The #2 reason great auditions still get rejected

If you didn’t get my email about the #1 reason auditions get rejected, just hit reply with “no 1 reason” and I’ll send it over to you.

Now let’s talk about reason #2.

Let’s say you’ve got:

• Great acting skills

• A microphone you’ve seen top VO pros use

• A room with proper acoustic treatment

…yet you still aren’t booking jobs.

Here’s what I’ve seen over and over — even with some of my clients who are Hollywood actors, radio hosts, and TV performers: their audio editing and post-processing are not up to the mark.

When your processing isn’t right, your acting talent doesn’t shine through. The person listening to your audition can only judge you based on what they hear — and if your audio is quieter, harsher, clicky, overly sibilant, or just not as smooth as the others, you’ve already lost the battle before it started.

This is why audio editing needs to be treated the same way you treat acting: it requires active learning.

• You wouldn’t expect to become a great voice actor without coaching — the same goes for editing.

• You’ve invested in your mic, your room, your software — now invest in the skill that makes your final audio sound truly professional.

Yes, you can learn a lot from free YouTube videos, but in my experience, they don’t give you the complete picture.

You need guidance from someone who knows exactly what professional clients expect.

From working with hundreds of people in my courses and consulting, I’ve noticed something interesting: those who weren’t from TV or radio often succeeded faster in personal VO work. Why? Effort and intention.

They were willing to learn and put in the work, instead of relying on old habits.

It all comes down to this:

• If your room isn’t good enough, improve it.

• If your mic isn’t good enough, upgrade it.

• If your acting isn’t good enough, train.

• And if your audio editing isn’t good enough, learn and practice until it is. No shortcuts. No magic.

Akhtar
Master Editor

P.S. Effort in the right places is what books jobs. And for VO, editing is one of those places.