Tish Hicks, Voiceover Artist & CEO
The V.O. Dojo
Tish Hicks didn’t set out to become one of the most recognizable voices in American advertising, but a single favor for a friend’s ad agency 30 years ago changed everything. Today, she’s a longtime voice of Subaru and Citibank and the founder of The V.O. Dojo, a holistic training program that has helped students ages 14 to 80 break into voiceover work.
In this episode:
✦ Her unconventional path from Northwestern University theater and Second City improv into commercial voiceover
✦ The surprising range of voiceover work from political ads to e-learning to video games
✦ How the industry has evolved over three decades, from agency-driven markets to a fully entrepreneurial business model
✦ Practical advice for anyone considering a career pivot into voice work
✦ Inside The V.O. Dojo’s five-belt training system, from “Launchpad” to working professional
✦ Why she believes AI can’t replace the “vibrational energy” of human voice and what voice actors are doing to protect their work
A candid, generous conversation about reinvention, resilience, and what it really takes to build a career around your voice.
MBTI vibe: ENFP / ISFP / ENTP / INFJ / ISTP
Perception and social intelligence • Self-direction and independence • Adaptability across registers • Entrepreneurial resilience
Need to Know Facts*
Salary Range:
Entry-Level Education &
Additional Certification
Work Experience in Related
Occupation:
Type of organizations to
work for:
Job Outlook:
Resources:
• Audiobooks: $200-$300 per
finished hour of recording
• Commercials: $100 – $10,000
(local radio spot – national TV)
• Animation / Video Games:
$100 – $10,000 (short clips to
starring roles)
• No formal degree required
• Dedicated acting classes
helpful
• Specialized voiceover
coaching
• Technical training
• Key skills include: vocal
control, acting ability,
microphone technique,
cold reading
• Animation & Anime
• Commercials
• Audiobooks & podcasts
• eLearning & Corporate
• Video games
• Dubbing
• Highly competitive, but
expanding
• Challenges to consider:
– Avg booking rate of 1 out
of every 250 auditions
– Initial investment includes
professional training, demo
production & building a
high-quality home studio
About Tish Hicks
Tish Hicks is an accomplished, successful LA voiceover artist and the creator, CEO, and Master Sensei of The V.O. Dojo, a holistic, full-training voiceover program that guides, supports, connects, and accelerates every step of the way from “I don’t know” to “working pro”.
She has been telling stories in all genres of voiceover (commercials, animation, video games, tv narration, promo, audiobooks et al) for 25+ years including being the voice of many high-profile and long-running campaigns like Subaru and Citibank.
Tish is a 2020 Stevie Award Winner for Female Entrepreneur of the Year and the Dojo was awarded 2020 Company of the Year. She is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Theatre Department where bringing stories to life was instilled as a way of life.
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