VC Radio
Voice Coaches Radio – #647 Variety and Growth
Voice coaches radio, everything voiceover. Welcome to a brand new episode of Voice Coaches Radio on this national book Lovers Day. That is the day that this episode drops, and I mean, that's what brought, I think a lot of us to voiceover, but my name is Marissa, and whether it is a love of audio books or just listening to different voices that people do in animation.
Or I don't know. I mean, there's so many different types of voiceover. Whatever has brought you right here in this moment, hanging out with me. Thank you. Uh, you know, uh, I was about to say, I'm sorry. Uh, but I, I think I say that a little bit too much, but I know it's just, uh, it's easy to downplay myself and, uh, I, I just hope that you're getting something from each and every episode that you're able to take away and, and allow you to kind of, you know, spread your wings and keep growing and, you know, just, uh, getting better and better every single day when it comes to the crazy world of voiceover.
And there's so many things that do bring different people here. You know, I wanted to just entertain. I just wanted to have. Fun. It wasn't even necessarily the fact that I wanted to, uh, use my voice in any kind of way. I just wanted to be in the entertainment field and, and radio was the first thing that caught my eye.
Or ear depending. Uh, and, and I just kinda ran with it, you know, radio brings commercials, brings everything else. And um, you know, as the years went on, it's like, here we go. We got podcasting, we've got audio books, but not just like books on tape, books on everything, right? Like, it's like you can take it in your pocket now, which is really cool.
Um, so it's been a, a beautiful transition over time. And I'm just glad that I can be a part of it. I'm glad that you can be a part of it here with us. Um, you know, I had a student earlier in the week and she had her first class. And it was funny 'cause I remember Laura was telling me, Hey, um, we've got a brand new student.
I'm putting her with you. She's so excited. She tunes into the podcast and she happens to also be named Marissa. And uh, I was like, oh, well there's few and far between those named Marissa. So like, let's go ahead, uh, yeah, get her to me. And she's like, so much fun. She's so bubbly and so energetic. But she had a question in class.
I did happen to record it, so I wanted to go ahead and, uh, get that question here on the podcast and we'll dive on in. So this is what she had to say honestly, and this probably will just come as time goes, but being able to hone in on how somebody is able to keep up with like a lower tone and then be able to like be able to oscillate between like the lower and the higher.
Basically what she's getting at is the different variations in, in your tone, in your pitch. And her big love is animation. It's video games, it's all the stuff that requires a little bit more atia, you know, the, the excitement, uh, the, the kids stuff. And like I said, it's all that animation. And when you're doing stuff like that, you do need to bring more the to the table.
Now what she's asking. What I can tell you just short answer is it comes in time, it comes in practice, it comes in skill development. But like, where do you start? And I, I think that the first thing that you always wanna do is like, well let's, let's go ahead and, and see how it's done. Let's see these people in action.
And, uh, I've used it as an example before, and I think it's a great example, movie from the nineties. I think anybody is familiarized with, and, and that happens to be Mrs. Doubtfire. You know, Robin Williams is such an integral part of the, the character work and, and what it takes to bring things to life. Uh, may he rest in peace, but the very beginning of that movie, it's Robin Williams in a studio.
Doing voiceover for animation. And he goes from being like a mouse to a cat, to a like, it's like a Tom and Jerry situation, I believe, if I'm remembering it correctly. And that man is just, I mean, he was so masterful. He was just so magical to watch because he did it seamlessly. And it seems like how, how am I ever gonna get there?
How did he get there? I'll tell you right now. You know what he did? He just went and he started doing it and, and that's, I think the most challenging thing for people is like. How, how can I just do it? I don't know where to start, but it's like you, you'll never know where to start. It's kind of like going into a hoarder's house and not knowing where to start cleaning.
It's like you just start with what's in front of you. Like just, just dive on in. It's all gonna be gross. Uh, you know, but in this case, you just. Just start doing, you know, even if it's trying to emulate somebody else at first, if you wanna do animation and you wanna have those different variations in, in quality and, and tonality and, and just like the pitch of the character, being able, because listen, sometimes you're watching cartoons and that one character is not staying all the way up here the whole time.
They might get really mad and they're down here. You know, it's like you've gotta be able to work with your voice. To be able to, to go ahead and, and give these, these characters life, uh, you know, and, and personality. And it's, it's something that seems like it's going to be a lot easier than it actually is, you know?
And so you go and you start to do it because even if you do, like, I would even challenge you as I have before, it's like, take out your smartphone, pull up the voice memo app. Try to try to be a character, right. Press record and try to be a character. And what is gonna happen is you're gonna listen back and you're gonna be like, wow, that, that didn't sound like I thought it was gonna, uh, you know, and maybe in a lot of cases it might might sound kinda like Big Doll dud, uh, you know, and it's just because we think that we're giving a lot because it feels like we're giving a lot.
Then you listen back and it's like, wow, I didn't actually give all that much, did I? Uh, and, and that's always the, the trick, you know, for, for me as somebody who coaches and, and produces and directs, you know, I have to have a, a student get into a studio and, and when they wanna do work like this, I have to push and push and try to pull out of, uh, them what I can.
