I’ve boiled down the voiceover technique process to about 5 or 6 basic concepts. The first is, very simply, GET THE WORDS OUT. This sounds very basic, and it is – just be able to read the words, out loud, as written on the page.
Obvious, right? Well, you’d be surprised how many beginners can’t do this right off the bat. I’ve observed newbies adding words and phrases that aren’t in the script, omitting those that are, and mixing words up like a tossed salad. This is generally just a combination of nerves and inexperience, though cognitive and vision problems can be a factor with some.
Needless to say, the clients generally prefer that you stick to the script, so your first assignment is to pick up any piece of text – ad copy, a book or magazine, a pamphlet from your dentist’s office or a box of Wheaties – and just simply read it out loud EXACTLY AS IT’S WRITTEN. Don’t worry about anything other than accuracy at this point – just read.
Record yourself and check the playback against the page for accuracy. If you’re mucking it up, SLOW DOWN and be as deliberate as you need to be to get it right. Do this every day for 20 minutes and you’ll be nailing it in a week or two.
Of course, many of you won’t have this problem, so you can skip ahead to the other lessons – as soon as I post them.
Good luck, and remember – PRACTICE.
JM
copyright 2010 John Matthew
