Top 3 NO-BS answers about the VO industry

The most common questions in the voiceover industry and... the No-BS answers that you probably won't hear from a lot of coaches.

Top 3 NO-BS answers about the VO industry - 6:11

Hey guys, it’s Gabby!

Thanks for joining me on this latest edition of The Gift of Gab. Today, we’re going to talk a little bit about my voiceover evaluations. If you're not familiar with them, here's the link — you can check it out!

These are the most common questions I get asked during my voiceover evaluations — so stick around.

1. How Do I Find My Niche?

I think the most common question I get — out of everything in the world of voiceover evaluations — is:

"How can I find my niche?"

Everybody wants to know that. Everyone wants to know where their voice fits in and how it fits.

By now, most people understand that voiceover is not just one industry. It’s a lot of smaller, specialized industries grouped together under the same umbrella.

Your niche in voiceover is the area where you excel and where you offer a specialty. It's where you make the majority of your money. Anything outside of it is more of a sub-sector or a bonus.

But here’s the truth:Your niche is only found with extensive time behind the mic.

Nobody — in 10 minutes, 15 minutes, even 30 minutes — can tell you exactly where your voice fits. We can give you suggestions. We can offer opinions. I can certainly provide insight into where I believe your voice might be a good fit — but it's just that: an opinion based on a short interaction.

If you really want to discover your niche in voiceover, you need to:

• Take a bunch of classes

• Explore multiple genres

• Try working with different coaches

It doesn’t have to be all with me, and it doesn’t have to be just one person. The goal is to experiment so you can determine:

• What feels right

• What you’re drawn to

• What you're naturally good at

• And where your voice is best suited

  
  

2. How Do I Take the Guesswork Out of VO?

The second most common question is:

"How do I stop guessing?"

People say things like:

• “I think I have a good marketing plan, but I’m not sure.”

• “I think this microphone might work for me, but I’m not sure.”

I totally feel for that. Guessing is frustrating — especially when you're trying to build a business. When we know something and we’re confident in it, that’s a totally different experience. Guessing? Yeah, it kind of sucks.

Here’s what I recommend:

Separate your voiceover skills into three categories:

1. Technical

   • Studio setup, gear, editing

2. Performance

   • Acting, delivery, script interpretation

3. Business

   • Marketing, sales, branding, client relations

Now make checklists. Ask yourself:

• What am I confident in?

• What do I know I do well?

• What do I feel lost or unsure about?

You can start crossing off the areas you're strong in, and you’ll clearly see where you need help. This helps untangle that big jumbled mess and gives you a more strategic approach.

3. Where Do I Start?

The third question I get all the time is:

"Where do I start?"

Here’s one thing I know for sure:Avoid the cash grabs.

You’ll hear me say that a lot. Avoid anyone trying to get you to spend a lot of money right now. It’s probably not worth it.

Take your time and think about your investments.

A better question than “Where do I start?” is:

"What exactly am I looking for?"

You're likely looking for:

• A teacher

• A mentor

• A consultant or guide

• Someone who can assess your skills

• Someone who can help you determine what areas of the industry are right for you now, and which might be better down the line

• Someone to help you set both short-term and long-term goals

That kind of planning is what sets you up for real success. It gives you goals that feel achievable, not just big dreams that seem impossible. Break it down into small, manageable pieces.

Voiceover is a big industry. If you look at it as one giant thing — “voice acting” — it will feel overwhelming. So don’t do that. Break it down. Learn it in chunks.

Final Thoughts

There are lots and lots of coaches who offer voiceover evaluations — myself included.That can be one of your best first steps.

Take the time to work with someone (maybe even a few someones) to figure out:

• Where your skills are now

• And what actionable steps you can take next

That’s how you become the voice actor you ultimately want to be.

I hope this video helped! If you're looking for more information like this, check out the next video here. Thanks so much for watching!

704-674-8294 / GabrielleNistico.com / gabby@voiceovervixen.com

Gabrielle Nistico, Gabby Nistico, The Voiceover Vixen, The Business First VO Coach, #VoiceoverVixen #VoiceOnFire #BusinessFirstVOCoach Voiceover, Charlotte, North Carolina, Voiceover Demo, Voiceover Coaching Advice, no bs, truth telling