The Art of Voice Acting: the art and business of performing for voice over (4 page)

If you accept the definition of voiceover as being anything in which you hear the voice but don’t see the performer, then, in the strictest sense, anyone who can speak can do voiceover. But that doesn’t mean that anyone who can speak has the ability or skill to work professionally as a voice talent. If you’ve ever recorded an outgoing message on your answering machine, you’ve done a form of “voiceover.” But does that mean you can do voiceover professionally? Probably not. I frequently receive demos from self-proclaimed “voiceover artists” who have just completed a class and produced a demo in an attempt to break into the business. Some of these individuals have some raw talent, but unfortunately, most have not polished their skills or honed their craft to a point where they can effectively compete as voice talent. It is rare that I receive a demo that demonstrates a level of professionalism that shows me the individual has made the transition from “doing voiceover” to performing as a “voice actor.”

“So, what’s the difference?” I hear you ask.

There are several factors that differentiate simple voiceover and professional voice acting. Among them are: competent training, acting ability, interpretive skill, dedication, business acumen, and computer skills.

But the real difference can be summed up in a single word:

You can listen to the radio or watch TV any hour of any day and hear commercials that literally make you cringe. If you analyze the performance, most of these “bad” commercials have several things in common: they sound flat and lifeless, with every sentence sounding the same; they sound like the script is being read; the performers sound like they are shouting with no clear focus as to who they are speaking to; the performer is talking “at” and not “to” the listener, or they are trying to talk to everyone listening at the same time; there is absolutely nothing compelling about the delivery or the message. In short, the performance lacks “believability.”

Here’s a simple way to determine if it’s “voiceover” or “voice acting.” A “voiceover” performance has at least one or more of the following:

• Often “read-y” or “announcer-y” (sounds like reading the script).
  
• Content is information-heavy, primarily intellectual, often with many featured items, and with little or no emotional content.
  
• The goal of the message is to “sell” the listener on something, and this attitude of “selling” comes through in the performance.
  
• The overall effect of the message is to create “listener tune-out.”
  
• Delivery of the message may, in some way, actually damage or reduce credibility of the advertiser.
  

A “voice acting” performance has ALL of the following characteristics:

• The performer creates a believable and real character in conversation with the listener.
  
• The message is primarily emotional, with a clearly defined focus.
  
• The goal of the message is to “tell a story” that the listener can relate to on an emotional level—often coming from a place of helping the listener in some way, rather than “selling.”
  
• The overall effect of the message is one of keeping the listener’s attention and creating a memorable moment.
  

Using the preceding definition, there is certainly a place for voiceover, and if done properly it can be quite effective. But good voiceover is done within the context of a larger performance or is designed for a very specific purpose, and presented by a very specific character. The best “voiceover” work is performed from a foundation of “voice acting.”

Voice acting is about creating real and believable characters in real and believable situations that listeners can relate to and be motivated by. To do this, a performer must be able to reach the audience on an emotional level.
In other words, voice acting is about creating compelling characters in interesting relationships.

We communicate on an emotional level every day in a completely natural manner. But when we work from a script, we suddenly flounder: the words are not ours and the life behind those words is not ours. It’s not as easy as it may appear to get “off the page” and speak from a written script in a manner that is natural, real, and conversational. In order for us to speak those words from the point of view of a real and believable character, we must momentarily forget who we are and become that character. That’s why it is important to master basic acting techniques.

Learning basic “voiceover” techniques for reading and interpreting a script is a good start. But don’t stop there. If performing with your voice is something you love to do, keep studying: take acting and improvisation classes; study commercials and analyze what the professionals are doing to create character and make their scripted words sound real; learn how to take direction; read every book on this craft you can get your hands on; visit talent websites and listen to the demos to learn what works and what doesn’t; watch television programs about acting and theater, and finally… never stop learning.

Even if you are an experienced actor, you need to know that the disciplines of “voice acting” are different from stage, film, or TV. In all other forms of acting, your lines are committed to memory and you have time to internalize, understand, and develop your character. In voice acting, you may have only a few minutes to create a believable character, find the voice, and deliver a compelling performance as you read from a script.

Voice acting is creative, fun and potentially lucrative—if you know what you are doing and have the patience to master the necessary skills! In some circles, the term “voice acting” is used to refer to the niche area of voiceover work for anime. However, if you look closely at what anime voice actors are doing, you will discover that they are creating (or in some cases attempting to create) what will ideally be perceived as real and believable characters. And that is exactly what we need to be doing as we voice a radio commercial, corporate narration, or audio book.

To be a successful voice actor, learn how to be natural, confident, real, and most of all… believable.

For the balance of this book, the terms “voiceover” and “voice acting” will be used interchangeably.” This book is about the acting craft behind the business of voiceover work, so although “voice acting” is a more accurate term, you’ll usually see the term “voiceover.” I’ll refer to the performer as either a voice actor, voiceover performer, or voice talent.

