Determining Rates in Voice Overs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJlRAeQOZHE The million dollar question. How much should I charge as a voice actor? It’s important to understand how rates are determined. Typically usage drives rates in vo. This means that WHERE the voice over will be heard and HOW LONG IT WILL AIR…matters.    Now, I realize that in today’s pay-to-play world…..meaning websites where […]

How To Get A Talent Agent-Here’s What You Should Know…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kS0vEZawOk When approaching talent agencies, keep the following things in mind: Talent agent rosters are often full. Find a way to fill a niche they need. Voices that are relevant in today’s marketplace have a better shot at getting an agent. Be sure you are prepared and ready when you approach talent agencies. Ready. Aim. […]

How to Develop Characters for Animation in Voice Acting in 4-Steps!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGqxH5UNQFQ Developing voice over characters for animation? Follow these 4-steps to bring your characters to life! Follow the director’s notes Create a backstory for your characters Create vocal traits that match your characters Have fun!

What Makes A Good Voice Over? Blog Post

What makes a good voice over? As one of the experts for Voices.com I will be answering this question next week. This got me thinking….. What specifically makes one VO better than another? Well, it’s the Secret Sauce. Similar to a tasty bbq, key ingredients make it extra mmm’ mmm’ good. The fact is, if […]

Voices.com Webinar-How to LAND Auditions-Voiceover Expert Rachel Alena

Voices.com webinar with Rachel Alena

Want to LAND auditions and keep ‘em coming back for more? Check out this webinar I did for Voices.com. It’s full of practical and SPECIFIC tools to make it happen! There are two things needed for success as a voice actor. They are: Mastery of Tools Acting Skills It’s easy to wonder why ‘that other voice’ […]

Voices.com Webinar: E-Learning VO Expert Rachel Alena

Webinar

Webinar Hosted by Voices.com with eLearning  Expert & Voice Acting Coach Rachel Alena. Tuesday, July 28, 2020, 1:00p EST Available to all current Voices.com premium members https://www.voices.com/webinars Event Description Voice over actress and coach Rachel Alena has worked with some of the most respected companies in the world, including Procter & Gamble, Old Navy & […]

VOICES.COM Mission Audition featuring Rachel Alena

Screenshot of voices.com podcast

Another Voices.com webinar featuring voice over coach and expert voice talent Rachel Alena! As an expert in eLearning voice over, Rachel and the Voices.com team evaluate talent and provide feedback. Hear what the clients hear in this Voices.com webinar!

Podcast with Wendy Vaughan & Rachel Alena

Voiceover coach, Voiceover expert, Voice Talent

Join business expert Wendy Vaughan in this podcast about how to grow a voice over business with voice talent Rachel Alena! Wendy and Rachel dive into the voice over industry and how to overcome adversity to achieve voice over success.

Podcast with Matt Sodnicar & Rachel Alena

Podcast Voice Talent Rachel Alena

In this podcast Matt Sodnicar and voice over coach Rachel Alena break down voice over do’s and don’ts. Voice talent Rachel Alena provides characters and voices as examples of voice over acting technique.

Talent Agencies. What Do They Look For In Voice Talent?

Headshot of Voice Over Coach Rachel Alena

How do I get a talent agent? Here’s something that you should know. Talent agencies want you. They need you, in fact! Talent agencies often accept submissions from many different types of VO voice styles. What are they looking for? 1.  To fill in their roster. Most talent agencies already have a roster of talent. Certain voice role categories […]

Does A Voice Actor Need A Niche? Here’s The Truth…

Phptp of Rachel Alena

I know. You read it online. A VOICE TALENT MUST HAVE A NICHE! Well, I don’t always agree. Here’s why…. 100% True story… Last month, I met a newbie voice talent and we chatted. Here is how the conversation went down: VO Newbie: “I’m so excited! My goal is to become a full time voice […]

Why is one voice actor better than others?

