Voiceover Life

The Quiet Cowards of the Keyboard: A Voiceover Perspective

May 27, 2026 by Rich Summers

Trolls Behind The Keyboard

In this business, courage doesn’t come from hiding behind a screen. It comes from putting your voice out there – raw, real, and ready to be judged. But some folks mistake cruelty for critique. They’re everywhere and it’s not exclusive to voice over. In this business, we call them: VO trolls. They sit behind their keyboards, tossing stones at the people who dare to create. They call it “feedback.” I call it fear.

Because here’s the truth: Trolls don’t attack because they hear weakness in your read. They attack because they hear something they wish they had. Notably, those trolls, thrive on targeting those who put themselves out there.

Confidence. Authenticity. Momentum. A voice that cuts through the noise. So remember, part of the confidence you build is knowing how to deal with voiceover trolls if they show up.

The Psychology of the Online Heckler

Every voice actor knows the sting of unsolicited opinions, the ones that don’t build, only bruise. But those comments aren’t about your performance. They’re about the person typing them.
A troll’s insult is a confession. It says, “I’m not brave enough to put myself out there.” It says, “Your courage reminds me of my own silence.” They’re like the two old guys from The Muppet Show. You know, the ones in the balcony seats that seemed to hate and make fun of everything? Now you get it. They were trolls in their own right.

They’re not critics. They’re spectators who can’t stand the sound of someone else taking the mic, and frequently that’s the pattern for voiceover trolls online.

And here’s the reminder every beginner and every pro needs to hear and remember: Those trolls aren’t your audience. They’re not your clients. Nor are they the people you’re marketing to, or the people trying to book you. They’re just…trolls. And trolls don’t pay your invoices so you in turn, can pay your bills. In fact, when it comes to performers, voiceover trolls want attention, not artistry.

The Difference Between Creating and Criticizing

Anyone can tear down a take. It takes zero talent to sneer at a demo or mock a post about your latest booking. But to build something, a brand, a reel, a reputation; that takes guts. It takes rejection. It takes the willingness to be seen and heard. And that’s what trolls can’t stand. They don’t hate your voice. They hate your visibility. In conclusion, steer clear of the negativity spread by voiceover trolls and don’t let them define the value of your creative journey.

Why Their Words Don’t Deserve Your Volume

Here’s the thing: Nobody heckles the person sitting quietly in the back row. They heckle the one on stage. If someone’s throwing shade at your work, it just means you’re standing somewhere worth aiming at. It means you’re visible. It means you’re doing something that matters enough to stir the insecure. So don’t hand your confidence to someone who hasn’t earned it. Don’t let a stranger’s bitterness drown out your sound. As you rise above, remember the only power that trolls have is the one you give them. Don’t let their noise dictate your tone.

A Challenge for the Creators

If you’re a voice actor putting your work out there, you need to keep going. Keep auditioning. And keep posting. Keep sharing your wins and your lessons. The world has enough cynics. Enough people who think tearing down others makes them relevant. Be the one who builds. The one who encourages. Be the one who keeps showing up, mic in hand, even when the cheap‑shot crowd tries to pull you down to their level. Rise above the negativity that trolls attempt to spread in most all creative spaces.

And if the trolls come for you?

Smile. Because it means your voice is being heard.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
WHY PEOPLE TROLL
WHAT IS CYBER-BULLYING
HOW TO DEAL WITH TROLLS

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If you’re looking for a voice that cuts through the noise — authentic, grounded, and built for stories that matter — I’m here to help bring your message to life.

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Kids Voice Over: A Guide for Parents

May 13, 2026 by Rich Summers

Should Kids Get Into Voice Over? Here’s What I Learned Hearing My Grandson Try It

Every now and then, life hands you a moment that makes you stop and think a little deeper about the path you’re on. For me, that moment came when my grandson, still young enough that his backpack is almost as big as he is (but not for long), started getting the occasional audition from some of my agents whose clients were looking for kid voices.

Nothing high‑pressure. Nothing full‑time. Just a handful of auditions here and there as they came in.

But hearing him step up to the mic, made me wonder:
How many other kids or teens out there have that same spark?
And maybe more importantly, how many parents have no idea where to even start?

If you have a child or teen who’s curious about voice over, or if someone has ever told them “you’ve got a great voice,” here are some thoughts, realities, and resources that might help you navigate the journey.

Why Kids Can Be Great in Voice Over

Kids bring something to the table that adults spend years trying to recapture:
authenticity.

Kids don’t overthink. They don’t “perform.” Kids…just are. And in a world where brands want natural, conversational reads, that’s gold.

Plus:

Kids’ voices are in demand for animation, commercials, e‑learning, toys, games, and more.
They take direction surprisingly well when the environment is fun and low‑pressure.
They learn fast – sometimes faster than adults because they’re not fighting old habits.

