My Auditioning Process as a Professional Voice Actor

I get asked a lot how I audition for voiceover work, so I wanted to walk you through what that process looks like for me, step by step. This isn’t the way to audition—it’s just my way, what I’ve found works for me after doing this professionally for years.

Getting the Audition

Usually, the audition comes through an agent, a casting site, or sometimes directly from a client. I look at the specs first—what they're asking for in terms of tone, style, delivery, and who the audience is supposed to be.

First Read and Understanding the Copy

Next, I read through the script a couple of times. Generally, I’ll dive in with a cold read (and record it) just to get a feel for the rhythm and meaning, but sometimes your instincts hit the nail on the head in one take. I’m not necessarily trying to perform it ‘correctly’ yet—I’m just getting to know the copy.

I ask myself a few key questions:

• Who am I talking to?

• What’s my relationship with them?

• What do I want them to think, feel, or do?

Even a quick 15-second spot can benefit from this level of context.

Recording

After the initial cold read, I’ll follow it up with a couple more takes. Once I land on one that felt good (in that I was connected with who I am and who I’m talking to) I’ll try one that is complementary. For example if take one is full of swagger and charm, the next might be cooler and more even tempered. One way I like to think about it is in colors. If take one was red, let’s make take two green or blue.

Editing and Submitting

Once I’ve got something I like, I clean it up a bit—trim the front and back, take out any big breaths or clicks, but I keep it sounding natural. I name the file according to whatever instructions were given and send it off.

Then I let it go.

Final Thoughts

Auditioning is its own skill set. It’s not just about reading well—it’s about making quick, smart choices, trusting your instincts, and not overthinking it.

Every audition is practice. Every audition is a chance to tell a story, even if no one hears it but you.

Thanks for reading, and I hope this helps!