By Peter K. O’Connell

There are some people (new voiceover talent) who will read this blog and think, “Once I have a voiceover agent, I will truly be a professional!” and others (experienced voiceover talent) who will think, “Once I sign with this specific agent, my career will be fast-tracked!”

Well, the reality is that the voiceover industry has returned to the days of the Wild West in the past 5 years, with the onslaught of thousands of cranks with a computer microphone telling the world they are “professional” voiceover talents and then AI buying or stealing professional voices and some companies thinking, “That’s good enough.” (Editor’s note. If an AI voice IS “good enough,” rest assured your company’s product or service likely isn’t good enough and actually probably sucks.)

Obviously, I’m partial and support human voices. #humanvoice

But all this does come back to what role a voiceover agent can play in a present day voice actor’s career.

Does the topic matter? Yes. Here are just some recent examples of how I know.

• I was at a professional voiceover conference in October and one of the most discussed seminars was on the topic of getting an agent
• Personally, after I recently announced I had agreed to sign with a new agent in Atlanta, the “how-to’s” and “why-for” calls and questions about getting an agent came flooding in to me

Evidently, based my *exhaustive* research noted above, getting an agent is still a hot topic…so here we go.

I know I have covered this topic over the years here, but given the current climate (see Wild West), I think it’s worth addressing in the VO world of 2026.

Some general opinions before I begin answering specific questions.

• I think having a voiceover agent is valuable, with one codicil. It has to be THE RIGHT VOICEOVER AGENT.
  • The right VO agent (my definition) means an agent or agency that is generally well spoken of in rooms where they do not stand (check with other voice talents, especially those with the representation you seek).
  • The right VO agent is someone who sends you auditions (believe it or not, some don’t), answers your call in a reasonable amount of time when you have a question, can be trusted to properly negotiate a deal that you might actually bring to them, and has a good, honest ear when you ask for feedback on your latest demo. (These are the things I specifically look for in a voice agent. Your mileage may vary.)
  • And to be fair, this is a business relationship. You need to have a vocal type and range that an agency can sell. Yes, they represent you, but YOU ALSO REPRESENT THEM!

There are certainly more questions, but you only get 10 of the questions I’m most frequently asked about voiceover agents (more questions mean you must pay me to get answers 🙂 ).

One last point of clarification.

There is a difference between voiceover agents and talent management companies. In this post, I will only be discussing voiceover agents. Onward!

1. Do I need a voiceover agent to get voice acting work?

No, but it certainly does not hurt your voiceover business to have an agent representing you on opportunities you might not otherwise receive. In fact, having a GOOD voiceover agent can help your career immeasurably. But also don’t get lazy. Even though I feel like everyone should already know this… I will post this reminder: a (good) voiceover agent is a valuable resource in the marketing and sales of your voiceover skill set, BUT an agent is only *A* resource. An agent cannot be the only resource to sell and market your professional voice talents. Voice actors with agents still need to network with video production houses, ad agency creative directors, digital producers and marketing leaders. What about your social media efforts, a networking and interaction plan for LinkedIn contacts, what about direct mail, email blasts, in-person networking at a local or regional level? ALL these things PLUS your voiceover agents are important parts of your sales and marketing efforts. Do ALL of them.

2. What does a voiceover agent actually do for a voice actor?

Well, the hopeful but not guaranteed answer is that a voiceover agent gets a voice talent new voice opportunities and JOBS. But there’s more. As I alluded to earlier, a voiceover agent is a professional you feel you can trust to properly negotiate a deal that you might actually bring to them and who has a good, honest ear when you ask for feedback on your latest demo. If there is strong, on-going, two-way communication (and that’s also on you, VO, not just the agent), it can be an indispensable relationship. Also, depending on the agent or the agency, there can be a rise in professional credibility when a voice actor has certain representation.

