Why Voice Actor Coaching is Non-Negotiable for Success Today

Anne Ganguzza
Sep 30
4 min read

with Tom Dheere

BOSSes, Anne Ganguzza is joined by Tom Dheere to discuss a foundational topic for every voiceover career: coaching. The hosts assert that every voice actor, from beginner to veteran, needs a coach. The Bosses explore why continuous learning is a necessity in today's saturated market, how to avoid being overwhelmed by industry information, and the combined importance of mastering both performance and business skills.

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Chapter Summaries

Coaching as a Universal Necessity

(02:15) Anne and Tom discuss the necessity of coaching, pointing out that top athletes and artists, like Tiger Woods and Aaron Judge, rely on coaches. The bosses argue that continuous learning, re-education, and continuous skill building are essential for any voice actor who wants to remain relevant and effective, regardless of their experience level.

The Value of Accountability

(05:30) Tom highlights that the commitment of time and money to a coach provides a level of accountability that peer groups often lack. Anne emphasizes that coaches are accountable for their students' effectiveness, which ensures the quality of education is high, customized, and intentional. This investment is crucial for overcoming the overwhelming feeling that many new actors experience.

The Synergistic Relationship: Business and Performance

(11:19) The hosts stress that voice acting success requires a synergistic relationship between performance skills and business skills. Tom warns that having the best business plan is useless without effective performance, and Anne notes that a great voice won't matter if no one knows how to find or hire you. Both performance coaching and business coaching are vital.

Red Flags and Green Flags in Vetting Coaches

(20:22) The discussion moves to vetting coaches. Green flags include recent, verifiable work (check their IMDB and websites), longevity in the business, and a great reputation based on testimonials. Red flags include new actors who immediately hang a shingle as a coach or those who have done little work in decades.

The Importance of Acting Fundamentals

(27:37) Tom advises that the ideal time to invest in specific voiceover training is after establishing core acting fundamentals. He suggests training in theater, improv, singing, or stand-up comedy to ensure an actor can make strong, quick acting choices and immediately be better than simple automated reading technology.

Coaching for Self-Direction

(32:12) The hosts emphasize the critical need for self-direction in a work-from-home industry where most work is booked and completed without live direction. Coaching helps actors develop an objective ear to evaluate their pace, tone, and performance choices, which is a process that rarely happens effectively without professional guidance.

The Career as a Marathon

(23:41) Anne and Tom conclude that a voiceover career is a marathon, not a sprint, requiring a long-term investment of years, not months. Coaching is presented as an essential investment in empowerment, helping actors expand their "sphere" of influence and navigate the changing demands of the market.

Top 10 Takeaways for Voice Actors:

Coaching is Continuous Learning: Even top professionals in every field use coaches. View training as continuous professional development, not just a beginner's prerequisite.
Invest in Accountability: Paying for a coach provides customized, intentional training with higher stakes, ensuring better quality and commitment than peer groups.
Master the Fundamentals: Begin with training in acting, improv, or theater, followed by specialized voiceover coaching, to develop essential performance skills.
Balance the Synergies: Your voiceover business requires equal investment in both performance coaching and business coaching.
Vet Your Coach: Look for green flags like a current portfolio of work, updated demos, and a positive reputation within the industry.
Embrace Self-Direction: Learn how to listen to and objectively adjust your own performance, as most bookings require this skill today.
Invest in Empowerment: Coaching empowers you to make informed business decisions and expand your "sphere" of influence.
Know Your Coach's Value: An effective coach listens to your pain points and customizes a solution, rather than just delivering stock scripts or self-serving advice.
It's a Marathon: Be prepared for a long-term journey (years, not months) and avoid being sold the "quick success" dream often seen in ads.
Refresh Your Skills: If you haven't booked work or haven't coached in a while, seek out a trusted coach to identify ruts and ensure your skills are competitive and current.

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