Subscribe on YouTube for the latest...
Catch the replay with Tara Sands
Tara Sands is a name familiar to many in the voiceover world. With over 300 audiobooks under her belt and a plethora of anime roles, she's built a successful career that spans multiple genres. But how did this New Jersey native get her start in the industry?
Tara's Origin Story
It all began with a local singing competition, where a talent manager in the audience took notice of the young Tara. Her first audition, sent by this manager, happened to be for a radio voiceover spot – and she booked it. "I had to say something like 'ew, gross, a wart'... I loved it," she recalls. "I got to put on headphones and be in a studio. I thought it was super cool."
This early experience sparked an interest in voiceover, which she pursued alongside her on-camera acting work. One of her most memorable jobs from this time was hosting "Fridays" on Cartoon Network, a live-action show that aired between cartoons. "We acted silly and got to do fun stuff," she says. The show even led to her eventual move from New York to LA, as she knew there would be more opportunities to work on the series in California.
As her career progressed, Tara began to focus more on voiceover. She credits her early start in the industry with giving her an edge, as there were fewer audiobooks being produced back then. "I did my first one in 2006 or 2007, so it was before the huge boom in audiobooks," she explains. Today, young adult and kids' books are her bread and butter. "I love doing a great kids' book, like a Goosebumps book... I can picture some kids in a car who don't want to be on a long drive, and I understand my audience in that way."
Pokemon
One of Tara's most well-known roles is Bulbasaur in the Pokémon anime. She originally auditioned for a different character but was asked to try voicing Bulbasaur during the same session. The role turned out to be recurring, much to her surprise.
On the topic of pay, Tara acknowledges that anime and audiobooks tend to be lower paid, even with union rates. "Unfortunately, I've been successful in the lowest paid areas of voiceover," she says. "Anime didn't used to make a lot of money, and now that it does, the rates haven't changed to reflect that." She hopes to see this change in the future, as the popularity and profitability of anime continue to grow.
Conclusion
Tara's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, continuous learning, and a willingness to take on a wide variety of roles. As she continues to build her career, she remains passionate about the unique challenges and rewards of voiceover work. "If I can connect with some kid who's in a car and make their day a little brighter, that's powerful. That's why I do what I do."
Up Next - Paul Schmidt!
Studio Gear & Recommendations
Looking for a new microphone, audio interface, or other gear? Click the button below to check out my recommendations!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Don't know where to start? Let's chat.
Grab 15 minutes free - let's see what your business needs...
Through VO Strategist, Tom's provided voiceover business & marketing coaching since 2011. He's also a voice actor with over 25 years of experience who has narrated just about every type of voice over you can think of. When not voicing or talking about voicing, Tom produces the sci-fi comic book Agent 1.22.
Comments