The process of bringing another person onto a project that you've put handwork and care into can be tricky, but it can be made easier by finding the right person for the job and knowing what the process should look like. In the case of finding a voice actor for your voice-over project, your job can be made much easier by knowing what to look for, ask, and how to bring the voice actor onto your team.
Once You Know What You're Looking For
The first thing to think about when preparing to hire a female or male voice actor is the needs of your project. Nail down the specifications of what you need from the actor (style, tone, accent, etc), and once you have these, take a look through online voice actor databases or casting sites with voice actor profiles. Sift through resumes and professional samples to find candidates you like and reach out. Those with a solid resume and portfolio that are readily available to answer questions and discuss the project will certainly make your job easier. You will also want to consider if you want a union or non-union actor for your project as their requirements may differ.
Once You've Narrowed Down Your Search
Once you've narrowed down your search to several candidates you're interested in, you can more carefully scan their resumes and review their demos. A voice actor's resume should show a good amount of work in the field, and you will want to pay special attention to listings of projects similar to yours in format, tone, and style. Be aware that demos will give you a general idea but can be heavily edited. This is when you may want to ask for a custom voice-over audition. You may ask the actor to read a portion of your specific project and include the director or not to get an idea of their work in your project.
Once You've Picked Your Voice Actor
Once you've decided on a candidate, you will need to work with them to nail down the nitty gritties. Immediately discuss availability and rates and solidify deadlines and a pay scale that works for both of you. Be ready to answer questions such as when and where the recording will be used, how long will it be in play, how long is the script, and what file format is needed (ie. MP3, AIFF, .wav).
Now that you know the pathway to finding a great voice-actor, you can begin your journey to completing your project and delivering a stellar final product.
