A Week in the Life of a Voiceover Artist: Commercials, Corporate Narration & More
Well, it’s been an interesting week in the world of voiceover!
One of the things I love most about being a professional voiceover artist is that no two weeks are ever quite the same. One minute I’m recording an in-store commercial, the next I’m working on a radio advert, and then suddenly a last-minute corporate narration lands in my inbox.
So, here’s a little look at what I’ve been up to this week…
In-store advertising and radio commercials
I’ve recorded a number of in-store adverts for Instore Radio this week, which has become a lovely regular part of my voiceover work.
I really enjoy this type of commercial voiceover because there’s something so cool about hearing my voice when I pop into these shops!
I’ve voiced campaigns for a variety of well-known stores, including Boots, Iceland and SPAR, to name just a few. Every brand has its own style and personality, so it’s always fun finding the right tone and energy for each one.
Then came a radio commercial for a Christmas pantomime. Yes, already!
It seems the festive season is getting underway. 🎄
I love voicing radio adverts because they can be so much fun and it's certainly one of my strengths. You often have a very short amount of time to grab someone's attention, communicate the message and make the listener want to find out more. That’s where the performance side of voiceover really comes into play.
A surprise phone call that turned into a job
I also had a lovely last-minute opportunity to work with a new creative agency on a corporate internal voiceover project.
And this one started with something very simple: a phone call.
From an unknown number.
Now, I’ll be honest, I’m not always keen to answer calls from numbers I don’t recognise. Having my phone number available online for work means I get my fair share of suspicious-looking calls, so you never quite know whether you’re about to have a genuine conversation or someone trying to scam you...
But on this occasion, I decided to answer.
I’m very glad I did.
The lovely lady on the other end of the phone was calling from a creative agency I hadn’t worked with before. They had found me and wanted to put me forward for a voiceover job for one of their clients.
Of course, I was thrilled!
It was a very quick turnaround, and later that same day I found out I’d got the job. Cue me quickly getting all the paperwork together, sending everything across and thinking…yay! It’s booked!
Why I love live voiceover sessions
I thoroughly enjoyed the live recording session with the new producer, and thankfully he was pleased with everything I provided.
Live-directed voiceover sessions are actually some of my favourite jobs.
There’s something really enjoyable about the back-and-forth between the voiceover artist, producer and client. You can try different approaches, experiment with the delivery and make small adjustments as you go.
It also means you can cover lots of different options during the session.
Perhaps the client wants something slightly warmer. Or a little more upbeat. Maybe the pace needs to be slower, or the emphasis needs to move onto a particular word.
It’s much easier to explore those possibilities when everyone is together and can give feedback immediately. I love the creativity of it!
For me, voiceover isn't simply about reading words from a script. It’s about finding the right interpretation and making the words sound natural, engaging and appropriate for the audience.
That applies whether I’m recording a commercial voiceover, corporate narration, radio advert, IVR voiceover or something completely different.
What’s next?
Now we’re heading towards the middle of the week, I’m waiting to see what else comes my way.
I’ve submitted a few auditions, and I’m also planning to spend some more time working on my website. There’s always something to update, improve or tweak when you work as a freelance voiceover artist!
One thing I’ve recently added is a new collection of accent voiceover reels.
I absolutely love accents, and they’ve actually landed me a few jobs over the years. So I thought it was about time I properly showcased them.
It’s a useful addition for clients and producers who might be looking for something a little different — perhaps a particular regional accent, an international sound, or simply a voice that doesn’t sound like the usual choice for their project.
You never quite know what someone is going to be searching for when they need a voiceover, so I think it’s important to show a good range of what I can offer.
The wonderful spontaneity of voiceover
I’ve also made a few new connections via email recently, and it’s been lovely having some really positive conversations.
Where those conversations will lead, I have no idea — and that’s actually one of the things I enjoy most about working in voiceover.
There’s a wonderful spontaneity to it.
One day you might be recording in-store advertising for a major retailer. The next you could be voicing a radio commercial, recording corporate narration, working on an IVR project, or auditioning for something entirely unexpected.
And sometimes, all it takes is answering a phone call from a number you nearly ignored!
So, that’s my week in voiceover so far. Let’s see what the rest of it brings.
Have a great week, everyone — and if you’re looking for a professional voiceover artist for commercials, corporate narration, radio, IVR, in-store advertising or other voiceover work, I’d love to hear from you.