FREE VOICEOVER LESSONS: BASICS/TECHNIQUE PT. 2, TRICKS

I discontinued voice-over training and coaching, and for years still received inquiries about how to start a voice-over career (which simply has no concise response.)  While no longer teaching, I have decided to post increments from my Basics Training Event Workbook here, with a link to an audio track narrated by me.  It's my hope to help those interested in learning more about voice-over and what's involved in starting a career.

The 10th in the series of voice-over basics is from the section TERI'S THREE T'S: TRAINING, TECHNIQUES AND TRICKS.

 TCVO Presents…

SPRING INTO VOICE-OVER!

© Teri Clark Linden, 2014

Breath

Being aware of your breath and how it changes and affects your body through emotion will help you in your voice-over performance, as will being able to calm and control your breath, getting rid of the anxiety and fears that can come with an audition or performance in front of clients.

Voice Placement

Where you place your voice is key to what sound is produced and especially when creating characters.  In “Talking Funny for Money” page 23, Pamela Lewis defines five basic spots to place your voice before speaking and they are:

Head Voice 

Nasal Voice 

Adenoidal Voice 

Throat Voice
Chest Voice

I encourage getting a copy of her book with recordings and going through the simple exercises.

Volume

I sort of touched on volume talking about microphone placement. Volume at the microphone can be manipulated by a good sound engineer. Practice a whisper into the microphone and play it back. You’ll be surprised at how loud it sounds. Most people are. Volume is a key element to creating a character voice next to placement, attitude and accent. Or are you talking to your neighbor over your backyard fence while flipping tofu burgers (and remember, no yelling directly into the microphone!) Or, are you speaking to your mate side by side at a classical ballet and don’t want to disturb the performance? 

Text 

Text manipulation in commercial voice-over is a trick or style to self-direct a unique and good performance out of you. I’m not talking about changing words or adding words to what a copywriter or creative director has written (though, there are times in sessions or auditions, when after several takes – or for the last audition take – I may take liberty with one or two words to elicit a different feel or set a scene).

© Teri Clark Linden, 2014

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO FOR FREE VOICE-OVER LESSONS: BASICS/TECHNIQUE PT. 2, TRICKS, NARRATED BY ME!

I've been doing a lot of cycling this summer & here's a #selfie from one of my rides!  Follow me @tclarkvomamma on Instagram for more!  xo