Do you think your age is preventing you from booking voice over jobs? Am I ever glad you found this article! The truth is that you can make money with your voice in your golden years. Don’t put that microphone on eBay just yet.
So long as you’ve got air in your lungs, a voice that does as you will it, and a song in your heart, you can make this voice over thing work.
Here are a few truths you might need to hear today. Let me know afterward in the comments what you’re doing and how we can help.
In this article
- 3 Tips for Senior Voices Looking to Book More Voice Acting Jobs
- 1. Like Attracts Like: Senior Audiences Want to Hear from Senior Voices
- 2. Senior Voices Don’t Have to Sound Younger to Book Voice Over Jobs
- 3. Senior Voices Are in Demand: The Biggest Audience for New Voice-Activated Tech is Seniors
- Senior Voice Actors Don’t Have to Retire Until They Want to
3 Tips for Senior Voices Looking to Book More Voice Acting Jobs
1. Like Attracts Like: Senior Audiences Want to Hear from Senior Voices
People want to hear from people who are like them. It’s as plain as day from all the research we’ve done on seniors and voice acting, and it isn’t any different when it comes to your voice age, whatever that might be. Sometimes we need to be reminded of the fact that we are in fact, relevant.
The more relatable you are to the audience you’re auditioning to reach, the likelier it is that you’ll find your voice ending up on the other side of the cycle, be it in a commercial, an elearning module, or an audiobook recording.
Set yourself up for success by auditioning chiefly for those jobs that best draw upon your vocal seniority and years of experience reading copy. Think of all the perspectives you can bring to a script.
Audition for jobs that are looking for voice ages slightly younger than yours. Audition for jobs right bang on where you’re at and for jobs that may call for a slightly older sounding voice than yours. See what works. You may have flexibility in this area as a performer, making you a true contender for more jobs than you thought you’d be a shoo-in for.
2. Senior Voices Don’t Have to Sound Younger to Book Voice Over Jobs
Are you feeling pressure to change what you sound like, voice age-wise because you think you’re not as competitive or marketable anymore? The fear that opportunities for you to shine are drying up is very real. In fact, it might just be that you believe your days in the sun are far behind you.
Before entertaining one more unhelpful Grizabella thought, know there’s work for you and that you don’t need to be concerned about your voice age. As we age, our voices do shift and change. But if you’ve got the chops to interpret a script, breathe life into it and communicate well, you’re still in the game.
So there, you’re never too old to record voice overs. It all comes down to owning your voice, however, it sounds, and using it to the best of your ability.
Don’t change who you are to suit trends or out of fear that you’re not competitive. You don’t need to sound younger than you are. You can sound just the way you sound.
3. Senior Voices Are in Demand: The Biggest Audience for New Voice-Activated Tech is Seniors
Have you heard of the loneliness epidemic?
In the UK, loneliness is such an enormous problem that the UK government created a position to address the issue. Tracey Crouch was appointed to become the United Kingdom’s first Loneliness Minister, and possibly the first in the world to hold a role of that nature.
The loneliness epidemic affects all people of all age ranges, but it can most acutely affect seniors and the elderly.
The number of seniors who have next to no interaction with other people on a regular basis is staggering, let alone blood-boiling. In Canada, it was reported that 1.4 million elderly people suffer from loneliness.
Did you know that one of the main use cases for AI voice assistants is to engage with the elderly? Many of whom depend on verbal communication and have an overwhelming need to connect? Nursing homes, hospitals and motivated adult children are using these technologies to improve the lives of those they serve and love. Caregivers are getting on board as they’ve discovered how these devices can help to restore independence.
Think of it. Your voice can be part of a movement to end loneliness! When we really care about something, we’re willing to fight for it. Could your voice be just the right voice to reach those in most dire need of a friend, support, or companion?
The voice-first movement sees voice as an interface, which is exactly what happens when you have a voice-activated Alexa or Google Home on standby. These technologies are not just making it easier to get information, they also make it easier to find hope, and if need be, to call for help.
Senior Voice Actors Don’t Have to Retire Until They Want to
If thinking of retirement scares you as a voice actor, you don’t need to go there simply because you turn 65. Look at screen actors! They can work well into their eighties (here’s looking at you, James Earl Jones, Judi Dench, Christopher Plummer and Maggie Smith!).
This is a lifelong skill you can apply and there will always be work out there looking for a voice just like yours.
It’s up to you!
Comments
Tim
May I send you a demo reel and some samples. I’d like you thoughts on my recordings. Thanks for the article ,I love it.
The difficulty for mature voiceover professionals isn’t that they’re losing self-confidence, but that they face blatant age discrimination in the industry. My mother is a voice actor whose speaking voice sounds warm, fresh, and well-supported because she is also a professional singer. However, VO agents and casting directors see her headshot (which they insist on having) or even in person and say she’s too old for VO now. How can she get heard and hired by biased CDs who dismiss her for her beautiful, mature appearance before she even says a word?
Thank you for this – especially for the piece on work for seniors.
I trained many years ago with a company but never used that training. I’m ready now to do some auditions. My fear is my complete lack of experience, so I intend to start with narrating my own book that is about to be published. I just had some minor surgery on my vocal chords, so have to wait about a month or so, but I’m being very careful to follow doctor’s orders so as not to cause damage.
Any articles for beginners?
This article got me excited; I am a senior VO artist. However there are no good leads to follow up on. Alexa and Echo are both synthesized platforms. I am a former storyteller with two cds of stories for “boomers” and have worked in the field of human services for over twenty – five years and feel I have something to offer the elderly and lonely. But how can I get my material, eh, voice to them other than doing audio books etc. In the words while yes there is a demand how does one go about meeting it? i wish to go to them rather than hoping they cn find me.
Thanks
I happen to be a new senior vo actor with a teenage sounding demo what do I do from here?
How can I submit my demo?
Hi Eddie,
Great question. It all starts with creating an account. Here’s more information on the different account types, including our free guest account: https://www.voices.com/talent/memberships
You can also learn more about how Voices.com works and how to get started as a voice actor by browsing our help section for talent: https://www.voices.com/help/talent
And of course, if you have any additional questions, simply contact us (visit our contact us paeg) and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
All the best,
– Tanya
I can not believe this! You are a (pardon the pun) a breath of fresh air! I just retired and turned the BIG 70! I have wanted to pursue VO for a long time and did a little here and there over the years, but work prevented me from going after it full time. I’m researching, gathering data as to how to proceed with practice, coaching by a VO pro, what equipment to buy, how to create demos, market myself…the works! Meantime, if you can offer suggestions on where I can go to assist senior citizens and or possibly to record audio books on their behalf, please let me know and thank you.
Thank you very much for this article, Stephanie. I’m encouraged to know that inexperienced mature seniors aren’t exempt from voice actor work. I’d like to find an article on this subject that addresses the cost for “skill testing” and where to get it in or near Woodstock, Georgia.