Wanna’know the one thing that will kill any voice over performance?
In fact, if you do this I can almost guarantee agents and producers listening to your performance will turn up their nose in disgust and hit delete.
The evil of which I speak is the dreaded announcer voice, a voice that sounds as if you are preaching to the listener from “on high,” that you are trying to sell something, that you are anything but one of “them”.
Both men and women are subject to this terrible malady but there is an antidote. It’s called the conversational voice, and like Visa and Mastercard, its welcome everywhere you go.
You can achieve a conversational sound by simply being more of yourself on mic. But here’s the catch. You have to be yourself while reading someone else’s words, words you might never say in a million years, and words you must say within 30 or 60 seconds.
It’s a lot more challenging than it looks.
I’ve got an entire toolbox of tips and tricks to help you do this and I’ve selected a few of the best for this week’s video training blog.
Watch It Here Now
After you watch the video, I want to know your thoughts. Was this helpful? Write to me in the comments box. I want to learn what’s on your mind so I can support you and share your best practices.
To your voice over success,
Susan Berkley,
Founder, The Great Voice Company
PS
P.S. Join my new GREAT VOICE CHALLENGE and compete to win a fully produced voice over demo! We’ll work together to make 2017 your best year ever in voice over.
Get details here www.greatvoicechallenge.com or call 800-333-8108.
Secret dialogue and the mumble in technique and imaging reaction from a person’s tone you know really hits the spot.
Thanks Francis. Let me know how it works for you, ok?
Great advice Susan. I was a t-v news anchor for nearly 20 years, so learning to not be announcery has been my biggest challenge. In my booth, I have notes that remind me to talk in a subtle, laid back tone.
As a former radio person, I understand Anthony! Thanks for writing,
As a former radio person I understand! Thanks for writing, Anthony
Susan, great tips , as always! I esp. like #3… the imagined lead-in conversation .
Thank-you!
Great advice, Susan! I never thought of adding a “mumble in” line. Seems like my biggest problem overcoming the announcer voice is at the beginning of the read…which is when clients will delete! Can’t wait to try it.
Susan, Thanks again for more practical advise. Maybe you could have a course on building skills for the top five types of voices required for the business. I’d pay good $$ for that.
As always, thank you and all my best to you!
Stephen
I like that mumble in tip. I could clearly hear the difference when you did it.
Needed these tips! I AM a professional announcer (MMA, boxing, bodybuilding, etc), but the actor in me refuses to be constrained by that role. This is where I take my next steps.