Today we’d like to introduce you to Erik Sanchez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley. In college, I floated through a few odd jobs, eventually landing a college internship at KLSX & KRLA Radio. KLSX was talk radio, KRLA still played the oldies, and I somehow wound up helping produce a show for Riki Rachtman Radio on KLSX. I had no clue what I was doing, but Riki was always patient—and generous enough to let his team figure it out on the fly. It was a wild time—my first real look behind the curtain. I got a crash course in the business of entertainment while crossing paths with all kinds of characters, famous and otherwise.
When the show ended, I got a job in the music department at ICM, one of the big L.A. talent agencies, as an assistant. Before long, I was on the verge of becoming a junior agent when life threw me a curveball: I met a girl. She worked in the New York office. Less than a year later, I was living in Manhattan, in a serious relationship and starting over as an agent assistant in the voiceover department in our New York offices.
I thought I’d circle back to music eventually—but something clicked in that VO booth. I found I had a knack for directing talent, shaping reads, getting to the core of what made something land. A couple years later, I transitioned into voiceover casting. That was over 20 years ago. I’m still at it, still in New York and still with my girl.
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?
It’s never smooth and at times terrifying but it’s been a fun and meaningful adventure. It all makes perfect sense in hindsight. The decision to leave L.A. wasn’t easy but I had more reasons, both personally & professionally, to move than to stay. Of course, the biggest struggle was leaving my family and friends and the city I knew. Adapting to life in NYC wasn’t very hard for me, except maybe the winters. It was exhilarating. NYC has everything. I would recommend it to anyone. Then again, I wasn’t married with children and I was young with just the right amount of clueless. After 23 years in New York I still struggle with the distance between the cities but I carry the L.A. spirit with me in everything I do. My kids were born and raised in New York, but there’s a little Angeleno in them too. It’s important to me they know both towns and the soul of each place. Hopefully, they’ll learn that people are more alike than different and every town has its own kind of magic.
We’ve been impressed with Erik Sanchez Voiceover, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Erik Sanchez Voiceover is my personal brand and production company. Most of my career was spent running casting departments for top production houses in New York, but I launched my own shop during Covid—part necessity, part personal challenge. My specialty is commercial voiceover: casting, directing, consulting and coaching talent.
New York, with Madison Avenue at its core, is one of the toughest and most competitive commercial markets in the world. I had to get very good at what I do—or at least convince the right people I was. Over the years, I’ve had the chance to work with incredible talent and some of the biggest brands out there. I’m proud of the work I’ve done on those projects, but coaching is where I feel the most connected. It’s messier, more human, and way more satisfying. Nothing beats helping someone find their voice.
The voiceover industry has shifted dramatically in the past five years. You no longer need to live in a major market to compete or succeed in voiceover. Like many creative industries, it’s become far more accessible—and that’s an exciting thing. However, when the barriers to entry are lower, you get a wide spectrum—some real gems, and some still finding their footing.
I saw an opportunity to support newcomers in a meaningful way—something that could lift them up and benefit the industry at large. I recently put together an online voiceover course with beginners in mind—something you can do from anywhere, whether you’re in Los Angeles or Los Alamos. It’s a 10-part series that walks through the basics of auditioning in commercial VO and shares some of the techniques I’ve picked up along the way. The hope is that it gives you a better feel for the job—and maybe even the sense that this whole voiceover thing isn’t as out of reach as it might seem.
Growing up in Los Angeles and living in New York has shaped how I see the world—and how I work. I’ve always valued individuality, and that’s at the heart of everything I do. Whether it’s acting or anything else, your real power comes from being yourself. My advice? Trust your instincts and enjoy the ride.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
As a middle kid, I learned early on to go with the flow. I figured out how to read the room, connect with people, and listen more than I spoke. I was shy, intense at times and always sensitive. School came naturally to me, so I got by without much struggle. My older brother was a major influence. He had a deep love for music, art, and fashion, and without even realizing it, I followed his lead. His world became a gateway to mine. It wasn’t until high school that I started stepping into myself and exploring what moved me. Luckily, we looked enough alike that his old ID became mine. Suddenly, I was four years older on paper…stepping into places I probably wasn’t ready for, soaking it all in, and learning a lot along the way. For better or worse, I was off to the races by 14. Looking back, I guess that time lit something. I was young, curious, and maybe a little reckless. Los Angeles was the perfect playground. I learned to pay attention and stay open to where inspiration might come from. It’s kept me grounded in New York and maybe, someday, it’ll bring me back to L.A.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://eriksanchezvoiceover.teachable.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eriksanchezvoiceover/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eriksanchezvoiceover/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ErikSanchezVoiceover
