There are a lot of online voice-over talent services competing for assignments from every corner of the world. If you’re a creative professional, a director, or a producer, it becomes a challenge to sift through all the available options. In fact, it’s very laborious to do so. All voice-over actors come with a distinct style of their own, skill levels, studio quality, experience and sound. Choosing one that’s the best for your needs is quite a task. You may be looking for timely deliveries and efficiency; or you may be willing to compromise on quality for a more economical option.

There are myriad choices out there and the voice-over actor you should go for really depends on what your needs are. We suggest that you zero down on your options that suit your needs the best by focusing on 5 simple, yet very pertinent questions. Read on for the details.

1)  Is the Voice Over Studio Quality and Sound Professional Enough?

At the very onset, you need to make sure that the voice actor you hire is capable of providing the audio quality you seek for your project. While it doesn’t really mean that the voice actor you hire possesses the most expensive equipment available in the market, it’s still important that he does have the infrastructure to deliver the sound quality you need.

You need to make sure that the voice actor can use the same conferencing systems that you do during live sessions as well. There are Zoom, Adobe Connect and Skype out there, but you should check if the voice actor you’re looking to hire is comfortable using those platforms.

2) What Are the Rates and are they based on the Usage that’s provided?

Does the voice actor charge different rates for OTT vs. organic web usage vs. paid web usage? If he doesn’t, it could well be a sign of him lacking experience. Apart from the rates, also look into how and where you can use the spot under the agreement terms.

What the fees and the terms and conditions of the voice actor will be are almost always decided by whether he’s a union talent or not. You must confirm this at the very beginning. Hiring a thoroughly professional and credible voice actor may need you to approach him through his agent. This has certain pros and cons and therefore, it should be confirmed at the very onset.

3) Are there any Conflicts of Exclusivity Clauses?

There’s a possibility that two companies zero in on the same voice actor for their national campaigns. It’s a situation that needs to be avoided. Besides, if the voice actor has entered into agreements with other clients, that would legally bar him from working for you. These are issues that need to be looked into and sorted out before work on your project begins.

4) Does the Voice Actor have enough experience?

Unless you are comfortable working with a rookie, try avoiding hiring someone who fails to come up with samples of previous work. It’s a sign that he lacks enough experience and hasn’t worked on any or enough projects before.

Check out the list of clients that the voice actor has worked for. If the talent you are looking to hire has an impressive portfolio that features clients of repute, it’s a sign that he’s able to deliver quality work that fits the needs of each client perfectly. If you’re looking for versatility in the talent, look for variations in the work that the voice actor has performed in terms of the type of projects completed, the industries served and the voice styles delivered.

5) What is the Availability and Turnaround Time of the Talent?

You might have zeroed in on the perfect voice over talent. However, you later come to know that he won’t be available for two months even though your need is urgent. It’s very important that you clarify when the talent is available, more so if he’s highly in demand from various clients.

Also, make sure that the voice actor provides revisions. Does he have a clear revision policy? Make sure that how many revisions the talent provides is specified in the terms and conditions of the agreement. Moreover, do confirm how soon the project can be delivered.

Conclusion

It’s important that you have a brief conversation with the voice talent to clarify the issues we have raised in the article before you enter into an agreement. It’ll help you locate the talent that suits your needs perfectly. After all, every talent brings something different to the table and therefore, you must ask the right questions before you kick off your project.