3. How do I get a voiceover agent?

You get some work under your belt AFTER you get proper, professional voiceover training and professional production of quality commercial and narration demos. In other words, you need to be ready (see next question). Bluntly, you very likely will not get an agent right out of the gate. Why? Well, look at it from the agent’s perspective. You have to trust that they’ll get you work and represent you well, BUT (importantly) they have to trust that you’ve proven yourself as a quality performer and professional who won’t hurt the agency’s reputation. And just being straight, you need to have a voice they think they can make money off of. Like I’ve been saying, it’s a business relationship.

4. How do I know when I’m ready for a voiceover agent?

Oh, you’ll love this answer…it depends! Stop rolling your eyes. I’m not done. All I mean is it’s different for everyone. Generally speaking (and again, your mileage may vary), you’ll know you’re ready when your VO training and demos have helped you land some business on your own. Local clients are good, regional voiceover clients are even better, and national clients usually get the fastest response. The reason for this is that the agent can see you’ve gotten some good work on your own, so the agent can reasonably assume he or she can build a book of business off you. It’s important for your own business that you have a really good website, but agents like to see that as well so they can read about you and your work. A good voiceover resume or credits list also makes it look like you have your professional act together. (Need an example of what that VO resume can look like? Here’s Mine.) When you read that resume and look at what you’ve accomplished, likely you’ll have a gut feel as to whether you’re ready to start talking with voiceover agents about representation.

5. What should I send when submitting to a voiceover agency?

The most important thing you can submit to a voiceover agent isn’t a thing you submit. If you have an agency you have in mind (and I recommend starting with a regional VO agent as opposed to a national VO agent, but you do you), I recommend you review their roster of talent. If someone on that roster is a good friend and peer (I did not say acquaintance) who has supported your career and knows your abilities (and you feel comfortable doing so), ask if they would make an introduction fon your behalf to their agent. That introduction will not guarantee a yes or even an email from an agent, but it adds significant credibility to your career if someone the agent already knows, trusts and works for makes an introduction. Likely the agent will want up to send, send a commercial demo, a narration demo, a VO resume and your contact info. Note: sometimes even friends are not comfortable making such an introduction when asked. Don’t be offended. Move on. Sans peer introduction, connect with the agent on LinkedIn, craft an introductory email after the connection and work to establish a relationship if not a phone conversation. It’s not always easy with an agent with whom you have no relationship — but try and get a phone conversation with them.

6. How do I choose the right voiceover agent, and what are the red flags?

This is 100% where your network of voiceover friends comes in. Don’t have any? Join World Voices. People who have been around awhile and have connections (or experiences) will often share their insights. Voice actors, if you haven’t noticed, are a chatty bunch. If there are hot agents or trouble spots, you’ll hear about it.

7. How much commission do voiceover agents take, and should I ever pay upfront?

On commission, again, it depends. I’ve seen commissions anywhere from 10% to 20% based on a variety of factors including but not limited to union status, terms of the job, project type and more. Remember, agents often charge the client a commission on the job as well. A legit agent will spell out terms before you start. If you like the terms, move forward. If not, do not move forward. No agent I’ve ever worked with has charged me a fee for working with them. In my opinion, no agent should. A few have tried, and I chose to not work with them.

8. Can I have more than one voiceover agent in different markets?

Say it with me…it depends! I have some agents who want exclusivity in their primary markets. Some don’t care. If it’s your first agent, likely that won’t matter too much to you. Sidebar…pay attention to agency contracts…agents will often have wording that any client they book for you during your time together will be commissionable in some way to the agency even if you both no longer work together. Terms and commission rates for your post-mortem agent relationship should be spelled out in the agreement.

9. Can I get a voiceover agent if I’m non-union?

Yes, but it depends on the agency. There are some agents that strictly work with union talent. If they do and you aren’t in the union, that makes you an unlikely but not impossible match. But there are many more agencies that work with union and non-union talent, especially at the regional agency level.

