VC Radio
Voice Coaches Radio #674 – Kick It Up a Notch
Voice coaches, radio, everything voiceover. And away we go. A brand new episode of Voice Coaches Radio is here. My name is Marissa. And, uh, hope you're feeling good as we go ahead and get ready for another weekend. I'll admit, uh, as I am in the midst of recording this, I'm like having some mixed emotions. Uh, I'll, I'll admit this.
Um, it's been a really tough day for some of my friends in the radio industry. And this is what keeps happening. And I, I don't want anybody to think this is like. I mean, it is kind of the norm just across the board for a lot of jobs these days. But, um, you know, radio itself is incredibly just like a very volatile piece of this industry.
And, uh, this is not something that just happens all the time in voiceover. So that's where it's like, I don't want you to like panic by any means, but, um, you know, the one company that I do work for outta Boston, you know, the way I do things, uh, I'm a little safer. Uh, you know, I don't wanna jinx anything.
I'll, I'll knock on wood, but, um, you know, I've got a friend as an example. Worked for the radio station that I worked for there 24 years, full-time. Very successful. In fact, like the, the station, like we just won an award, uh, for like being the best type of station like that in the company. Um, you know, so it's a big deal.
Ratings are the highest they've ever been. She got caught after 24 years. Not for any other reason other than the fact that she was on during the workday. I mean, how dumb. Right. And my boss had called me and I swear, I mean, it sounded like he was about to cry, you know, because this is a team, you know, especially you're in a big market like that.
Like you're very, very intertwined like your life. Is not supposed to revolve around work, but when you work in an industry like this, it's kind of hard not for it to get intertwined if you're doing it right and, uh, you know, the, the people that you work with become family. And it's really, really hard after that many years to have to watch somebody leave and not be able to come back.
Um, you know, so just really, really sucks. But I'm also realizing that. Today is like that five year anniversary of when everything shut down. So it's just a weird day in general, I think, honestly, and I definitely don't wanna think about the pandemic. So moving forward, shall we? Uh, you know, this is one of those things that I've been doing a lot with students because we just added an extra class in the last like few months where we wanna make sure that people are.
As ready and prepared for demo day as we can. And what we do is we like the scripts that have been chosen, you know, they've most likely been practicing a little bit, and it's like they're kind of getting their feet wet with stuff and trying things out. Depending on what the pieces are, how can we enhance, how can we take them to the next level?
How can we make them. Pop to, to be where they should be and to get you to sound as as good as you can. And there are ways to do this. And you know, I'm, I, I guess like I never really, it, it's kind of like the last time that we spoke where there are things that I don't think about anymore really, because I've been doing this a long time.
And then when I see somebody that's just starting out and I say like, well, what did you think about it this way? And they're like, oh my God. I would've never thought to do that. I'm over here thinking like, well, why not? Uh, but it is because like, you know, you're new and you're green and you don't know to think about anything than what you're thinking about in that moment.
So I wanted to actually just kind of go through our script library a little bit with you, if that's okay. And just give you some examples of things that I've experienced with students and how I've gotten them to go ahead and just like. Not flip the script, but like just enhance it enough where they're taking a big step in the right direction.
So I mean, we could start with something just as simple as like, we'll say like a biographical piece. You know, one that a lot of people always favor, and I don't, I don't hate anybody for this, but it's Betty White, you know, who does not love or has loved Betty White. Um, you know, I feel like she was everybody's grandma there for a while.
Uh, but. Excuse me. You know when, when you look at a piece like this, right, we're not, we're not doing a biographical piece about somebody that was a prominent, like political figure and fought in war or something, you know what I mean? Like, it's not, it's not serious and like has to be really, you know, you know, very even kilt and whatever.
This is Betty freaking white. Um, so you gotta think about some of the things that come along with her. But, you know, a student will go ahead and they'll start this and they'll be like. Betty White became a household name with the success of popular sitcoms, the Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls.
