FREE VOICEOVER LESSON:BASICS/VO DEFINITION & GENRES

After discontinuing voice-over training and coaching and for years receiving inquiries about how to start a voice-over career (which simply has no concise response) I have decided to post increments from my Basics Training Event Workbook here, accompanied by 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.

This second in the series excerpt is about voice-over definition and different voice-over genres.

TCVO Presents…

SPRING INTO VOICE-OVER!

© Teri Clark Linden, 2014

VOICE-OVER DEFINITIONS & GENRES

According to Miriam Webster on the Internet, one definition of “voice-over” is “the voice of an unseen narrator speaking.”  The definition expands to include “voice of a visible character” and “recording.”  Going forward I’ll sometimes refer to voice-over as “VO,” an abbreviation used commonly in the voice-over world I have been performing in for quite some time now. 

I practice voice-over acting, using techniques and talent acquired over the past few decades at the microphone recording in several different voice-over styles, or “genres.”  Mainly, I lend my voice to radio and television commercials and audio books, and once in a while narrate corporate business projects, or “industrials.” (Industrials are used primarily to promote policy or training within a company, without advertising it to the public world, either recorded for employees to access in-house or through the Internet.)  Whichever voice-over genre I work in I use acting as a way to give the best performance and vocal quality as possible.  I also utilize an array of voices depending on the project (there are quite a few characters and cartoon voices out there in commercials, audio books and industrials.)  Below is a list of several voice-over genres I have come to identify through my years as a professional voice-over talent:

Commercials (Radio,  Internet & Television)

Animation (also called “Character” in some markets)

Narration

Audio Book

Trailers (Major Motion Picture Previews)

Promotional & Radio Imaging (Radio Station Identification)

Gaming (Interactive, Video Games, Arcade Games, Amusement Park Rides)

Acoustiguides (The voice in the headphones at an exhibit)

Phone System Prompts (also called “IVR” or “Interactive Voice Response”)

Talking Toys

Film Dubbing & Voice Match (also called “ADR” – Additional [or Automated] Dialogue Replacement [or Recording], or Looping)

In VO Basics I’ll focus mainly on commercials.  Just because a script (also called “Copy”) is created to sell a product, doesn’t mean it can’t tell a story, elicit emotions from its listeners or be full of characters in its advertising.  Recently, I rarely get copy that calls for anything other than being “real” and “conversational,” even though the part I’m reading for is labeled “Announcer.” Also, there are many funny commercials needing character voices for people as well as animate objects (think “Scrubbing Bubbles” and “Raid Ants”).  This is where acting skills are a must.  

Improvisation skills are also essential in a successful VO career.  Improvisation is un-scripted performance where actors create characters and story on the spot from within their imagination (think Second City Chicago where many performers get scouted for Saturday Night Live).  Improvisation and acting training will give you the ability to think on your feet at an audition to make your performance stand out from the rest, give several reads that all sound different, and perform during a recording session when the client is out of ideas and gives you my number one impression of the worst directing advice an actor can receive: “Try something different this time.”

You don’t have to live in a big city to take acting classes.  Most towns will have a community theatre where you can get your feet wet in acting.  Universities, community colleges and community centers are a good place to look.  Improvisation specific classes may be harder to find in smaller towns, but good acting teachers will always address basic improvisation in their basic acting classes.  If all else fails there’s the Internet, with an array of resources to find instructional material and maybe even an on-line course.  Some of my favorite books on acting are Respect for Acting by Uta Hagan, Acting in Film by Michael Caine, Sanford Meisner on Acting by Sanford Meisner.  (Please know I am not trying to sell books here, but only offering my opinion on a few that I personally have found helpful and like!)

CLICK HERE FOR MY AUDIO NARRATION OF VOICE-OVER DEFINITION & GENRE!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH ME NARRATE FREE VOICE-OVER LESSONS FROM MY WHISPER ROOM RECORDING BOOTH!