But the key is this:
It should always be fun.
If it stops being fun, it’s time to pause.

What Parents Should Know Before Diving In

Voice over for kids is not the same as voice over for adults. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Protect their time and energy

School, sports, music, friends, and rest come first. VO should fit around their life, not the other way around.

2. You’ll be involved, A LOT

You’re the driver, the engineer, the scheduler, the email-er, the cheerleader, and the snack provider. Kids can’t run a VO career alone.

3. You don’t need a fancy studio

A quiet space, a decent USB mic, and a blanket fort can go a long way. Keep it simple at the start.

4. Coaching matters more than equipment

A good coach who understands child VO can make all the difference. Kids need direction that feels like play, not pressure.

5. Don’t chase the money

If you’re doing it for the paycheck, you’ll both burn out fast. Do it because your child enjoys the creative process.

How to Know If Your Child Might Be a Good Fit

You don’t need a “golden voice.” What you’re looking for is:

A kid who likes reading out loud
A kid who can follow simple instructions
A kid who enjoys pretending, storytelling, or characters
A kid who doesn’t freeze when a mic turns on
A kid who can handle a little rejection without taking it personally

If that sounds like your child, VO might be worth exploring.

Where to Start: Practical Resources for Parents

Here are some beginner‑friendly places to dip your toes in:

Kid‑Friendly VO Coaches

Anne Ganguzza – Known for clear, supportive coaching
JMC Demos (youth division) – High‑end coaching and demo production
VO Dojo – Fun, energetic training environment

Audition Sources

If your child wants to try a few auditions just to see how it feels, these platforms can be a great entry point. They offer kid‑appropriate opportunities and allow parents to manage the entire process.

Backstage – One of the most established casting platforms with regular kid VO roles.
Casting Call Club – Safe, beginner‑friendly, and great for practice through indie projects.
KidsCasting – Focused specifically on children and teens across VO, on‑camera, and modeling.
Voice123 (with parental supervision) – Not kid‑specific, but many clients post child VO roles.
Local studio rosters – Many regional studios keep lists of available kid voices for local work.

As with anything involving kids online, parents should always manage the accounts, review opportunities, and keep safety as the top priority.

Books & Learning Tools

There’s Money Where Your Mouth Is (great for parents)
Voice Over Voice Actor (fun, accessible intro to VO)

Gear for Beginners

USB mic: Audio-Technica AT2020USB+
Headphones: Closed‑back, comfortable pair
Recording software: Audacity (free) or TwistedWave

Start small. Start simple. Let your child lead the pace.

Final Thought: Let Curiosity Be the Guide

Hearing my grandson take a shot at voiceover reminded me of something important:
Voice over is storytelling. And kids are natural storytellers.

If your child or teen is curious about VO, you can explore it together. Keep it light. Keep it fun. And who knows? Maybe you’ll both discover a creative outlet that becomes a lifelong skill, a confidence builder, or even a career someday.

If you ever want help getting started, I’m always happy to point you in the right direction.

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Voiceover Has A Delusion Problem

April 7, 2026 by Rich Summers

Voiceover Has a Delusion Problem

The voiceover world is overflowing with one myth: “Anyone can do this.” This is the classic voiceover industry delusion that draws so many newcomers in. It’s one of the only industries where people think they can skip everything – the training, coaching, gear, business, marketing, resilience, etc. and still expect to book like a seasoned pro. Nobody walks into a mechanic shop and says, “I’ve driven a car, so I’m basically a mechanic.” The voiceover industry delusion is pervasive and leads to unrealistic expectations.

But in VO?
Buy a USB mic, record in a closet, and suddenly you’re “open for business.”
This industry doesn’t punish beginners. It punishes delusion. And the delusion is especially common in the voiceover industry, creating a persistent cycle of industry delusion for those who enter unprepared.

Everyone Wants the Mic. Almost No One Wants the Work

I get it. The fantasy is seductive:
• Sit in a cozy booth
• Talk into a mic
• Get paid

But the reality?
• Hours of auditions you’ll never hear back from
• Editing until your eyes blur
• Marketing yourself every single day
• Treating your voice like an athlete treats their body
• Building a business, not a hobby

Most folks want the feeling of being a voice actor. Very few want the discipline of being one. Here’s the thing: falling for a voiceover delusion is a trap common in the industry.

In fact, the voiceover industry delusion makes people underestimate the level of discipline and business sense required to be even remotely successful.

The Harsh Truth: Talent Isn’t the Gatekeeper

Talent gets you noticed.
Professionalism keeps you in the room.
Consistency gets you paid.
This industry doesn’t care if you have a “cool or great voice.” In many ways, that is just another facet of the voiceover industry delusion.