But her career in television goes back almost as far as television itself, and it's like, alright, you know, for a first go at it, getting all the words out right. Pacing's probably. Okay. Still sounds a little bit weedy, but like we can work with that, you know? And things that I will immediately think to say is, is one, make sure that you're providing this information to somebody.
You know, that's always helpful. You know, you wanna have a conversation here, right? But you wanna go back to what I was getting at a moment ago. Who was Betty White? What was she doing? Like this is glitz and glam. This is Hollywood. This is red carpets, this is flashing cameras. This is energy. This is fun.
This is bright and vibrant, right? So if you are going to be thinking of all those things, what can you do to bring those elements that vibrancy to this piece? It's gonna be a nice big smile and it's gonna be, what I always say is just a little bit more animation. So like my favorite thing to do is just tell somebody, Hey.
Give me, give me more than you think you need to, because you're gonna end up probably being maybe, maybe about where I want you to be. You know, you might still be needing to gimme more, but you're gonna be in a much better place. And then all of a sudden what happens is. Betty White became a household name with the success of popular sitcoms, the Mary Tyler Moore Show and the Golden Girls.
But her career in television goes back almost as far as television itself. So it's like you go from, all right, you know, pacing's good. In other words, we're all coming out, right? It got the information there to, whoa, wait a minute, this, this fits a completely different vibe. This is like right where it needs to be, and it's something so small, right?
And that. That's with something that's just straightforward information. So that's just an example. Like you want to go ahead and maybe think of some of the things that are a little outside the box for you. And it's, it's a little challenging at first. I get that because again, this is new, so it's like you're just kind like trying to go ahead and get it outright and, and hope for the best.
And you know, this is just one of those extra things to kind of throw in the back of your brain. To make it, make, to, to make it make sense, and to make it happen. Um, let me see here. Do, do, do, do, do, do I wanna pick an audio book. And again, if you're a part of the Voice Coaches program, you have access to all these scripts, which is really, really helpful.
There's like a thousand or more within our library that, you know, you can go ahead and play around with this stuff. Um, you know what, what one was it? It was Maggie's Porch, I think. Yeah. Alright, so there's a couple ways to go about this one and like the, the beautiful backstory about this. I mean, I can tell you right off the bat for this, this is gonna be something that is like a romantic story.
You know, it's, it's set in the south on a nice summer day. So, you know, you can already think like there's some warmth there, you know, how are they in the south? I mean, they're a little slower sometimes, depending on the person. Uh, you know, so, I mean, these are things that I think of right away. But, you know, if I have a student who I did have recently who did this piece, it came out a little bit like it was a hot day in Timmons County.
In fact, Maggie was quite sure she couldn't recall a warmer afternoon and life had slowed down to accommodate. I mean, we're good. You know, it sounds upbeat, it sounds like I, you know, I'm paying attention, in other words, are all good. But, you know, audio books are an interesting little beast. They can be done a number of ways, you know, things that I like to think about.
It's like, all right. Maybe this isn't my story, but I was there, I experienced this. So now I'm bumping into a friend and be like, oh my God, you're not gonna believe what happened when I was over at Maggie's the other day. And then they, I just start telling this story. I just paint my picture. You know? So that's just one way to kind of think outside the box, right.
But just like I was saying before, we already hear right in the beginning, it's a hot summer day in Timon County. You know, that's a great description. And you know what it's like if you've ever been on vacation, maybe you've been in Florida or something. Like, you know what a hot summer day in the South is like, I mean, whew.
It is humid, right? And you are just sweating your butt off. The sun is bright, you get to be bright. It's the south. You get to take your time, you know, and, and put yourself there. You know, this is a long dirt road of a driveway, and you're just on the porch. So all of a sudden, and if you're, you know, if you're so inclined, throw a little accent in there.
