Voice Acting Tip: Your Voice Is Your Everything

I started doing voice work back in the winter of 2011, so I'm not an expert, I'm not a coach and I am definitely not voicing a Teen Titan or any of the Disney fairies. BUT! I've learned a thing or two along the way. I'll share the bits that I've learned in hopes that I'm a) teaching you something helpful that'll help you with your talent and b) not screw up in the process. I hear plenty of reels and clips from newbie voice actors and sometimes I cringe. I cringe because they, like me, weren't given the guidance or advice needed to really show off their talent. I refuse to share my earlier voice reels because they are just that terrible. I refuse, adamantly. No. So, now? If I saw someone drowning, I'd hop into the water to save them. Wouldn't you? Good! That's why I've got this blog started so I can share some of what I've learned. So, here goes, the first tip: Know how to use your voice.

I know what you're thinking.

"But, I've got a voice. What does that even mean?"

No...stop.

"I'm serious, I HAVE a voice and I KNOW how to use it, what the fu-"

STAHP.

Read.

Everyone has a voice, unless you were born mute or went through something tragic (like an accident or were hit with a tragic sickness that rendered you voiceless), you have one. You speak with it, you voice your opinion, your hardships, your joys, your moments of "BAZINGA!" and everything in-between. A good way to begin to use your voice talent properly, is to be aware of this important fact: your voice talent is NOT just your voice. It is your everything, if you were a painter it'd be your brush. If you were a ballet dancer, your voice talent would be your tutu. So, here's the mantra: "My voice talent is NOT just my voice."

Knowing that your voice talent isn't just your voice seems kind of confusing, doesn't it? That's fine. It should. If it doesn't confuse you, then you're further ahead than most. Hooray to you! For those of us who still struggle with distinguishing our voice from our voice talent, (I have my days, too) read further and give this a try: record yourself saying the following line. Pick any emotion/style you want: serious, happy, sad, narrative, character, commercial, etc. Practice makes perfect!

And...go, hit that record button like it owes you money:
:

"My voice talent is NOT just my voice."

After you've recorded this, listen to it. I don't mean that you should just play it back. I mean listen to it. Is the emotion/style you were going for to your liking? What's your sound quality like? Do you sound different than you thought you did, or did you do worse or better than you thought you were going to? None of those questions have a right or wrong answer. If you think you need improving, do so, practice the above exercise to start and then move onto larger readings. 

Sidenote: It's okay to think this...

Sometimes I do, no joke.

I hope this post helped you out a bit. Leave me some commentary on what you think, or if you have anything to add, place it into a comment with your Twitter or blog address and I'll include it in a future post. Thanks for reading. :)