Voicebank’s Weekly Voice Over Question: What Was Your First Voice Over Job Experience Like?

August 22, 2008 by: Tracy Pattin

We all have one. A “first”. And for voice actors just beginning, you’ll have your first too. How did you get the job? What was it like? Looking forward to hearing from you. Please limit your comments to a paragraph (approx. 100 words). -Tracy Pattin



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Comments

9 Responses to “Voicebank’s Weekly Voice Over Question: What Was Your First Voice Over Job Experience Like?”
  1. Bobbin Beam says:
    August 26, 2008 at 9:24 am

    I was a senior in high school in 1970. I made a demo and took it in to the local radio station program director. He played it and said, “You’re hired.” I was one of the first women heard on-air at a Milwaukee rock station. It was the beginning of a professional career behind the microphone that easily and quickly evolved into becoming a full time voice actress. I was and still am on “Cloud 9″ every day I work!

  2. Tracy Pattin says:
    August 27, 2008 at 8:40 am

    Thanks Bobbin!
    Great story.
    Tracy

  3. Bob Souer says:
    August 29, 2008 at 9:56 pm

    Tracy,

    My first voiceover job was narrating a multi-media marketing presentation for publishing company they were going to feature at their booth at a trade convention. It was 1974.

    I got the job, mostly, because my fiance’ worked for that publishing company, they didn’t have much of a budget for the voiceover and she suggested that I “had a nice voice” and would be willing to work for what they could afford. I was an impoverished college student at the time and was very grateful for the work.

    The money I earned from that job paid for my wife’s engagement and wedding rings. We were married about 9 months later.

    Be well,
    Bob

  4. Peter O'Connell says:
    August 31, 2008 at 4:58 am

    Hi Tracy:

    I assume you mean the first paid gig outside of radio production which for me was just after college. I was hired to do an radio imaging project for St. Lawrence University’s KSLU radio station. Did the job and they paid their bills. Awesome.

    Best always,
    - Peter

  5. Tracy Pattin says:
    August 31, 2008 at 10:33 am

    Thanks Peter! Seems like radio is a good segue for voice over.

  6. TJ Jones says:
    September 6, 2008 at 4:34 pm

    My first gig was doing imaging for AFAN 104.5, McMurdo, Antarctica. And yes, I was there. And yes, it was, as we liked to say down on the ice, “butt-ripping cold”.

    The first big gig was the Audio Tour for the Rose Parade.

  7. Tracy Pattin says:
    September 9, 2008 at 6:45 pm

    Thanks for your comment TJ-
    Interesting trend here. Seems many were doing imaging in radio before getting the first big gig!

  8. Arlene Kahn says:
    September 19, 2008 at 8:59 am

    I actually got my first paying gig after sending my headshot to a production company. The producer called to ask if I did voiceover as well, had me read over the phone and I booked the job. The spot ran on Chicago’s NBC station for a short period of time.

  9. Lance Blair says:
    August 11, 2009 at 9:14 pm

    I came up as an audio engineer recording vo for crameronline.com in Boston, and did a lot of in-house work for them as a talent since the clients liked my scratch tracks. Just before I left to go freelance I did my first paid gig through them. I had a great going away party at work and the next morning I remember stumbling to my local pizza joint, where I saw my spot on the TV above the counter. It was all good.

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