It cares if you can:
• Deliver clean, broadcast‑ready audio
• Take direction without ego
• Hit deadlines without excuses
• Stay steady when bookings slow down
• Market yourself like a real business
If you can’t do those things, your “cool or great voice” won’t save you.

The Myth of the Shortcut

There’s a whole ecosystem built around the lie that voiceover is easy money. In reality, believing this is part of the voiceover industry delusion.

If you’re like me, you’ve seen the ads. They’re everywhere. Social media, YouTube, and streaming services.
“I recorded a book and got THIS check in the mail!”
“Make thousands from home with just your voice!”
“No experience needed!”
“Start booking TODAY!”

Just my opinion, but I think it’s nonsense. It’s NOT that simple.
The people who actually make a living in this field, you know, the ones who grind through booking slumps and slow seasons, invest in their craft, and treat this like a real job, know the truth: There are no shortcuts. There’s only the work. Luck is when your preparedness meets opportunity. This is the opposite of believing the industry delusion so many associate with voiceover work.

The Industry Rewards the Grinders, Not the Dabblers

The dabblers show up when it’s convenient.
The grinders show up when it’s uncomfortable.
Dabblers complain about not booking.
Grinders build pipelines so they don’t rely on luck.
The dabblers want validation.
The grinders want mastery. The real difference is that grinders see through the delusions of the voiceover industry and focus on persistence instead.

And here’s the twist:
The grinders aren’t always the most naturally talented.
They’re just the ones who refuse to quit.

If You Want to Make It, Build the Muscle

Voiceover is a craft.
A business.
It’s a discipline.
And it’s a long game. Ignoring the reality of voiceover industry delusion will help you develop resilience for the journey ahead.

If you want to stand out:

• Don’t chase shortcuts. Chase skill
• Don’t chase trends. Chase consistency
• Don’t chase the fantasy. Chase the reps

Because at the end of the day, this industry doesn’t reward the loudest voice.
It rewards the one who shows up long after everyone else gets bored. Surviving in this field requires seeing past the abundant delusion of the voiceover industry.

Some great coaching resources (There are a lot of great VO coaches. These are some of the coaches I’ve worked with. When choosing a coach, make sure you are compatible with them and they are able to coach you in the genres you’re looking to explore).

Tina Morasco
David Alden
Marc Cashman
Mary Lynn Wissner
J. Michael Collins
Bruce Kronenberg

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How a CPAP Changed My Life: A Sleep Apnea Story

March 4, 2026 by Rich Summers

When Sleep Became the Enemy

I didn’t realize how bad my sleep apnea had gotten or how hard it was hammering my body. My breathing was stopping 20 to 30 times an hour. I’d jolt awake gasping for air, heart racing, brain fog thick as smoke in a slash burn pile. Some nights I woke up drenched. Other nights came with nightmares. My oxygen levels were dropping, my blood pressure stayed high, and my mouth and throat felt baked dry. It got to the point where I resisted falling asleep. My tinnitus kept getting louder too. For that, I blamed years in radio; headphones, concerts, and high‑volume events. I never connected it to the apnea.

One Month With a CPAP Changed Everything

A month ago (Feb. 3), I finally strapped on a CPAP. The nose‑pillow mask took some adjusting, but the impact hit fast. The first night, my AHI dropped from 20 – 30 events an hour to 3.2.
I slept almost five straight hours. The morning fog was gone. For the first time in years, I felt like I’d actually hit REM sleep. Since then, I haven’t skipped a night. I’m sleeping seven to ten hours. My AHI stays between less than one and four (well within the normal range). I wake up with energy. I don’t crash midday. My mouth and throat aren’t desert‑dry, and my voice holds strong longer each day, which matters when your job depends on it.

The Unexpected Wins

My Blood Pressure: Much more stable now. Still a little high at times, but some of that’s heredity. It’s not all over the map like it was before. I am still on BP meds.

My tinnitus? Nearly silent now. What used to sound like a tiny jet turbine in my ears is barely noticeable. There’s a strong connection between sleep apnea and tinnitus, and once you look it up, the dots connect fast.

Another change: losing belly fat. Untreated apnea stresses the body, stress spikes cortisol, and cortisol packs on fat. When the stress eases, your body finally gets to stand down.

And yes, treating sleep apnea can improve ED. As a prostate cancer survivor, I’ll let you read between the lines.

The Straight Truth

If any of this sounds familiar — gasping awake, brain fog, dry mouth, high blood pressure, worsening tinnitus, or bone‑deep fatigue — you might need a sleep study. I avoided it for too long because I didn’t want something strapped to my face at night.

But that mask likely saved my life.

RESOURCES

The CPAP I use nightly: CLICK HERE

Mayo Clinic: Sleep Apnea Overview

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine

Listen to my Demos: CLICK HERE
View my YouTube channel: CLICK HERE
Check out my art website: CLICK HERE
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