Photo of Rachel Alena at her desk

Say it sisters & brothers! Verbal Communication As a voice actor, it’s my job is to be an EXPERT at verbal communication. That’s right! A master at chatting. The queen of lip flapping. A maestro of spending my days talking to anyone who will listen! Another way of saying it? It’s my job to be […]

Narrate for Animation in 4 Steps! Let’s Talk Pigs.

Screenshot of three pigs video featuring the voice of Rachel Alena

Three pigs and one person? Voice overs for animation. As the voice of the interactive children’s app, The Three Little Pigs, by Irene Deev, I had to be four different people! Or, should I say three different pigs and one person? To do this, I asked myself some questions. Things such as, “What makes each pig unique?” “How is […]

Smooth Narrations. Be an expert voice talent.

Rachel Alena wearing a green shirt standing in front of a microphone

Sound smoother than the other guy! Expert voice talent & coach Rachel Alena provides tips on how to achieve better ‘rhythm & flow’. “I just love this voice talent’s voice.” OR “I could listen to her all day long.” Do YOU want them to say that about YOU? If you do, here’s a hint… Work on your rhythm […]

Branding. Why it’s important.

a close up picture of a horses face

Voice talent Rachel Alena talks about the importance of branding your business. Do you specialize in cleaning horses or houses? Customer: ‘Why sir? What do you do?’ Business Owner: ‘As a matter of fact, I clean things.’ Customer: ‘Most excellent! Please proceed. Clean my horse!’ House. Horse. Does it matter? When you’re not branding yourself, […]

Microphone, Microphone….who art thou? By voice talent Rachel Alena

photo of rachel aleas performing

Voice Talent Rachel Alena talks shop about microphone basics… I was at a party this past Labor Day weekend watching a friend’s band play. Being the voice talent that I am, I was chit chatting along with a good friend until I heard my name called. The bass playing/singer in the band asked me to come up. […]

Be a super hero for your voice. Serve & protect.

Rachel Alena wearing sunglasses and holding a mic

X-ray vision? Soaring through the air? Voice care. I can hear it already. ‘I’m not a singer or a voice talent. Why do I need to worry about voice care?’ Please allow me to share with you Margie’s story: Margie came to me this past April. She is a teacher and an amazing woman, really. At the […]

That announcer guy…

Voice Over, Voice Actor, Professional Voice Recording, Voice Over Training, Voice Acting Training

  Voice Acting? Here’s little history…. Back in the early 90’s, I was working at the Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles and working as a session singer. I sang songs for writers to pitch to major recording artists. At that time, it was extremely difficult to break into the voice acting biz. Only […]

Copy reading for voice actors. It’s all about connection.

Voice Over, Voice Actor, Professional Voice Recording, Voice Over Training, Voice Acting Training

Good voice actors don’t just read words. They strive to reach out and touch the audience! As a voice acting coach, I’m often asked…what makes a narration pop? My answer? Listen up voice actors…it’s all about connection! Connect to just one person who feels like you are talking to them. If you can accomplish this, then you’ve […]

Voice Over Boot Camp!

photo of a wall mural

Voice over coach Rachel Alena and Boulder Writing Studio Present…. Voice Over Boot Camp (click here to sign up!) Find your voice! Voice over training to learn the essentials of the voice-over industry in this 4-week immersion with professional voice acting coach and national voice talent Rachel Alena. Designed for absolute beginners and those looking to […]

A Problem Solver: Your New Job Description

voice acting coach, elearning voice over, narrator

Voice talent and voice acting coach Rachel Alena talks about being: A Problem Solver Welcome to your new job description. This morning, I took some time off to visit my step-dad. He is in a rehab center about an hour away from my recording studio. I had some time to think during the drive. Prior […]

How to be an audiobook narrator

voice acting coach, elearning voice over, narrator

About Being An Audiobook Narrator As a voice acting coach, I’m often asked the following question. How is being an audiobook narrator different from other types of voice over work? To answer this question, we need to think about the goal of the writer. Depending on the type of job you are doing, as a voice […]