Lesson #4 -

Practice

I learned a practice a long time ago that has helped me develop and refine my voiceover capabilities. All you need for this exercise is a car and a long drive.

In the early days of career development before marriage, family, and livable income I lived with my grandparents. (I’m OK with that now since I am a grandparent.) My daily drive to work was 100 miles round-trip. To make the best use of the time I used it for honing my voice and adlib skills. It’s a practice I still use whenever I am alone in my vehicle for an extended period of time.

Here’s how it works. Describe aloud everything you see. Since you will, in most cases, be traveling the same roads everyday you will be challenged to come up with new ways of describing the same things. Stretch yourself to come up with new word-pictures that convey new meaning and feel to your surroundings.

Make application based on your senses. What does it look like, feel like, sound like, smell like, and taste like? How do the things you see relate to your life experiences? Are there people or personalities represented here? What’s funny? What’s sad? What makes you angry? What’s changed?

Make a recording of different kinds of instrumental music representing different moods. With the soundtrack playing in the background repeat the exercise. Note how movement of people, animals, vehicles, and other animate objects take on new meaning with your chosen accompaniment. Let your creativity abound.

Put yourself into other characters. How would other people you know sound describing these objects? How would famous personalities react to these surroundings? Get into character and try it. You may find some new uses for your voice, some impersonations or characters, that will help expand your repertoire.

Admittedly, occasionally you’ll notice somebody watching you. Don’t let the pointing and staring bother you. That’s show business. Just smile, wave, and go about your business.

The benefits of this exercise will be noticeable over time. You will expand your abilities in adlibbing, voice range, capturing moods and feelings in picture-words, and creativity. As a result your confidence and competence as a voice talent will grow.

These lessons have been written by Richard Weirich. 

For help with your voice talent career contact Richard at rw7475@gmail.com or (205) 260-9362. 

Voice Talent coaching services are available.  Initial critiques are free.