Top 2 mistakes of my first year as a voice actress (what i’ve learned)

In exactly two weeks it will have been exactly one year since I joined www.voices.com

Here are some things I learned, and the top 2 mistakes from this past year, here goes.

1. Diving head first into the deep end too soon.

When I started out I had no idea what I was doing, like way less idea than I know now. I had heard about this site called Voices.com, and it seemed like a great opportunity — a place to audition, book roles, and get my foot in the door. So I thought, “Nice! This is where I start." So, I found a coupon for half off, bought a $20 microphone and dove right in. Well, not all the way in, ‘cause I still had my main hustle, working at a daycare. The mistake wasn’t just in joining Voices.com — it was going in underprepared, with weak tools, and no clear plan. In other words, I didn’t have a demo, I didn’t have a treated recording space, I auditioned for everything, I didn’t know what to charge (still learning), so lo and behold, 700 auditions later I made back $30. Now, one of the people I auditioned for was kind enough to message me and say, “Hey — I can hear clicks in your audio.” I had no idea what he meant. But he also recommended a better microphone. That was one of the first moments I realized, “Oh… this is an actual craft — not just talking into a mic.” It was very humbling, so I took his advice. I upgraded my mic, and boom, I got a live recorded session with T-mobile. I was shaking. They didn’t end up using my voice, but I did use that money to upgrade my recording space — properly this time. And honestly? That felt like my real first win. Because that’s when I stopped dabbling… and started committing. I started treating voiceover like the career I want it to be — and once I did that, things started to shift. Not overnight, but genuinely.

2. I waited too long to start.

My first official voiceover gig was in 2016. I did it for IMDb credit and one dollar. Literally. But I wasn’t in it for the money — I just wanted the experience. At that time I was acting on film and auditioning a lot and doing extra work for shows like Orange is the New Black, Blue Bloods, Shields of Blue, Luke Cage, The Defenders, The Americans, etc. But around that time I lost someone dear to me - and everything stopped. I was just too depressed, I couldn’t get out of bed, I lost 30 lbs. Then, COVID hit, and most other people suddenly were forced into the same fate as me. But bit by bit I got myself out of that funk. I spent most of the pandemic watching anime, admiring the voice actors, and — quietly, in my room — mimicking attack calls, reaction noises, character voices… just for myself. Just to feel something. One Piece, Gintama, etc., these shows along with many others got me through those years, and also, watching those voice actors brought something alive in me I hadn’t felt in a long time. It reminded me how powerful the voice can be — how much emotion, story, and character it can carry, even without a camera or a scene. My point is, sometimes I wish I had started voiceover during COVID — when I was already stuck inside, quietly practicing and dreaming. I could’ve gotten a head start, learned faster, and maybe avoided some of the early mistakes. But then I remind myself: every journey has its timing. I had to go through those moments — the waiting, the loss, the doubt — to truly appreciate this path.