How to Ask the Right Questions for a Better Self-Taped Audition

Curious about the difference between a voiceover artist and a voice actor? I’m breaking it down in my 4-part series, covering what each role does and how to get started. Perfect if you want to start your own voiceover journey. Get my free Voiceover Tips & Tools Audio to level up your skills. DM me #audio for free VO hacks.

I don't want to be this guy, but... VOICE ACTORS. STOP POSTING OR LIVE STREAMING YOUR AUDITIONS. It ruins it for the rest of us and ESPECIALLY your entire roster. This has happened multiple times in my career that someone on social media because they have a following or want to brag or show off has posted an audition they've received. That person(s) who posted ruined it for the entire roster and the client dropped that agent. I have over 2 million followers across platforms and I see A LOT of talent doing this. Why this hurts us all: These auditions(whether you sign an NDA or not, are private. A lot of time and effort goes into any project where the writers, producers, casting directors etc... have a lot on the line. When you post your audition before the spot airs, it shows you're unprofessional and can't be trusted. We're all struggling for the next crumb. This industry is hard enough as it is, please be respectful and professional. Stop posting your audition reads and streaming your auditions BEFORE a spot airs. #voiceover #beprofessional #dailyrant

✨ it’s a Mia Wednesday VO Tip! Voice actors, you’ll often be expected to market what you voice in~ I find that many new voice actors are surprised by this, but studios and dev teams often work with talent who they know will spread the word about their project. It’s hard to gain traction as a creative, so I think it’s up to us to uplift each other and the projects we create together. As someone who works in both voiceover and marketing, this is something I always remind students of in my classes. Your audition might be good, but your online presence and professionalism can be what gets you booking. #VoiceOver #VoiceActor #Marketing

Skills Needed: In part 2 of my series, I break down the key skills that separate a voiceover artist from a voice actor. Knowing what to focus on can save you time and help you start strong. Get my free Voiceover Tips & Tools Audio. DM me #audio for free VO hacks.

Why I don't audition for EVERYTHING. Half the challenge for any actor is getting auditions in the first place. Building relationships. Securing great representation. Letting your work speak for you. All these things about securing as many opportunities to show your approach as possible. But does that mean you should take every shot you're given? To me, I necessarily have to be selective because I know: 1) my skills and 2) my temperament. Some people are amazing at 'sending and forgetting'. They think of the audition as being THE JOB, so the more they do it the better. And even if they're not necessary 'perfect' for a role on paper, that's not going to stop them applying because maybe 𝘛𝘏𝘌𝘐𝘙 take will be the wildcard one pushed by casting. I typically embrace most opportunities that come my way for all of the above reasons. If I stuck purely to roles I KNOW I can do, I wouldn't grow creatively and end up repeating myself. But I also know that some come at more of a cognitive cost than others. To put together a solid, 2-3 minute self-tape audition (a more common request with projects that require performance capture) takes me a good 2-3 hours. You read the script. You make informed character choices. You learn the lines and set the staging. You record and edit multiple takes before submitting. Even for a more straight-forward audition of a few lines, I prefer to spend time properly imagining the role and doing research on the producer so I get a sense of the genre a project sits in. And having invested all the above, it's an actors job to make peace with the fact that you'll likely not hear anything back at all. Did you do a good job with the time given? Or are you making some elementary mistake audition after audition that's holding you back? SPOILER: No one will tell you. That's why coaching and cultivating your own sense of taste is essential. This approach is born from the knowledge that I have a FINITE amount of time and creative energy to spend. If I just spam every opportunity that comes my way, my day becomes less about craft and more about luck. And I can't build a healthy day-to-day existence on the latter. But maybe that's just me! (shots below taken from a recent audition - OR they're reaction shots to various overdue invoices). -------------------- 🎙 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱-𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿? 🎙 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁, 𝗗𝗠 𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸. 🎙 𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

Ever wonder what voice actors do all day? It’s a cycle of: 🎙️ Auditions 🤔 Self-doubt 😅 Stress 📧 Emails Repeat. Being a freelance voice actor means juggling auditions, clients, and confidence — all in one day. But with practice (and a little humor), it’s all part of the job. What’s the most relatable part of your daily cycle? 👇 #VoiceActorLife #VoiceOverJourney #FreelanceVoiceActor #Voice123 #VoiceOverTips #DayInTheLife

It’s Not Just About How You Sound Ever worked with a voice actor who sounds amazing…but doesn’t follow directions? It happens more than you’d think. Maybe the tone’s off. Or the pacing doesn’t match the brief. Or the file delivery is a mess. Great voiceover isn’t just about how you sound. It's about listening, adjusting, and showing up like a creative partner. 🎙️ I take direction seriously—because you should never have to repeat yourself. #jennifertzoumas #austintexas #myjourney #professionalgrowth #voiceoverartist #CreativeCollaboration #VoiceOverMatters #ClientExperience #DirectionMatters #ProductionSupport

It’s Not Just About How You Sound Ever worked with a voice actor who sounds amazing…but doesn’t follow directions? It happens more than you’d think. Maybe the tone’s off. Or the pacing doesn’t match the brief. Or the file delivery is a mess. Great voiceover isn’t just about how you sound. It's about listening, adjusting, and showing up like a creative partner. 🎙️ I take direction seriously—because you should never have to repeat yourself. #jennifertzoumas #austintexas #myjourney #professionalgrowth #voiceoverartist #CreativeCollaboration #VoiceOverMatters #ClientExperience #DirectionMatters #ProductionSupport

All things Voiceover Q&A Question #2: What do I need to know when hiring a voice actor? (Quick overview.) #voiceactor #voiceover #hiringavoiceactor

The other day, a performer from New York came into our casting studio. Outstanding but they hadn’t had a live audition in New York for 6years. Being a Casting director isn’t just sending out sides for #selftapes. It’s directing performers, shaping performances, and translating a director’s vision into real results. Even brilliant performers can get self-tapes wrong not because of talent, but because they miss the subtle guidance , direction that turns a good performance into a brilliant one.Self-tapes have their place, especially for performers abroad or unavailable. But performers should have the choice a live session or a self-tape session. Not everyone is comfortable with technology, and older or technophobic performers can be disadvantaged if live options aren’t offered.Producers also play a role as they pay the bills . Cutting live sessions to save a bit of money risks shortchanging both performers and their clients.When clients invest millions into a campaign, they deserve more. Casting directors are collaborators guiding performers, shaping performances, and ensuring the director’s vision comes to life. Self-tapes are a tool but live casting sessions give the best results. Performers want the opportunity, clients deserve the quality. #castingdirector #marksummerscasting #castingcalls