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is an average 'age' range for voices. An average adult voice can sound 25 to 35 years old, for example. A ten year range is what most people should fit into, at least, to be successful in voice-over work. There are exceptions most likely.

A professional attitude includes being able to negotiate your rates without hard feelings and with a pleasant demeanor which is important. Professional training also teaches one about what to charge clients. The way one treats the client often affects future jobs. Word of mouth is king in the voice business.

Basic things a professional voice-over artist will have is a website, business cards, and two Demo CD's (one will be for narration and the other will be commercial script reading). Toting around demo CD's is a waste of time and turns potential clients off because it is considered unprofessional. Recording equipment or access to a sound studio is also necessary. Whoever one trains with will have a preference for the type of recording equipment one chooses.

Work is obtained from specialized websites for voice-over work as well as from other self-promotion efforts. In addition, the company who trains one may have their own talent search site that clients will use. Self-promotion efforts may include meetings with radio station managers, grocery store personnel, etc.

Agents and the union are primarily for voice actors who have more work than they can handle because they are in such high demand. One should still be knowledgeable about them, however. When doing voice-over work is your career or is even a hobby, it is relevant to be knowledgeable about the entire business. Ways to become comfortable reading from scripts and reading out loud includes Toastmasters groups, acting classes at the local college, volunteer children's reading hour at public libraries, and being a volunteer speaker at church. Doing charity voice-overs also helps to build your career portfolio as well as your confidence.
Here's a couple of youtube videos on doing voice overs and a couple of other sites as well:
1. This one shows a guy doing a voice over: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =LKgXy22XejA&feature=relat ed

2. This one shows equipment, reads copy, talks about proTools and gives good info. but the jargon is unfamiliar to me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =1MegZ-_X1fk&feature=relat ed

3. Very professional and useful but a little advanced for someone not in the business yet (it's still good for beginners to here, though): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =yTNkRlMDth4

4. This one briefly talks about proTool software and hardware: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =0dmeNGo2mcs&feature=relat ed

5. Good intro on Mic useage and equipment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =LH2zEJTeIZo&feature=chann el

6. Take a virtual tour of people's home studios: http://www.voiceovertimes.com/ 2008/02/13/voice-actors-can-ta ke-virtual-tours-of-home-studi os/#comment-3772

7. Here's a guy who goes from ground zero up to a completed home studio: http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/a rticle.htm?id=nixi53q5

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