If you’re a newer voice actor and your auditions haven’t been landing, don’t panic. What you’re experiencing is incredibly normal and very fixable! Many people face these beginner voice over mistakes early on.
There are a few common patterns I see all the time as an online voice over coach, especially in early-stage reads. And once you know what to listen for, you can start improving almost instantly. By avoiding typical mistakes that beginners make in voice over, your reads will strengthen quickly.
Here are three of the most common beginner voice over mistakes to watch for in your next audition:
1. Over-Projecting or Sounding Forced
This one’s easy to fall into, especially if you come from a theater background or feel nervous on the mic. Avoiding that first-time mistake can really make you stand out.
Over-projecting often makes your read sound loud, stiff, or unnatural. It might even feel like you’re “performing” the voice instead of speaking it.
How To Fix It:
Think of it as a conversation, not a performance. You don’t need to “push” your voice to sound engaging. Try imagining you’re talking to one person, someone you know and trust. Let the energy come from connection, not volume. With this mindset, many beginner mistakes in voice over auditions may fade away.
2. Reading the Script Instead of Acting It
You’re saying all the right words, but something still feels flat. For beginners, voice over mistakes like this are surprisingly common.
That’s usually because you’re reading the copy, not interpreting it. Beginner voice actors often focus so much on pronunciation and pacing that they forget to emotionally connect with what they’re saying.
How To Fix It:
Before you hit record, take a moment to understand the intention behind the words. Ask yourself: What’s the goal of this script? How does this character or brand want the listener to feel? That shift in mindset brings your delivery to life. In fact, recognizing and correcting beginner voice over mistakes here can help you find the right emotion.
3. Inconsistent Mic Distance
It might not be your performance – it might be your setup! Some classic mistakes, especially for voice over beginners, are made by changing mic technique.
If you move your head or body too much during a read, your mic distance changes and so does the sound quality. This can cause fluctuations in volume and tone that distract from your performance.
How To Fix It:
Stay grounded and find your “sweet spot” in front of the mic. Practice staying consistent with your posture and mouth-to-mic placement throughout your read. If you need to move, pivot from your waist instead of your neck. In this way, you’ll avoid one of the classic beginner voice over mistakes.
Final Thought from Your Online Voice Over Coach
None of these beginner voice over mistakes mean you’re not cut out for this work. They just mean you’re learning and every voice actor goes through it.
The key is awareness. As a beginner, avoiding common voice over mistakes will consistently increase your chances of success.
Before you send in your next audition, check in with yourself:
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Am I pushing my voice too much? It helps to remember what beginner voice over mistakes to look for.
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Am I connecting with the meaning behind the words?
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Is my mic distance consistent?
Even small tweaks in these areas can make a big impact on how your read comes across.
You’ve got this!
And if you need more help, I offer a FREE 15-minute Discovery Call where we can identify your strengths, help you determine where your voice might fit in today’s voice over market, and answer any questions you might have. You can schedule that here.