VC Radio
Voice Coaches Radio #54 – Keeping it Fresh
Warren
Voice Coaches Radio, everything voiceover.
Mike
Voice.
Warren
Hello and welcome once again to Voice Coaches Radio. I'm Warren Garland
Mike
And I'm Mike Spring.
Warren
Fresh from Vacation. Or is that an oxymoron fresh from vacation? I
Mike
I think I'm pretty I'm feeling pretty fresh. Okay. Good,
Warren
Good.
Mike
good. Ooh, I like I l I just realized what you did, Warren. You gave a little segue into our topic for the day.
Warren
That's right. Yeah, 'cause some of our former former yeah, right, there you go. Some of our former students have been having some success lately with audiobooks and longer form narrative projects. And they've asked us about ways to stay fresh during long studio sessions. That's right.
Mike
Right,
there are some very important things to remember when you're gonna be in the studio for a few hours. You know, a lot of your typical recording sessions will only go for half hour or an hour, but if you're gonna be in the studio for the better part of a day, these are some things you can do that will help you stay fresh, stay accurate, and be successful.
Warren
And one of those things is something that Mike has done a lot of research on and heard a lot of professionals talk about, and that is Cathy.
Mike
Caffeine.
Most of my research, of course, involves drinking copious amounts of Mountain Dew. But one of the things people tend to think is, I need a quick refresher. So let me grab a cup of coffee or you know, a soda that's got a lot of caffeine in it, and that'll give me a little jolt of energy. And while that might be true, the unfortunate side effect of that is that caffeine is actually really bad for your voice, especially when you're gonna be in a session for a long time. So we always recommend avoid caffeine during a recording session. You know, stick with that water, it's gonna be the best thing for you.
Warren
There you go. All right. Let's talk about humor for a few moments. I don't know if we can do this seriously, but I'm going to try.
Mike
I was gonna say I know if we're the best people to talk about.
Warren
But but it really does play a big part in having a successful studio session. I really truly believe this. You want to maintain a good sense of humor. Yes, you make a mistake. Yes, you may have to do a line three or four times sometimes. Perhaps it takes you a while to get into a rhythm. If you treat that too seriously, it can really mess up your whole day. It really can. So keep a good sense of humor about this. Have some fun with it. Realize that you're not perfect.
It will come out better if you keep a good humor about the entire session.
Mike
Let's talk about taking breaks. I think breaks are very important and you need to take them.
Warren
And there he goes. He just takes him whenever he feels like.
Mike
That's right, there you go. Now I feel much better. When you're in the recording booth for several hours, you want to make sure to take advantage of any breaks that are offered. Most times the producer will offer it to you and say, hey everyone, let's take five. And you know, sometimes your inclination is to be like, you know what? I'm good. I don't need a break. I can I can power through. And that's admirable. You're trying to impress the producer, but for the long term, that's not really the best strategy. Take advantage of your breaks.
You know, if the weather's nice, get outside for a few minutes, get some fresh air. Also make sure to rest your voice. You know, don't get on the phone and have a conversation or talk too much with the people that you're working with. There'll be plenty of time for that when you're in between takes in the booth. You know, really just take advantage of those breaks, get a few minutes to recharge yourself both physically and mentally, and it'll do you a lot better over a long term.
Warren
I've had quite a few students ask me over the years, what's the difference between sitting down and and standing in the
Mike
Well
see standing you're on your legs and sitting you're usually is more
Warren
And of course, I think what they mean is does it do anything different to your voice? And and it can, because you're talking your diaphragm here, which is where most of us, you know, get the power to speak. But you'll find that on longer recording sessions, you are going to be offered a stool or a or chair to sit in. And I've done it both ways. I can tell you there's not a huge difference once you've got that that voice and you've trained it well. You'll be okay whether you're sitting down or standing up. But when it does come to a long session,
More than likely you are going to want to rest. And sitting down is not a bad thing. You can do it. Just make sure you're sitting up straight while you're doing it, obviously. And remember that you're going to still want to take that break to stretch the legs every once in a while. We'll talk more about stretching in just a moment. Now, if you are standing up, that's fine too. Just the opposite happens. When you're done, when you take that break, sit down, relax, all right, and get off your feet for a few moments so you'll last a little bit longer into the session.
