Why In-Person Voiceover Sessions and Auditions Still Matter in a Remote World
- Laura Doman
- Jun 16
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 24
Remote is convenient. In-person is unforgettable.
Isolation has its limits.
We all learned THAT lesson pretty well during the pandemic.
For voiceover artists, though, not much has changed. The joke goes that we talk to ourselves all day long in a padded room. Truth! We’re all working from home studios and those booths are pretty well padded to keep great sound quality IN and the sound of leafblowers and other noisemakers OUT.
This week, though, I had the rare pleasure of recording a character voice for an animated film — not from my trusty home studio — but in an actual recording studio with actual people. And it was glorious. Love these opportunities for honest-to-goodness in-person voiceover sessions!
It’s a treat nowadays to record at a client location. No matter that they were four hours away - road trip time! And it was absolutely worth it.
The room still wins — for creativity, emotion, and connection.
Recording for Animation with a Creative Team: In-Person Voiceover Sessions Rule!
First off, nothing beats the energy of being in the room with other creatives. The director, the audio engineer, fellow cast members — we were all there together, bouncing ideas off each other, sharing laughs, and building chemistry in real time. You just don’t get that same spark over Zoom, no matter how strong your Wi-Fi is.
The studio team was incredibly welcoming. They even gave us a tour — we got to see early renderings of many of the characters, listen to some of the other voices already recorded, and get a real sense of the project’s vision. There’s something special about watching rough animation and thinking, “That goofy face is gonna have my voice!” It’s magic.
And let’s not underestimate the power of a good lunch. We finished early, which meant we all went out and shared a meal — that rare bonding moment where the work pauses, the walls come down, and the real connections begin. Sandwiches, laughter, and a shared creative buzz. Honestly? That’s the stuff I live for.
Self-Tapes vs. In-Person Auditions: What Actors and Casting Directors Lose
The on-camera side of the biz has its own version of the same story. Thanks to the pandemic, self-taping became the norm. Instead of going to casting offices, we found corners in our homes to turn into mini-studios (even if we had to take them down again after every taped audition). Ring lights became household fixtures. Tripods of all shapes and sizes became the hot new collectible. And we all debated the merits of light blue vs. grey as the "best" background color ... and how to get it. My choice? The blue popup screen, hands down.
Sure, self-tapes gave us some perks. You could do as many takes as your sanity would allow and send in the best one. (As long as you didn't overdo it and start cranking out over-rehearsed stale auditions!) Casting directors liked them. They could see far more actors per role than ever before. They could also choose to play only a few seconds of an audition - or choose not to play an audition at all - with the actors none the wiser.
"Human connection feeds the soul. Not just the pocketbook."
But everyone missed out, too. Gone was the chance for the actor to meet with decision-makers face-to-face. No more opportunity to be redirected in the room to better match what the casting director wanted to see and to show your range. Casting and production missed out, too. No seeing how an actor could shift in the moment, no personal vibe-check. Sure, Zoom callbacks could provide some of that, but it just wasn't the same as being in the room together.
All said and done, that’s why this next part was such a gift.
What I Learned in a Live Acting Workshop with a Film/TV Casting Director
Today, I attended an in-person on-camera workshop led by a casting director visiting from LA. What a breath of fresh air! He shared what he really looks for in auditions (spoiler: authenticity still wins), and we got the rare chance to be directed — and redirected — live.
It felt like a reunion and a masterclass all rolled into one. I hadn't seen many of the other actors in a very long time. I had heard of this casting director, but had never met him live before. He turned out to be a great guy! Very approachable and down-to-earth.
The casting director seemed to enjoy it, too. He got to scout new talent, see actors take direction in real time, and connect with us beyond our audition reels. We were able to show him our work and our personalities — and maybe, just maybe, leave a lasting impression.
The Future of Voiceover and On-Camera Work: Connection Still Counts
Honestly? Who knows what the future holds. The industry’s always evolving. Self-tapes aren’t going away, and remote work is here to stay. But these moments — the in-person ones — remind us why we got into this in the first place.
Because behind every audition, every scene, and every voice in an animated film is a real, live human being who wants to connect.
So when you get the chance to work in the room again?
Grab it! That human connection feeds the soul. Not just the pocketbook.
Laura's Quick Tips
Go In-person when you can! It fosters creative chemistry and real-time collaboration that Zoom can't replicate.
Recording at a studio can reignite passion and provide valuable insight into a project's bigger vision.
Casting directors benefit from seeing how actors respond to live direction — and actors get the chance to truly connect.
Live workshops can lead to deeper understanding, stronger industry relationships, and long-term impressions.
Even in a digital world, in-person interaction remains a career game-changer.
British vs. American voice overs!
Racy lingerie.
Rampaging Vikings.
Pronunciation wars.
It's all here! In one very funny, award-winning podcast show.
I'm still amazed that they had me on as a guest. We kinda went off the rails!
Want to learn more? Let's talk!
I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances.
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