You know, if you can do it, do it because it's just gonna fit the vibe even more, right? So all of a sudden, this could be like, it was a hot summer day in Tim County, in fact. Maggie was quite sure she couldn't recall a warmer afternoon and laugh had slowed down to accommodate. You know, it's the same thing that I had done a moment ago, right?
But all of a sudden you are painting a picture, you're fitting a vibe, you're putting yourself there, you're putting your listener there, and it's bringing it all together. You know, as this goes on, the soft crunch of tires on gravel. Pulled her out of the lazy hay she slipped into while fanning herself and rocking on the porch.
You know, it's like all of a sudden you're there. You're seeing this car slowly come down that gravel driveway and you can picture Maggie, you know, you can see that fan and you, you can picture this scene just because we've seen movies like this. You know what I mean? So put yourself there. Think of all the things that are involved in the story and what can I do?
To bring that to life. Sometimes it really isn't a whole lot, you know, all I did without the accent is, is really just slow down and paint this picture. You know? I bring a smile, I add warmth, and all of a sudden things are coming to life, you know, and that's just with an adult book. Let's move over to some children's stuff real quick, right?
Because. I love this one. I'm gonna use this. I'm probably picking all the pieces that I had for my student the other day, but she was like killing them. Um, and Patty, if you're listening, shout out to you. Uh, but, uh, Hansel and Gretel, the trial, you know, the kids, kids things are that much more challenging because people get scared to be like over the top and, and dramatic or like just wildly animated.
But I've used the example before. Go back to Mrs. Doubtfire, watch the very beginning, at the very least of Robin Williams in a studio doing the voice of the animation that, you know, he, he, because he was a voice actor and like, it's just you are watching him and it looks like he's going crazy, but like, he is so, so good.
Uh, I mean, Marc, may he rest in peace. Um, so you've got this piece where, what it comes down to is you've got the, um, the, the, the witch in this Hansel and Gretel story. Is on trial, she's in court. She's basically defending herself and she's trying to explain to the, uh, the judge, you know, exactly what went down and.
This is where you need to portray the character. Some people come in and they're just gonna be themselves, you know? And they might be like, that's right, your Honor. Those two kids burned my house down. Right? I was lucky to escape with my life after they pushed me in the oven. And it's like, all right. I mean, that can work.
Sure, but, but this is a kid's piece. What do kids love? Kids love kids are kids are. Incredibly overdramatic, and they're over the top, and they're always full of energy, right? So you're gonna wanna be just like that to keep the retention. Not only that, but you're a wicked witch. We've seen enough Disney movies.
We can kind of understand what's happening here, you know, and, and, and like what this voice maybe should sound like and what we, we can't be scared to sound like so. This is where I'm like, listen, you're gonna feel silly. You're gonna feel ridiculous, and you're just gonna have to be okay with it. The more you do it, the easier it gets.
So you already heard what I went through that first time just being me trying to do it, and even then I was still holding back. But what if all of a sudden you really try to embody the character? You think of what you know and you try to implement, right? This is where mimicking can really go a long way.
All of a sudden it's like, that's right, your Honor. Those two kids burned my house down. Why? I was lucky to escape with my life after they pushed me into the oven. I mean, can you imagine Here I am minding my own business in my house made of candy when these two come along and start literally eating me out of house and home.
Sorry, I was really getting into it there for a second. That's why I gave you more. Um, but, uh, you know, there's a wild difference, right? So you've got to not hold back. You are who can change things completely with any given piece. Just go for it. The, the worst that can happen is somebody's gonna be like, you know what?
That was great. I'm gonna pull you back a little bit. Or they're gonna give you direction to allow you to continue to sound better and better and better. Um, so, so don't be. Don't be too scared. Um, you know, and get ready to spread your wings so you can fly. But these are just some examples. They're small examples too, of how you can really start to enhance your work.
And right from the beginning, it really does just kind of take yourself, you know, that one little step outside of the box that you've been thinking, you know, and, and just. See what's waiting on the other side. But if you got a topic here that you want discussed on the pod, then just hit me up [email protected].