10. What should I do if my voiceover agent isn’t sending me auditions?

This is where communication comes in. Sometimes it’s something as simple as a technical glitch that the agent doesn’t know is a problem (which has happened to all of us), or it may be more complicated, as when an agency shuts down and doesn’t tell anyone (yup, I’ve been involved in that). The best course of action is to send an email (to have written proof you’ve reached out if things get ugly and especially if they owe you money AND auditions) and make a follow-up phone call. I like the phone call and immediate email follow-up summarizing the plan you discussed on the call. Ultimately, if they don’t respond or don’t send you auditions after some months of attempted communication, send them an email terminating the business relationship and voiding all previous agreements between the parties based on the agent’s inability to execute the terms of the agreement and lack of responsiveness to your requests.

About American Male Voiceover Talent Peter K. O’Connell

Peter K. O’Connell is an award-winning voice actor, broadcaster, live announcer and emcee who has been working behind microphones since 1982.

He voices commercials, narration and character roles and provides live Voice of God announcing and emcee services for corporate events, conferences and awards programs nationwide.

Well known as “Your Friendly, Neighborhood Voiceover Talent,” O’Connell has worked with clients including Disney Cruise Line, Ford, PBS, IBM and Amazon Web Services.

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ATLANTA, GA– November 6, 2026 – – American voice actor Peter K. O’Connell has agreed to voiceover representation across the Southeastern United States with Atlanta-based Evolve Talent Management.

O’Connell joins Evolve’s voiceover roster with more than four decades of experience as a voice talent. His work includes projects for Disney Cruise Line, Ford, PBS, IBM and Amazon Web Services, among others.

Known as “Your Friendly, Neighborhood Voiceover Talent,” O’Connell brings a producer-friendly approach to all his recordings. His work ranges from warm, conversational reads to authoritative performances for commercials, corporate narration, television promos, radio imaging and character roles. He also provides live announcing and emceeing for corporate events, awards programs and fundraisers.

O’Connell offers remotely directed sessions through Source-Connect, fast turnaround and responsive pickups for clients worldwide.

For Southeast booking inquiries, visit Evolve Talent Management. O’Connell’s voiceover demos are available on their website and at audioconnell.com.

WATCH BRIEF VOICEOVER DEMO VIDEO
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About Peter K. O’Connell

Peter K. O’Connell is a professional voice actor and live announcer (Voice of God) whose work spans commercial advertising, narration, and branded content for national and international clients.

His voice can be heard in campaigns and productions for brands including iHeartMedia, Crest, SiriusXM Media, Maaco and Tic Tac.

The Buffalo-born O’Connell now operates audio’connell Voiceover Talent Studios in Raleigh, North Carolina, a Source-Connect-equipped voiceover studio supporting remote commercial and narration production for clients worldwide.

About Evolve Talent Management
Led by agency president Lina Ramirez-Mills, former Head of Commercial & Voiceover at Formation Talent Agency (previously known as People Store), Evolve Talent Management is a boutique talent representation firm based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Ramirez-Mills brings significant experience negotiating high-profile campaigns and securing partnerships across voiceover, on-camera and content creator projects. The company keeps its roster intentionally small to provide individual attention, career planning and advocacy for its artists. Evolve works with studios, brands and casting professionals to secure opportunities for the talent it represents.

For more information, visit evolvetalentmgt.com.

CONTACT:

Peter K. O’Connell

Your Friendly, Neighborhood Voiceover Talent

audio’connell Voiceover Talent

PH.    +01 716-572-1800 & +01 919-283-1516

E-M.  peter@audioconnell.com

WEB. audioconnell.com

COMPANY MEDIA CENTER:

http://www.audioconnell.com/media

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In November 2022, the National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA) was founded.

In October of 2026, I joined.

Why the delay?

Well, as longtime readers here know, I am never one to hop on a trend, be the first in line or otherwise jump on a bandwagon.

But beyond that, voiceover has had its share of professional member associations over my four-plus decades, and there’s no value in getting in early until a group truly finds its footing.

NAVA has blossomed. It’s time.

NAVA’s Advocacy for Voice Actors

For those who might not know, the National Association of Voice Actors is a non-profit association created to advocate for and promote the advancement of the voice acting industry through action, education, inclusion, and benefits.

