5 Questions Every Producer Should Ask Before Hiring a Voice Actor

Hiring a voice actor requires a clear vetting process to protect your production budget and timeline.

Here are five questions producers must ask before hiring a voice actor.

What To Ask A Voice Actor

1. How much do you charge when hiring a voice actor for a project?

Professional voice actors charge a dual-fee structure consisting of a session fee for recording time and a usage fee if the audio is broadcast.

Put your budget numbers upfront to filter out talent who do not fit your financial scope. Break down the rate into two very specific parts.

• Session Fee: The flat rate covering the time spent recording the audio.   

• Usage Fee: The licensing cost covering how the audio will be used.   

If you are booking a broadcast gig for TV or digital streaming, state exactly where it will air and exactly how long it will air. A national television commercial has a very different rate structure than a corporate eLearning module.

Transparency saves everyone time.

2. What is your policy on revisions or pickups?

Voice actors fix their own performance mistakes for free but charge a separate billing fee for client script rewrites.

This protects both the producer and the talent. You need to know the policy before you sign a contract. Talent mistakes are free. Client rewrites cost money.

Ask the voice actor to define their specific revision policy in writing. Because nothing derails a production budget faster than unexpected expenses.

3. How fast can you record my script?

Standard turnaround time for non-broadcast narration is 24-48 hours, while broadcast commercial spots and promos sometimes require same-day delivery.

The timeline dictates your workflow. State exactly when the audition must be submitted and outline exactly when the final audio files are due after you cast the project. Clear timelines keep your production moving forward on time.

And you need to verify the delivery method. Specify if you want an mp3 file or a high-resolution wav file. Tell the voice actor to deliver the files via your preferred platform like Dropbox, Google Drive, or WeTransfer.   

4. Can I direct you live during the recording?

Producers direct voice actors live using remote recording software like Source-Connect or standard conferencing tools like Zoom.   

Tell the voice actor if you require a live directed session via Zoom or Source-Connect. Or you can tell them they will self-direct on their own time, which is known as asynchronous directing.

Live direction guarantees you get exactly what you want in real time. Asynchronous direction saves you scheduling headaches. Pick the one that fits your workflow and ask the talent if their home studio supports it.

5. When should a company use a human voice actor versus an AI voice clone for corporate learning?

Human voice actors are required for projects that demand nuance & emotional engagement, whereas AI voice clones suit more informative, less personable content.

Tell the voice actor exactly who the audience is. An IT professional trying to integrate artificial intelligence into their workflow needs a different delivery than a tired parent looking for a better mop. Knowing the target audience changes how a voice actor approaches the read.

AI clones lack the ability to adapt to that emotional context. Human voice actors keep employees engaged during a forty-minute compliance course. Use AI for quick data points. Hire a human to drive retention and empathy.

From my village to yours, this is Tom Dheere, the H is Silent, but I'm Not.

Thanks For Reading!

To learn more about me, hear some samples, or download my demos, just go to www.tomdheere.com.

Tom Dheere is a 30-year veteran voice actor specializing in corporate narration and commercials. Known as a "street-smart professor," he blends his theater-based training and guy-next-door performance style with mastery over voice over project management .

When he isn’t in the booth, he provides strategic business consulting at VOStrategist.com and produces the comic book Agent 1.22.

This content targets Voice Seekers looking for direct, risk-managed booking solutions.