[email protected] for a new episode is coming at you next week. Stay safe everybody. Visit voice coaches.com for more voiceover news and information.
Um, it's been a really tough day for some of my friends in the radio industry. And this is what keeps happening. And I, I don't want anybody to think this is like. I mean, it is kind of the norm just across the board for a lot of jobs these days. But, um, you know, radio itself is incredibly just like a very volatile piece of this industry.
And, uh, this is not something that just happens all the time in voiceover. So that's where it's like, I don't want you to like panic by any means, but, um, you know, the one company that I do work for outta Boston, you know, the way I do things, uh, I'm a little safer. Uh, you know, I don't wanna jinx anything.
I'll, I'll knock on wood, but, um, you know, I've got a friend as an example. Worked for the radio station that I worked for there 24 years, full-time. Very successful. In fact, like the, the station, like we just won an award, uh, for like being the best type of station like that in the company. Um, you know, so it's a big deal.
Ratings are the highest they've ever been. She got caught after 24 years. Not for any other reason other than the fact that she was on during the workday. I mean, how dumb. Right. And my boss had called me and I swear, I mean, it sounded like he was about to cry, you know, because this is a team, you know, especially you're in a big market like that.
Like you're very, very intertwined like your life. Is not supposed to revolve around work, but when you work in an industry like this, it's kind of hard not for it to get intertwined if you're doing it right and, uh, you know, the, the people that you work with become family. And it's really, really hard after that many years to have to watch somebody leave and not be able to come back.
Um, you know, so just really, really sucks. But I'm also realizing that. Today is like that five year anniversary of when everything shut down. So it's just a weird day in general, I think, honestly, and I definitely don't wanna think about the pandemic. So moving forward, shall we? Uh, you know, this is one of those things that I've been doing a lot with students because we just added an extra class in the last like few months where we wanna make sure that people are.
As ready and prepared for demo day as we can. And what we do is we like the scripts that have been chosen, you know, they've most likely been practicing a little bit, and it's like they're kind of getting their feet wet with stuff and trying things out. Depending on what the pieces are, how can we enhance, how can we take them to the next level?
How can we make them. Pop to, to be where they should be and to get you to sound as as good as you can. And there are ways to do this. And you know, I'm, I, I guess like I never really, it, it's kind of like the last time that we spoke where there are things that I don't think about anymore really, because I've been doing this a long time.
And then when I see somebody that's just starting out and I say like, well, what did you think about it this way? And they're like, oh my God. I would've never thought to do that. I'm over here thinking like, well, why not? Uh, but it is because like, you know, you're new and you're green and you don't know to think about anything than what you're thinking about in that moment.
So I wanted to actually just kind of go through our script library a little bit with you, if that's okay. And just give you some examples of things that I've experienced with students and how I've gotten them to go ahead and just like. Not flip the script, but like just enhance it enough where they're taking a big step in the right direction.
So I mean, we could start with something just as simple as like, we'll say like a biographical piece. You know, one that a lot of people always favor, and I don't, I don't hate anybody for this, but it's Betty White, you know, who does not love or has loved Betty White. Um, you know, I feel like she was everybody's grandma there for a while.
Uh, but. Excuse me. You know when, when you look at a piece like this, right, we're not, we're not doing a biographical piece about somebody that was a prominent, like political figure and fought in war or something, you know what I mean? Like, it's not, it's not serious and like has to be really, you know, you know, very even kilt and whatever.
This is Betty freaking white. Um, so you gotta think about some of the things that come along with her. But, you know, a student will go ahead and they'll start this and they'll be like. Betty White became a household name with the success of popular sitcoms, the Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls.
But her career in television goes back almost as far as television itself, and it's like, alright, you know, for a first go at it, getting all the words out right. Pacing's probably. Okay. Still sounds a little bit weedy, but like we can work with that, you know? And things that I will immediately think to say is, is one, make sure that you're providing this information to somebody.
