7,000 Auditions in 5 Years Taught Me 5 Things

Tom Dheere
Nov 12
4 min read

Key Takeaways from the Audition Grind

7,000.

That’s the number of auditions I’ve submitted in the last five years. That breaks down to about 1,400 a year, or an average of over five auditions every single weekday.

When you work at that volume, the "grind" itself becomes a masterclass. You learn things that no workshop or coach can ever fully prepare you for. You see the patterns, the pitfalls, and the profound truths of the voice over industry in high def.

I boiled down 7,000 voice over auditions into five core lessons—with a bonus one that holds it all together.

a microphone attached to a mic stand on a stage in front of a pink curtain

1. All Audition Sources Are Valid Lead Generation Tools

My auditions came from everywhere: my manager, multiple agents, various free casting sites, Pay-to-Play sites, and leads generated from years of direct and indirect marketing.

It taught me that all audition sources are valid if you know why you're there and what you want to get out of them. Every source is just a lead generation tool, each with its own merit. You must evaluate them on multiple levels: monetary, genre, marketing, and even project management.

Don't overvalue some (like an agent) and undervalue others (like a P2P). They are all paths to potential clients. Cultivating & curating these sources, as well as understanding what each one is good for, is critical to maintaining a full pipeline of quality leads.

2. Your Home Studio Is as Important as Your Performance

This is a lesson you learn the hard way. You can be the most talented actor to read for a part. You can deliver a performance that perfectly captures the client's vision. But if your home studio isn't up to snuff, they will not book you. Period.

Almost every voice over gig you audition for will be recorded in your home studio. Your audition audio file is your demo. If it has echo, hum, buzz, or sounds like you're in a tin can, you’ll be axed before you even finish your first sentence. Your technical quality is the second hurdle (right behind a properly-labeled audio file), and if you can't clear it, your performance doesn't get a chance to compete.

3. The Ability to Self-Direct Is a Non-Negotiable Skill

I live in Manhattan, and I haven't been to an in-person audition since before COVID. This is the reality for almost the entire industry.

This means you are the director. The ability to self-direct is crucial. You have to learn how to effectively read and analyze casting specs, internalize them quickly, and make strong, confident acting choices on the fly. You can't spend 30 minutes on a single audition—that's a colossal waste of time. You have to be fast, smart, and decisive, all while acting as your own engineer and quality control.

4. Knowing What Not to Audition For Is a Superpower

Just as important as what to audition for is what to not audition for. Screening your auditions is one of the most important skills you can develop.

Obviously, you’re looking at the rate to make sure it's industry-standard. But it goes deeper. In today's market, you're also screening for scams. Will your audition be stolen? Is this booking an AI scam? You have to learn to notice potential red flags in the specs: vague company names, unusual requests (like "read the full 5-page script for this audition"), or rates that seem too good for the work described.

Beyond that, you're looking at the genre, the usage terms, and exclusivity. Does this gig for a local car dealership prevent you from auditioning for a national auto brand for the next two years? Learning to spot bad deals, potential conflicts, and scams saves you from future headaches and ensures you're only spending your valuable time on opportunities that respect your business.

5. Most Scripts Are the Same. You Can't Treat Them That Way.

After 7,000 auditions, I saw a lot of the same scripts. The "warm, conversational, and friendly" e-learning module. The "high-energy, upbeat" local car ad.

But you can't treat them like they're all the same. It’s your job as a professional storyteller to find the spark. You have to find the life in the copy, identify the specific audience, and discover the patterns you can use to make their project sound special. This is what separates a professional from someone who just reads lines. Your job isn't to read the script; it's to solve the client's problem.

Bonus Lesson: It’s a Numbers Game

The more you audition (and, just as importantly, audition well), the more opportunities you create for yourself.

Volume alone isn't the answer. But consistent, high-quality, strategically-chosen auditions? That’s the engine of a successful career. Every audition is a rep, a lesson, and a lottery ticket.

7,000 auditions taught me that the more tickets you buy, the better your odds of winning.

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