Tag Archives: british english female voice over

Voice Over Advice. Never give up! Here’s why…

General, Radio, Voice Over, Voice over advice, , , ,

Ever had a voice over nightmare? Best thing ever!

One fateful day in the drizzly British summer of 2007, I had my voice over armageddon! I was in the very early stages of honing my skills as a voice over artist and was over-the-moon to land a fabulous job through a self-recorded demo.

The project was called ‘Religion and Life’ – it was tough subject-matter and I’d find it challenging even now, all these years later! The recording session was to take place at a studio a good hour’s drive from home. Intense nerves at the prospect of my first directed session meant that I hardly slept a wink the night before and so I was already tired and struggling to focus my eyes before I even left the house. To make matters worse I was also still working full-time and had booked a day’s annual leave in order to take the job meaning that I simply hadn’t made enough time to fully prepare and get to know the script or practice the difficult pronunciations (and were so many!) beforehand.

Arriving at the studio I was greeted by the director who, fortunately for me, was warm and friendly but also firm and assertive. She had many years’ experience in broadcasting and voice over and, although I didn’t know it at that moment, I was about to undergo my voice over baptism of fire.

As the session proceeded it became more and more evident that I was far less experienced than my demo had somewhat misleadingly testified. Multiple takes of each paragraph meant that my three-hour slot was fast expiring and the script was still miles from completion. My anxiety and insecurity grew deeper with every correction and I felt more and more as though I was falling into an abyss! Embarrassed, stressed and trying hard not to show that I was buckling under the pressure, I was sure I’d be a mumbling wreck before the end. “Perhaps I’m not cut out for this after all.” I thought to myself as I fought back tears. At that moment, given the opportunity I’d have run out of the studio door and changed my identity never to be heard of again!

Never give up!

Eventually, the director paused the session as an experienced male voice over arrived and prepared to take his turn in the booth. I had a reprieve and took the time to go over the remaining copy in readiness to complete the recording.

Finally, after almost two further hours at the mic, the job was done and the director sat back, exhaled a huge sigh of relief and smiled. Then she did something extraordinary – she praised me! She actually praised me…for staying calm and behaving professionally, for taking her direction so well and for not giving up.

Looking back, that was one of the best days of my life. I feel so lucky to have had that experience because I learnt so much; without it I almost certainly wouldn’t be here right now working as a full-time voice over artist. And I’ll be forever grateful to that amazing director for sticking with me that day, for encouraging me to persevere and for her incredible patience.

So, the best voice over advice out there is quite simply, never give up! Because the worst session of your life could just turn out to be the best thing that ever happened in your voice over career!

LW Voice Imaging. Let’s talk about it.

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

The importance of listening in communication – especially in voice over

General, Radio, Voice Over, , , ,

When I first became a voice over artist, I found myself so preoccupied with how I spoke and enunciated my words that, at times, I almost forgot to listen!

importance of listening in communication process

As a more seasoned artist with ten years’ experience under my belt, I’ve learnt so much about how crucial being a good listener is. In fact, nowadays I probably spend a greater amount of time listening than I do actually speaking.

My old boss once told me that sales was as much about listening as it was about talking because, in order to successfully fulfill a customer’s expectations and requirements, one must first fully understand what those expectations and requirements are. This can only be achieved by attentive listening.

Of course, being a voice over is not exactly the same as working in sales (although sales forms a part of it) but the message about listening is  bang on the nail.

So, why is listening so important?

Apart from the fundamental message that listening to a client’s needs is paramount, great voice over delivery is about producing natural and believable speech which, when working from a script, is surprisingly difficult to do. Interpreting another person’s words as though they are one’s own spontaneous thoughts takes time and requires practice. And listening (coupled with imagination) is quite simply the best tool in the box.

These days, I find myself tuning in to the everyday conversations that are taking place around me. Not because I am a shameless nosey-parker (ooh..perhaps I am!) but because I want to really hear and observe how people naturally and unselfconsciously communicate with one-another.

I listen carefully to their intonation, their pace and pitch, their ‘ums’, ‘aahs’ and pauses as well as the emotions that underlie their speech, and then I try as hard as I can to bring the qualities I’ve observed into my voice performances whenever I am behind the mic.

Having understood the importance of listening in communication, I am now always listening and always learning.

Call on 0116 234 1139,  contact us or click to request a quote.

LW Voice Imaging. Let’s talk about it.

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail