Finding the Perfect Voice Over Coach for You: The Goldilocks Approach

Coaching. Everyone says you need it. Why? Is it because many of us grew up playing sports and we’re just used to having a leader to follow? Or is it because gyms have trained us to believe that if we really want to hit our goals, we must have coaching? Why has relying on our own gut instinct become passé?

I’ll tell you why: because our gut is locked in time. Probably somewhere in our late teens or early 20’s. That’s when we played team sports, and when we most likely hit the gym the hardest. (at a time when we could maintain our figures with a diet of vodka and cigarettes, amiright?!)

But media? It moves on. It doesn’t care about your favorite cereal ads you watched during Saturday morning cartoons, that pivotal show from your teen years (hello Moonlighting), or your all-time favorite movie taking you Back to the Future. Media is about what’s new and what’s next.

And that’s exactly what a great voice over coach stays on top of: what’s trending right now and where things are headed.

I’m a victim of ’70s and ’80s TV and radio. Ya know, a time when every syllable was pronounced (I give you “impr-nt”). When clarity of message was valued more than how you felt about the product. Ahhh..the good old days, when emotional connection was almost nonexistent. And YouTube? Never heard of it.

But now, you must sell, without selling. You need to humanize the brand (whose name you may never utter, by the way). Listeners and viewers should feel like you’re a friend who really cares about them and what they care about, while you sip imaginary coffee. Don't forget the coffee. casting spect will tell you how important that is. Oh, and how could I forget…be “conversational.” Always “conversational.” Maddening.

Enter the coach.

Ideally, your coach has their finger on the pulse of media today, so they know where to guide you. For our purposes, let’s just assume they all do.

The thing to watch out for is how they communicate. Are they quick to analyze your challenge? Do they know how to tell you to do it differently? What language do they use in directing you? Does it sound natural to you, or like they’re speaking another language entirely? Here’s a biggie: how do they organize their thoughts and advance the student? And how are they at delivering less-than-positive feedback?

I’ve worked with a bunch of different voice over coaches, and each time I’ve hoped that this would be the one who could beat core concepts, like conversationality, into my thick skull.

Gotta be honest. I’ve struggled. A lot of coaches try to do this with feeling. That doesn’t really work for me. I’m a process girl. If you pinpoint the mechanics of a skill, I will learn to execute and deploy those techniques as needed. I can do the ad libs. I’ve had more conversations with my imaginary friends than I care to count. What I was searching for was someone who would approach a script like a puzzle to be solved. 

How do you know this piece goes there? Because of what’s around it.

Ladies and gentlemen...Lili Wexu!

I first found Lili’s YouTube tips. They gave me little nuggets I still have posted on my monitor today. Then I discovered her self-paced course, VO Audition Power Moves. Wow. Talk about analysis! Could this be the one?

At the end of the course, I worried she might be too advanced for me, but I booked an exploratory call anyway. To my delight, she not only listened to who I am and what I wanted to accomplish—she got me. She knew exactly what the issues were, had a plan to address them, and most importantly, I felt an instant connection.

I joined one of her small workout groups and was blown away. Each time, I came away with actionable tips. Then I was assigned a script to apply those tips to, and we reviewed it together. The next week, she added another technique and another script. A process! I was in heaven.

Most importantly, I’m seeing it seep into my daily audition routine. That means it’s making a real, impactful difference. I feel like those people in Gain ads who combine their scent beads and are absolutely rapturous.

So, I believe I’ve found the coach for me. But you’ll have your own criteria. Everyone responds differently, so I can’t tell you who your personality will click with. But I can give you some suggestions for vetting a voice over coach:

• Coaches specialize. Don’t book an animation coach if you want to do medical narration.

  
  

• Do your research. Watch interviews, listen to how they talk, read reviews, and check their track record. Listen to their students’ demos—do they sound like you, or like you’d like to sound? Would you want to share a meal with them?

  
  

• Budget carefully. Some offer packages if you book multiple sessions. But beware of those who say, “Buy my package of six coaching sessions and you’ll walk away with a shiny new demo.” No one can tell you up front how many sessions it takes to be demo-ready. Caveat emptor!

  
  

• Don’t overlook organizations. Resources like Gravy for the Brain or the Global Voice Acting Academy (GVAA) can be incredibly valuable. I’ve had a GVAA membership for years, and their twice-monthly group workout has been a huge help both in coaching and in camaraderie.

Other coaches I’ve worked with who are definitely worth considering:

• Anne Ganguzza (aka: the toughest coach you'll ever love)

• Mary Lynn Wissner

• Steven Reisberg

• Alysa Jayson

• Linda Bruno

• David Rosenthal

I hope this read helps you find that special, pivotal coaching experience. If you have a favorite coach, share it in the comments. I’d love to hear who’s been instrumental in your journey as a voice actor!