And I always try to get them to practice doing more, you know, be exaggerated and feel crazy, feel silly, because it's gonna make it a lot easier come like the time that you're getting into a studio session for, for me to make you feel even sillier, you know? So go ahead and, and, and try, but you've just gotta start.
And. It's always the scariest thing, right? Uh, just being here in general might be scary, starting something new, but start starting something new that makes you do something that's like a little outside the norm and a little outside the comfort level. You know, but a lot of people get worried that they're gonna be judged or, or whatever.
Laughed at what, like, Hey, we're here to, to kind of be the monkey we're here to, uh, to entertain. We're here to be laughed at and laughed with and just enjoy the time. If you are having a blast being a character, you're probably doing a pretty good job. You know, it's like the easiest way I can put it. Uh, so.
Coming to, to put those variations together, it is gonna take some, some care, you know, in, in developing skills, uh, to, to get yourself there. It is also gonna take you, uh, protecting your, your voice in itself and, and giving yourself that opportunity to, you know, whether it's. Just doing, you know, vocal warmups or, um, making sure that you're highly lubricated and, and, you know, keeping, keeping hydrated and all those things.
You wanna do all the best things for your voice because the, the, the better that you keep it, the better it's going to be and, and the more it can do and for longer, right? Not just in a session. But in life. So take care of your voice, keep working at it, and you know, go and, and just watch these videos of these actors that are in studio, not just famous actors that you know the name, but like the actual voice actors behind, you know, any of these animated characters that you love that maybe.
You know, the character name, but they're kind of in the background and like, they're not the one, they're not like the big one on the, the marquee. You know, you gotta gotta get to know those people too, because they are the ones that are bringing to life these, um, cartoons and video games more than than anybody.
Um, so watch, learn, do, repeat, um, and just, just keep plugging away, you know? 'cause it's, you're gonna keep getting better and better. And, uh, the less scared that you become and the more confident you become. You're about to soar, I'm telling you. So, uh, you know, keep at it. If characters are where you wanna go and, and having those.
Why variations in, in tonalities and pitch in in all of it is where you wanna be having those beautiful extremes to bring characters to life, then get yourself there. But it starts today and it starts with practice, and it starts with doing and listening and all of it, just like anything in voiceover.
But even more importantly, it's like, uh, chugging a Red Bull before you do it so you can understand the, the real energy and the animation that needs to get into it so you can have those wings that it gives you. Right. Uh, but we've got a brand new episode of Voice Coaches Radio coming at you next week, so if you've got a question or anything you want me to tackle.
[email protected], M-A-R-I-S-S [email protected] and uh, have a great weekend. Stay safe everybody.
Visit voice coaches.com for more voiceover news and information.
Or I don't know. I mean, there's so many different types of voiceover. Whatever has brought you right here in this moment, hanging out with me. Thank you. Uh, you know, uh, I was about to say, I'm sorry. Uh, but I, I think I say that a little bit too much, but I know it's just, uh, it's easy to downplay myself and, uh, I, I just hope that you're getting something from each and every episode that you're able to take away and, and allow you to kind of, you know, spread your wings and keep growing and, you know, just, uh, getting better and better every single day when it comes to the crazy world of voiceover.
And there's so many things that do bring different people here. You know, I wanted to just entertain. I just wanted to have. Fun. It wasn't even necessarily the fact that I wanted to, uh, use my voice in any kind of way. I just wanted to be in the entertainment field and, and radio was the first thing that caught my eye.
Or ear depending. Uh, and, and I just kinda ran with it, you know, radio brings commercials, brings everything else. And um, you know, as the years went on, it's like, here we go. We got podcasting, we've got audio books, but not just like books on tape, books on everything, right? Like, it's like you can take it in your pocket now, which is really cool.
Um, so it's been a, a beautiful transition over time. And I'm just glad that I can be a part of it. I'm glad that you can be a part of it here with us. Um, you know, I had a student earlier in the week and she had her first class. And it was funny 'cause I remember Laura was telling me, Hey, um, we've got a brand new student.
I'm putting her with you. She's so excited. She tunes into the podcast and she happens to also be named Marissa. And uh, I was like, oh, well there's few and far between those named Marissa. So like, let's go ahead, uh, yeah, get her to me. And she's like, so much fun. She's so bubbly and so energetic. But she had a question in class.
I did happen to record it, so I wanted to go ahead and, uh, get that question here on the podcast and we'll dive on in. So this is what she had to say honestly, and this probably will just come as time goes, but being able to hone in on how somebody is able to keep up with like a lower tone and then be able to like be able to oscillate between like the lower and the higher.
Basically what she's getting at is the different variations in, in your tone, in your pitch. And her big love is animation. It's video games, it's all the stuff that requires a little bit more atia, you know, the, the excitement, uh, the, the kids stuff. And like I said, it's all that animation. And when you're doing stuff like that, you do need to bring more the to the table.
Now what she's asking. What I can tell you just short answer is it comes in time, it comes in practice, it comes in skill development. But like, where do you start? And I, I think that the first thing that you always wanna do is like, well let's, let's go ahead and, and see how it's done. Let's see these people in action.
