Reading a Script

Voice Acting Tips: Reading A Script

In becoming a voice actor, and maintaining a career as such, there’s always room for improvement. In essence, a successful voice actor has great voice control, flawless technique, and the ability to read a script as if they’re not reading at all—to name a few aspects. The latter, however, is extremely important when it comes to doing the actual work. While you can have a great voice and tone, reading a script isn’t as simple as it sounds. As mentioned, your script reading should go unnoticed as a voice actor. In other words, it needs to be smooth.

Aside from reading a script to make the voice over sound unscripted and smooth, it’s also important to learn how to read a voice over script with little to no flaws. Otherwise, you’ll be in the recording studio all day trying to get it right. Of course, there are plenty of exercises you can do to help perfect your script reading skills and ultimately improve yourself as a voice over actor.

How to Read a Script: Avoiding Mistakes

One common pain point for voice actors is the ability to read a script without fault. Whether it’s due to a hard-to-read script or a timing issue on your own part, avoiding mistakes is crucial. One quick recommendation is to read over your script multiple time prior to recording. However, there’s plenty more you can do. See below:

• Stay relaxed: While it may be easier said than done, stay relaxed as you read through your script. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to slow down your talking speed, remaining calm as you read your lines will help you avoid making mistakes. Whether it be avoiding caffeine before the read or doing some breathing exercises, keep it relaxed.

• Read the script first: Needless to say, you should always read the script a few times through before you hit the studio. This way, you’ll not only have a better feel for the script, but you’ll be more comfortable in reading it, which ultimately makes for a smoother read.

• Stand up: Though it may seem negligible, standing up during a voice over session is highly recommended. Standing allows you to breathe deeper and ultimately speak clearer. Plus, it allows you to get a little more involved with the voice acting itself, giving more personality to the character you’re voicing, if that’s the case.  

Voice Over Tips for a Smoother Read

Much like the need to avoid mistakes in reading a script for voice over, you also need to ensure you’re reading smoothly—as previously mentioned. This could be the timing or speed of your speech, but isn’t limited to such. In reading a script, keep the following tips in mind:

• In reading your script, timing is key. Depending on what the script calls for, you’ll want to ensure you’re not reading too fast, or slow in other cases. Timing your practice reads can help you get an idea of the speed you’re going which you can then use to decide whether speed it up or slow down.

• Consider what your role is. If you’re voice acting (as opposed to narrating), think of who your character is and how they play into the overall production. What kind of personality would someone like that have?

• Similarly, consider your audience. You need to know who you’re talking to before you start the session. Different demographics need to be addressed appropriately. Is the audience teens or an older generation? What kind of tone should be given for each of these audiences?

• You also need to keep the motive of the entire production in mind. Depending on what the production is trying to accomplish, whether that be humor or something more serious, you’ll need to adjust your tone and projection for such, which ultimately comes down to how you read the script.

• Of course, you also need to keep the company and brand in mind, as they’ll often have an established public image or reputation. And you need to match that in reading the script. You’re not just meeting the demands of the audience, you also have to keep the brand in mind. This will directly affect the tone and projection as your read the script.

For further information on voice over, be sure to check out our additional resources. We’ve provided a few pages below:

• Tips for Voice Acting

• Voice Over Lessons

• Getting Started in VO

Add Voice Over Classes to the Mix

Again, the way in which you read a script and project your voice is essential the overall tone of any production. However, there are many other important aspects in regards to becoming a successful voice over actor. While you can do your research and work to perfect your voice at home, voice over classes are often necessary to fully understand the discipline and industry.

If you’d like to learn more about our classes, click here. If you’re interested in signing up, you can give us a call at 212-213-9487 or contact us online.

Voice Acting Tips

Getting Started: 11 Voice Acting Tips

Here at The Voice Shop in New York City, we offer voice over classes for those seeking a career in the industry, whether that's narration or voice over acting. While our classes cover a range of important topics and information for all levels of aspiring voice talent, we also like to provide necessary information here on our website to get an idea of what the classes offer in moving along your voice acting career. Of course, we don’t want to give too much information away, as you’ll need to sign up for classes to truly learn voice acting, as well as the industry. However, we’d still like to fill our aspiring voice talents in on a few tips for voice acting.

