Podcast Summary: A VO's Journey – Ep. 270 "Audition, Audition, Audition For Voice Over Work"

Host: Anthony Pica
Date: May 17, 2024

Episode Overview

In episode 270, Anthony Pica discusses the foundational principle for any aspiring or professional voice actor: “Audition, audition, audition until you’re blue in the face.” He explores the mindset, practicalities, and necessary resilience tied to frequent auditioning, providing both philosophical context and actionable advice for VO artists determined to build a sustainable business. The talk is engaging, unscripted, and laced with Anthony’s coaching wisdom and candid tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Reality and Psychology of Auditioning

• The Love-Hate Relationship with Auditions (03:00):
  Anthony opens up about his own fluctuating motivation:

  • “Some days I’m all about auditioning, and I’m all in. Other days... I don’t want to audition.”
    (Anthony, 03:12)
  • He asserts most voice actors feel the same due to the repetitive, often unrewarded nature of auditioning.

• Lack of Feedback from Clients (04:15):

  • Most auditions receive no response, sometimes not even a notification that the submission was listened to. This can be deeply frustrating and demotivating.

• Auditioning is Not a Comment on Talent (08:00):

  • “I’ll never be cast in a movie as a six-foot-five basketball player. I’m not six-foot-five… That has nothing to do with how good or bad I am.”
    (Anthony, 08:31)
  • Casting is about fit, not just skill, and performers should not internalize rejection.

• Everyone Has a Place in the Industry (09:01):

  • “All of us have a place in what we do. Doesn’t matter whether you’re short, tall, skinny, fat, young, old... There is so much room for all of us.”
    (Anthony, 09:12)
  • Addresses common self-doubts about voice suitability.

The Strategic Importance of Auditioning

• Auditioning as the Core Business Activity (05:18):

  • “Don’t forget ever… the main goal of a business is to get clients… the fewest of things that will get us work.”
  • Emphasizes that, despite other necessary business tasks, auditioning should always be a top priority.

• The Audition as a Sifting Process (11:40):

  • Clients and creators are searching for something they often cannot fully articulate; auditions help them “sift through the ocean of talent.”

• You Rarely Get Clear Instructions (13:25):

  • Audition postings often have little context or character description. The performer must fill in gaps with their own creative interpretation.

Acting Technique: Bringing Character to Auditions

• Build Opinions and Layers into Every Performance (15:30):

  • Drawing from recent Academy workshops, Anthony urges actors to assign a unique outlook or “opinion” to their character, elevating their read above simply “saying the words.”

• Pretend and Play (20:00):

  • “How good do you pretend? That’s it… It goes back to when we were kids and we were pretending.”
  • Voice acting is fundamentally imaginative, requiring performers to invent backstory and emotion even for brief commercial scripts (e.g., “EA Sports”).

How (and How Much) to Audition

• Volume: Audition Until You’re Blue in the Face (22:15):

  • “What does that mean? As many as you possibly can, literally… Two to three or four a week is not enough.”
  • A high audition count increases odds and builds confidence.

• Don’t Rely on "Perfect Fit" Filtering (22:32):

  • “They could be looking for you exactly… They have no clue how to put that down. So all they can write is put the audition out there and listen.”

• Self-Assessment and Improvement (25:25):

  • Sometimes, repeated rejection is a sign that your audio quality or acting needs refinement. Surround yourself with mentors or peers who can provide honest, informed feedback.

• Build Confidence Through Auditioning (27:45):

  • “One of the only ways you build real confidence is by doing this, getting booked… job after job after job. It takes time to build a business, but it also takes time for you to build confidence.”
  • The path from self-doubt to self-assurance is paved with repeated action and wins, however gradual.

• Efficient Auditioning (30:13):

  • Aim for 5–10 minutes per audition; with practice, you can hit 6–8 auditions an hour.
  • “If it’s taking you that long, you should be shooting for five to ten minutes an audition. I don’t care what it is…”

• Ignore Platform “Penalties” and Naysayers (34:07):

  • Don’t hold back out of fear of audition “penalties” on platforms. Experiment and push through—perseverance trumps caution against imaginary consequences.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Auditioning as Core Work:

  • “Our main job is to do only things that are going to get us work.” (Anthony, 05:34)

• On Self-Doubt:

  • “I work with so many people who fear they’re too young, they’re too old, their voice is too high-pitched, their voice is too deep… There is so much room for all of us.” (Anthony, 09:09)

• On the Art of Pretending:

  • “Acting in general—how good do you pretend? That’s it.” (Anthony, 20:27)

• On Consistency:

  • “You have to break through all of that. Not saying to be dumb about what you’re doing… but don’t stop. Ever.” (Anthony, 34:35)

• On Confidence:

  • “You will still… not feel fully confident… until you do these things like auditioning until you’re blue in the face, getting work…” (Anthony, 28:15)

Practical Calls to Action

• Track Your Auditions (31:53):

  • Log your audition activity daily to ensure consistent effort and improvement.

• Regularity is Key (33:40):

  • Never stop auditioning, even when busy—a steady stream avoids the feast-or-famine cycle.

Closing Thoughts & Industry Reminders

• Embrace the Cyclical Nature of VO Business (38:22):

  • The industry has ups and downs (notably, quieter summers), but persistence is vital.
  • “Summer typically is very chaotic or sporadic… sometimes you get good business, sometimes it seems dead. Just remember that.”

• Giveaways and Community:

  • As the show approaches the 300th episode, Anthony hints at community events and ongoing Academy expansion.

Episode Timestamps

• 00:00–03:00: Episode introduction; Anthony's milestone reflections.
• 03:00–06:00: Love/hate for auditioning and business priorities.
• 08:00–10:00: Auditions aren’t a talent referendum; inclusiveness of voiceover.
• 13:25–17:00: Lack of audition information and the performer's creative challenge.
• 20:00–23:45: The “art of pretending” and interpreting every script as a character.
• 25:25–30:12: Audition volume, feedback, and how confidence is built.
• 30:13–34:00: Audition efficiency; advice to ignore platform limitations.
• 38:22–End: Industry cycles; encouragement to persist.

Final Takeaways

Anthony Pica’s message is clear:
The more you audition, the better your chances—not just for booking jobs, but for growing your skill, confidence, and career. Commit daily, treat auditioning as your primary job function, and trust that the right clients are looking for your unique sound, even if you don’t know it yet. As Anthony urges:

“Stay with it, do it, dog it over, over again.” (Anthony, 36:55)