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In Voiceovers-Just Be You

Personal VO Views, Voice over Training, voiceover

Sign Pointing Two DirectionsI’ve just returned from a lovely voiceover conference.  It was my first real jaunt since the COVID-19 lock downs, so I was looking forward to the time away from my city. To my surprise, I learned something unexpected at the conference.  Nothing new was added to my knowledge, but more of a reminder of the importance of being myself.  It’s essential to keep in mind our specialness and worth.  I believe you’ll agree that the real you is your best performance at whatever you do in life.

Somewhere between December 2020 and August 2021, the voiceover industry’s preferred style changed yet again.  The calming voice of season individuals between the ages of 35-55 is now passé. Instead, the current (as of this writing) industry norm has changed (back) to the younger, hipper, conversational tone.  The announcer tone that has been a mainstay for decades in media is again seen as unthinkable.

Change is a regular part of the voice-acting industry.  Voice seekers are looking for something that stands out from the rest of the crowd, which is a great point. But, unfortunately, our industry has been so saturated with styles and deliveries, it’s becoming harder and harder to have a sound that has never been heard or felt somewhere in the audio world.

A voice talent can get pretty insecure trying to keep up with all the changes and may feel like their style is still not enough to impress the most understanding of voice seekers.  Yes, it can be a daunting task, but perhaps the focus needs an adjustment.

Be You Anyway

Most people can learn to act and portray characters or types of voiceover delivery.  However, if the most popular style changes with each cycle of the moon, it can be challenging to keep with “what’s in.”  Perhaps the answer is trying not to fully fit in.  The best advice I keep hearing from others is to “just be you.”  Becoming comfortable in being oneself can be a lifelong task. However, if we master being ourselves, we may reach our own voiceover nirvana.

“This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.     ―  William Shakespeare, Hamlet

Know the Great One – You

Becoming “you real,” starts with a review and study of how you talk and deliver words and emotions.  Recording yourself in different situations like while talking to a friend, a client, or someone you care for, can help you learn your authentic sound.  Once you’ve studied the true actor in you, you can shape your voiceover deliveries to reflect your sound.  That original “you” voice sound is conversational and authentic.  Once you’ve studied and mastered you, your sound will never go out of style. There is an audience for your realness as you use that talent to connect and deliver your scripts.

As I’ve blogged before, change in life is a constant, but no one or thing should force you to switch from being who you really are. As voice talents, let’s remember that our best performance is when we are genuinely ourselves and free to give our best performance.

Brake that lip!

 

 

A Hike to Remember

Personal VO Views, Voice talent renewal

The pre-hike briefing
Getting ready to walk

I don’t know about you, but I’ve learned that many changes and challenges have similar lessons.  If you participate in sports, you know full well how sports can relate to business, even the voiceover business. With that, I’d like to tell you about my first adventure hiking.  Hiking and voice acting are alike; you have to go with the flow and don’t quit.

The Adventure Begins

Recently, I went on my first real hike.  Before the trek started, our leader asked us not to talk too much as we walked and focus our thoughts on nature. So, I was expecting a nice calming walk through gentle backwoods near Northwest Washington, DC’s old and historic neighborhoods.  Instead, I experienced rough milled trails through wooded areas and dirt corridors compacted with sharp rocks, small and round boulders, hard stones, and bulging tree roots.  Small streams were also in our path that ran under full, leaf-laden trees that shaded our two-and-one-half-hour walk.

The tree cover was fine, especially when a summer shower passed over us.  But then, there were the steep inclines and descents.  Someone (the U.S. Park Service, I presume) nicely positioned long wooden planks, like the ones you see on railroad tracks, as steps along the steep inclines.  We walked up and down the vertical passageways over the planks with some protruding because erosion had washed away some of the dirt and sand that initially surrounded the wooden stepladders.

After about an hour, the hike was no longer fun for me. But, not wanting to show my unease about the terrain, I followed my group of hikers with a smile and kept moving.  The leader, a well-seasoned hiker, strolled over the stone and dirt almost gliding as she took every step in a carefree manner.  She seems to glance down only occasionally at the changing surfaces under our feet.

On the other hand, I had to carefully watch my every step to not trip over a stone or tree branch and break my neck! (No Uber here.) I was so happy for the occasional stop for a quick drink of water, but we were soon up and at it again.

I know we were supposed to be enjoying nature.  But my primary thoughts were not to fall and keep moving.  Each time I saw another steep climb or questionable ascent, I just told myself to keep going.  Complaining was not going to get me out of this hike any sooner or stop the slight pain in my toes from wearing hiking boots that were just a little too snug. I tried to adjust my toes in my shoes the best I could and kept walking…and walking…and walking until the walk was finished.

After what seemed like hours, we ended our walk, which was just over two hours.  We each reflected on our experience and what we thought of the walk. My comments were brief, but my primary thinking was I just had to keep moving and I would be all right.

Hiking and Voice Acting

You’re probably wondering what does hiking have to do with voice acting?  Two words: keep moving.  The path to voice acting success is never a straight, smooth path.  Granted, some people find success quickly and consistently, but I don’t believe that is the case for most of us dedicated to finding our voice acting success.  After the walk, someone said that we bump and hit our way through finding our right path to success.  Sometimes, the trail is impassable and we have to try again or we find that our timing is off.  So, we stop for a while, regroup, and start again. It can take years to find the right niche for our business.  And it may take years for us to partner with stable clients with whom we can enjoy working regularly. So, it sounds like voice acting is a lot like hiking.