You know, that's always helpful. You know, you wanna have a conversation here, right? But you wanna go back to what I was getting at a moment ago. Who was Betty White? What was she doing? Like this is glitz and glam. This is Hollywood. This is red carpets, this is flashing cameras. This is energy. This is fun.
This is bright and vibrant, right? So if you are going to be thinking of all those things, what can you do to bring those elements that vibrancy to this piece? It's gonna be a nice big smile and it's gonna be, what I always say is just a little bit more animation. So like my favorite thing to do is just tell somebody, Hey.
Give me, give me more than you think you need to, because you're gonna end up probably being maybe, maybe about where I want you to be. You know, you might still be needing to gimme more, but you're gonna be in a much better place. And then all of a sudden what happens is. Betty White became a household name with the success of popular sitcoms, the Mary Tyler Moore Show and the Golden Girls.
But her career in television goes back almost as far as television itself. So it's like you go from, all right, you know, pacing's good. In other words, we're all coming out, right? It got the information there to, whoa, wait a minute, this, this fits a completely different vibe. This is like right where it needs to be, and it's something so small, right?
And that. That's with something that's just straightforward information. So that's just an example. Like you want to go ahead and maybe think of some of the things that are a little outside the box for you. And it's, it's a little challenging at first. I get that because again, this is new, so it's like you're just kind like trying to go ahead and get it outright and, and hope for the best.
And you know, this is just one of those extra things to kind of throw in the back of your brain. To make it, make, to, to make it make sense, and to make it happen. Um, let me see here. Do, do, do, do, do, do I wanna pick an audio book. And again, if you're a part of the Voice Coaches program, you have access to all these scripts, which is really, really helpful.
There's like a thousand or more within our library that, you know, you can go ahead and play around with this stuff. Um, you know what, what one was it? It was Maggie's Porch, I think. Yeah. Alright, so there's a couple ways to go about this one and like the, the beautiful backstory about this. I mean, I can tell you right off the bat for this, this is gonna be something that is like a romantic story.
You know, it's, it's set in the south on a nice summer day. So, you know, you can already think like there's some warmth there, you know, how are they in the south? I mean, they're a little slower sometimes, depending on the person. Uh, you know, so, I mean, these are things that I think of right away. But, you know, if I have a student who I did have recently who did this piece, it came out a little bit like it was a hot day in Timmons County.
In fact, Maggie was quite sure she couldn't recall a warmer afternoon and life had slowed down to accommodate. I mean, we're good. You know, it sounds upbeat, it sounds like I, you know, I'm paying attention, in other words, are all good. But, you know, audio books are an interesting little beast. They can be done a number of ways, you know, things that I like to think about.
It's like, all right. Maybe this isn't my story, but I was there, I experienced this. So now I'm bumping into a friend and be like, oh my God, you're not gonna believe what happened when I was over at Maggie's the other day. And then they, I just start telling this story. I just paint my picture. You know? So that's just one way to kind of think outside the box, right.
But just like I was saying before, we already hear right in the beginning, it's a hot summer day in Timon County. You know, that's a great description. And you know what it's like if you've ever been on vacation, maybe you've been in Florida or something. Like, you know what a hot summer day in the South is like, I mean, whew.
It is humid, right? And you are just sweating your butt off. The sun is bright, you get to be bright. It's the south. You get to take your time, you know, and, and put yourself there. You know, this is a long dirt road of a driveway, and you're just on the porch. So all of a sudden, and if you're, you know, if you're so inclined, throw a little accent in there.
You know, if you can do it, do it because it's just gonna fit the vibe even more, right? So all of a sudden, this could be like, it was a hot summer day in Tim County, in fact. Maggie was quite sure she couldn't recall a warmer afternoon and laugh had slowed down to accommodate. You know, it's the same thing that I had done a moment ago, right?
