Description
How many times have you heard a voice in a radio spot, jingle or advertisement and felt that the person was virtually in front of you? Chances are, very often. Today, with the explosion of media and its myriad forms, voice-over is being considered as a lucrative career option. A voice-over artiste narrates documentaries, corporate videos — from product use to joint venture presentations, from safety videos to cell phone prompts and TV serial intros and recaps and radio commercials.
Requirements
There’s a one-word answer — audition. Auditions are a great leveller. They’ll make you decide whether you belong to this industry or not. Simply put, being a voice artiste means converting the written word to audio. You just need to sit in front of a microphone, say some words and get an enviable remuneration. And the fame is a welcome bonus!
Job Prospects
For those who are thinking of a career in voice recordings, however, the work space is expanding. In recent times, the entertainment industry has grown and matured enough to attract serious attention. One can also go for voice acting and radio jockeying. If you are versatile, you can be a master of it all.
Some voice artistes are known to reign for more than 36 years and never have to think of cutting prices to counter competitive pressures, if they keep reinventing themselves. If you are a consistent, hard-working person, you can earn as much as a corporate executive, but with no guarantee of sustenance beyond a couple of months! If you are complacent and suddenly find yourself out of favour, the impending abyss can be unbearable, sometimes leading to depression. And you have no one but you to blame. It’s a well-paying profession, with the attendant fun and some recognition that goes with it
Pros & Cons
Making a career in so small a space, however, can be fraught with pitfalls, as there are many people competing for a very few openings. You will be considered a nobody, almost an outcast, if you’re not successful. Income wise, you’ll be fine because there are a lot of work opportunities. Keep reinventing yourself with the changing times.
