Frequently Asked Questions:

We understand you have questions.  We'll try to address them here.  If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.

I'm told I have a nice voice. 
Can I work in voiceover?

Maybe.  You also need something that us professionals in the industry call... oh, what's the word...?  TALENT!  You also need an agent, headshots, a voice demo, acting classes, lots of time to market yourself, and above all, patience. 

We don't want to give you the false impression that if you take our voiceover workshops you'll magically start getting jobs the next day.  In fact, if you get one job out of every ten auditions, you're doing great.  But as you get more bookings, you'll get more repeat business.  You just need to be patient and once you submit for a job - FORGET ABOUT IT!  You'll drive yourself nuts if you dwell on whether or not you got the job.  If you don't get it, you haven't really lost anything.  Use the audition as a means of gaining more experience and making new contacts and keep moving on to the next one until you get that booking.

If you want to learn more about voiceovers, we recommend our Basic Voiceover Workshop.  It's a great opportunity to learn about the business of voiceovers and discover if this exciting business is for you.

Do you offer private voiceover lessons?

Occasionally we'll do a private one-time workshop that includes a demo recording session.  We'll typically accept these on a case-by-case basis.  If you're interested in a private workshop, please contact us.

How much do you charge for a voice demo?

Not nearly as much as most places.  At other studios, you'll find demos ranging from $1,500-$6,000.  We don't charge nearly as much yet deliver the same production quality.  Why?  Because we don't have nearly as much overhead to pass on to our clients.  Read more...

Should I use a private coach for my voiceover demo?

That depends on your skill level.  If you've been doing voiceovers for years, you probably don't need a coach unless you've got serious confidence issues.  But it's always a good idea to use a private coach when recording your first voiceover demo.  Look at it this way - when you go on a voiceover JOB, there's a director there to guide you.  The private coach serves as the director to tell you what's working and what's not.  After all, your demo should show you at your best.  The private coach will make that happen.

Does Lambert Studios hire voice talent?

Sometimes.  Besides holding workshops and recording demos, Lambert Studios is also a working recording studio.  Occasionally, one of our clients will ask us to help them find talent.  We do not accept random demos, but we'll send out audition notices via email asking for MP3 submissions.  If you'd like to be on our mailing list, sign up on our home page.

Is there much voiceover work in Dallas?

Yup.  Most people hear "voiceover" and immediately think "radio."  But there's so much more to voiceover than just radio spots.  The video game industry hires lots of voice actors and lots of those companies have moved to North Texas because it's cheaper to base here than in Los Angeles.

There are also lots of anime productions that are voiced here like Dragonball-Z and Full-Metal Alchemist just to name a few.

There are also lots of industrial projects that are produced here like training videos, flash presentations for websites, and more.

What do I put in my demo?

There are basically three types of voiceover demos...

1. Commercial demos are what you hear everyday on the radio and they sell products or services.  They should which should be no longer than 60 seconds in length. 
2. An industrial demo includes copy such as training material, book narrations, audio tours, etc.  These are typically 90 seconds in length. 
3. And a character demo (character or cartoon voices) which is 90 - 120 seconds.

A commercial demo should always be your first demo because it will get you the most work.  For anyone cutting their first demo who doesn't already have a collection of previous VO work, we recommend that you flip through some of your favorite magazines and find ads - that's right magazine ads - that suit your interests and personality.  Magazine ads translate very well into voiceover copy.  That's because they're written for the mind's eye - much like radio copy.  Once you find about 10-15 ads that you think will work, type them out so they're easier to read.  Practice, practice, practice with your new copy, then we'll record your copy and add all the great music beds and/or sound effects that will make your demo pop!

Does Lambert Studios provide copy for my demo?

No.  For two reasons:

1. You don't want to show up for your recording session unprepared.  You need rehearsal time with your copy.  Get as familiar with it as possible so that when you get into the studio, reading your copy will be like second nature.
2. We strongly recommend that you find copy that will work for your personality and your voice type.  There's not a one-size-fits-all solution for your demo.  See the previous question, "What do I put in my demo?" for some great ideas.

What do you think of those voiceover websites?

They have their pros and cons.  Mostly cons.  They're great for those who are trying to get some experience.  Read this article I wrote about them.