Though the tips provided below will give you some great insight into the voice over industry and how you can better develop your voice, our classes led by professional voice over coaches offer much more. In fact, a few classes from our voice acting coach could be just what you need to find and develop your voice, as well as start landing gigs as a voice actor! If you're interested in our classes, view the pages below:

• Voice Over Classes

• Class Schedule

11 Tips for Voice Acting

In an effort to cater to all levels of voice over talent, from beginners to the more advanced, we’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks ranging from developing your voice to in-studio practices and voice acting exercises. No matter your skill level, however, these tips will surely benefit you in your endeavors, as well as give you a taste of what to expect in our voice over classes. Without further ado, let’s take a look at some great tips for voice acting:

1. First, you need to find your voice. Sit down and record some lines, then listen to the recording and consider what you can do with it. Think about what you’d like to do with your voice—are you considering narration or acting? How can you manipulate your voice for such?

2. When it comes to changing your voice, stand straight, drink some water and start working on pitch. Work on changing the volume of your voice, and exercise your breathing (it needs to be controlled). When you hear something you’re going for, take note and work on retaining that voice.

3. No matter the type of work, you need to speak clearly. When speaking, focus on pronunciation and enunciation. Remember, you need to be clear for the listeners.

4. A good way to improve your voice is by working with or around others, preferably with a little more skill. You’ll pick up techniques from them, as well as be more motivated to improve your voice and get on par with other talent. Classes from The Voice Shop in NYC are great for this.

5. Moving past beginner tips, focus on warm up exercises. Whether you’re working on a demo or have already landed a job, you’ve got to prepare for each session. Get your facial muscles moving, practice lip rolls and breathing exercises, and hum to get warmed up.

6. On your initial read through for any project or job, don’t simply read through to get an idea of the content. Go ahead and practice your voice any time you read through a script. While we’re on the subject, a few practice reads are always a good measure before recording—know the material!

7. Keep your voice in shape. In addition to constant practice, from developing your voice or techniques, you need to treat your voice well. Before recording, get some good sleep and drink plenty of water, then run through your warm-ups, of course.

8. Focus on inflection, which is how you change the form of a word. If you’re reading a statement, avoid changing the tone at the end to sound like a question. It seems like a no brainer, but this happens all the time. In short, your tone needs to agree with the content.

9. Don’t forget variety. Work with different types of emotion in your speaking and vary specific emotions. Expressing anger doesn’t always have to be loud, express it through emotion rather than volume.

10. Be theatrical when speaking into the mic. Without debate, voice acting is still physical. By moving your arms and changing facial expressions, the projection of your voice will follow suit. Think of it this way: you need to bring the voice to life.

11. Don’t rush into creating a demo. Demos cost money and take time, so get the most out of it by mastering your voice prior. You can record and review your voice all you want on your own, but hold up for the demo once you feel comfortable with the voice(s) you’re working on.

Bonus Tip for Voice Acting: Take Classes!

Of course, this list of tips for voice acting is far from comprehensive. A quality microphone is obviously a must have, and there’s plenty more to practice and develop before you start seeking work. The best way to attain this information and best develop your voice is through the classes we offer here at The Voice Shop in New York City. In our classes, you’ll be working with industry professionals, have access to our state-of-the-art recording studio (in our demo class), and be surrounded by fellow, aspiring voice over talent. 

If you’re interested in finding your voice, developing it, and working with industry professionals to land a job in the voice over industry, sign up for class today! If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. You can also give us a call at 212-213-9487. 