Under the direction of its president, Tim Friedlander, NAVA has made some impressive strides, most especially in voice actors’ battle against AI. This is the work that has grabbed my attention.

Through its lobbying efforts at the state and federal levels, NAVA has raised awareness of AI concerns for voice actors and pushed for meaningful solutions.

One example of legislative progress is California’s recently passed SB 1050, which requires advertisers to disclose when an ad uses a “synthetic performer” instead of a human performer.

AI Voiceover: The Stakes for Creatives and Brands

We all know artificial intelligence offers individuals and businesses a great deal of creative freedom to produce written words, video, and audio without hiring people to write, film or perform that content.

While that may be cute for home use, using it commercially creates problems for both the people who make a living doing creative work and the brands that choose to replace those creatives.

Obviously, for creatives like me, AI-produced audio can dilute or remove revenues from our businesses. When AI voiceover replaces a paid human performance, that’s lost work.

But I believe the cost savings brands think they are achieving can come at a price, too.

As a consumer, I can feel misled when I discover that a brand’s message, one I may have related to, was delivered by completely computer-generated people and voices imagined by an AI program. I question the authenticity of the message and the brand behind it.

For me, that’s part of what gets lost when brands replace human voiceover with a synthetic performance.

The challenges presented to all of us by AI (in every business and every walk of life) are far from over, but with work from organizations like NAVA, I believe we in the voiceover world at least have a voice, if not a path forward.

Tags: commentary, NAVA, voiceover // Add Comment »

Those who know me know that I often go out for breakfast.

It’s nothing fancy, mind you…in Buffalo it was Bagel Bros. and then Bagel Jays. Here in Raleigh and Cary, I’m often at NYBD Bagels. A simple bagel and my Pepsi to start my day usually.

Recently, I was at a business networking event in Raleigh, Connect Local, and the conversation with one of the folks there moved on to breakfast places and the one recommended to me was Mission Market on N. Salem St. in Apex.

Well, I held on to that nugget until this week and I checked their menu online…it included one of my favorite things…a croissant with egg and ham. This is a delicacy that my friends at Arby’s used to make when Arby’s offered breakfast in the morning in the ’80s (yes, Dayton, OH).

So this morning after drop-off at school, I made my way to the Mission Market after I got my fountain Pepsi — bottle and can sodas cannot compare.

It was still around 7:30-7:45 so it was still kinda o’dark thirty – the sun was thinking about coming up and starting to stretch its rays. N. Salem is still under construction and I said a prayer for all the businesses because construction is NOT helping business…it will, but there is pain now.

Easy parking, lovely space and about 5 of us in this restaurant with plenty of room.

“The Savory,” sans cheese, was just what I wanted and I loved it. Great food, nice staff and a quiet place to read my phone before I started my day.

So as I was reading the news of the day – no, not social media – in this quiet space, a voice announces: “PETER!”

OK, I’ll admit it: I almost peed a little, I was so startled and all eyes in the place darted to me.

Well, I was pleased to see it was none other than Amy Riley from the Apex Chamber of Commerce. Last March, Amy and I worked together when I was the emcee for the Apex Chamber of Commerce Run The Peak 5K/10K.

Very happy to see her.

She was carrying some signage and bags…and I said, “What’s up?”

Turns out the Apex Chamber was having an AM Networking event at Mission Market (sponsored by Fidelity Bank) starting at 8:30. Very fortuitous.

Amy (and a new Chamber employee – also Amy) were setting up and chatting and then the Mission Market exploded with people…like I said in the title, a networking meeting broke out!

They invited me to stay and visit with folks. I got to meet the new executive director of the Apex Chamber, the very nice Darla Bryant. Fun fact about her is that she’s great pals with Nita Whitaker, the wife of voiceover legend Don LaFontaine.

So a quiet Thursday morning quickly became not so quiet…and I was fine with that.

Tags: commentary, live announcing, networking // Add Comment »

by Peter K. O’Connell

I realize I risk coming across as the “You Kids Get Off My Lawn” old man when I say this, but your font size is shamefully small.

