voice over career working with some of the world’s biggest brands and has been coaching […]
3/25/2022 • 0
Finding Your Niche with Rachel Alena
Finding your niche in voice over acting can be a challenge, and it’s not always what you expect it to be. Talking to us today about how she found her niche is Rachel Alena, voice over talent, coach, singer, songwriter, and onscreen actor. Rachel’s voice over career has spanned 20 years, and she brings a […]
3/15/2022 • 0
Connecting from the Heart with Tommy Griffiths
One of the most important aspects of voice acting is the ability to convey genuine emotion and appropriate levels of enthusiasm about the subject. Here on the show today to tease out some of the nuances to these ideas is Tommy Griffiths, a veteran from the voice over profession, and one of our most experienced […]
2/10/2022 • 0
Narrating Children’s Audiobooks with Joe Loesch
The way that voice actors record audiobooks has evolved over the years. When this episode’s guest first launched his career in voice over, everybody recorded from a studio while receiving live direction. Now, with decades of experience under his belt and a slew of awards to his name, our guest explains how home recording has […]
8/28/2020 • 46 minutes, 50 seconds
Performing Live Announcements with Melissa Moats
As a voice actor hailing from the convention capital of the United States, Melissa Moats has had the chance to rack up a lot of experience performing live announcements. While live events may have temporarily been put on hold, there are still plenty of opportunities to perform virtual live announcements: a genre of voice over […]
8/11/2020 • 37 minutes, 26 seconds
Finding Your Authentic Voice with Brian McKeever
Today’s listeners can sniff out an inauthentic voice from a mile away. Whether it’s a regional accent or a voice’s age, authenticity in a read will determine whether a vocal performance really sells an audience or just falls flat. In this week’s episode, Stephanie links up with voice actor and coach Brian McKeever to listen […]
7/16/2020 • 39 minutes, 56 seconds
Setting Yourself Apart with Amanda Sellers & Mike Schurko
Success in voice acting is all about setting yourself apart—whether it’s your audition standing out from other submissions, or your masterful delivery that billboards the name of a brand to distinguish it from the rest of the copy in a script. To produce more winning auditions, you have to learn how to juggle the client’s […]
6/26/2020 • 43 minutes, 1 second
Contemporary Car Commercials with Ron Allan
Automotive spots for radio and TV are a classic genre of voice over job. But as a voice actor performing a car commercial read today, how do you make a traditional topic fresh, and how can you use your voice to hone in on the specific target market the company aims to resonate with? In […]
6/11/2020 • 43 minutes, 18 seconds
Sounding Relatable with Amie Breedlove
Listeners often gravitate toward voices that they can form a connection with. That’s why more and more voice over casting directors are on the lookout for relatable reads. But sounding relatable to your audience doesn’t always come naturally: it takes a deliberate mix of enthusiasm, cool composure, and some careful script analysis.  Who better, then, […]
5/28/2020 • 35 minutes, 33 seconds
Nailing Your Live Directed Session with Toby Ricketts
Thanks to technology, connecting with clients for a live directed session has never been easier—even when you’re located halfway across the globe from one another. Near, far, or wherever you are, a directed session’s success relies on how prepared you are to juggle various technologies while following remote recording etiquette. That’s why Stephanie was over […]
5/7/2020 • 53 minutes, 54 seconds
The Key to a Natural Voice Over Performance with Bradford Hastings
It seems like everyone is looking for a voice that is authentic and believable, but what does that actually sound like – and how do you nail it in your voice over performance? Voice actor and coach Bradford Hastings joins Stephanie and Julianna to break down this ambiguous but incredibly important vocal quality. Every voice […]
3/12/2020 • 45 minutes, 42 seconds
Mission Audition Live: Voice Over Client Casting Decisions Explained
Recorded live in New York City, in this episode of Mission Audition, Stephanie and Julianna sit down with Dale LaRue, Strategy Director at RAIN. Together, they explore how voice over clients make casting decisions. Learn about clients’ top considerations, who is involved in casting decisions, how heavily the ‘right’ voice over is weighed, and get […]
11/29/2019 • 30 minutes, 50 seconds
Mission Audition Live: Commercial Reads with John Kubin
In this episode, learn how to hone in on the best voice over audition opportunities by getting to know your voice, finding your niche, and getting strategic about the time you take to audition. Voice Over Artist, John Kubin, joins co-hosts Stephanie and Julianna for a special live recording of the podcast at VoiceWorld Los […]
11/18/2019 • 40 minutes, 16 seconds
Common Killers of the Conversational Read with Andrea Collins
More and more, we see marketers, casting directors, and big brands (like WeWork, AirBnB, and Uber) moving towards truly real, conversational reads. But how do you sound like you’re not reading when you’re reading? In this episode, you’ll learn what uber successful voice over actress and coach, Andrea Collins does to book commercial jobs (add […]
11/1/2019 • 37 minutes, 45 seconds
Mission Audition Live: Commercial Reads with Mary Van De Velde
Knowing how to connect with your audience is a crucial element of working in the voice over industry – a skill nobody would advocate more than this week’s guest, Mary Van De Velde. A seasoned professional who has spent years as a radio traffic and news reporter for WGN-AM Chicago, Mary joined co-hosts Stephanie and […]
10/18/2019 • 41 minutes, 22 seconds
Mission Audition Live: Creating Character Voices with Ron Rubin