Mike
And if you do choose to stand also, make sure you don't lock your knees the entire time you're standing because that can actually restrict your blood flow. And I've actually seen somebody pass out from standing with their knees locked for about an hour. Not good. No, not good. Stretching.
Warren
Not good.
Mike
Stretching is very important. When you're in the booth and you have a second, if if the producer says, Hey, you know, relax for a minute, we're gonna just listen back to this take, you know.
Do a little bit of stretching, you know, just kind of get your bones moving, get your muscles stretched out. It'll help keep you fresh, you know, it's really good for you and it's just kind of refreshing. It'll really make you feel physically not so confined in the booth and and not like you're just kind of sitting in one place for several hours on end.
Warren
So there you go. In a nutshell, caffeine, okay? Avoid it when you're in the session. Before a session, too. humor. Keep that sense of humor throughout. Take breaks when you need them. Ask for them when necessary. stand if you'd like, make sure you sit down once in a while. Sit if you'd like, make sure you stand up once in a while. And of course the stretching, which will just kind of revitalize you and get you going. I I think we need a a big stretch here, Mike and I, as we go into this final portion of our few moments.
Mike
Final stretch.
Warren
okay, very good. If you'd like to learn more about what voice acting is and if it's the kind of business that might be for you, you're in luck. Voice Coaches travels the country presenting an introduction to voice acting adult education class that we call getting paid to talk. And there's a good chance we're going to be in your area this summer.
Mike
That's right. The week of july nineteenth, look for us in Lancaster and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Salem and Orleans, Massachusetts, and Madison, Connecticut.
Warren
We're
also in Springfield, Missouri, Phoenix, Arizona, Baltimore, Maryland, and Troy, New York.
Mike
To find out where we're going to be and when we'll be near you, feel free to call our toll-free number, 1-800-887-2834. Or you can email us anytime at podcast at voicecoaches.com. That's also the address for questions or comments about our podcast, or if you have any decorating tips for my new desk and my lovely new chair, please send them our way.
Warren
Yeah,
that you know, getting him out of that chair to get into the studio is not easy today, let me tell you.
Mike
Now that I have that new chair, I don't think I will ever be standing
Warren
Thanks for joining us once again and we're back next week. We hope you'll join us then. Have a great one.
Mike
Visit VoiceCoaches.com for more voiceover news and information.
That's also the address for questions or comments about this podcast, or if you have any decoration decoration ideas. Shot of energy, let me drink a cup of coffee or grab a high caffeinated highly caffeinated or let me grab a highly highly not holly.
Warren
Hello and welcome once again to Voice Coaches Radio.
Mike
Or as we like to call it men behaving badly. Sorry. Just like to get things loosened up. Nothing crazy.
Warren
Okay. Well you did it. Now I'm
lost.
Mike
There we go.
Voice Coaches Radio, everything voiceover.
Mike
Voice.
Warren
Hello and welcome once again to Voice Coaches Radio. I'm Warren Garland
Mike
And I'm Mike Spring.
Warren
Fresh from Vacation. Or is that an oxymoron fresh from vacation? I
Mike
I think I'm pretty I'm feeling pretty fresh. Okay. Good,
Warren
Good.
Mike
good. Ooh, I like I l I just realized what you did, Warren. You gave a little segue into our topic for the day.
Warren
That's right. Yeah, 'cause some of our former former yeah, right, there you go. Some of our former students have been having some success lately with audiobooks and longer form narrative projects. And they've asked us about ways to stay fresh during long studio sessions. That's right.