But all of a sudden you are painting a picture, you're fitting a vibe, you're putting yourself there, you're putting your listener there, and it's bringing it all together. You know, as this goes on, the soft crunch of tires on gravel. Pulled her out of the lazy hay she slipped into while fanning herself and rocking on the porch.
You know, it's like all of a sudden you're there. You're seeing this car slowly come down that gravel driveway and you can picture Maggie, you know, you can see that fan and you, you can picture this scene just because we've seen movies like this. You know what I mean? So put yourself there. Think of all the things that are involved in the story and what can I do?
To bring that to life. Sometimes it really isn't a whole lot, you know, all I did without the accent is, is really just slow down and paint this picture. You know? I bring a smile, I add warmth, and all of a sudden things are coming to life, you know, and that's just with an adult book. Let's move over to some children's stuff real quick, right?
Because. I love this one. I'm gonna use this. I'm probably picking all the pieces that I had for my student the other day, but she was like killing them. Um, and Patty, if you're listening, shout out to you. Uh, but, uh, Hansel and Gretel, the trial, you know, the kids, kids things are that much more challenging because people get scared to be like over the top and, and dramatic or like just wildly animated.
But I've used the example before. Go back to Mrs. Doubtfire, watch the very beginning, at the very least of Robin Williams in a studio doing the voice of the animation that, you know, he, he, because he was a voice actor and like, it's just you are watching him and it looks like he's going crazy, but like, he is so, so good.
Uh, I mean, Marc, may he rest in peace. Um, so you've got this piece where, what it comes down to is you've got the, um, the, the, the witch in this Hansel and Gretel story. Is on trial, she's in court. She's basically defending herself and she's trying to explain to the, uh, the judge, you know, exactly what went down and.
This is where you need to portray the character. Some people come in and they're just gonna be themselves, you know? And they might be like, that's right, your Honor. Those two kids burned my house down. Right? I was lucky to escape with my life after they pushed me in the oven. And it's like, all right. I mean, that can work.
Sure, but, but this is a kid's piece. What do kids love? Kids love kids are kids are. Incredibly overdramatic, and they're over the top, and they're always full of energy, right? So you're gonna wanna be just like that to keep the retention. Not only that, but you're a wicked witch. We've seen enough Disney movies.
We can kind of understand what's happening here, you know, and, and, and like what this voice maybe should sound like and what we, we can't be scared to sound like so. This is where I'm like, listen, you're gonna feel silly. You're gonna feel ridiculous, and you're just gonna have to be okay with it. The more you do it, the easier it gets.
So you already heard what I went through that first time just being me trying to do it, and even then I was still holding back. But what if all of a sudden you really try to embody the character? You think of what you know and you try to implement, right? This is where mimicking can really go a long way.
All of a sudden it's like, that's right, your Honor. Those two kids burned my house down. Why? I was lucky to escape with my life after they pushed me into the oven. I mean, can you imagine Here I am minding my own business in my house made of candy when these two come along and start literally eating me out of house and home.
Sorry, I was really getting into it there for a second. That's why I gave you more. Um, but, uh, you know, there's a wild difference, right? So you've got to not hold back. You are who can change things completely with any given piece. Just go for it. The, the worst that can happen is somebody's gonna be like, you know what?
That was great. I'm gonna pull you back a little bit. Or they're gonna give you direction to allow you to continue to sound better and better and better. Um, so, so don't be. Don't be too scared. Um, you know, and get ready to spread your wings so you can fly. But these are just some examples. They're small examples too, of how you can really start to enhance your work.
And right from the beginning, it really does just kind of take yourself, you know, that one little step outside of the box that you've been thinking, you know, and, and just. See what's waiting on the other side. But if you got a topic here that you want discussed on the pod, then just hit me up [email protected].
[email protected] for a new episode is coming at you next week. Stay safe everybody. Visit voice coaches.com for more voiceover news and information.
This week on Voice Coaches Radio, Marissa talks about the importance of giving more than you think you need to at the beginning…it just might surprise you at what you’re capable of.
