Marina, Debbie and Adam will help and guide you all they can - we will ensure that you have the best opportunity to create the best possible demo. One of the benefits of our face to face consultation is that we will already have an idea of your skills, tone of voice, strengths, weaknesses etc and have worked on the scripts with you during the consultation. We believe that a gap of a few days/weeks between the consultation and recording gives you the time to become more familiar with the scripts so that you are as relaxed as you can be on the recording day itself. It is crucial that you do not over prepare!
Experience and microphone technique is not required – we take care of all of the technical aspects on the day - you just concentrate on delivering your performance. We'll record several pieces each lasting between 20 seconds 30 seconds (for commercials) and anywhere up to 90 seconds (for drama, narrative and documentary). We will only record material that plays to your strengths as a performer to ensure the content created is focused. Remember, we may also change our minds on the day if a script is not working and give you something new - just go with it and rest assured that we are there to get the best from you.
Below are some top tips for voiceover artists - some relevant to demos and some aimed at professional voiceover sessions.
Experience and microphone technique is not required – we take care of all of the technical aspects on the day - you just concentrate on delivering your performance. We'll record several pieces each lasting between 20 seconds 30 seconds (for commercials) and anywhere up to 90 seconds (for drama, narrative and documentary). We will only record material that plays to your strengths as a performer to ensure the content created is focused. Remember, we may also change our minds on the day if a script is not working and give you something new - just go with it and rest assured that we are there to get the best from you.
Below are some top tips for voiceover artists - some relevant to demos and some aimed at professional voiceover sessions.
Get Some Training. Having a great voice is around 10% of what makes a great voiceover artist. If you’re not a trained actor then get some training before you record a demo or step into a studio.
Learn how to Breath. Breathing control can make or break a session. You are required to have good, natural control over your breathing and the relevant techniques in place to ensure it's effortless.
Listen to Yourself. Use your smartphone and record yourself doing some adverts you’ve heard on the radio – interrogate the performance and ask ‘If I heard this would I buy the product?’ If the answer is no, then do it again, and again, and again until the nuances are just right.
Ask Questions. If you know someone who does voiceovers on a regular basis then pick their brains – ask them about the processes, warm-ups, how to action a script or simply how to prepare your voice.
Punctuation. It's there for a reason, use it. If you don't, you can change the sense of the line dramatically. It's there to aide your delivery, so ensure you understand how to play relevant punctuation correctly. If it's missing then ask the client.
Translate. Copywriters can be precious; they will have strong ideas about the delivery they are after. It may be up to you to decipher what they mean by ‘confident but relaxing’, or ‘slower but more energetic’.
Remain 'Open'. In the studio you will probably be redirected in order to try something new within a script. Make sure that you do not over-rehearse the script, if you do, you risk getting 'locked in'
Speak Up. If something feels wrong with the script speak up, don’t just stand there trying to make it work – if it sounds weird, say something – but be sensitive about their content – you must have a good reason.
Drink Responsibly. Please don’t rock up to the studio with a large white milky coffee! Dairy is terrible for the voice, drink some pineapple juice instead – fresh of course, not from concentrate. Stay away from cold water – ask for room temperature instead.
Go Armed and Ready. Pencil. Water. Business card. Eraser. Be ready.
Patience is a Virtue. out in the real world (not during the demo session), the team directing you might be ‘precious’ and have you do things over and over again without necessarily giving you any constructive notes. It doesn’t always mean you’re not doing your job, it’s often them not knowing what they want until they hear it. Just go with it – it’s your job to keep giving.
Get a Map. Know where you’re going before you head there. You should aim to arrive 15 minutes before the session starts – not only to keep the clients happy, but also for you to look through the final script, grab some water and generally have time to settle.
Understanding the Dramaturgical Language. You must have a good command of language that actors readily use on a daily basis. This is what helps them 'tap in' to relevant performance techniques in order to delivery the voiceover effortlessly.
Listen. Listen. Listen. You must learn to listen as you speak and not rely on the client to highlight errors in your delivery. We all have smartphones, so use them in order to prepare. Record the script at home, listen back, do it again, and again, listen back. However, don't get 'locked in' - remain flexible and open to re-direction.