The Egg-or-Chicken Paradox That’s Stalling Your VO Career

If any professional field suffers from the egg first or chicken first paradox, voice-over is right at the top of the list.

Let me explain.

If you’re an aspiring voice-over artist, chances are you’ve already felt the need to improve your microphone, your recording space, or your audio editing skills.

But here’s the dilemma: you don’t want to spend money on those upgrades because you’re not yet earning significantly — or maybe not earning at all — from VO work.

So you think: “Let me get a few paying jobs first. Once I get paid, I’ll upgrade my setup and skills.”

It sounds logical. But the truth is, you’re not going to get those jobs without making the upgrades first.

The audition scenario

Let’s imagine: you submit an audition to a casting director. Deep down, you know your audio quality isn’t really there.

Maybe it’s because you’re using a very low-budget microphone, or maybe your processing skills aren’t solid yet.

But you tell yourself: “If I just land this job, I’ll finally upgrade to a high-end mic and better software. Then I’ll get more work.”

Now flip perspectives. What does the client or casting director have to think in order to hire you?

Something like this:
“The quality of this audition is subpar, but let’s hire them anyway. I’ll trust that they’ll buy better gear and improve their processing later.”

Does that sound rational? Of course not.

Casting directors don’t care if you’re planning to buy a new mic, or whether you’ll “figure out” processing eventually.

They only ask one question:
👉 “Does this audition meet the requirement right now?”

If yes, they’ll move forward. If not, your audition is gone — and someone else who already sounds polished gets the job.

Breaking the loop

That’s why you have to ensure quality audio before you get jobs.

Otherwise, why would anyone take a chance on you when other artists are already submitting clean, professional sound?

And don’t make the mistake of thinking that “better audio” only means more plugins or better processing.

It’s the whole chain — the microphone, the room, and yes, the processing.

But here’s the key: solid processing skills can actually help you pinpoint what’s really wrong. Is it your mic? Your recording space? Or just the way you’re EQ’ing and compressing?

Knowing how to process properly means you don’t waste money fixing the wrong thing.

A practical next step

To help with this, I’m running a 4-Day Advanced EQ & Compression Workshop, starting August 19.

This live training will show you how to create high-quality, professional audio that holds up to industry standards. You’ll learn the exact methods I use when building custom EQ and compression settings for demo reels.

Dates & Times (Live on Zoom):

• August 19, 21, 26, 28 (2025) — 1 hour each + Q&A

• 7:00 AM PT • 9:00 AM CT • 10:00 AM ET • 3:00 PM UK

Price: $197
👉 Join the Advanced EQ & Compression Workshop here

Special Bonus: When you book a Voice-Over Demo Reels Package ($999) before August 19, you won’t just get a polished, professional demo reel that reflects your current ability… you’ll also unlock FREE access to the entire 4-Day Advanced EQ & Compression Workshop (a $197 value).

That means you walk away with both a ready-to-book demo and the skills to keep improving your sound over time — without paying extra.

Why this matters

If you have a demo reel that truly reflects your current ability, you’ll stand a much better chance at getting hired. At the same time, this workshop will give you the tools to keep improving that demo as your skills grow.

After August 19, you can still book the demo reel package — but the workshop access will be gone.

So, if you’ve been stuck in the egg or chicken loop, give this some serious thought.

Success in VO comes when you combine effort with smart investment in the right direction.

And if you’ve got questions, just reply to this email — I’d be happy to help.

Talk soon,
Akhtar
Master Editor