Co-founders Alex Torrenegra and Tania Zapata created the company to provide on-demand voice-over artists, relying on “crowdvoicing” — think crowdsourcing with a microphone.
The couple initially founded Voice123 because they were tired of traditional casting services that required VO artists to audition and wait for a call from their agent.
Voice123 became the first online voice casting service, quickly growing to more than 100,000 actors and three million auditions.
However, as time went on, they discovered that there was still a need in the market.
What if they could cut the auditioning process altogether?
This was the inspiration for VoiceBunny.
VoiceBunny is unique because it gets rid of the auditioning process, allowing for rapid turnaround time for buyers.
How Does VoiceBunny Work?
VoiceBunny lets customers submit requests for work.
Before doing so, they can browse through artist portfolios to find someone who is a good fit for their project.
Upon submitting, VoiceBunny has an algorithm that processes the request and returns an expected turnaround time and cost.
Should the client opt to continue, a voice-over artist will get to work right away.
When working as a VoiceBunny artist, you set your own rates.
The company then charges commissions and fees on top of your rates.
You don't have to pay the company anything to subscribe to its platform.
You are paid if your recording passes the VoiceBunny quality control test.
While a piece could make it through quality control, it might still be rejected late by a client.
This may especially be the case for auditions.
In some cases, clients will request that you audition for a piece.
You can do so remotely and won’t have to travel to an on-site location to do so.
Even if the client denies the piece, you'll still receive payment so long as it passes through VoiceBunny’s quality control tests.
VoiceBunny will send you links to invitations for jobs that might match your skills.
That way, you don't have to browse through thousands of listings to find a project that could work for you.
What Does VoiceBunny Look For in a VO Artist?
VoiceBunny says that it looks for five things in its professionals:
Quality
Communication
Speed
Availability
Attention to detail
The company mandates high-quality submissions.
While you may not need any technical training to get started, VoiceBunny does require you to use professional audio equipment.
The company also requests that you communicate effectively, letting them know when you plan to be out or if you have any questions about a project.
This is obvious, as most companies look for quality canditates with a high level of interpersonal skills.
If you work a full-time job and have limited availability to record, you should inform your bosses so that they know when they can expect work from you.
Because VoiceBunny is a crowdsourcing website that markets itself on providing quick turnarounds, it expects its Bunny Pros to meet all deadlines.
The company also expects you to accept projects when available and complete them promptly.
Professionals should pay careful attention to detail, following all instructions from the client.
How Much Can You Make on VoiceBunny?
If you choose to work for VoiceBunny, you'll receive payment on a per-project basis.
As mentioned before, you're responsible for setting your own rates.
After accounting for all fees, VoiceBunny doesn’t make much in terms of profit margin.
Those who complete longer scripts, like audiobooks, earn approximately $3,000.
Getting Started with VoiceBunny
If you're ready to get started with VoiceBunny, the first thing you need to do is create an account.
When doing so, you'll tell the company a little bit about yourself.
You'll describe your skills and experience.
VoiceBunny will use this information to match you on projects.
During this time, you'll also provide your estimated turnaround time for projects.
VoiceBunny asks for your total turnaround time, which includes both recording and editing your audio.
You'll also provide your rates for projects.
VoiceBunny asks for rates based on word counts.
You'll provide your rates for:
5 words
50 words
500 words
5,000 words
Lastly, you'll give other information like your age, gender, accent, and languages.
You can update this information at any time if you're approved.
After providing this information, the company asks you to complete a test.
The quality control team will review your recording to determine if it's worthwhile.
If the quality control team determines your submission is valuable, you'll sign an account agreement.
Then you're ready to begin working!
Once you start working, you'll find that there are three ways you can earn work:
Bookings, which occur when a client books you directly
Contents, where you submit entries and compete with other Bunny Pros
Speedies, where you receive an invitation to a project and work to complete it ASAP
The process may seem daunting, but if you have some experience and are looking for a side hustle, the upfront application process could be worth your while.
Is VoiceBunny Right for You?
VoiceBunny is a convenient option for those who are having trouble booking voice acting work.
The site excels at connecting clients directly with actors, skipping much of the "middleman" auditioning and agency process.
It's also beneficial because you, as the actor, are permitted to set your rates.
However, that doesn’t mean VoiceBunny is right for everyone.
If the VoiceBunny applicant test is your first time voice acting, you're probably not going to make it very far.
Even though VoiceBunny is a crowdsourcing site, it is working on hiring high-quality actors, investing a lot in quality control.
While the company isn't a scam, it does have somewhat of a subpar reputation online, primarily due to the nature of the crowdvoicing business as a whole.
Our advice?
If you have never tried voice acting before, we recommend that you get a bit of experience under your belt before you give VoiceBunny a shot.
Start practicing at home and consider finding a training course.
If you find that you like voice acting and are ready to invest in professional recording equipment, you can give VoiceBunny a shot.
You'll want to have a couple of high-quality samples on hand anyway before you start your career.
Beyond that, VoiceBunny is worth your while to sign up.
You set your rates and availability, so there's no harm getting started on the site and working when you want, where you want to provide yourself with a bit of side income.
Brett Helling
Founder, Gigworker.com
Brett Helling is the founder and owner of Gigworker.com. Having worked in the gig economy for nearly a decade, he has mastered freelance, remote, and app-based work. You can learn more about his journey in his book, "Gigworker: Independent Work and the State of the Gig Economy", now available on Amazon.
