Hi! My name is Robert Jackson. I’m a voice actor based in Los Angeles.

I’m happy to answer any questions pertaining to voice over. Let’s get started!

1. What inspired you to become a voice actor?

It was something I’ve always had a fascination for since I was 5. Being surrounded with VHS tapes and radio cassettes (time sure flies!) was my introduction to sound. I liked imitating the characters I saw on TV for fun. I’ve consumed so much media back then. I remember doing the Mario characters as a kid, and that annoyed my family so much haha! Fast forward to 2012-2013, I watched a lot of Newgrounds animations, and I kept hearing this one voice actress who was everywhere on that site. It was none other than Kira Buckland! If I wasn’t doing homework from school, I was doing homework on VAs. It gave me the drive to pursue it even further. Fast forward to 2017, I graduated high school, got a Blue Yeti mic, and here I am today!

2. Can you describe your process for preparing for a voice acting role?

I sorta go with the flow 90% of the time. For me, it comes down to what the character looks like. There’s the description, audition lines, and I imagine who’s my scene partner, what are my intentions, etc. A lot of actors come from a Miesner trained background, so it’s important for me to absorb what I’ve been taught by different coaches and put my own unique flavor to it. As for roles I’m cast in, I usually hum or sing to warm up, and work closely with the directors in bringing the characters to life. I ask questions before starting the session just to get a better feel for the story. You never know what you’ll get in a session. It may be daunting at first, but every session I’ve done has been a real blast so far!

3. What has been your biggest challenge as a voice actor and how have you overcome it?

Being incredibly self-conscious while recording. Like most VAs, I didn’t start out with the best setup. I had a large untreated space. It took me a while to let go of the fear of being loud whenever my family’s around. Also recording too many takes because perfectionism haha.

4. Can you tell us about a particularly memorable project you’ve worked on and why it stands out to you?

One that comes to mind is Nebula Wrestling. I played a character named Nori Hayashi. Funnily enough, I was told my performance had a Yusuke Urameshi vibe to it! I loved Yu Yu Hakusho, so now I can credit Justin Cook as a possible influence for how I approached Nori in the project! We did a large ensemble read with all the actors, and everyone brought a unique blend of energy into the session. Playing off the other actors was a lot of fun! Most of the time, actors record one at a time remotely. But having everyone in the same room (or call) makes the chemistry flow so much more naturally. I would love to do more of these very soon!

5. How do you handle the pressure of performing in front of a microphone?

I move around a lot, and sometimes I exercise before I hit record. Shaking off the nerves or any tension you feel around your body dissipates after a good workout. It was really bad for me at first, but overtime, the pressure became less of an issue for me. I also go outside and soak in as much daylight as I can.

6. Can you share any advice for aspiring voice actors just starting out in the industry?

Study improv. It’s super important to think outside the box. Being able to get out of your head and coming up with strong choices in your audition is a really vital skill to have as a character actor. It’s definitely small V, big A. It’s more about the acting than the voice. It’s nice to have versatility with how many characters you can do. But your natural voice is what’s going to book you a steady amount of work. And don’t be afraid to look stupid! And I mean it as a compliment.

7. Can you tell us about a time when you had to adapt to a new character or voice?

I played a villain who had a deep, guttural growl similar to Dr. Claw. After I did the character, my voice was wrecked for an entire day. Vocal rest and self care cannot be stressed enough. If there’s a certain role or a voice that’s physically draining you, please be careful. You don’t know whether or not you’ll actually book that character. Doing it for a certain amount of time without proper training can damage your voice in the long run. After that session, I’ve tried to avoid doing the vocally stressful stuff too often. Every now and then, if I do have a character that does a lot of screaming or shouting, I save those for the end of the session rather than early on. Good thing we’re always learning every day in the business.

8. How do you stay motivated and engaged during long recording sessions?

Honestly, if you’re working with a great director, it makes the long recording sessions worth it. I mean, not every session is gonna be a winner, but for the most part, having a positive attitude really does make a huge difference in voice over.

9. Can you tell us about an experience you had while working on a project where you had to improvise or come up with an unexpected solution?

Plenty. If I’m doing something more comedic like an animation, or if I feel there’s a line of dialogue to change, the directors are usually open to new ideas. But, most of the time, it’s best to stick to what’s already written. Especially if you’re doing ADR, anime, or a serious production.

10. Can you share a funny or interesting story from your time as a voice actor?

I run a podcast called Station Square. One time, I interviewed Barbara Goodson (Rita from Power Rangers) and she mistook me for another actor named Roger L. Jackson. Best known as Mojo Jojo and Mr. Mucus. It’s not so often I get confused with another VA with Jackson as their last name. Back in the 6th grade though, it became an in-joke that I was somehow related to Michael Jackson. I don’t know why either. I guess I’ll add this to my resume: I got mistaken for Mr. Mucus by Rita Repulsa. And The King of Pop himself.

11. Can you share your favorite voice acting moment or performance?

Recently, I did a small audiobook where I played Sam, a down to earth type of guy. I got to share a ghost story with my teammates in the video. That was something I got to cross off my bucket list of VO goals.

12. Can you tell us about a voice acting project you turned down and why?

Without name dropping, there was a project a while back that went through a bit of controversy. I was sent the audition sides via email, but I knew something was fishy when I read the character descriptions. I ended up passing on it. I felt bad at first, but looking back, I’m glad I didn’t submit for it. Turns out it was a huge scam. I dodged a serious bullet on that one. Generally speaking, I also don’t work on a ton of NSFW projects.

13. How do you keep your voice in good condition for voice acting?

Getting a good night’s sleep, exercise, and always carrying a water bottle to stay hydrated.

14. Can you tell us about a time when you had to take on a role that was completely different from what you were used to?

I played a bully one time. I usually play sidekicks, underdogs, and protagonists. It was the first antagonistic role I did. I was Franco, the school bully, in the animation, Lugie & The 4 Elements.

15. What are your thoughts on All Ages of Geek and what can we improve on to make it a better platform?

Very cool from what I’ve seen! I’d love to see voice actor highlights or more Power Rangers content.

16. Where can people find you online?

I’m mostly active on Instagram these days. I use Twitter just for work and business inquiries, but if you’d like to keep in touch, you can reach out via email: [email protected]

I also have a carrd profile as my new website is currently being worked on. Link below:

Carrd: https://robertjacksonvo.carrd.co/

My social media is featured on there, but my main outlets are Twitter and Instagram. My Twitter handle is @Mystic_IRJ. I usually go by that username on most platforms or just Robert Jackson.

Outside of VO, I host a podcast called Station Square, and I’m currently creating an audio drama which I’m planning to release later this year! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about VO or just want to chat about anything! I post announcements, projects I’m working on, and new episodes of the podcast. Stay tuned for any updates I have in the meantime!

Check out my YouTube channel as well. I’ll start posting other content besides the podcast soon!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfL6f5EijJFxB1jLPeixsmQ

I’d like to extend my special thanks to the All Ages of Geek crew for doing this with me!

Be sure to subscribe and support their work! Thanks for having me, and here’s to a great 2023!