Voice Over Sample Scripts for Clients and Voice Talent
By Stephanie Ciccarelli, Voices.com December 7, 2021
If you’re looking to script a commercial but need some help with the writing and artistic direction—or if you just want some voice over practice scripts—these samples, organized by industry, will help you to succeed.
Each script features a fictional company and contains artistic direction and demographic information. You can use them as inspiration and as a guide to help build your understanding of how audio scripts are formatted.
How to Use This Voice Over Sample Script Library
Clients Looking for Voice Over Scripts
These scripts include specifications like voice age (young adult), gender, job description, role (guy next door), accent (British RP), etc., much like voice over job postings on Voices.
So if you’re looking for a voice actor, the next time you post a job on Voices, you’ll know what job posting format will bring about the best auditions. This formatting helps voice actors to better understand the vision you had for your project and bring it to life in their read.
Voice Actors Looking for Voice Over Practice Scripts
The first requirement as a voice actor, although it may seem obvious, is that you should be able to read well out loud. Even the most enthusiastic bookworms have trouble articulating a well-phrased passage when asked to do so out loud.
Imagine if you were at an in-person audition and were asked to read a script that you have never seen before. The stakes are high—a potential job or role is hanging in the balance, and landing that role is solely dependent on your ability to read on demand…this is called a cold read.
If you have the grace of time, consider the following when starting out with any of the scripts (below).
How Do I Practice Voice Over?
Practicing should be a part of your regimen as a serious voice actor.
You will need to have a feel for the text, study it, know its internal rhythm, and make note of appropriate places to breathe. You’ll also need to know how to change the mood of your voice (tone), and how to consistently carry a theme or interpretation for the vocal marathon ahead. This is particularly true with regard to narration and documentary voice overs.
Practice by reading the scripts below aloud while following the creative direction provided in the brief. Record yourself reading and listen back to critique yourself. Listen for:
Your breathing. As mentioned above, you may want to make notes about when to take a breath, which will become apparent after you record and listen back the first time.
Your pace, pitch, projection, and pauses. Are you speaking really quickly? Is your cadence suiting the situation within the script? Are you speaking unnaturally loudly for a conversational script?
The background noise of your recordings. If you’re sitting in the space you intend to record for clients, are there noises from your surroundings in the audio? Like a bus going by outside, the TV on in the next room, the footsteps of your upstairs neighbours?
While this practice list isn’t a comprehensive guide to voice over practice, it’s a great place to start. If you’re looking for a full guide to voice over practice, you’ll find it here.
What Voice Over Scripts Should I Use for My Demo?
Feel free to use these sample voice over scripts! Keep in mind when auditioning for jobs, it is recommended to only provide a small portion of the read in your demo. For example, a 7 to 15-second read of a 30-second voice over script will suffice for your audition demo.
Free Voice Over Scripts
Need a coach?
Emily Tennant is a voice over coach - tennant.em@gmail.com at bizstudio