I recorded my first commercial demo back in 2023. At the time, I was still very new to voiceover and didn’t have much experience under my belt. The demo had excellent production. It sounded polished and professional on the surface. But when I listened back to it recently, I cringed.
To someone outside the industry, it might have sounded great. But to me, something was off. My performance didn’t reflect who I am as a voice actor today. It felt like I wasn’t 100% comfortable putting myself in the read. I’ve grown so much since then, and I knew it was time for an upgrade.
The first thing I did was research demo producers. I listened to samples on their websites, read reviews from other voice actors, and (of course) checked their rates. Once I found someone whose work I liked and whose pricing felt doable, I took the next step: I reached out to a few voice actors who had worked with them. Everyone I spoke to had great things to say so I scheduled a call.
On the call, the producer took time to listen to my old demo and some of my more recent work. I explained what I liked and didn’t like about my old demo. I wanted it to feel more me. Like my old demo, I wanted scripts that reflected the kinds of brands I actually love and relate to, and I wanted the tone to feel natural, not forced.
Recording day was a blast. We spent about an hour exploring different deliveries, playing with pacing and energy, and trying variations on each read. I felt free to take risks and let my personality shine through.
A couple of weeks later, I got my finished demo — and I absolutely loved it. I felt proud, confident, and excited to send it out.
This question doesn’t have one answer. Everyone’s VO journey is different.
In my case, I recorded my first demo when I was still finding my voice. I improved quickly, which meant that after a couple of years, my old demo no longer represented the kind of work I could do. I had outgrown it.
Here are a few signs it might be time to update:
If any of that sounds like you, don’t be afraid to level up. It’s not about chasing perfection. It’s about honoring where you are now in your journey.
There’s no single timeline for when a demo needs to be updated. For some, a first demo holds up for years. For others, you grow fast, and your materials need to catch up.
Whether you’re building your first reel or thinking about refreshing an old one, the most important thing is that your demo feels authentic. It should sound like you, not just someone reading a script well.
This process reminded me how far I’ve come, and how important it is to invest in your growth. If you’re on the fence about updating your demo, listen closely to yourself. You’ll know when it’s time.
And when you’re ready? Lean in. Take the leap. Make something you're proud to share.