Published: October 12, 2023 | Last Updated: November 13, 2025
Submitting yourself for roles in the voice acting atmosphere is easier than you think, and there are many legitimate ways to do it.
Working with an Agency
One method to get auditions is to work with talent agencies in your area. Please note that these do not cost money up front and are by submission only (if a company states otherwise or asks for personal information that is dangerous to give out, they are not legitimate).
Looking on the SAG-AFTRA website is extremely helpful for finding these companies and is a free option to submit to these agencies.
If you work with an agency, they are looking for roles for you, which is one less worry on your end. Being hired by an agency provides you with talent agents who send auditions that are curated for you and your demographic.
Many of these businesses have a sector of voice actors, where you can receive primarily vocal auditions.
An agency also connects you with a broader group of talented actors like yourself. This is a great way to help you connect and get more roles later. Working with professional agencies is the best way to get real voice acting work.
You might also like Disney Voice Acting Auditions – How & Where.
How to find Voice Acting Auditions without an Agency
However, if you are not looking to work with a talent agent and are searching for another way to get started, there are websites, such as Backstage or IMDb Pro, that post audition notices.
Check out this article on the best acting audition websites. These allow you to work with writers and directors from all over the world. Please note that most of these require a subscription fee, even if there is a public casting call for the roles.
How to Get the Attention of Casting Directors
You will need to build your skills so that casting directors will start noticing your vocal talents, and potential clients will be able to hire you. There are many talented voice actors, so you must show what makes you different.
Also, check out this guide on how to start a successful voice acting career.
Start working on a good demo reel
You must start working on a demo reel to stand out for these roles. Demo reels are snippets of your best work that attract casting directors’ attention to your talent and abilities. Once you accumulate voice acting parts, you can update your reel.
A demo reel is easy to record and showcases who you are, how you work, and what you prioritize in your acting skills. This will allow the directors to find the role best suited for you.
I recommend you read Where to Find Voice Acting Prompts To Practice Your Skills, an excellent resource for finding practice scripts.
Create a website for yourself. You are your Brand!
It is also a good idea to put together a website to put this video link on to make yourself even more marketable.
This will also provide directors with additional information about you as a professional so they can decide if you are the best voice actor for the part.
Many voice acting roles require a reel submission and will help the directors thin the pool regarding how many submissions will be considered for the role.
What Happens During An Audition
When you try out for a voice-acting role, you will receive audition instructions and what are called sides from the company, director, or producer you are collaborating with.
Sides are small excerpts of the material’s script with specific audition lines to use when filming the audition.
The audition will usually include pay rates from the casting director so you can determine whether the role is worth it financially.
The Submission Tape
If you have an agency you go through, chances are you have an audition studio with which to film your submission tape. If that is the case, you will go to the address provided on your audition notice to try out.
If you are doing this solo or are submitting from far away from the agency’s studio, you can do a self-tape and submit it to the casting director. In recording your audition, you will work with the sides provided.
Casting directors focus on your line delivery and the story you tell within those lines, so it is crucial to prepare beforehand by analyzing the sides.
Sometimes, the sides come with specific instructions on how to say lines and what to add when (such as a laugh, a gasp, or another sound conveying a particular emotion). Read any material from the director or agency thoroughly to avoid missing these instructions.
A bit on self-taping
If you are self-taping, ensure you have a solid camera set-up and sound equipment that captures your voice well.
This article has some good camera choices for the beginner filmmaker, but you can just as quickly start with your phone.
If you live in a louder environment, go to a quiet place and record there. Also, remember to record in a room without too much reverb, as it muddles the voice, or at least shoot with a Lavalier or shotgun microphone.
In this article, you can learn how to record good voice-over audio.
In this article, you can read more about using natural light to get better-looking video recordings. Otherwise, a ring light is an excellent choice for a simple lighting setup with great results.
Remember to be confident in yourself and your abilities– you have this audition for a reason, and bring something unique to the table that the casting directors might be looking for.
Next Steps in the Audition Process – The Callback
If the directors like your taped audition, they may ask you to do a callback. A callback is a second chance to show the creative team why you are the best choice for a part.
Callbacks can be in person or remotely, but they require meeting the people behind the work you are auditioning for, so they will be live auditions. This helps to determine whether you are a good fit for them and if they are a good fit for you.
Usually, you will want to wear the same outfit you wore in the original taped video. This is to give a memory recall to the casting group and help them place your audition- remember that they have watched many of them.
It is also encouraged to keep your audition the same regarding how you said lines the first time.
The callback is to narrow down the actors and make the casting decision, not for you to change your original submission, so it is important not to make drastic changes to your vocal performance unless told otherwise.
What happens after the Callback
Once the callback has occurred, you only need to wait to hear from the casting directors. Once cast, you will receive details on dates to come into the studio and record your lines.
Voice acting can be enjoyable and an amazing creative outlet. Remember to put your best foot forward, show off your skill set, and keep auditioning!
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