And, uh, I've used it as an example before, and I think it's a great example, movie from the nineties. I think anybody is familiarized with, and, and that happens to be Mrs. Doubtfire. You know, Robin Williams is such an integral part of the, the character work and, and what it takes to bring things to life. Uh, may he rest in peace, but the very beginning of that movie, it's Robin Williams in a studio.
Doing voiceover for animation. And he goes from being like a mouse to a cat, to a like, it's like a Tom and Jerry situation, I believe, if I'm remembering it correctly. And that man is just, I mean, he was so masterful. He was just so magical to watch because he did it seamlessly. And it seems like how, how am I ever gonna get there?
How did he get there? I'll tell you right now. You know what he did? He just went and he started doing it and, and that's, I think the most challenging thing for people is like. How, how can I just do it? I don't know where to start, but it's like you, you'll never know where to start. It's kind of like going into a hoarder's house and not knowing where to start cleaning.
It's like you just start with what's in front of you. Like just, just dive on in. It's all gonna be gross. Uh, you know, but in this case, you just. Just start doing, you know, even if it's trying to emulate somebody else at first, if you wanna do animation and you wanna have those different variations in, in quality and, and tonality and, and just like the pitch of the character, being able, because listen, sometimes you're watching cartoons and that one character is not staying all the way up here the whole time.
They might get really mad and they're down here. You know, it's like you've gotta be able to work with your voice. To be able to, to go ahead and, and give these, these characters life, uh, you know, and, and personality. And it's, it's something that seems like it's going to be a lot easier than it actually is, you know?
And so you go and you start to do it because even if you do, like, I would even challenge you as I have before, it's like, take out your smartphone, pull up the voice memo app. Try to try to be a character, right. Press record and try to be a character. And what is gonna happen is you're gonna listen back and you're gonna be like, wow, that, that didn't sound like I thought it was gonna, uh, you know, and maybe in a lot of cases it might might sound kinda like Big Doll dud, uh, you know, and it's just because we think that we're giving a lot because it feels like we're giving a lot.
Then you listen back and it's like, wow, I didn't actually give all that much, did I? Uh, and, and that's always the, the trick, you know, for, for me as somebody who coaches and, and produces and directs, you know, I have to have a, a student get into a studio and, and when they wanna do work like this, I have to push and push and try to pull out of, uh, them what I can.
And I always try to get them to practice doing more, you know, be exaggerated and feel crazy, feel silly, because it's gonna make it a lot easier come like the time that you're getting into a studio session for, for me to make you feel even sillier, you know? So go ahead and, and, and try, but you've just gotta start.
And. It's always the scariest thing, right? Uh, just being here in general might be scary, starting something new, but start starting something new that makes you do something that's like a little outside the norm and a little outside the comfort level. You know, but a lot of people get worried that they're gonna be judged or, or whatever.
Laughed at what, like, Hey, we're here to, to kind of be the monkey we're here to, uh, to entertain. We're here to be laughed at and laughed with and just enjoy the time. If you are having a blast being a character, you're probably doing a pretty good job. You know, it's like the easiest way I can put it. Uh, so.
Coming to, to put those variations together, it is gonna take some, some care, you know, in, in developing skills, uh, to, to get yourself there. It is also gonna take you, uh, protecting your, your voice in itself and, and giving yourself that opportunity to, you know, whether it's. Just doing, you know, vocal warmups or, um, making sure that you're highly lubricated and, and, you know, keeping, keeping hydrated and all those things.
You wanna do all the best things for your voice because the, the, the better that you keep it, the better it's going to be and, and the more it can do and for longer, right? Not just in a session. But in life. So take care of your voice, keep working at it, and you know, go and, and just watch these videos of these actors that are in studio, not just famous actors that you know the name, but like the actual voice actors behind, you know, any of these animated characters that you love that maybe.
You know, the character name, but they're kind of in the background and like, they're not the one, they're not like the big one on the, the marquee. You know, you gotta gotta get to know those people too, because they are the ones that are bringing to life these, um, cartoons and video games more than than anybody.
Um, so watch, learn, do, repeat, um, and just, just keep plugging away, you know? 'cause it's, you're gonna keep getting better and better. And, uh, the less scared that you become and the more confident you become. You're about to soar, I'm telling you. So, uh, you know, keep at it. If characters are where you wanna go and, and having those.
Why variations in, in tonalities and pitch in in all of it is where you wanna be having those beautiful extremes to bring characters to life, then get yourself there. But it starts today and it starts with practice, and it starts with doing and listening and all of it, just like anything in voiceover.
But even more importantly, it's like, uh, chugging a Red Bull before you do it so you can understand the, the real energy and the animation that needs to get into it so you can have those wings that it gives you. Right. Uh, but we've got a brand new episode of Voice Coaches Radio coming at you next week, so if you've got a question or anything you want me to tackle.
[email protected], M-A-R-I-S-S [email protected] and uh, have a great weekend. Stay safe everybody.
Visit voice coaches.com for more voiceover news and information.
This week Marissa dives into a student question on animation and character work and how to grow into the variations one needs.
