After 26 years behind the microphone, I’ve learned that success in voice acting isn’t just about learning new techniques. It’s about returning to the things that have always mattered most.
The fundamentals. The habits. The mindset.
These are the reminders I come back to again and again – whether I’m recording a national campaign, auditioning for a new opportunity, or simply stepping into the booth to tell a great story.
1. Don’t Forget to Love What You Do
It sounds simple, but it’s the foundation.
Voice acting is an incredible gift. We get to step into someone else’s words, bring characters to life, tell stories, connect with people, and create something from nothing.
Even after 26 years, I remind myself to have fun in the booth often.
Play.
Explore.
Try something unexpected or awkwardly uncomfortable.
Embrace the joy in the creative process.
The moment we stop enjoying our craft is usually the moment we start overthinking it. And that doesn’t help a thing!
Your genuine love for storytelling is what makes your unique performance come most alive.
2. Keep Showing Up to Audition
This one never changes. Ever.
Whether you’re brand new to voice acting, working another job while building your career, or a full-time voice actor – auditioning is how we create most of our opportunities.
If you aren’t stepping up to bat, you can’t hit the home run.
Auditioning isn’t just about booking. It’s also about staying sharp.
Every audition is practice.
Every script keeps your skills active.
Every opportunity begins with putting yourself in the game.
Make the time. Protect the time. Stay consistent.
3. Keep Enriching Your Life
Great storytellers are curious humans.
The more life you experience, the more real, raw you you’ll have to bring into your performances.
Meet new people.
Try new foods.
Travel.
Learn something new.
Say yes to experiences outside your usual routine.
Every conversation, every emotion, every adventure becomes another tool you can add to your acting toolbox.
Keep filling your cup, so you have more to pour into your creativity.
4. Keep Growing Your Craft
Even after decades in this creatively wonderful industry, there’s always something new to learn.
New trends.
New genres.
New technology.
New performance styles.
New ways to connect.
The best voice actors stay open and curious.
The moment we think we have it all figured out is the moment we stop growing.
5. Remember That Your Magnificent Career Is Built One Opportunity at a Time
The career of a working creative is built through consistency, relationships, resilience, and showing up even when the results aren’t immediate.
Every talent has their first booking. We all start with that very first one. (And it’s so exciting, scary and validating)!
So, keep planting seeds.
Some auditions will bloom quickly.
Some take months.
But every teeny-tiny step forward
One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned over the years is that the answers often become simpler, not more complicated. And the biggest breakthroughs often come from going back to the basics. So…
Love the work.
Keep showing up.
Stay curious.
Keep learning.
And keep living your best, beautiful life.
Because the best performances come from actors who aren’t just improving their “script reading techniques…”
They’re enriching every corner of their lives.
Keep creating. Keep connecting. And keep telling great stories – because the world needs the stories that only your gloriously unique voice and perspective can tell. 🩷