Voiceover Casting Corner

Kelly and Kathryn discuss voiceover conferences and some of the green and red flags associated with them.

Kelly Moscinski and Kathryn Horan sit down with voice actor Aimee Gironimi for a conversation about the road into VO, where the industry is headed, and what keeps her excited about the work. Aimee's path is anything but typical. Eight years as a stage actor and director for a regional children's theatre in the Midwest. Then grad school, followed by more than 20 years as a Leadership Development and Instructional Design practitioner. All of that experience shows up in the booth. She's SAG eligible, trained across TV promo, live announcing, in-show narration, film and TV trailers, commercials, eLearning, corporate narration, audiobooks, characters, video games, and animation. She's represented by agencies in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Boston, and she's a three-time Society of Voice Arts & Sciences nominee (Mobile App in 2022, TV Promo Demo in 2023, Audiobook Narration in 2024). Aimee also runs Wise Owl Productions LLC, a nationally certified LGBT Business Enterprise through NGLCC and a certified Disability-Owned Business Enterprise through Disability:IN. She brings a real passion for LGBTQ+ and social justice projects to the work she takes on. Connect with Aimee: 🌐 modvoiceover.com More from The Voicecaster: 🎬 Casting and workshops: voicecaster.com 🎓 On-demand courses: voicecasterlab.com

Every voice actor hits a plateau eventually. Kelly Moscinski and Kathryn Horan break down why it happens, how to tell the difference between being busy and making progress, and what to do when the thing that used to work stops working.

Kelly & Kathryn discuss green flags they look out for during their casting.

Kelly Moscinski and Kathryn Horan of The Voice Caster discuss union versus non-union voiceover work and when to consider joining SAG-AFTRA, emphasizing it’s a personal decision based on career timing, goals, and sustainability rather than status. They compare union benefits—set rates, standardized protections, residuals, and potential health insurance and pension—against non-union’s flexibility, variable pay, and fewer built-in safeguards, noting industry shifts toward more non-union casting (now about 80% non-union). They explain the Taft-Hartley process and “must join” status, trade-offs of joining (no non-union work, fewer auditions, higher competition), and alternatives like Financial Core (Fi-Core) and right-to-work states. They also recommend NAVA membership as an insurance option, stressing long-term planning and doing what works for individual needs.

Episode Summary

In this episode, Kelly and Kathryn tackle one of the most critical — and often overlooked — aspects of a voice acting career: understanding contracts and rates. They break down the difference between session fees and usage, explain how to determine fair rates for different media types, walk through what every contract should include, and flag the warning signs that could cost you dearly. They also address the growing importance of AI voice protections and how to safeguard your voice in the current landscape.

Topics Covered

• Session Fee vs. Usage Fee — Why you should only count on the session fee until the spot actually airs
• What Determines Your Rate — Why per-word/per-minute pricing is misleading, and how media type (TV, cable, national, streaming, digital, radio) drives the real rate
• The GVAA Rate Guide — How to use it as a baseline and negotiation tool
• Contracts 101 — What should always be spelled out: session length, usage, term length, exclusivity, and renewals
• In Perpetuity Clauses — When to avoid them and when they may be acceptable
• "All Media" Language — Why vague bundling of rights hurts voice actors and how to push back
• Image & Likeness Clauses — Why these often don't belong in voiceover contracts
• AI & Voice Replication — How to spot dangerous contract language and how to protect yourself
• The NAVA AI Rider — A free, downloadable resource for all voice actors
• The No Fakes Act — Why this legislation matters for everyone, not just voice actors
• Red Flags to Watch For — Rushed signings, overly broad language, suspiciously high buyouts, and more
• Advocacy & Negotiation — Why asking questions is your right, and how to push for specificity in every contract

Resources Mentioned

• GVAA Rate Guide — https://www.gvaa.us/rate-guide — Industry-standard rate ranges for all voiceover categories
• NAVA (National Association of Voice Actors) — https://www.navavoices.org/ — Includes a free AI Rider available in English and Spanish
• The No Fakes Act — Federal legislation advocating for voice and likeness protections; contact your representatives to show support

Key Takeaways

• Never expect to be paid the full session + usage amount until the project airs and is confirmed.
• The type and breadth of media use — not word count or minute length — determines your rate.
• Use the GVAA Rate Guide as a baseline, not a rule book. Negotiate from there.
• Every contract should clearly define: session length, usage, term, exclusivity, and renewal terms.
• Avoid "in perpetuity" clauses on commercial work unless AI protections are signed off on.
• Push back on "all media" language — make clients specify exactly what they need.
• Add the NAVA AI Rider to any project involving voice recordings.
• Asking questions is not confrontation — it's good business.
• Booking the job is step one. Protecting your voice is step two.

