Finding Her Voice, Then Giving It Away

How one Las Vegas voice actor built a global community for dreamers with a microphone and a little faith.

On a Saturday morning in suburban Las Vegas, Melissa Moats expected a handful of strangers to trickle into her living room. She had casually invited a few aspiring voice actors to stop by, read some scripts, and talk shop about the world of voiceover work. What she did not expect was a knock at her door, followed by another, then another, until thirty-six people crammed into her home studio.

She remembers laughing with her husband, quoting the movie Jaws. “We’re going to need a bigger boat,” she told him. That moment of overwhelm, when a living room could no longer contain the enthusiasm of strangers chasing a dream, became the spark that would grow into The Voice Actors Studio.

Today, that small gathering has transformed into a thriving global community, with over 23,000 members from Las Vegas to Japan, Dubai, Germany, and beyond. For Melissa, a professional voice actor of more than twenty-five years, it is still surreal.

“I just wanted to pay it forward and help a few people,” she says. “It took on a life of its own. Now we’re helping thousands of people believe in themselves, quiet that inner critic, and actually build careers doing something they love.”

From Living Room Scripts to a Studio on the Strip

Melissa never set out to be a teacher. Her career was already flourishing long before she launched The Voice Actors Studio. Her voice had appeared everywhere: national commercials, documentaries, video games, even as the signature voice for brands like Ashley Furniture, Kroger, and the Florida Lottery. She became a familiar sound in Las Vegas casinos and even lent her narration to projects tied to celebrities like Justin Timberlake and Drake.

But as her reputation grew, so did the number of calls she received from curious, hopefuls. How do you get started in voice acting? Do you need an agent? Do you really need a studio?

Melissa answered patiently, often spending hours on the phone walking complete strangers through the basics. “I was just being helpful,” she recalls. “People kept calling, and I just wanted to give them what I wish I’d had when I was starting out.”

Eventually, phone calls turned into meetups, meetups turned into workshops, and by 2015, Melissa and her husband signed the lease on a small Las Vegas studio. It was a leap of faith. Would anyone show up? Would enough people really commit to learning such a niche skill? The answer was an overwhelming yes.

Built on Encouragement, Not Ego

One reason The Voice Actors Studio resonates so deeply is Melissa’s personal philosophy. She believes anyone, regardless of background or equipment, can find their voice if they are willing to put in the work.

“I’ve mentored people who had nothing but a smartphone,” she says. “No fancy mic, no studio, nothing. And now some of those same people are landing roles in AAA video games, anime, animation, and commercial work. It blows me away.”

Melissa is quick to point out that the hardest part of her job is not teaching microphone technique or editing software. It is helping students believe they belong.

“The biggest challenge I see is self-doubt,” she explains. “People get stuck in imposter syndrome. They think, ‘Who am I to do this?’ My job is to quiet that negative inner voice and help them see what I already see in them.”

That culture of encouragement has become a hallmark of the studio. In an industry often known for competition and rejection, The Voice Actors Studio feels like an oasis. Students range from children as young as eight to retirees in their eighties. Some join out of curiosity, others out of necessity, hoping to supplement income or reinvent themselves later in life. Melissa beams when she talks about her oldest student, an 86-year-old audiobook narrator who is thriving. “I should really say 86 years young,” she laughs. “He inspires me every single day.”

A One-Stop Shop for Aspiring Talent

Part of the studio’s appeal is its breadth. Melissa has assembled a team of eight seasoned coaches, each with expertise in different genres of voiceover work. Commercials, audiobooks, video games, guided meditations, telephone systems, corporate training, toys, and animated films are all on the table.

Together, the team covers not only performance and technique but also the technical and business sides of the craft. Students learn how to set up home studios, edit audio files, market themselves, and negotiate contracts.

“We’re a one-stop shop,” Melissa says proudly. “We want people to be well-equipped at every step of the process. Whether someone wants to do this part-time for fun or pursue it full-time, we make sure they have the tools, the skills, and the support system to succeed.”

Her dedication comes with a dose of realism. Voice acting is not an overnight career, and Melissa does not sugarcoat the effort required. But she balances tough love with boundless encouragement. As one student once described it, The Voice Actors Studio is like “a gym for your voice, but with better lighting and more laughter.”

Growing Beyond Las Vegas

While the studio started as a local hub in Las Vegas, technology has blown the doors wide open. The pandemic accelerated online learning, but Melissa had already been experimenting with virtual coaching long before Zoom became a household word.

Today, the studio’s classes are hybrid, with students logging in from multiple time zones. Melissa often starts a session by asking students to share where they are calling from, and the roll call feels like a geography lesson: Japan, Canada, the UK, Dubai, Florida, California.

“It still amazes me,” she says. “I’ll look at the screen and realize we’ve got a global classroom. It shows how universal storytelling is. People everywhere want to be part of this world.”

That expansion is central to Melissa’s vision for the next chapter. Within the next year, she plans to push even harder into international outreach, transforming The Voice Actors Studio from a Las Vegas hidden gem into a household name for aspiring voice talent around the world.

The Power of Community

At its core, The Voice Actors Studio is not just about microphones and scripts. It is about connection. Melissa lights up when describing the friendships that have formed within the community.

“We’ve grown from three people in my living room to more than 23,000 participants,” she says. “What makes us different is the community. It’s loving, supportive, and so encouraging. People lift each other up here. That kind of environment is rare, and I think that’s why people stay.”

The impact goes beyond individual careers. Students have built confidence that spills into other areas of life. Some have launched entirely new businesses, others have finally embraced long-shelved creative dreams. Many say the studio gave them permission to play again.

Melissa knows the ripple effect is real. “When someone finds their voice, literally and figuratively, it changes everything,” she says. “They carry that confidence into their relationships, their jobs, their families. That’s the real magic.”

A Voice Worth Listening To

Melissa’s own career continues to thrive alongside her teaching. Between commercial campaigns, video games, and documentary narration, her voice is still in high demand. Yet she insists that her proudest accomplishments are the successes of her students.

“I honestly don’t know what I love more,” she admits. “Voice acting or helping people build their own careers. They’re equally awesome to me. Every time I watch someone book their first job, or finally believe in themselves, I feel like I’m living my best life.”

Melissa describes her days as busy but joy-filled. Mornings are spent recording for clients, evenings and weekends are devoted to coaching. “I wake up every day and pinch myself,” she says. “This is amazing. I get to voice act, and I get to help other people voice act. I can’t imagine anything better.”

How to Join the Chorus

For those curious about exploring the world of voice acting, Melissa makes the path welcoming. Beginners do not need expensive gear or industry connections. All they need is curiosity, a willingness to learn, and maybe a smartphone to get started.

Classes and workshops are accessible worldwide through The Voice Actors Studio’s website at www.thevoiceactorstudio.com. Melissa also shares her own work and insights at ladyluckvoiceovers.com. The studio stays active on Facebook: The Voice Actors Studio, Instagram: @thevoiceactorstudio, TikTok: voiceactorstudio, and X: @VoiceActrStudio, offering tips, behind-the-scenes looks, and glimpses into the community that has made it a beloved space for thousands.

For anyone sitting on the edge of a dream, wondering if their voice is worth hearing, Melissa offers a gentle but firm push. “You don’t have to wait for permission,” she says. “You already have what it takes. All you need is the courage to start.”

This feature is part of The Business View Journal’s Local Spotlight Series — your trusted source for discovering the best small businesses in your community.