Mike
Right,
there are some very important things to remember when you're gonna be in the studio for a few hours. You know, a lot of your typical recording sessions will only go for half hour or an hour, but if you're gonna be in the studio for the better part of a day, these are some things you can do that will help you stay fresh, stay accurate, and be successful.
Warren
And one of those things is something that Mike has done a lot of research on and heard a lot of professionals talk about, and that is Cathy.
Mike
Caffeine.
Most of my research, of course, involves drinking copious amounts of Mountain Dew. But one of the things people tend to think is, I need a quick refresher. So let me grab a cup of coffee or you know, a soda that's got a lot of caffeine in it, and that'll give me a little jolt of energy. And while that might be true, the unfortunate side effect of that is that caffeine is actually really bad for your voice, especially when you're gonna be in a session for a long time. So we always recommend avoid caffeine during a recording session. You know, stick with that water, it's gonna be the best thing for you.
Warren
There you go. All right. Let's talk about humor for a few moments. I don't know if we can do this seriously, but I'm going to try.
Mike
I was gonna say I know if we're the best people to talk about.
Warren
But but it really does play a big part in having a successful studio session. I really truly believe this. You want to maintain a good sense of humor. Yes, you make a mistake. Yes, you may have to do a line three or four times sometimes. Perhaps it takes you a while to get into a rhythm. If you treat that too seriously, it can really mess up your whole day. It really can. So keep a good sense of humor about this. Have some fun with it. Realize that you're not perfect.
It will come out better if you keep a good humor about the entire session.
Mike
Let's talk about taking breaks. I think breaks are very important and you need to take them.
Warren
And there he goes. He just takes him whenever he feels like.
Mike
That's right, there you go. Now I feel much better. When you're in the recording booth for several hours, you want to make sure to take advantage of any breaks that are offered. Most times the producer will offer it to you and say, hey everyone, let's take five. And you know, sometimes your inclination is to be like, you know what? I'm good. I don't need a break. I can I can power through. And that's admirable. You're trying to impress the producer, but for the long term, that's not really the best strategy. Take advantage of your breaks.
You know, if the weather's nice, get outside for a few minutes, get some fresh air. Also make sure to rest your voice. You know, don't get on the phone and have a conversation or talk too much with the people that you're working with. There'll be plenty of time for that when you're in between takes in the booth. You know, really just take advantage of those breaks, get a few minutes to recharge yourself both physically and mentally, and it'll do you a lot better over a long term.
Warren
I've had quite a few students ask me over the years, what's the difference between sitting down and and standing in the
Mike
Well
see standing you're on your legs and sitting you're usually is more
Warren
And of course, I think what they mean is does it do anything different to your voice? And and it can, because you're talking your diaphragm here, which is where most of us, you know, get the power to speak. But you'll find that on longer recording sessions, you are going to be offered a stool or a or chair to sit in. And I've done it both ways. I can tell you there's not a huge difference once you've got that that voice and you've trained it well. You'll be okay whether you're sitting down or standing up. But when it does come to a long session,
More than likely you are going to want to rest. And sitting down is not a bad thing. You can do it. Just make sure you're sitting up straight while you're doing it, obviously. And remember that you're going to still want to take that break to stretch the legs every once in a while. We'll talk more about stretching in just a moment. Now, if you are standing up, that's fine too. Just the opposite happens. When you're done, when you take that break, sit down, relax, all right, and get off your feet for a few moments so you'll last a little bit longer into the session.
Mike
And if you do choose to stand also, make sure you don't lock your knees the entire time you're standing because that can actually restrict your blood flow. And I've actually seen somebody pass out from standing with their knees locked for about an hour. Not good. No, not good. Stretching.
Warren
Not good.
Mike
Stretching is very important. When you're in the booth and you have a second, if if the producer says, Hey, you know, relax for a minute, we're gonna just listen back to this take, you know.
Do a little bit of stretching, you know, just kind of get your bones moving, get your muscles stretched out. It'll help keep you fresh, you know, it's really good for you and it's just kind of refreshing. It'll really make you feel physically not so confined in the booth and and not like you're just kind of sitting in one place for several hours on end.
