Everyone who does something great has a coach, trainer, mentor a big brother/sister to help them improve their skills. Think of Usain Bolt, one of my favourites Athletes of all time has a coach, nutritionist, strength coach etc, you get my point. All of those great athletes have a team behind them: Michael Phelps, Michael Jordan and Shelley Ann Fraser to name but a few. To do something great and even leave a legacy you need a trainer or coach, someone who can look from the outside at how you perform without the emotional involvement that you have.
Your coach can see your weakness and make them strong and then increase your strength, give tips advice or just tell you that you are straight up crazy.
To do something great you got to copy, listen and imitate someone who has done it before you. When you have a Coach listen to them and do the actions they say too.
Let me know how it goes, I have had amazing Coaches, Trainers & Mentors and I highly recommend them to get an honest opinion as to where you need to refocus your VO career. Please contact me on leighanne@leighannesvoice.com if you want their details.
Do you think you can do Voiceover?
Have you ever been told you got a great voice or you would sound great on Commercials, Audiobooks, commercials etc?
Well you are in the same place I was a few years ago, sitting on the train ride home entertaining the idea of getting into voiceover but not having a clue where to start?
I had all the negative thoughts of:
“Oh I am not trained in acting” ” I don’t really like the way I sound on audio” ” how can I switch careers at this stage, forget about “ and the list goes on and on. Sound familiar right?
I know how you feel My Love, as I felt the same and had those thoughts and more about why I should not dare step a foot into voiceover as what would a chick from East London have to offer that has not already been done ? Answer a lot, tell those negative thoughts to get their bag and go as you are doing a new thing now.
What is Voiceover all about ? So it is acting with your voice, yes a full on Oscar performance where no one sees you but only hears your efforts in the recording kinda thing. Voiceover is everywhere say for example you are at the station and you hear “mind the gap.” Let me go through a list of others e-learning, Explainer videos, In-show Narration, Commercials, Radio promo, Gaming, Animation and Audiobooks to name but a few. Oh yes, and of course the annoying voice when you call the bank and its: press 1 for accounts, press 2 for credit cards, press 3 for mortgages and this is telephony and IVR voiceover style of work. So you get my point there is a huge amount of areas where voices are used, but where do you fit best ? Where do l start? I am glad you asked My Dear as I really think it’s great you want to venture into the Voiceover world and these tips might just help you:
Research what area of Voiceover you think you might suit e.g Gaming, Animation, IVR, Telephony, Promos, Explainer etc
Get coaching & training: everyone who does something greta has a coach and triang think of Usain Bolt, I rest my case.
Be in tip top health to be a Voiceover it’s a marathon not sprint
Be careful what you eat and drink as a Voiceover as certain foods change how you sound. As an example that yummy honey greek yogurt leaves a mucus on your vocal chords that can alter how you sound slightly
How much should you charge, do not charge too low or indicates :poor quality of work. You are not a charity and a fair pay for a fair day’s work.
Have a heart to learn something new everyday as the industry and life changes and you need to be up to date with current trends
Equipment: you need to spend on getting a decent microphone and then go cheap and record in your wardrobe wit quilts and think curtains around you to reduce outside noise and always sound treat the location you are in
How do you get voiceover work: pay to play sites like Voices.com, Voices123.com and Mandy.com
Markup and underline your voiceover scripts so you know where to stop , pause, push on a word or give emphasis as needed
Cut your demo once you have experience and have worked out what you are good at and please get it done by a professional sound engineer or producer not at home on your laptop …please I beg you get it done properly as its your voice version of your CV.
I am going to be sharing tips, tricks and ideas on how to start and succeed in the industry. Plus some bonus giveaways to help you on your voiceover journey.
SIGN UP FOR FREE FOR THIS WEEK’S WEBINAR
Check out my “How to Start in Voiceover ” webinar on Friday 12th January 2018 at 12pm GMT.
Click Facebook live to join the webinar here https://www.facebook.com/Leighannes-Voice-667746426694132/
Catch the replay if you cannot make it at 12pm .
SIGN UP FOR FREE FOR THIS WEEK’S WEBINAR
Check out my “How to Start in Voiceover ” webinar on Friday 12th January 2018 at 12pm GMT.
Click Facebook live to join the webinar here https://www.facebook.com/Leighannes-Voice-667746426694132/
GMT:12PM,
EASTERN: 7:00AM
SIGN UP FOR FREE FOR THIS WEEK’S WEBINAR
Check out my “How to Start in Voiceover ” webinar on Friday 12th January 2018 at 12pm GMT.
Click Facebook live to join the webinar here https://www.facebook.com/Leighannes-Voice-667746426694132/
Let me know how it goes, I have had amazing Coaches, Trainers & Mentors and I highly recommend them to get an honest opinion as to where you need to refocus your VO career. Please contact me on leighanne@leighannesvoice.com if you want their details.