Connect with The Voicecaster Follow @TheVoicecaster on social media | New episodes every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month

Voice Over Casting Corner – Episode 44: Casting Wants You to Win

In this episode, Kelly Moscinski and Kathryn Horan from The Voicecaster tackle one of the biggest misconceptions in the voiceover world: that casting directors are working against you. Spoiler — they're not. They're rooting for you every time they open your audition.

What we cover:

• The "us vs. them" myth – Why actors feel like casting is against them, and why that couldn't be further from the truth
• Silence isn't rejection – With 500–1,000 submissions per project, why casting can't respond to every audition — and what that silence actually means
• When you win, we win – How booking actors makes casting directors look good to their clients, creating a true win-win relationship
• The long game – Why casting and agents keep submitting actors who haven't booked in a year or more, and why consistency matters more than individual bookings
• Submit and release – The mindset shift that can transform how you approach every audition
• Auditions as opportunities – Reframing the competitive mindset into one of possibility

Key takeaways:

• Not booking doesn't mean anyone disliked your audition — it just means you weren't the right fit for that specific project
• Clients do remember voices they've loved over years, and that persistence pays off
• Consistency is what casting directors notice and remember most
• Focus on your connection to the script, trust your instincts, and let go of expectations for feedback

About The Voicecaster: The country's first and oldest voiceover casting house, established in 1975. Casting thousands of voices every year across all genres.

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In this episode of Voiceover Casting Corner, we tackle the myth that more auditions automatically lead to more bookings. In reality, casting isn’t about quantity, it’s about fit. Are you right for the specs? Do you match what the project needs? And just as important, are the rates and terms worth your time as a professional voice actor?

Episode 40 of "Voiceover Casting Corner" brings Kelly and Kathryn back to talk about branding and why it’s so much more than a pretty website or hex codes. From the casting side, branding is about clarity, consistency, and the emotional imprint you leave in an audition. It’s how you show up, what you’re known for, and the patterns we start to recognize in your work. If you’ve been trying to “look” branded instead of be branded, this conversation will shift your perspective and help you own what already makes you stand out.

Discover how casting directors narrow down hundreds of auditions to create the shortlist, what they're really listening for in your performance, and why professionalism and kindness matter just as much as talent in the voice-over industry.

As the new year begins, Kelly Moscinski and Kathryn Horan of The Voicecaster discuss what’s changing in voiceover for 2026 and what remains essential. From current VO trends and common audition pitfalls to building trust, making simple choices, and understanding what casting actually listens for, this episode offers a clear, grounded reset for the year ahead. A practical conversation on focus, confidence, and moving forward with intention.

As 2025 comes to a close, Kelly Moscinski and Kathryn Horan sit down to reflect on the year from the casting side of the booth—and what voiceover talent can take into the future.

In this candid wrap-up conversation, they unpack how the VO landscape shifted throughout 2025, what casting directors noticed most in auditions, and where actors tend to overthink (often without realizing it). The discussion also touches on the realities of audition silence, the value of listening back to your own work, and the surprising ways VO talent showed up and impressed this year.

The episode closes with a look ahead to 2026—what’s worth carrying forward, what might need to be left behind, and how actors can move into the new year with more clarity, confidence, and perspective.

Whether you’re reflecting on your own year or gearing up for what’s next, this episode offers honest insight, encouragement, and a grounded casting-room view you won’t want to miss.

In Episode 36, Kelly and Kathryn sit down to chat with DPN Partner and Talent Agent Trish Ryan. You do NOT want to miss the insights in this one!

In Episode 35, Kelly and Kathryn discuss etiquette during casting and voiceover sessions.

https://www.christyharst.com/

https://www.buildingdoorsvo.com/

It’s About Being Real. In episode 32 of Voiceover Casting Corner, Kelly and Kathryn chat with Tim Powers - veteran voice actor and creator of TIMPROV.

Let's dig in to how improv can add authenticity to your voiceover auditions and work. It's not about being funny, it's about connecting to the script and to the audience.

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