Warren
So there you go. In a nutshell, caffeine, okay? Avoid it when you're in the session. Before a session, too. humor. Keep that sense of humor throughout. Take breaks when you need them. Ask for them when necessary. stand if you'd like, make sure you sit down once in a while. Sit if you'd like, make sure you stand up once in a while. And of course the stretching, which will just kind of revitalize you and get you going. I I think we need a a big stretch here, Mike and I, as we go into this final portion of our few moments.
Mike
Final stretch.
Warren
okay, very good. If you'd like to learn more about what voice acting is and if it's the kind of business that might be for you, you're in luck. Voice Coaches travels the country presenting an introduction to voice acting adult education class that we call getting paid to talk. And there's a good chance we're going to be in your area this summer.
Mike
That's right. The week of july nineteenth, look for us in Lancaster and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Salem and Orleans, Massachusetts, and Madison, Connecticut.
Warren
We're
also in Springfield, Missouri, Phoenix, Arizona, Baltimore, Maryland, and Troy, New York.
Mike
To find out where we're going to be and when we'll be near you, feel free to call our toll-free number, 1-800-887-2834. Or you can email us anytime at podcast at voicecoaches.com. That's also the address for questions or comments about our podcast, or if you have any decorating tips for my new desk and my lovely new chair, please send them our way.
Warren
Yeah,
that you know, getting him out of that chair to get into the studio is not easy today, let me tell you.
Mike
Now that I have that new chair, I don't think I will ever be standing
Warren
Thanks for joining us once again and we're back next week. We hope you'll join us then. Have a great one.
Mike
Visit VoiceCoaches.com for more voiceover news and information.
That's also the address for questions or comments about this podcast, or if you have any decoration decoration ideas. Shot of energy, let me drink a cup of coffee or grab a high caffeinated highly caffeinated or let me grab a highly highly not holly.
Warren
Hello and welcome once again to Voice Coaches Radio.
Mike
Or as we like to call it men behaving badly. Sorry. Just like to get things loosened up. Nothing crazy.
Warren
Okay. Well you did it. Now I'm
lost.
Mike
There we go.
In this episode of Voice Coaches Radio, Warren and Mike share essential tips for voice actors preparing for long recording sessions — especially audiobook narration and extended voiceover projects. They break down practical strategies used by professional voice coaches, voice acting coaches, and voiceover coaching programs to help talent stay fresh, accurate, and energized in the booth. Topics include avoiding caffeine to protect vocal health, using humor to stay relaxed, taking breaks strategically, managing posture whether sitting or standing, and incorporating stretching to maintain vocal stamina. Perfect for beginners working with a voice coach for voice acting, students training with voice coaches online, or anyone seeking voice overs training, voice actor coaching, or guidance from an online voice acting coach. This episode delivers actionable advice to help voice actors perform confidently and consistently during long‑form sessions.
Key Takeaways
- Avoid caffeine — it dries out your voice and reduces stamina.
- Keep a sense of humor — mistakes happen; staying light keeps you relaxed and performing better.
- Take breaks — step outside, rest your voice, and reset mentally.
- Sit or stand mindfully — both work; prioritize posture and comfort.
- Stretch often — reduces stiffness and keeps your body and voice energized.
- If you want, I can also create a social‑media‑ready version, a meta description, or a short promo script for this episode.
Ready to find out if voice acting is actually right for you?
Let’s find out — together. Join our live, interactive Intro to Voice Over Workshop — a real‑world look at how the industry works, what beginners need, and how to start professionally.
✔ Learn how to sound conversational (the #1 skill clients want)
✔ Understand how voice actors book work in 2026
✔ Ask questions directly to a working voice coach
If you’ve ever wondered “Could I do this?” — this class gives you the real answer.
Reserve your seat: https://voicecoaches.com/live-class-landing/live-online-voice-over-class-voice-coaches/
