The Art of Voice Acting: the art and business of performing for voice over (63 page)

A successful voice actor once quipped that if he didn’t have hands, he couldn’t do voiceovers. How true! Second to the ability to read well, the use of the hands is the most important physical tool a voice actor has. Use your hands to point to a person or thing, caress an adjective, or simply wave them around for emphasis. Voila! It’s like magic.

You can experiment with this concept easily. Record yourself saying “He searched all over the world,” first without using your hands, and then again, waving your hand in the air from left to right
on the word “all”. You’ll notice immediately that the sentence sounds more descriptive and engaging.

How can something so simple be so effective? I firmly believe that how you place your body reflects your emotions, moods, and attitudes. It’s a “mind extension.” That’s why you must always be aware of your body stance when doing a voiceover. Standing tall versus hunched over gives opposite emotional results. Continue that concept with your hand gestures, and you can communicate different emotional results. If you cross your arms, you reflect a guarded, doubting attitude toward your listener and subject. Hands on your hips show hostility, hands in pockets reflect casual cool, etc. Try reading something that’s supposed to be enthusiastic without using your hands and you’ll see how difficult it is to show that emotion. The hands help!

So remember to channel your inner Italian and talk with your hands. If you’re talking about a list of items, point them out. If you’re describing scenery, wave your hand in a sweeping motion. Hold the objects, demonstrate the verbs, caress the adjectives. Just like the old Yellow Pages slogan, “Let your fingers do the walking,” I recommend that you “Let your hands lend a hand.”

I studied journalism and theater arts in college. My dream was a career in the theater. I was also a highly trained classical pianist and had aspirations of going on tour. But, alas, it was my heart that swayed me from that direction. I fell in love and put homemaking and motherhood ahead of those dreams. Mind you, I have never regretted that decision! I have been married to the same great guy for 41 years—have two amazing sons, two equally amazing daughters-in-law, one very handsome grandson, and three beautiful granddaughters! But as one does, as the years passed I often wondered what “could have been.”

When my kids got older, I went back into the work force as a secretary and then later as a paralegal. It was good, steady
money, it was safe and I was very good at it. But for the most part, I hated it! For a creative person, that kind of repetitive work is just a slow, lingering death. Please don’t misunderstand and think I don’t admire those who work as secretaries or paralegals—I certainly do! It just wasn’t where I was supposed to be. But because it was “safe,” I continued working and justified my unhappiness by saying to myself I was doing the responsible thing.

I went to my very first voiceover class at the ripe old age of 47. In fact, I went kicking and screaming! I didn’t want to go and a friend practically had to shove me through the door! Mostly, I think, it was because I was afraid of looking foolish or failing. I am so glad I did it anyway! I left that first three-hour class (taught by James Alburger)
knowing
that voice acting was what I would be doing the rest of my life. I can’t explain it, I just knew. This short introductory class literally changed the direction of my life! It seemed I had been asking God for so many years what my “real” purpose was in life and that night I got my answer.

Then, the “voices” started talking to me… “You’re too old, Penny! What’s wrong with you? This isn’t the type of career you start when you’re almost 50 years old! You idiot! You’re going to look ridiculous in class. Everyone there will be younger and more talented than you!
”
And on and on and on and on.

It was a continuous flow of negative thoughts. Like most people, those voices in my head were VERY loud and for almost a year, I let them win. My family would ask, “Are you ever going to take those voice classes, mom?” And I would reply, “Oh, yes… definitely. I’m definitely going to take them… someday!” One day, my youngest son asked me that question and when I replied with, “Someday…” he said, “Mom, admit it, if you weren’t scared to do it, you would have already done it!”

Out of the mouths of babes! OK… Well, he was 22 at the time, but still…

Anyway, I called Jim that day and signed up for classes. And it was hard to make that call. My “voices” were extremely loud! But because of my son, I finally had the courage to tell them to shut up! I finally found the courage to follow my dream. One of the things that got me “off my duff” was this thought: “In 10 years I will be 57. Do I want to look back in 10 years and say, ‘Darn, I wish I’d done that?’ Or do I want to look back and see all I have accomplished in the last 10 years doing what I love?”

It was pretty much a no-brainer in my book. But imagine my very conservative husband’s face when I announced I was quitting a good paying job with benefits to work as an actor! Fortunately, after 29 years of marriage, he understood me pretty well. But I’m sure at the time he thought I’d lost my mind! Now he can’t tell
enough people what I do and he brags about me and my accomplishments constantly. I love that!

That was 1998. Today I work full-time as a busy voice actor, director, copywriter and producer. I have written my first book. I am the co-executive producer of the only Voiceover Convention in the world—VOICE (VoiceOver International Creative Experience,
www.voice-international.com
) and I have hundreds of students who I now call dear friends! I have traveled all over the world and met some incredible people while teaching. My days are filled with excitement and anticipation—something I never experienced as a secretary! It’s something new every day. New projects, new scripts, new techniques, new teachers, and best of all, new people! And I work with the nicest guy on the planet, my first teacher and now my partner and best friend, James Alburger.

Yes, the years since I made that decision have been absolutely wonderful and I believe I’m only getting started. So, what is my goal for the next several years?

I want to help as many people as I possibly can to realize
their
dreams!

When another decade has passed, I know I will again look back and be excited about what’s been accomplished!

So, for any of you out there who think you’re too old (or any other excuse you’re currently using) to pursue your voice acting career, please don’t let your age be an obstacle. Age is only a number. I know I don’t feel like I’m 59 even though, as I write this, that’s what the calendar says. Actually, I’m darn proud of being my age and to be doing what I’m doing. Sadly, I’ve seen too many people hold themselves back from accomplishing their dreams because of what other people might think. At some point in your life, you just have to have the courage to say, “Ah, to heck with them!”

If you have a dream (and it is truly your heart’s desire) the ONLY person who can stop you from pursuing and attaining it is
you
.

You only have one life. Please choose to enjoy it while doing something you love!