The Snake Oil Salesmen of Voiceover: A Cautionary Tale for Newcomers

Welcome to the business of voiceovers. It’s an exciting, creative, and deeply rewarding industry—but let’s not sugarcoat it. If you’re just starting out, there’s something you really need to know: The vultures are circling.

I’m talking about the smooth-talking, hashtag-happy “coaches” and “demo producers” who flood social media like it’s a feeding frenzy. They’re selling shortcuts, hype, and big dreams—often with zero substance behind it. These folks aren’t here to help you succeed. They’re here to sell. That’s it.

You’ll recognize them by their catchphrases:

“Make BIG money with your voice!”

“Want to earn six figures doing VO from your closet?”

“I have the insider secrets to voiceover success!”

“Golden nuggets the pros don’t want you to know!”

Come on. If you think this sounds like a late-night infomercial, you’re not wrong. These folks couldn’t coach you through a fast-food drive-thru, let alone through a professional voiceover career. They’ll tell you you’re “ready for a demo” after one session. They’ll slap together a cheap, overly-produced reel with no direction or strategy and call it “industry standard.” They’ll take your money and wish you well—while you’re left wondering why you can’t book a single job.

And here’s another huge red flag: random DMs.

If someone drops a “DM me!” comment in a VO group thread, or sends you a message out of nowhere offering “coaching,” pause. Real professionals don’t cold-pitch you like they’re selling leggings or crypto.

DMs are fantastic—once you’ve built a real connection, had a conversation, or established some mutual trust. But if the very first message you get is a pitch, a “special offer,” or a link to a course you didn’t ask for? That’s not a mentor. That’s a predator with a Canva subscription.

Now, if you’re serious about learning this craft—really understanding performance, business, marketing, and longevity—work with coaches who’ve actually been in the trenches. People who’ve booked real jobs, directed real talent, produced real demos, and know how this industry actually works.

These coaches won’t promise you fame and fortune in 30 days. They’ll promise you hard work, honest feedback, and a blueprint that’s actually based on experience—not fantasy. No gimmicks. No nonsense. Just the truth, the tools, and the support to help you build something sustainable.

Bottom line:

You can’t shortcut your way to a voiceover career. But you can sidestep the scams and give yourself a real chance—if you choose the right people to learn from. So be smart. Be skeptical. And trust your gut. If it sounds like snake oil… it probably is.

Want to work with a team that actually gives a damn about your success? Check out our coaching programs here: 👉 https://www.uvtcoaching.com/voiceover-coaching-programs