THE VO BRIEF: WHAT TO SEND ONCE YOU'VE HIRED YOUR VOICE ACTOR
POV: You need a voice actor for project so you do auditions and hire someone. Hooray! But…now you're staring at a blank email trying to figure out what on earth to send them to make the project go smoothly . A script? Sure. But what else?
If that's you, welcome! I've been doing voice over for 12+ years, and I can tell you the secret to a painless VO project isn't luck, it's the brief. Whether you've worked with VO talent a hundred times or you're prepping for your first project, having a solid and detailed brief makes the whole process faster, smoother, and with way less back-and-forth for everyone involved.
8 THINGS YOU SHOULD INCLUDE IN YOUR VOICE OVER BRIEF
The Script
This one may seem obvious, but it's worth saying: please send the full script. A PDF or Google Doc both work great. Storyboards alone usually aren't enough on their own, since we need a clean doc to read from, but if you've got visuals too, send those along. They help us understand context. And if the script is still being finalized, it's usually best to wait so we're not wasting time on retakes that could've been avoided.
Your Timeline
When do you need this done? Most voice actors can usually turn things around quickly but knowing the deadline upfront means they can plan accordingly and let you know if there are any conflicts!
the Vibe / Direction
This one is a game changer and a lot of clients don't realize how much it helps!
Send over a scratch track or work-in-progress video, even if it's rough and unfinished. It gives us a feel for what you're going for: bright and fast paced, slow and deliberate, warm and storytelling-driven. If you've got a music bed (or even an idea of what it'll sound like), send that too. It's another great way for us to lock into the tone.
If you don't have a video yet, or it's an audio-only spot, just describe what you're picturing. The more descriptive, the better.
And if you hired based on an audition, let us know whether you want to stick with what we did there or if there's anything you'd like adjusted.
Timing and Pacing
If there's a specific timing we need to hit, that's important to flag. Say it's a :30 spot with music, and the VO needs to come in by :25, that's the kind of detail that saves a retake. If it’s a video that doesn’t have a strict timeline, let us know the pace that you’d like it read and if there are any places we’ll need to pause for something visual.
Pronunciations
Brand names, product names, technical terms, medical terms, that one founder's name that gets mispronounced constantly. If there are any terms or names that are tricky, the best way to let us know how to pronounce them is by sending a quick voice memo or link to another video where we an hear how it’s said correctly.
Who the Audience Is
This matters more than you might think. Knowing who's actually watching(or listening) shapes everything about how a voice actor performs the script. An internal company video hyping employees up about a new offering calls for a totally different energy than a consumer-facing video trying to close a sale. Same thing with a product geared towards new moms vs. experienced moms, for example.
Who the Client Is
This one's especially important when there's an agency or production company in the middle. If you're a production company hiring on behalf of a brand, it’s great to know who the end client is and whether the video is for internal use or going out to the public. It's one more layer of context that helps nail the right tone.
Audio File Format
Don't stress about this one, it's usually the easiest part of the whole conversation. Let the voice actor know if you want an MP3, a WAV, or if there's a specific format required (like for a phone system or an app).
So… What Happens When the Brief Is Light?
If you don't have all the info above, don't stress! Just give the voice actor as much as you can and let them know they're welcome to follow up with questions. Cutting down on back-and-forth is the goal here, for everyone.
The Bottom Line
You don't need to have every single thing figured out, you just need to give your voice actor enough to work with so we're not guessing. The clearer the picture, the better the read, and the less time we all spend on retakes. So next time you're staring at that blank email, hopefully this helps you know what to send.
Here's the quick checklist for you to use and share:
Full script (PDF or Google Doc)
Deadline
Scratch track or work-in-progress video (even rough is helpful!)
If no video: description of the visual style and music vibe
Timing notes and any feedback on the audition
Any tricky pronunciations (brand names, technical terms, etc.)
Who the audience is (internal team vs. consumers)
Who the end client is (especially if you're an agency or production company)
Preferred audio file format