If you’re a beginner to voice over, you’ll need to acquire some “copy”. Try to find several scripts that would seem appropriate to your vocal range, age, and personality. If you have friends in the business – performers, ad agencies, radio stations, and agents - they will often have copies of old commercials or narrations that they have recorded. If you don’t know or can’t find anyone who can help you out, then transcribe from TV or radio commercials on the air or find advertising copy in newspapers or magazines.
OK, now you’ve got the copy. Before you begin… breathe! Practice breathing from your diaphragm - that spot between your chest and abdomen just above your waist. To check yourself, you can lie on your back on the floor, and place the palm of your hand on your middle. Take a deep breath in through your nose. Your chest should not raise, nor should your shoulders tense, but your midsection should expand pushing your hand up. If you have a buddy, have her or him stand facing you and place their hands around your sides just above your waist. When you breathe in, expanding your diaphragm, their hands will be pushed apart– your shoulders should not move and your chest shouldn’t move much either. Now, you’ve got the idea. When you’re voicing a script – all your breath should come from here. Otherwise, you’re going to pinch and squeeze your vocal chords and you will sound pinched and squeezed – and you’ll run out of air and be gasping through the spot. Practice taking in deep breaths and then releasing them slowly while voicing “Ah” until you run out of air. When you’re actually reading a script you will need to take short, but deep breaths to keep the copy moving while keeping the sound supported.
Next, you’ll want to warm up your “articulators”. There are many exercises that you can do. Basically, you’re trying to limber up your facial muscles, jaw, lips and tongue. In commercial voice over, especially, where you often have to fit a LOT of copy into a small amount of time, it’s important to be able to speak quickly without losing the beginning and especially ending sounds of words. (On a side note – OVER enunciating is usually not desirable, either.)
Featured Audio Clip
"NASA" (Click the link above to hear one of my latest voice overs.)
Featured Video Clip
"Chevron Corporate" (Click the link above to see one of my voice over videos.)
Featured Testimonial
"I just got off the phone with the producer of the TV spot and everyone involved says that you nailed it so well, it was a finished product. Incredible audition! Thank you for making me look so good!" - John, Winking Bull Productions
For more voice over information, please email
Melanie@melaniehaynes.com or call (832) 912-9250.
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