I can’t easily read many of them and no, it’s not my eyeglasses prescription.

Your font is teeny tiny.

Specifically, your business card font size.

People have trouble reading it. This is not a joke. No punchline ahead. I am being completely serious.

If you see someone squinting or putting on glasses to read your card, you are risking your burgeoning sales relationship for no good reason.

You and I quietly judge people all day long…same in a business setting. But if you can avoid making a bad first impression (say, with an unreadable business card) wouldn’t you want to swerve away from that mistake?

I respect that there are electronic business cards and direct contact transfer apps and blah, blah…people still use business cards, A LOT, whether tech nerds like it or not.

And somewhere along the way, in a memo I never received from some invisible business card design guru, it was decided that:

• Cool design included really small fonts, like smaller than 7pt
• Font should be difficult to read (they think the “KISS” principle does not apply to their creative genius)
• Tiny white lettering on very dark backgrounds that often don’t contrast or reproduce well in the printing process are on trend

I have neither the time nor the inclination to do the research to prove I am right about how wrong they are but I am right about this, I am 100% sure.

What causes these business card font size issues, you ask? Oh, I’d love to tell you:

• Designers and business owners wanna be sleek
• They wanna be cool
• They want TONS of white space on a 3.5 × 2 inch piece of card stock…so smaller fonts are better, they think (and no they are not)
• People are also buying business cards online and often designing cards themselves— knowing nothing about design while also looking at a design template image blown up to a much bigger size on their large monitor than what will be a 3.5 × 2 inch card
• Vomiting too many words onto that 3.5 × 2 inch card….treating the card like a folded 8.5” x 3.69” brochure (which it ain’t!!)
• Business people also ignore the purpose and value of business cards as a communication tool first and branding tool second

So how will this problem be solved?

Well it won’t be solved because the problem involves people and people are stupid (I know this because I are a people) and people skip the simple stuff thinking it’s not important and… that’s why the world exploded and we all died, Your Honor.

HOWEVER, just because people are stupid doesn’t mean you are.

You can break the “stupid people” cycle when it comes to business cards.

Here are my tips:

• Don’t give your designer carte blanche to make the business card however they want it…too many of them (not all but very many) see business cards as pretty pictures as opposed to what they really are… a necessary communication tool for business
• Pretend all your clients wear reading glasses…they don’t but pretend…and look at your design as if your clients FORGOT their reading glasses but have to read your card; ask yourself – could they read it?
• My magic number is 7….never create a card with a font smaller than 7 point….if you’re smart, it will be 8 or 9 point or higher – also character spacing matters, be carful not to squish letters together
• If that font you love for the text on your business card is not Arial or Georgia or something very close (and equally readable/legible, like those fonts) chances are you should not use that font on your card…save the fancy fonts for your logo…reader comprehension trumps branding every time with business cards
• People have been trying and using black or dark blue or some really rich dark color on business cards for decades…with limited success on the readability scale (example: forest green cards, with gold or gold foil lettering on a serif font…pretty maybe but yikes for readability) — look, just tread carefully to avoid poor contrast, small lettering, thin strokes, or printing problems with dark backgrounds
• Business cards have TWO sides…no reason you can’t print on both sides

It’s ok if, after reading this, you think I am nuts.

Why is this idiot blathering on about business card fonts??

I’m ok with that.

But please just think about all this when you’re looking at your current business cards or designing your next business cards.

I promise you this is all sound advice on business cards.

I hope it helps.

Tags: business cards, commentary, marketing // Comments Off on Size Matters: Your Business Card Shouldn’t Require a Magnifying Glass

Nobody wants to be trained by a robot.

Nobody wants to be sold to by a robot.

Nobody wants to be influenced by a robot.

So why are producers and educators increasingly trying to sell to us and educate us using voices that are robots?

Because it’s easier?

For whom?

The producer, maybe. But what about the person who’s supposed to listen?

Cost savings?

Again, maybe for the producer.

