The Inside Story on the Money You Can Earn in Voice-over
Comparing a career in voice-over vs film and TV is interesting. Both fall under the same media umbrella, yet the difference between the two is staggering.
I created a chart comparison of the two. It contains several categories that covers a range of factors including: time, money, and opportunity. I answered each as fairly and objectively as I can. This is all from my personal experience and perspective. Performance art is a passion, but it is also a business – show business. It’s about making the best use of your time, and making sure you fulfilled and taken care of financially.
CATEGORY: TIME
VOICE-OVER
In voice-over you are paid for your time (30min-1hr for commercials/4 hrs for animation and 1-4 hrs for narration) - you spend very little time waiting around to start working - which allows you time to audition or work on other projects all within the same day. Auditions also move very quickly and are rarely behind.
FILM AND TELEVISION
In film and television you will wait at auditions, callbacks and then when you get to set you will wait up to 80% of the day to shoot your scene(s). The amount of wait time can heavily depend on how [many scenes you're shooting. The positive thing about wait time on set is that it allows you to relax and get used to your surroundings.
CATEGORY: MONEY
VOICE-OVER
You can refer to Voice 2 for this answer but for the most part - you are paid higher in voice-over per on average than on-camera for example if you recorded a principal role on an animated series you would make about go up. $1242.60 for 4 hours work. That's In film and television you also have about $310 per hour.
There are no voice-over stars making $20 million per project (unless they are famous movie stars doing animated features) - big money in voice-over is made through high volume in the right paying job. In voice-over it's not uncommon to do 2 or even 3 jobs in one day. The opportunity to get on a network television series like Battlestar
FILM AND TELEVISION
A scale principal role in film and television with a 105% buyout pays $1300.93 for an 8 hour day. That's hour on average than on-camera - about $162.62 per hour. If you start making more than scale in on-camera then you're hourly rate will go up.
In film and television you also have the opportunity to get on a network television series like Battlestar Galactica and make $25,000 dollars per episode or you can one day become the next Tom Cruise and potentially make $20,000,000 dollars a movie. In on-camera you will never do more than one project per day (only on special occasions will this ever happen as scheduling makes it too difficult.
CATEGORY: CAREER CONTROL
VOICE-OVER
In voice-over you have the ability to generate an income from many different sources: Home Market agent, Out of town agents, On-line casting sites, In town production companies, ad agencies and video game companies. A great combination of hustle, the ability to create relationships and market yourself properly with your website and demos can definitely lead to work.
If you create a suitable place to record voice-over in your home - you instantly have a place to work from - servicing the entire planet. Studios, casting and agents are always receptive if you're good at what you do and have a great demo to represent yourself. (They will even accept you dropping off a demo.) Then it's a matter of you delivering at the audition or the booking.
FILM AND TELEVISION
In film and television you have the opportunity to better yourself all the time - in classes - theatre - and doing independent films, etc.
With a great marketing plan you can target casting directors in your home market to show them your demo reel (if you have one) to try and get seen for upcoming auditions that fit your look/type. You can also take casting director workshops to show them your acting ability in the right environment. The biggest lesson I learned in on-camera is that the one thing you can say is NO. It gives you a sense of power in what you choose to audition for - letting casting directors know that you have a good idea about what you'd like to audition for. It can be hard to generate an income if you're not being seen by your home market casting directors.
CATEGORY: OPPORTUNITY
VOICE-OVER
In voice-over, not only can you do commercials, animation, narration, promos, imaging and trailers: but you can play many different types of characters - there's also no age limit to the voices or characters that you play. Pigeonholing is almost non existent because it's all about the sound of your voice not your look.
FILM AND TELEVISION
In film and television depending on your look you can play a wide variety of characters. And you can work in Commercials, Corporate Videos, Training Videos, TV series, Films and Theatre. Depending on how good your make up artist is - this can help transform you into a number of different types of characters.
CATEGORY: GETTING INTO THE BUSINESS
VOICE-OVER
It can be difficult to be successful in voice-over at first - there are many different things to learn even if you have a great demo, an agent and responsive casting/studios bringing you in. Referring to Voice 1 - you are the lead voice right from the start - so you don't have the luxury of an easy learning curve - you are expected to be as good as the people that are already working in the business when you enter.
FILM AND TELEVISION
In film and television - you can literally walk off the street - crash a commercial audition and 3 days [later you're shooting a commercial that pays $5,000 - $10,000 dollars. You can piece meal your career together - by easing your way into it. You can do a series of commercials, followed by one-liners on TV series, followed by principal roles - and then guest stars and leads in movies. You have the luxury of learning as you go.
CATEGORY: PRACTICE
VOICE-OVER
In voice-over for relatively little expense you can set up your own home studio - acquire scripts from the internet and you can practice your commercial reads, animated characters and narration all by yourself.
FILM AND TELEVISION
In film and television - you can practice monologues on your own and your own dialogue - but it's difficult to workout a 2 handed scene by yourself.
CATEGORY: LENGTH OF CAREER
VOICE-OVER
In voice-over there is no reason why you can't perform in front of a microphone until you're well into your 80's. There are lots of people doing it. It really comes down to your own vitality for what you'll be capable of performing.
FILM AND TELEVISION
In film and television there is no reason why you can't act and play parts until you're well into your 80's. There are lots of people doing it. It really comes down to your own vitality for what you'll be capable of performing.
CATEGORY: BEING FAMOUS
VOICE-OVER
If you got into voice-over to become famous - so you can be recognized when you walk down the street - don't count on it. There are very few voice-over talents that get recognized by their look - they will more often get recognized for their voice. Most voice talents enjoy this anonymity.
FILM AND TELEVISION
If you want to become famous - so you can be recognized while you walk down the street - or if you desire to be pictured in magazines at movie premiere's - or on talk shows chatting it up with David Letterman - the film and television business is one business where this can happen..
That wraps up the comparisons. As I said before this is from my own experience, and I’ve found success and enjoyment in both avenues. You can take lessons from voice-over and apply them on camera, and that works both ways. Whatever your preference is, just remember the key is to always get better, it’s worked for me!
Until next time – stay On The Mic.
I’ll see you in class.