Friday, June 26, 2009

Getting Started in Voice Overs - Chapter 4 - 3 Things You Can Do Right Away By Stew Crossen

Here are three things you can do right away.

Keep A Notebook

Jot down the day and time that you practiced and what copy or script you used such as a commercial, a narration or a character read. Make detailed notes about how your voice sounded. For example; rough, dry, wet, lower pitch, higher pitch, etc. Make notes about any areas you need to work on such as; diction, pacing or your breathing.

If you're interested in character voice work, a notebook is an invaluable tool. When you come up with a new character voice (or new vocal attitude), give it a name and a back-story and put it in your notebook. By turning these voices into real characters it will help in your recall of them when you need them later on. Referring to "Gizmo the Sprightly Elf" is easier than "that high-pitched squeak where I talk through my nose with a lisp."

One voice actor I know, keeps a photo or picture of every one of his character voices on his cell phone. When he needs some inspiration or help recalling a character, he can quickly look them up no matter where he is.

Build a Knowledge Base

Go online and search for voice actors, producers and casting companies. Study their web sites for content, features and demos. Bookmark the good ones and visit them often. Search for articles and news about voice overs and read up on the industry. Try to spot trends. Keep your eyes open to the various ways people use their voice to make money.

Read Books

There are lots of books written about voice-overs, and while none of them can replace face-to-face training or practical hands-on experience, many of the authors have a lot of interesting things to say about the voice-over business. There are several we like for their fascinating anecdotes, character work examples and general information about the voice over business.

In Chapter 5, we'll talk about Interpreting And Understanding Copy.
Stew Crossen
Visit my web site for Voice Over Talent & Voice Over Training
http://www.VoiceOverWorkshop.com

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