Voice Over Evaluations

Why Voice Over Evaluations Are Essential

When it comes to perfecting your voice in aspiring to find work as a voice over artist, there’s a variety of tasks and practices to employ. Whether you’re just finding your voice or are working to perfect it, there’s always ways to continue to improve your voice, whether it be through taking voice acting classes, reading information online, or simply practicing your techniques at home. However, one of the most beneficial practices you can take on is sitting down with a professional voice coach for evaluations. Voice over evaluations are crucial for anyone interested in working as a voice actor, as you can gain invaluable insight as to how you can alter your voice, improve your technique, and more.

Here at The Voice Shop, helping our aspiring voice over talents discover and improve their voices is at the heart of what we do. Though classes are also quite necessary in learning voice over and maintaining a career in such, voice over evaluations are a must—as many voice over coaches will tell you. With this, let’s take a look at what a VO evaluation entails and how it can benefit you as an aspiring voice actor.

If you'd like to find more information on voice over or sign up for classes with the Voice Shop, take a look at the pages provided below:

• Creating Your Voice Over Demo

• Resources for Voice Actors

• Voice Over Classes & Workshops

What is a Voice Over Evaluation?

Just like it sounds, a voice over evaluation involves sitting down 1-on-1 with a professional coach to allow them to hear your voice and watch you speak first hand. This gives the coaches the ability to listen to your voice while actually watching your technique, breathing, and body movements—all of which can impact the way in which you project your voice. Of course, these evaluations don’t only pertain to the sound of your voice and how you speak. Given that voice over requires more than simply a great voice, your coach must also assess the the way you read lines, your knowledge, and other factors.

Additionally, voice over evaluations can also be set in place to assess demos. Because your demo will ultimately define you as a voice actor and your abilities, it’s important to ensure your demo meets the general requirements. Not only that, but it should also perfectly demonstrate your abilities and the best of your voice. So, in having a professional evaluate your voice over demo, you can ensure it meets expectations and best displays your voice and skills.

Whether you seek an evaluation for your voice or voice over demo, each will cover similar disciplines.

How Do Voice Over Evaluations Work?

Depending on who you seek to evaluate your voice and/or demo, the evaluation process will vary. For the most part, you can either sit down face-to-face with a coach, who will then have you run through exercises and project your voice for them to assess. Similarly, and the way we do it here at the Voice Shop, you often have the option to sit down with your coach via web chat, such as Skype. As mentioned previously, it’s not just your voice the coach will assess in your evaluation, as there are other factors that will ultimately impact your success as a voice over artist. Typically, the voice over coach will consider the following aspects in your evaluation:

• Your voice

• Your skill level

• Your technique and delivery

• Your existing knowledge the necessary software for the industry

• How well you can read from scripts and voice over copy

• How willing you are to commit to the trade

• The feasibility of you becoming a working artist

• Disciplines suited for your voice (narration, animation, promo, etc.)

In regards to demos, the evaluation process can work a bit different. Quite often, you can simply send your demo to your coach, who can assess its content before calling you or sitting down with you face-to-face. Since any professional voice over coach will have examined countless VO demos, they’ll be able to compare yours with successful demos. Then, when speaking with you, they’ll go over a variety of ways you can improve your demo, whether it be leaving out a specific clip, or adding something in to make it more appealing.  

Benefits of Evaluations

Needless to say, the benefits of a voice over evaluation are far reaching. By having a professional assess your voice, skill, knowledge of the industry, among other factors, you’ll have a great idea of where you need to improve your trade and what direction you should go within the industry—which can ultimately help you land the perfect job.

Sign Up for a 1-on-1 Class Today

While we have a range of classes for every level of voice actor at the Voice Shop, many of which are geared specifically to those just getting started in the industry. If you’re interested in sitting down with our coaches privately, via Skype, you can sign up for our Private Lessons today. You might also consider our workshop webinars.

If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call at 212-213-9487 or contact us.  

How To Be A Social Media Influencer

How To Be A Social Media Influencer

Social media is a powerful platform that more and more people are using to earn a living. Social media allows people to build an audience in their niche and share information about certain topics. Building that audience is difficult and it can be hard to find where to start. If you are looking to become a social media influencer, you’ve come to the right place.

