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Is Age a Factor In Voice Over? Can We Sound Too Old? Or Just Young Enough?

April 9th, 2009 Posted in General Info, Marketing

The great thing about voice over is anonymity. We get to be heard and not seen. So, it makes sense that you can be any age and be successful as a voice actor. Certainly there are voice over jobs for all ages, but is there more work for the younger sounding voices, especially when it comes to women?

Seems like when I hear commercials, the women often sound like they’re in their 20s. Like say, the Oreo commercial I just saw on TV (a 20 something female voice) followed by the older male voices of GM and HSBC Direct. Is it the same in voice over as in other parts of the entertainment industry, where being (or sounding) 18-35 is where the gold is?

But, you may look and be older, yet SOUND so much younger. A winning combination in voice over. You get to have the wisdom (hopefully) of age and the opportunity of youth. Or at least sounding youthful. Unfortunately, sounding young is mostly genetic. I didn’t sound 20 when I was 20.

So, is there more work for younger voices? Yet, there are 78 million baby boomers, the biggest consumer segment of the population. Why aren’t there more voice over jobs for people who are older or who at least sound that way? (Of course there are plenty of those ED and AARP on-camera commercials)

-Tracy Pattin

  1. 2 Responses to “Is Age a Factor In Voice Over? Can We Sound Too Old? Or Just Young Enough?”

  2. By Jack Hanlon on Apr 10, 2009

    WOAH ! THIS IS A GOOD ONE FOR ME , I HAVE BEEN WONDERING ABOUT THIS FOR A TIME NOW , I HAVE GOOD GENETICS IN MY VOICE , I SOUND LIKE 22 YEARS , BUT I AM 53 YEARS YOUNG , SO I HAVE BEEN WONDERING IF IT IS TO LATE TO START IN VOICE OVERS , HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE , WHO KNOWS , MAYBE I AM WASTING MY TIME , BUT AT LEAST I TRIED AND DIDN’T DO ANYTHING , AND TRY TO HAVE FUN DOING IT , I AM SO GLAD I AM A SUBSCRIBER TO V/B .

    JACK

  3. By Tracy Pattin on Apr 10, 2009

    Thanks for your comments, Jack. I’ll be interested to see if you get hired to do 20 something roles!

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