Episode Details

What does it really take to become a professional voice actor?

In this episode of Thought Atlas, I sit down with Chris Dattoli, an award-winning voice actor whose work spans video games, anime, audiobooks, cartoons, corporate and medical narration, and commercial campaigns. He also works as an on-camera actor and model.

Before pursuing acting, Chris worked in marketing and was the chief marketing officer of a large company. Although he was making decent money, he wasn’t happy. He eventually left that career to pursue voice acting—a decision he describes as both the best and worst decision he made.

In our conversation, we explore:

• Why voice acting is much more than cartoons, anime, and commercials• The different forms of voice work, including corporate narration, medical narration, IVR, dubbing, and loop groups• Why voice acting is ultimately acting, not simply reading words into a microphone• How actors make someone else’s words sound natural and conversational• Why understanding a character’s background can help an actor become that character• How voice actors can use different voices, accents, and perspectives to create characters• Why Chris believes actors should sometimes “go left” instead of doing exactly what everyone else is doing• How voice actors deal with rejection and imposter syndrome• Why not getting an audition doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a bad actor• The reality of competition in the voice-over industry• Why success requires maintaining enthusiasm from beginning to end• Chris’s “next” philosophy for dealing with rejection• The difference between confidence and being cocky• How he creates emotional authenticity while working alone inside a booth• Why he keeps pictures of people in his studio to help him access different emotions• How voice acting and on-camera acting teach different lessons about performance• Why on-camera acting can involve enormous amounts of waiting and attention to tiny details• What Chris believes will always remain uniquely human about voice performance• His perspective on AI-generated voices and the differences he hears between human and artificial speech• The biggest misconception about becoming financially successful in voice acting• Why talent alone isn’t enough• Why the people who appear successful today often have years of unseen work behind them• Why auditioning itself is the job• The importance of researching a coach before investing in training• Why he believes aspiring voice actors should get coaching before buying expensive equipment• Why he recommends keeping your day job until you can genuinely support yourself through voice acting• How saving money for your creative career can be an investment in yourself• And the lessons Chris wishes he had understood earlier in his own journey

Chris’s advice is grounded in patience, professionalism, preparation, and persistence.

You may not get the audition.

Next.

You may not get the next one either.

Next.

Keep learning. Keep improving. Keep showing up.

Connect with Chris

🌐 Website: https://dattolivoiceovers.com/

📱 Social media: @ChrisDattoliVO

Chris says the same handle is used across his social-media accounts, and his website also contains links to his social channels.

🌍 Thought AtlasMapping ideas, exploring everything.

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If you enjoyed this conversation, follow Thought Atlas and share this episode with someone interested in voice acting, acting, creativity, performance, or building a career in the creative arts.