A VO's Journey: Voiceover and More Voice Over
Ep. 296: What Is A Money Voice
Hosted by Anthony Pica with Gabby
December 11, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the concept of the "money voice" for voice actors: the unique vocal quality or delivery style that consistently gets a talent booked for paid work. Host Anthony Pica and guest/co-host Gabby dive into their own journeys discovering their money voices, offer practical advice for voice talent developing their sound, and share candid stories illustrating the psychological and technical hurdles many face in the process.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Defining the “Money Voice”

• Anthony’s Story: Anthony describes his early desperation to book paid gigs, which led him to meticulously study what styles were getting other similar voice actors hired. He deliberately adjusted his vocal placement, tone, and delivery to align with market demand.

  • Quote: "Your money voice is the voice that makes you money." — Anthony (05:41)

• Gabby’s Take: Gabby highlights that the process isn’t always straightforward; for many, finding their signature or "money" read is about letting go of preconceptions about how they “should” sound.

  • Quote: "The first thing is letting go of that expectation that we all hold on to, of what we're supposed to sound like, because that truly is the thing that, for many of us, is what holds us back." — Gabby (06:53)

2. The Journey from Announcery to Conversational

• Both hosts recount starting out overly polished and “shiny”—delivering lines with exaggerated excitement or precision, only to later realize clients wanted something more relaxed and natural.

  • Quote: "At the beginning of my journey, I was very announcery... speaking too darn good, if you ever heard that." — Anthony (09:15)

• Anthony details practical changes:

  • Lowering vocal pitch
  • Adding glottal/“wisdom” qualities for age-appropriate roles
  • Pacing reads more conversationally with natural pauses
  • Learning by improvising instead of relying strictly on scripts

• Memorable Moment: Anthony shares how an improvised spot, inspired by a vivid mental image, became his demo’s staple and most-requested style.

  • Quote: "I get in my booth, I close my eyes, and I'm... Imagine I'm on top of this hill, coming out of my house, looking over the pasture, watching a Ford truck drive. Right. And I got a cup of coffee in my hand. And this created... my iconic read... wherever I go, wherever I put it, people to this day say, I want you to do that. That spot, that voice." — Anthony (10:10)

3. The Myth of “Just Be Yourself”

• Both hosts argue that even “natural” reads are performances and characters in their own right.

  • Quote: "We're never us. That is the... you know, so that misnomer, that idea of just be yourself, it's total BS, in my opinion." — Gabby (12:44)
  • Quote: "If I bring me to the table... you're gonna hate it." — Gabby (12:31)

• Gabby frequently uses scripted improvisation exercises with her students to access a more genuine vocal quality.

4. Getting Comfortable With the Mic

• Anthony candidly reveals how intimidating speaking to a microphone can be, even after working as an actor and teacher. He describes the ongoing struggle to “find his voice” with every take, which only improved when he let go of self-consciousness and adopted a “tell me, don’t sell me” mindset.

  • Quote: "There was a period of time where I was like... every time I started to narrate, I was trying to find... how I was going to do." — Anthony (16:59)

• Gabby draws parallels to how people overthink photos or speaking on camera, emphasizing that the best results often happen candidly.

5. Do Less—And Why That Works

• Both hosts recount examples where less effort and more authenticity resulted in better, more “bookable” reads.

  • Gabby’s Anecdote: A mentee felt like she “didn’t do anything” after a client repeatedly asked her to pull back. It turned out to be her most successful approach.
  • Quote: "She walked out of the booth... she was like, I didn't do anything. They kept asking me to do less... And I'm like, congratulations." — Gabby (18:44)

• Anthony: “It feels less sometimes, right?” (17:22)

6. Practical Tips for Discovering Your Money Voice

• Improvise reads about real-life products you like—no script (Gabby’s trick for helping talent find their natural tone).

• Riff and talk like a human on mic, not just perform.

• Warm up—or even, humorously, “have a couple beers”—to loosen up (20:25).

• Listen to casual voicemails you’ve left for friends and family; compare to your “performance” voice.

  • Quote: "You're going to hear... how different you are in that... where, again, there's no expectation. You're just talking, you're just, you know..." — Gabby (21:32)

• Play back your work in different environments (like a car stereo) to truly hear how you sound in the world.

7. Importance of Feedback and Peer Critique

• Gabby stresses the value of having other actors describe your voice and delivery, noting it can reveal how you’re truly coming across and where you fit in the market (22:26).

• Anthony connects this to the value of actors critiquing themselves and each other to accelerate growth.

8. Compare and Contrast For Growth

• Both recommend listening critically to working voice actors—especially those in your demographic or market niche—to spot trends in what's working, then compare those elements to your own reads.

  • Quote: “If you want to find your money voice... you got to go listen to voice actors.” — Anthony (23:24)

• Gabby previews that a future episode will focus on competitive analysis and market trends.

Notable Quotes & Moments (With Timestamps)

• "Your money voice is the voice that makes you money." — Anthony (05:41)
• "The first thing is letting go of that expectation that we all hold on to..." — Gabby (06:53)
• "I get in my booth... and this created... my iconic read." — Anthony (10:10)
• "We're never us. That misnomer, that idea of just be yourself, it's total BS, in my opinion." — Gabby (12:44)
• "If I bring me to the table... you're gonna hate it." — Gabby (12:31)
• "There was a period of time where I was like... every time I started to narrate, I was trying to find... how I was going to do." — Anthony (16:59)
• "She walked out of the booth... she was like, I didn't do anything. They kept asking me to do less... And I'm like, congratulations." — Gabby (18:44)
• "If you want to find your money voice... you got to go listen to voice actors." — Anthony (23:24)

Suggested Listening Timestamps

• What is a Money Voice? Anthony’s Story: 03:11–06:50
• Gabby on Letting Go of “Should” and Finding Your Signature: 06:53–08:03
• Technical and Emotional Tweaks to Achieve Your Money Voice: 09:15–12:11
• Improvising for Authentic Reads: 13:03–14:21
• Overcoming Mic Anxiety and “Finding Your Voice”: 14:21–17:00
• Do Less To Say More (Gabby’s Client Story): 18:00–18:56
• Tricks for Getting Natural Reads: 20:25–22:26
• Peer Feedback and Market Comparison: 22:26–23:44
• Concluding Thoughts (and Preview of Next Episode): 24:42–25:05

Tone & Style

Anthony and Gabby keep the tone conversational, candid, and supportive—infused with humor ("have a couple beers...approach the mic!") and a willingness to admit vulnerability and uncertainty. Both actively draw on their acting and coaching backgrounds, using real-world anecdotes and sharing both successes and stumbles. The advice is consistently practical, grounded in lived experience, and focused on encouraging experimentation and self-acceptance.

Summary Takeaway:
For voice actors, the “money voice” isn’t just about having a great sound. It’s about continuous self-discovery, adaptation, and letting go of perfectionist and inauthentic tendencies. Experimentation, feedback, and a willingness to sound less “performed” and more real lead most reliably to a sustainable, hire-worthy sound.

Next Episode Preview:
Gabby hints at a follow-up episode on "competitive analysis"—breaking down how to study others’ styles and figure out your place in the market.