Voice Over Experts

Good stuff to know.

I don't agree with Connie's notion of the "right interpretation". I think it should be "your best interpretation". One can never know the "right interpretation" unless one has written the script.

Dave - I always use quotes around the word "right," because there are so many nuances to a read...so many "right" ways to deliver the words. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

What the writer imagines (or hears) in their own mind as they create the script may NEVER be exactly articluated by the talent. Sometimes the result is better than what the writer imagined. Sometimes the talent never "gets" it.

The main point is that the writer IS hearing something when they write the script and they only have the words on the page to communicate with you - unless they are present at the session and able to communicate to you the voice in their head.

But everyone in the process who reads the script is going to have a slightly different "voice" (or delivery) in their head. The Director may be hearing a slightly different tone or pace or inflections than the person who wrote the script.

The more people involved in directing the script, the more subjective it becomes. So not only does the talent have to understand the basic intent, approach, feel of the script, they then have to be ready to makes changes - sometimes many changes - to their delivery during a session in order to arrive at a read that satisfies everyone.

And sometimes, the first read is the "right" read.

Copywriters for giant New York agencies or small-town radio stations make similar mistakes. Being a copywriter myself, I always need to "fix" the copy before I read it, sometimes because it has been "revised" by 20 people before it gets to me, or sometimes just to make it flow better. Words get left out, subjects and verbs don't agree, grammar is wrong, sentences are six lines long and nobody has that much breath support to sustain inflection and personality you see what I mean don't you? Is it tough to go back to a large agency that has just hired you for the first time and say, "Would you mind if I changed the line 'Prices slashed by 50 percent off?'" Yes, and it is uncomfortable. But should you read it wrong because that's the way it's written? Never! It's your reputation on the line as well, and as ALWAYS happens, that one particular spot where you 'let something go' that wasn't quite right is the spot that plays constantly for the next three years!

To add to Connie's superb podcast, I would just offer three tips about preparing the copy before you open the mike:

1 ASK for the proper pronunciation of place names, people, streets, etc. If there are many of these, ask if someone can record them and send the file to you. Most computers have at least a tiny mic and built-in recording software for this purpose. If not, then ask that that pronunciations be sent to you phonetically. For example, let's take the word "dichroic." It would be spelled out as die-CROW-ik, with the syllable in capitals having the emphasis. Maybe that was a bad example, because you should be able to look up regular words or medical terms on your own!

2 Always make the copy better. If YOU can read through it, clean up grammar, run-on sentences, or awkward phrasing, that's a value-added service and you are saving the agency valuable time. Just make sure it really IS better! Note: Always run any changes by the client. These days, every person with a full-time job is wearing about 5 hats as we continue to downsize companies and consolidate jobs, and the agency might welcome your help. Don't be afraid to make suggestions. But be polite and not smug!

3 Put in your own breaks, pauses and any other visual cues you need prior to recording. If you start reading cold with the idea that you can always go back and edit, that's a big waste of your time when you can read it with all your "fixes" the first time, and then build from there.

And just one suggestion as a voice talent AND as a client--don't give the client more than one take unless he or she asks you to do that. Given eight different takes of a tag line, clients are notorious for choosing the one you liked the least, and then you have to live with that!

Thanks for a great podcast, Connie. It was much enjoyed!

Robin