But when the whole purpose of that voice is to communicate with another human being, what happens when that human being discovers there was never another person on the other end?

That’s where this gets interesting.

She Sounds Like Someone You Trust

Think about the female voice you hear on a commercial.

She’s warm. Friendly. Trustworthy.

Maybe there’s even something familiar about her. She sounds like someone who knows what she’s talking about. Someone you might ask for advice.

Maybe she reminds you of your mom.

That’s not an accident.

The voice is there to make a connection with you.

To make a product seem approachable. To make a company seem trustworthy. To make you feel something about whatever is being sold.

And then you find out…

There is no woman.

There never was.

That person you thought you were listening to doesn’t exist.

Doesn’t that change things?

Because you didn’t just use a voice to deliver information.

You used the fake voice to falsify a relationship!

You gave the listener the impression that another human being was talking to them — reassuring them, teaching them, recommending something to them — when there was never another human being there.

And once the listener discovers that, what happens to the trust you were trying to create in the first place?

Now the internet has labeled you as the brand that lied. That’s a hard label to shake.

Were the cost savings on human voice talent worth THAT?

Now Put That Voice in a Training Course

You’re taking an online training course for work.

Let’s be honest. You probably weren’t exactly counting the minutes until you could begin.

But the woman walking you through it sounds OK.

She’s clear. Pleasant enough. You’re listening. You’re learning.

Then something happens.

Maybe there’s an odd pronunciation.

A strange pause.

An inflection that doesn’t belong there.

Something glitches just enough that suddenly you realize:

Wait. That’s not a woman.

It’s an artificial voice.

Can you still learn from it?

I guess.

But do you listen to it in exactly the same way once you know nobody is actually talking to you?

The information hasn’t changed.

The words haven’t changed.

But the relationship has.

A Human Voice Is More Than a Sound

This is where I think we sometimes misunderstand what professional voice actors actually do.

We’re not hired just to make sounds.

For example, a great female voice actor doesn’t simply have a pleasant voice and read the words on the page.

She understands them.

She interprets them.

She knows which word in a sentence matters.

She knows when a thought needs another half-second to land.

She understands when the copy is asking her to reassure someone instead of sell them.

She can sound amused because she understands why something is amusing.

She can sound concerned because she understands what the listener might be concerned about.

And when a director says, “Can you make that a little warmer, but don’t make it sound like you’re trying to be warm?”

She knows what the heck that means.

That’s not just a voice.

That’s a person communicating with another person.

That’s What I Listen for in Female Voice Talent

Throughout my career, producers have asked me to help them find female voice talent for commercials, corporate narration, training, explainers and all kinds of other projects.

And yes, the voice itself matters.

But I’m listening for something beyond whether she has a beautiful voice.

Does she connect?

Does it sound like she understands what she’s saying?

Does it sound like she’s talking to somebody instead of reading at somebody?

Can she take somebody else’s words and make them feel like her own thoughts?

Because whether you’re teaching someone, selling something, explaining something or trying to earn someone’s trust, there’s another human being on the receiving end.

And that’s why the female voice talents I recommend are professional human voice actors.

They’re not there simply because they can produce a nice sound.

They’re there because they can communicate.

They can listen to direction. Interpret a script. Understand an audience. Make adjustments. Find the thought behind a sentence.

They can connect one human being to another.

And that’s really why I created audio’connell’s FemaleVoiceTalents.com.

These aren’t artificial voices I found in a database.

They’re human women I know. Professional female voice actors I’ve known and/or worked with over the years, whose talent and professionalism I trust enough to recommend to producers.

You can listen to them, decide who connects with you and your project, and contact them directly.

They’re real people.

They understand the words they’re saying. They understand the people they’re saying them to. And they bring something to the microphone that can’t be manufactured simply by making a voice sound human.

Technology can reproduce a voice.

But the humanity isn’t in the sound of the voice.

It’s in the human person behind it.

Tags: commentary, female voice talent // Comments Off on Nobody Wants to Be Trained by a Robot