Chapter 4:
2 More Things You Can Do Right Away
Build a Knowledge Base
There are lots of books written about voice-overs, and while none of them can replace face-to-face training or practical hands-on experience, many of the authors have a lot of interesting things to say about the voice-over business. In particular, Harlan Hogan’s book, VO, is great for its fascinating anecdotes. For character work, Pamela Lewis’ Talking Funny for Money is a good choice. Another good one is Making Money In Voice-Overs by Terri Apple.
Keep A Notebook
Jot down the day and time that you practiced and what you read. Make notes about how your voice sounded (e.g. rough, dry, wet, lower pitch, higher pitch). Also, if you’re interested in character work, a notebook is invaluable. When you come up with a new voice (or vocal attitude), give it a name and a back-story, and put it in your book. Turning these voices into real characters aids in your recall of them when you need them later. Referring to “Gizmo the Sprightly Elf” is easier than “that high-pitched squeak where I talk through my nose with a lisp.”
In Chapter 5, we’ll talk about Interpreting And Understanding Copy.