The Voice Shop offers a wide range of classes that help you improve your voice over skills and technique. We are now offering courses to help you improve your voice online and build your influence through social media. Here are some tips for starting on your journey to becoming a social media influencer as well as details on how to enroll for courses.

Find the Niche You Influence

Before you start as a social media influencer, you need to find your niche. There is no limit to the topics you can be interested in and establish yourself as an influencer. Whatever topic you feel you have researched a lot and know a lot about, you can become an influencer in that field. It takes a bit of work, but if it is a topic that you are passionate about, you will enjoy keeping informed on the topic.

If you are having trouble finding your niche, look at your interests. An influencer is successful because they have a passion for the subjects they research. They truly care about what they study and what they represent. If you are looking to be successful in this realm, you want to make sure that you can keep it up in the long run by choosing a niche that you are already ingrained in.

Know Your Social Media Platforms

Social media offers many opportunities to share your voice in unique ways. Social media influencers are knowledgeable about different social networks and how they can be used to their advantage. With that in mind, it is key that you learn each platform and the types of content that work best for you on each one.

Whether you are on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, or Twitter, you can find many ways to utilize the platform effectively to grow your influence. Taking the time to learn each platform and how you can distribute your content in the best light will add to the power you have as an influencer.

Enroll to Become a Social Media Influencer

If you are interested in growing your personal brand and building an audience, The Voice Shop offers courses on becoming a social media influencer. If you don’t know where to start or if you’ve been building your influence for a while, you can find valuable information on social media and how you can improve your influence. To sign up for courses, visit The Voice Shop or give us a call at 212-213-9487!

How To Become A Micro-Influencer

How To Become A Micro Influencer

Social media is a great platform to create influence and earn money for your influence. Micro Influencers have gained huge followings in social media and typically specialize in a topic or industry. Micro influencers are not typically public figures such as celebrities, but they are deeply invested in the topics they discuss. If you are looking to grow a career as a micro influencer, you have the opportunity to take classes to do so.

The Voice Shop is now offering courses to help people learn how to become a micro influencer. Becoming an influencer is hard work and it takes an understanding of social media, networking, and diligence. Before you sign up for our courses to help you become a micro influencer, here are some tips to getting started.

Learn Your Social Media Platforms

For many starting out on their journey to becoming micro influencers, the first place they start is learning how you can actually make money on each social media platform. Many of us understand how we like to use social media such as posting and sharing, but the trick is learning how to convert that into money.

Each platform offers different opportunities and it is crucial to understand the role they can each play. Between YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, SnapChat, Twitter, and more, there are a lot of platforms that you can choose to use. Pinpoint the one that provides you the most opportunity and focus on learning it. From there, you can spread out and handle each platform with the right strategy.

Be Part of the Conversation

If you have found the niche you want to influence, make yourself a part of the community. Not only that, be aware of the brands that would find your influence valuable. Join conversations on social media about the brands you could represent. If you are a fan of food, think of the content you can make that is food related. Rate local eateries in your area and become somebody people can trust to know everything about the local food scene.

If you are passionate about the topic, this is going to come easy. It is best to find a topic that you naturally follow already. Being an influencer takes a lot of time and dedication to news on your topic. What are the latest trends? What do people want to know about the topic? You are there to provide answers and direct people toward products. This will get you noticed by the brands you care about.

Get Classes to Become a Micro Influencer

If you want to learn the best techniques and strategies to become a micro influencer, now is your chance. The Voice Shop is now offering courses to teach you how to become a micro influencer. We can give you a good understanding of the strategies you can use to grow your influence in any topic. To sign up for courses, visit The Voice Shop or give us a call at 212-213-9487!

Podcast Lessons

Taking Professional Podcast Lessons

Coming up with a fantastic idea for a podcast is the first step you need to do to achieve success. Once you have an idea of what you want to talk about you can start to take the steps toward success. Many podcastors just start podcasting right away without any training or thought about what they sound like. This can be their downfall were they not careful in their creation process.

