The Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA cover much of the major narrator work in the industry. In addition, you’ll find local and regional voiceover jobs that are not union. The real advantage of working union is that you’ll receive the protection of the unions and be able to get higher wages for your voice work. In almost every case, union work comes with better wages than nonunion work. Keep in mind, however, that once you join a voiceover union you will not be able to work nonunion for most voiceover jobs. Joining AFTRA merely entails paying your fee and signing some papers. SAG tends to be a bit harder, requiring that you actually book a SAG job first before getting into the union. While you’re waiting to join a union, you’ll still be able to work nonunion jobs, which will help you build your voiceover demo reel. If you’re looking to get agent representation for voiceover, keep in mind that they will likely want you to be a union member.
Switching to Voice over Acting
Voice over acting has many advantages over regular acting. Let me count the ways. First off, you do not have to move to become a voice over actor. Second, and most importantly, voiceover casting often only entails you recording your voice and sending it to a voice over company. That way someone else can do the auditioning for you. It is a lot less hassle and effort. All you will need is something to record your voice. There are some things you have to know, however. You will need a vivid and overpowering imagination to be a successful voice over actor. Unlike regular acting, you will not have another actor to act off of. All of your emotion and feeling will have to be conveyed through your voice. For some actors, this can be a very difficult thing to do. For others, it can be difficult to really get into the shoes of someone else.