Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabby Naylor.
Hi Gabby, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
When I started VO, I immediately had this feeling of “oh…THIS is what I’m supposed to do.” Maybe I just liked the sound of my own voice, or maybe all my years of theatre, standup, and sketch comedy had led me to this discovery. Whatever the reason, it clicked. And I was hooked.
I started training with coaches at Atlanta Voiceover Studio and eventually got my demos produced by them. When COVID hit in March of 2020 I had just finished recording my demos and set up my sound booth inside my house, so I had a whole year to dedicate every day to training and learning about the industry without any distractions.
Since then, I’ve been able to provide my voice for companies like Starbucks, HBO, and Mattel. I’m now working full-time at an animation studio where I’ve been able to provide my voice for projects on Hulu.
As lucky as I’ve been at the start of my VO journey, I’m still hungry to learn, grow and work as much as possible.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Success, just like failure, isn’t permanent. It may seem like I get a lot of opportunities for VO because I have some big brands on my resume, but I am constantly being turned down for jobs. I mean CONSTANTLY. I audition every day through my agents, but if I want to work consistently, it’s up to me to market myself and make new connections. It can definitely be exhausting, but it’s worth it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
A voice actor is an actor, so I am always looking for opportunities to act. Right now, I’m in rehearsals for a production of “A View From The Bridge” by Arthur Miller, at Lionheart Theatre in Norcross. We open on November 4th, so get yourself a ticket before they sell out!
I like to say that I specialize in “talking out loud”. I started acting classes at 14, ended up doing theatre throughout high school and college, and had a brief stint on a Speech and Debate team in college. I got into a sketch comedy troupe at FSU called “30in60” and fell in love with writing and performing comedy. I started stand-up comedy in 2012 and didn’t quit until 2016 when I started running my own comedy show instead of performing. I realized that while I loved writing and performing comedy, I didn’t care for the lifestyle. Standups perform every night at bars and comedy clubs, and I prefer to be in bed by 9:30 pm.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Definitely come out to see my show at Lionheart Theatre, opening November 4th! They can also reach me via my website: www.gabbynaylor.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gabbynaylor.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/gabbynaylor
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/gabby.naylor
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEFvJYNZrTaWHRoqHQLakvA
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/gabby-naylor-978003887
Image Credits
Lola Scott