The content you produce is the first step, but in order for the content to be good you have to understand all the little trinkets going into the making of a successful podcast. The little details needed to make a podcast successful isn’t something you can typically pick up on the go. Joining a professional voice over acting school will help you learn all the factors going into making an infamous podcast.

Why Should I Take Classes for Podcasting?

Podcasting isn’t just about talking about your favorite topic. There are various little details going into a successful podcast. One of the first ones being how you speak. Being too loud or too soft can drive people away from your podcast. Remember, a good amount of people use their phones or tablets to listen to podcasts. Their headphones or earphones go directly into their ear, so yelling can cause them a headache.

Speaking clearly is another attribute you need to be aware of. Speaking at the perfect level of sound may be an important factor, but you still need to be able to vocalize your words and enunciate each syllable. No one wants to listen to someone who can’t read or speak clearly. They’ll end up spending the whole time trying to decipher what you are saying, instead, of listening to what you are saying. Voice over classes will even teach you how to be a better “cold reader”.

A cold read is when your client offers you a script during the recording session or before. You will then be asked to read this script, which you most likely are seeing for the first. You will then read the script—then and there—as if you have memorized it a thousand times and emote the proper emotions. Thankfully, classes are available to heighten your cold reading skills.

Professional Voice Over Acting

Understanding all the little specifications can seem like a mind-numbing process. However, once you start to see how they all work together you will become a professional podcaster in no time. The Voice Shop in New York offers a variety of classes for you to choose from. Working with various celebrities and powerhouse companies has allowed them to train their students in ways no other school can.

The BBC, Nielsen, Gucci and Mercedes-Benz are just some of the vast organizations The Voice Shop has had their students work with. Your career will soar because of these new connections. You will be able to use your new skills in an applicable environment with various important companies paying for your work. Your notoriety will slowly start to rise and you will become a more household name. Furthermore, it doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or an expert, there is always room to hone your skills even further.

Voice Over Coaching

Voice Over Coaching: What Does It Entail?

As opposed to singing lessons, voice over coaching involves finding your voice, perfecting it, and utilizing it in a way that stands out and is fit for the voice over industry. Of course, there are plenty of voice over coaches who work with aspiring singers, though a voice over coach most often works on speech and communication with voice talent. Regardless of what’s covered within classes, voice coaching is often necessary for those who’d like a career in voice overs.

If you are the aforementioned aspiring voice talent, The Voice Shop is one of the premier voice over schools in New York City. Our classes can help you start your path to landing a gig in the entertainment industry. While this always involves hard work, skill, proper technique and more, starting out with voice over coaching will surely be beneficial. Whether you’re just getting started in voice acting or would like to brush up on your technique, voice over coaching can help. Plus, the Voice Shop offers a range of voice over courses for every level. Now, take a closer look at voice over coaching and how a voice acting coach can help you start your path to a working voice over talent. 

What’s Involved in Voice Over Coaching?

Within singing, voice coaching essentially applies to the output of an individual's voice. That is: execution, vocal arrangements, phrasing, pitch, volume, etc. Within the voice over industry, voice coaching is quite similar, yet more specific techniques like pauses, emphases, and articulation are also covered. Moreover, coaching may focus on a certain discipline within voice over, such as commercial VO or narration. 

Given that most voice over coaches are experienced professionals, they can give you much-needed insight to the industry. This could include where your voice would be the best fit, how to approach agencies, what to include on your demo, and more. Plus, at the Voice Shop, our coaches can guide you in building your own recording studio and even help you develop the skills to market your own brand through voice over. In short, working with a voice acting coach could present numerous advantages to your and your path to starting a career in voice over.