Life is a Mirror of Itself

Life takes us on many fantastic journeys if we allow it to teach us along the way.  Our goals may point us to what we want, but our paths are usually never straight or smooth.  We have to take each day as it comes and keep our most important things on top of mind.  Today we may do our best and accomplish much or perhaps not.  Either way, we must courageously walk these paths if we expect to carve out a life that we can look back on, and with assurance, know that we did our best and learned from the tests.

Keep breaking that lip.

 

The Compassionate Voice

Personal, Personal VO Views

CVO logo

The question is, “What is a “compassionate” voice? How is the actor’s delivery different?” In a society where narcissism is arguably preferable over altruism, compassion seems an odd position. While sympathy is often overlooked today, people routinely respond to the daily tragic events reported by the media with outpourings of aid and well wishes. But a compassionate voice actor knows how to sincerely tap into the reservoir of his or her own heart and understand the sentiment of others. So, a sympathetic voice actor understands compassion, how to feel it, what it means, and how to convey it touchingly through voice acting.

Understanding compassion begins with understanding empathy. According to UVA Health, “Empathy is a gateway to compassion. It’s understanding how someone feels and trying to imagine how that might feel for you — it’s a mode of relating.” Impulses can be subtle, but a “compassionate” voice actor must make the mental and emotional connection to process and develop real connection.

Real compassion stimulates actions and makes heartfelt calls. It leads to changed lives for children to the elderly. Compassion cuts through sarcasm straight to the heart and soul of the matter. It can guide the heart and mind to receive instruction and consider various options as no other emotion can. Compassion champions the rights and needs of our families, culture, and communities.

This type of voice talent must be comfortable and able to feel the empathy called for in a project or script and channel that emotion into a connecting performance. In short, heartfelt passion must come from the heart.

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”  Maya Angelou

Easy, right? Perhaps.  I try never to overlook such an essential position. Compassion is being real.  It’s what I seek to do and provide in my voiceover performances to change the lives of others for the best.

Voiceover Success: Your Mouth Matters!

Voice over Training, Voice talent renewal

The Smile is the CenterAs many enter the voiceover and voice acting arena, there is an area not usually addressed in blogs, at conferences, or during training sessions.  The mouth and vocal cords play an essential role in the success of anyone who speaks for a living.  Moreover, dental and vocal care can affect how a voice talent speaks, breaths, and feels. Your teeth, breathing, and the way you form and express words are so crucial that such items can break or make your voiceover career.  Here’s how you can practice healthy vocal and dental care for voiceover success.

Your Pearly Whites

Human teeth nicknamed “Pearly Whites” are the first item of note in our mouth matters.  The Mayo Clinics’ Healthy Lifestyle, Adult health article provides steps to promote oral health.  Consider these brushing basics from the American Dental Association:

  • Brush your teeth twice a day. When you brush, don’t rush. Take time to do a thorough job.
  • Use the proper equipment. Use a fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush that fits your mouth comfortably. Consider using an electric or battery-operated toothbrush, which can reduce plaque and a mild form of gum disease (gingivitis) more than does manual brushing. These devices are also helpful if you have arthritis or other problems that make it difficult to brush effectively.
  •  Practice good technique. Hold your toothbrush at a slight angle — aiming the bristles toward the area where your tooth meets your gum. Gently brush with short back-and-forth motions. Remember to brush the outside, inside and chewing surfaces of your teeth, as well as your tongue.
  • Keep your equipment clean. Always rinse your toothbrush with water after brushing. Store your toothbrush in an upright position and allow it to air-dry until using it again. Try to keep it separate from other toothbrushes in the same holder to prevent cross-contamination. Don’t routinely cover toothbrushes or store them in closed containers, which can encourage the growth of bacteria, mold, and yeast.
  •  Know when to replace your toothbrush. Invest in a new toothbrush or a replacement head for your electric or battery-operated toothbrush every three to four months — or sooner if the bristles become irregular or frayed.

Choppers and the Voice

Good mouth care also includes monitoring the voice. Overuse of the voice can negatively affect the healthiest mouth. The National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) provides information on protecting your voice.

  • Try not to overuse your voice. Avoid speaking or singing when your voice is hoarse or tired.
  • Rest your voice when you are sick. Illness puts extra stress on your voice.
  • Avoid using the extremes of your vocal range, such as screaming or whispering. Talking too loudly and too softly can both stress your voice.
  • Practice good breathing techniques when singing or talking. Support your voice with deep breaths from the chest, and don’t rely on your throat alone. Singers and speakers are often taught exercises that improve this kind of breath control. Talking from the throat, without supporting breath, puts a great strain on the voice.
  • Avoid cradling the phone when talking. Cradling the phone between the head and shoulder for extended periods of time can cause muscle tension in the neck.
  • Consider using a microphone when appropriate (and correct placement for the voiceover). In relatively static environments such as exhibit areas, classrooms, or exercise rooms, a lightweight microphone and an amplifier-speaker system can be of great help.
  • Avoid talking in noisy places. Trying to talk above noise causes strain on the voice.
  • Consider voice therapy. A speech-language pathologist who is experienced in treating voice problems can teach you how to use your voice in a healthy way.

A little care and attention to the mouth can lead to a long and successful voiceover career. You always want to keep your vocal health on the side of your voiceover success.  Now go and break that lip!