If you understand what you are reading and manage to connect with the audience, your read – no matter what it is – is sure to leave an impression…
Here are a few tips on how to make that happen. Perhaps you could let me know if this advice makes sense to you?
1. Credibility
The most important quality a voice can have is ‘believability’. When you’re reading a script, if you understand it, we do too. Credibility can be enhanced if you try to find the meaning behind the words you’re trying to deliver. Take your time to really reflect on what the author is intending and try to convey the words in that vein. Remember, if you don’t get it, your audience won’t understand the message either.
2. Be yourself.
Whether you’re a professional or amateur voice-talent it’s important to remember to just be you! Don’t ever try to emulate anyone else’s style because you will lose the authenticity that has people believing in what you’re trying to communicate. Polish your performance and enhance your skills all you want with practice -so that you can be the best possible you.
3. Stand up to read.
If you can’t, make sure you sit up very tall to allow your diaphragm to be as open as possible. Hold your script at eye level too so you don’t have to focus downwards to read it. And remember to project your voice about a metre ahead of you to get the best resonance from your vocal chords.
4. Imagine yourself talking to one person at a time.
Try to visualise someone near and dear and familiar to you that you are completely comfortable with and direct your message to this person. Your read needs to be personal and intimate in order to draw every single listener or viewer into your words. You need to connect with one person no matter how many ‘one persons’ make up the listening audience.
5. Practice.
Always, always, always rehearse. Out loud! There’s no point practicing something inside your head if you want to gauge how it sounds out loud. Try different deliveries, different inflections, different pauses and so on. This will help you perfect the pace and timing, and it will grow your confidence as you learn to listen to yourself with an objective ear.
Here are a few tips on how to make that happen. Perhaps you could let me know if this advice makes sense to you?
1. Credibility
The most important quality a voice can have is ‘believability’. When you’re reading a script, if you understand it, we do too. Credibility can be enhanced if you try to find the meaning behind the words you’re trying to deliver. Take your time to really reflect on what the author is intending and try to convey the words in that vein. Remember, if you don’t get it, your audience won’t understand the message either.
2. Be yourself.
Whether you’re a professional or amateur voice-talent it’s important to remember to just be you! Don’t ever try to emulate anyone else’s style because you will lose the authenticity that has people believing in what you’re trying to communicate. Polish your performance and enhance your skills all you want with practice -so that you can be the best possible you.
3. Stand up to read.
If you can’t, make sure you sit up very tall to allow your diaphragm to be as open as possible. Hold your script at eye level too so you don’t have to focus downwards to read it. And remember to project your voice about a metre ahead of you to get the best resonance from your vocal chords.
4. Imagine yourself talking to one person at a time.
Try to visualise someone near and dear and familiar to you that you are completely comfortable with and direct your message to this person. Your read needs to be personal and intimate in order to draw every single listener or viewer into your words. You need to connect with one person no matter how many ‘one persons’ make up the listening audience.
5. Practice.
Always, always, always rehearse. Out loud! There’s no point practicing something inside your head if you want to gauge how it sounds out loud. Try different deliveries, different inflections, different pauses and so on. This will help you perfect the pace and timing, and it will grow your confidence as you learn to listen to yourself with an objective ear.