Options for Voice Over Coaching

While your options will depend on where you receive coaching from, you can find voice over coaching for a range of specific topics and disciplines. As we alluded to above, you can focus on a particular subject like narration or animation voice over, among many others. However, topics don't have to be so specific. If you're just getting started in voice over, you can coaching and lessons for establishing your voice, perfecting certain techniques, and even in creating your own voice over demo. Here at the Voice Shop, we offer all of this and more. In short, we offer a range of voice over classes, all led by industry professionals. We've provided some of our voice over classes below to help you get an idea of your options:

• Fundamentals of Voice Over: As part of our Technique classes, Fundamentals of Voice Over covers an overview of the industry, finding your authentic voice, and touches upon a range of voice over techniques.

• Private Lessons: Of course, private voice over lessons can cover whatever topic you choose. Here, you can connect with our voice over coaches via Skype for guidance, critiques, and anything else you'd like to learn about voice over.

• Workshops (Webinars): From preparing for an audition to building a home studio and recording your demo, our webinar workshops are a great follow up to the classes. These topics are key in finding work and maintaining a career as a voice over talent.

How Voice Over Coaching Benefits You

Regardless of your current skill set, voice over coaching really offers something for everybody. It’s beneficial in finding your voice, perfecting your technique, and landing jobs as a voice talent. Take a look at the list of benefits below for more:

• Improve your delivery, speaking with color and emotion.

• Learn techniques such as increasing volume without shouting.

• Perfect the speed of your speaking

• A coach will serve as an extra set of ears, observing your speech and vocal range.

• A coach will point out strengths and help you improve other areas.

• They’ll also help you create the perfect demo.

Overall, voice over coaching can help in nearly every aspect of voice overs. No matter where you need improvement, the right coach will help you find the right voice, apply it to a certain industry, and help you land gigs. In addition to taking classes with our coaches, you can find plenty of helpful information on the pages below:

• Creating a Demo

• Tips For Voice Acting

• Common Voice Over Terms (Glossary)

Benefit from Coaching with the Voice Shop

No matter your skill set, anyone can take advantage of voice over coaching. Experienced professionals can assist you in every discipline, from finding your voice to setting up your very own studio. More importantly, voice coaching will help you develop the skills necessary in making it as a voice talent and marketing yourself for such.

If you’re interested in benefitting from our voice over coaching, be sure to contact the Voice Shop, the best voice over school in New York City today. You can give us a call at 212.213.9487 to learn more and sign up. 

Types of Voice Over

Types Of Voice Overs

When looking to get your foot in the door of the voice over industry, you will need to do some research into which type of voice over work you would like to focus on. Voice overs are immensely important to brand reputation and awareness, but not every voice over serves the same purpose. 

In short, there are many different types of voice overs, and each requires a specialized form of training. With the Voice Shop, we aim to provide newcomers to the industry with information and classes to help them get started in this excited industry. Let us fill you in on the different types of voice overs and how our classes can help you get a step ahead of the competition.

Types of Voice Over Work

Within the industry, there are many different types of voice overs and each requires research and practice to perfect. Some of the most common types of voice overs are:

• Commercials: One of the most common forms of voice overs are seen on television commercials. Nearly every commercial has a voice over to help carry along the story the commercial is trying to tell. Often times, commercial gigs are difficult to land and you will likely need to gain experience in other types of voice overs.

• Radio Ads & Segments: Much like television commercials, radio ads and segments typically require a fair amount of voice over experience. Radio is still the most consumed form of media and these ads and segments have the potential to reach millions of listeners, depending on the station and market. 

• Narration: Whether for a documentary, or company used training material, narration voice overs can be both large or small projects. Local narration voice overs, for example, can be a great way to break through into the voice over industry and build you voice acting resume. 

Voice Over Acting Classes from The Voice Shop

Regardless of the type of voice over you want to focus on, voice over classes from the Voice Shop in New York City are essential. In fact, even experienced voice over talents continue to take classes and look for ways to improve their skills and expand to other types of voice overs. 

Sign Up for Voice Over Classes Today!

If you are interested in getting your foot in the voice over industry or simply are looking for ways to improve your current skill set, the Voice Shop is here to help. Contact us today by calling 212.213.9487 and sign up for one of our classes!