On this episode, co-hosts Stephanie and Julianna are joined by voice over animation star and fellow Canadian, Ron Rubin, live in Toronto at VoiceWorld (hosted by Voices.com). Listen in to hear Ron deliver feedback, masterclass style, and give his personal tips and tricks on getting into character, bringing the script to life, leveraging the back […]
10/3/2019 • 50 minutes, 4 seconds
Finding and Understanding Your Voice with Speech Language Pathologist, Tricia Veldman
How well do you know your own voice? As a voice actor, understanding your instrument is key to unlocking boundless opportunities. In this episode of Mission Audition, co-hosts Stephanie and Julianna are joined by Speech Language Pathologist, Tricia Veldman. Together, they go deep into the mechanics of speech, and walk you through how to speak […]
9/6/2019 • 44 minutes, 49 seconds
More than Child’s Play: Inside the World of Child Voice Over with Donovan Weyland
Voice acting offers a unique career path, where your chronological age doesn’t necessarily have to reflect your voice age, or the age-range of the work you take on. Audio Engineer, Producer and Coach, Donovan Weyland joins Stephanie and Julianna in the studio, where they discuss the unique attributes of child voices, how to tell authentic […]
8/23/2019 • 49 minutes, 35 seconds
How to Spot (and Do) Authentic Australian Accents with Toby Ricketts
Australian accents are captivating, yet challenging. Many North American actors think they can do an Aussie accent, but often miss the mark. What does it take to do it right? Special guest Toby Ricketts, a New Zealand-based voice actor and voice over coach, has mastered various Australian accents and knows how to spot the real […]
8/6/2019 • 48 minutes, 48 seconds
Dissecting Medical VO Auditions with Kim Handysides
Medical narration voice over is known for being both lucrative and challenging, as it is fraught with hard-to-pronounce words and jargon. On this episode of Mission Audition, listen in as Stephanie, Julianna and special guest, Voice Actor and Coach Kim Handysides, put these medical narration voice over auditions under the microscope and prescribe advice on: […]
7/18/2019 • 43 minutes, 1 second
Don’t Phone it in! Winning Voicemail VO Auditions Explained Ft. Shelley Cohen
Think commercial work is the only way to represent a brand with your voice? Think again! Voicemail and telephony voice over plays a crucial role in representing a brand’s literal voice, and a key touch point with hundreds, if not thousands of customers each year. In this episode of Mission Audition, Stephanie and Julianna are […]
7/8/2019 • 0
Announcers with Oomph: Exploring Male Voiced Radio Promos with Marc Preston
The rumours of the ‘death of radio’ have been greatly exaggerated. Radio is, in fact, booming. Statistics show that in the United States, weekly radio reach stood at 89.9 percent of the population in 2018. Within the demographic of men aged 18 years or older alone, the average listener consumes 14 hours and 35 minutes […]
6/20/2019 • 0
Alexa, Help Me Land More Voice Over Jobs
As voice technology proliferates, the need for human voice over is also increasing. Alexa Skills (apps for Amazon’s voice activated Alexa device) offer an opportunity for exciting voice over jobs, including those with major brands and fast-moving tech startups, as they develop and release interactive apps, games, and more. Learn what it takes to become […]
6/6/2019 • 33 minutes, 31 seconds
Audiobook Narration with Ilyana Kadushin
Want to narrate audiobooks? Award-winning narrator, Ilyana Kadushin shares insights and tips on audiobook narration, specifically for the genre of Children’s Fantasy. Hear male and female narrators read excerpts from George MacDonald’s classic, The Princess and the Goblin. Along the way, you’ll learn about the importance of connecting to a genre as a narrator, what […]
5/23/2019 • 44 minutes, 25 seconds
7 Audio Mistakes in Voice Over Recordings (and How to Fix Them) Part 2
In this second half of our two part episode, we continue to explore some of the most common audio recording issues that voice actors face. Just like Part 1, Host Stephanie and Co-Host Julianna, are joined by Voices.com Talent Success Specialist, Cameron Pocock, who provides expert insights and actionable tips on how to make your […]
5/9/2019 • 25 minutes, 15 seconds
7 Audio Mistakes in Voice Over Recordings (and How to Fix Them) Part 1
Audio quality matters! In this episode of Mission Audition, you’ll learn how to quickly spot and resolve audio issues that commonly plague voice over recordings. Borrow the golden ears of Voices.com Talent Success Specialist, Cameron Pocock, in this delightfully funny episode, rich with actionable tips for you to try in your own home studio. This […]
4/25/2019 • 21 minutes, 22 seconds
Tips to Booking Commercial Retail Voice Over Jobs
Yes, there IS a voice over project for every voice. However, the difference between voice over audition success and failure often rests on your ability to bring your individual style to the script. But how? In this episode we review commercial voice over auditions for the retail industry. Learn about maximizing the potential of your […]
3/28/2019 • 44 minutes, 29 seconds
Landing Commercial Travel Voice Over Jobs with Shelly Shenoy
Ever dream of booking your voice for the world’s top brands? Then you’d better brush up on your technique for commercial voice over. In this episode, Stephanie is graced by the presence of vocal coach Shelly Shenoy. Together, they review auditions for a travel commercial spot, and Shenoy provides insights on style, authenticity, background music, […]
3/28/2019 • 40 minutes, 36 seconds
Engaging Voice Over Auditions for Elearning
The elearning industry is booming, especially when it comes to voice over job opportunities! This exciting category of voice over work covers online courses, internal training, explainer videos, safety training and much more. Listen in as Stephanie and Julianna from Voices.com are joined by professional voice over coach, Rachel Alena. Together they dissect real elearning […]