Most people think voiceover work is easy. You have probably even said to yourself after listening to a commercial, “I can do that!” For some people, it is easy. For most, though, voiceover—just like theatrical acting— is an ongoing learning process. In our VoiceActing Academy, Art of Voice Acting Workshops, it is not uncommon for someone, after only the first or second class, to say “Oh, my! I had no idea there was this much to voiceover! This really isn’t about just reading a script!”

Even experienced professionals will tell you that voiceover work is far more difficult than on-camera or on-stage acting. There is no memorization and the advantages of props, scenery, wardrobe, makeup, and lighting are not available to the voice actor. The drama, comedy, emotions, or subtext of a message must be communicated solely through the spoken word. This requires a tremendous amount of focus and concentration, plus an ability to make quick changes in midstream. Prior acting experience is an advantage, but the essential performing skills can be picked up as you go, so don’t let a lack of experience stop you. If you can use your imagination, tell a story with vivid imagery, and take direction, you can do voiceover.

One of the greatest misconceptions is that you need a certain type of voice to do voiceover. You do not need a “good” voice, or “announcer” voice. You do need a voice that is easily understood. If your voice has a unique quality or sound, you can use that to your advantage, especially for animation work. But a unique voice quality can also become a limitation if that is the only thing you do. You may find you are better suited to one particular type of voiceover work—corporate/industrial, for example. If that’s the case, you can focus on marketing yourself for that type of work. Still, you should consider other types of voice work when the call comes.

Variety is an important aspect of voiceover performing. By variety I mean being able to use your voice to convey a wide range of attitudes, delivery styles, personality, interpretation, energy, and emotions. These are the characteristics of your voice presentation that will allow you to effectively tell a story that contains a message. And communicating a message is what working as a voice actor is all about.

Many people think that because they can do lots of impersonations or make up crazy character voices, they can do voiceover work. Vocal versatility is certainly valuable; however, success in the world of voiceover also takes focus, discipline, and an ability to act.

So, just how do you learn voiceover performing skills, break in, and get yourself known as a voice actor? There is no simple answer to this question. To be successful, you should learn everything you can about acting, communication, and marketing. In this business, an old adage, “It’s not what you know, but who you know,” is also very true. Getting voiceover work is largely a numbers game—a game of networking and making yourself known in the right circles. To be successful you cannot be shy. Let every person you meet know what you do! But you must also possess both the performing and business skills that qualify you as a professional, and that is what this book is really about! Or, you can do voiceover as a hobby!

You have probably heard most of the pros of voiceover work: big money, short hours, celebrity status (fame and fortune without anyone actually knowing who you are), and more. For some voiceover performers, these things are true but it takes a long time, and constantly being in the right place, to get there. In other words, they had to work at it. Most overnight successes are the result of many years of hard work, constant study, dedication to the craft, and a mastery of business skills. One voiceover coach I know suggests that it takes 15 years to become successful in voiceover. I disagree with that! Everyone defines “success” differently. Sure, if you define success as being in high demand and making the “big
bucks,” it might take 15 years or longer to get there. But if you are doing voiceover because you really love it, and you wonder why you’re not paying them to let you get in front of the mic, then success can be as soon as next week.

Like most of the performing arts, voice acting is a hurry-up-and-wait kind of business. By that I mean you will spend a lot of time waiting: waiting at auditions, waiting for a callback, waiting in the lobby of a recording studio, waiting for the email with your script, and waiting to get paid. Once a voiceover recording session begins, things tend to happen very fast. But you may still find yourself waiting as the producer works on copy changes, or while the studio engineer deals with a technical problem.

If you are recording in your home studio, which has become a standard practice for voiceover work at all levels, you will be expected to deliver studio-quality recordings. You’ll also be expected to know how to do some limited production and editing—even though you are not a recording engineer. That means you need to be computer-literate and you’ll need to invest in the training, equipment, software, and acoustic improvements necessary to build a functional recording facility in your home.

From a performance standpoint, producers assume that you know what you are doing and expect you to deliver your lines professionally. You are expected to be able to deliver a masterful interpretation of a script after only a short read-through—usually within the first two or three takes. Direction (coaching) from the producer or director often comes very fast, so you must listen closely and pay attention. Sometimes, the producer or director completely changes the concept or makes major copy changes in the middle of an audition or session—and you need to be able to adapt quickly. And more often than not, you won’t get any direction at all. If you’re recording in your home studio, the session may be director-less and producer-less, meaning you are on your own! You need to develop excellent interpretive skills and be a versatile performer with the ability to self-direct and provide what your client is asking for, even when you’re not certain exactly what that is.

Your job as a voice actor is to perform to the best of your abilities. When you are hired, either from your demo or after an audition, your voice has been chosen over many others as the one most desirable for the job. Unless there is a serious technical problem that requires your being called back, or if there are revisions that are made after the session has ended, you will not get a second chance after leaving the studio or sending your files.