VC Radio
Voice Coaches Radio #678 – The Effective Read
Here we go back at it on a Friday. My name is Marissa and welcome to another episode, another edition of Voice Coaches Radio, if you will. And, uh, hopefully you're feeling good. You know, I will go ahead and, and say Happy national, uh, pet day. You know, if you've got some fur kids, please make sure that they get extra hugs and smooches, especially for me 'cause I'm such a pet lover.
Anybody that listens to this podcast unfortunately knows that, um, you know, I can't help, you know, I, I've got so many in this house. And. Losing penny back in the fall was like the worst thing ever. It's still, it's sometimes I've got my bad days, I will admit. Um, and it's, it's hard to talk about her for too long, so I'm not gonna, instead I'm going to just think about all of the lovely snuggles from some of these fur babies that are just the most beautiful thing.
Uh, they really are like the greatest piece of joy because you get nothing but like. Unconditional love in the purest of ways. So yeah, again, hug your fur kids for me. Give 'em a little extra treat or something. Okay. Um, I don't know what you got going on this weekend. I know we're like a week away from Easter, so maybe not doing a whole lot of traveling just yet if you do to get to some various families or whatever.
Uh, I am doing traveling this weekend. I am going to a Celtics event in Boston, just like a quick turnaround and come back sort of scenario tomorrow. And some might think like, that's ridiculous. You're gonna do what? It's like six hours round trip maybe. Um, yeah, I'm crazy and I don't care. Like I used to do that trip all the time.
So it really doesn't feel like much to me. And I'm such a Celtics fan that when I saw this event coming up, I'm like, I gotta go. I just, I gotta, uh, and it's like this whole fan fest thing. They're having it over at Fan U Hall. You may know, know it more as, as Quincy Market. Uh, Quincy Market. Um, and there's like.
The hang time with like four of the players. Not like the big stars, but just like, you know, if you're a fan, you're a fan, you know, and I'm just excited to, to hang out with these guys and, you know, get the photo op and, uh, the, the signed stuff for my studio and just a, a cool moment. So like, you know, kind of like a once in a lifetime ish sort of thing.
I'm, I'm like, yeah, let's go. I'm, I'm in for it. So I spent my money, I hit the road tomorrow morning, I'll be back by like, you know, mid evening and, uh. And then it's like a nice little weekend getaway for a hot second. But hopefully you've got some good plans and you're ready and just excited. Um, some nice weather hopefully starting to happen for you as well, depending on where you're listening from.
We're trying desperately to get it here. It's just not sticking with us yet. Not yet anyway, but um. You know, as we continue and the season's changing, uh, I know you might be like a little bit more allergic to things and that could be causing some problems and some reads that you're doing and oh boy, have I been there?
Uh, you know, there's so many ways to, to help in those aspects, but, uh, you know, we've, we've done many episode on, uh, how to go ahead and keep yourself in tip top shape and, and listening to your own body. But, you know, I wanna do, I wanna talk about like, effective reads today. 'cause I, I think it's one of those things that.
As, as I've said before, you know, I've been doing this a really long time and, and I just go in and I just do, and sometimes it's really easy to forget what is causing what I'm doing to be effective, if that makes sense. Because like. I do, it's, it's like when you hop on a bike and you haven't done it in a while, but you still know how to do it.
Like I get in a studio and I just do it, and I don't really think about what I'm doing. I just do it. It's kind of like my everyday conversation in, in general. But when you're just starting out. Man, is that challenging? And I understand that. So there's a number of things that you wanna go ahead and start doing to just make sure that you can have an effective read.
It might not be something that happens immediately, because let's face it, all of us think we're fantastic at reading out loud at first. Guess what the truth is, a lot of us suck at it. Uh, it's just, it's the, the God's honest truth, you know, because. We think we do it more often than we actually do, and then when we go to do it, we don't realize the tricks that our eyes love to play on us.
So first and foremost, you've gotta get more comfortable with it. So site rating is a huge, huge piece to this puzzle that, I mean, when I've got students that start with me, I, I mean, somebody else might be a little bit more specific in what they want them to do. I'm always just like, dude, pick up anything.
Everything and just read. It could be the back of the cereal box. I don't care. Pretend you're a kid and you're, you know, at. The ditch, like the kitchen table on a Saturday morning and you flip that box around while you're eating your cereal, like, read it but read it out loud. Um, you know, it's like, it could be a book, it could be, I don't know, there's a lot of angry Facebook posts out there.
I'm sure you could find something to read and then it's getting you to play around a little bit with some, some moods. Um, but it's the site rating that's key because the more that you do with that. The better you're going to get at it, you know, the less your eyes are gonna be like adding words or taking words away, the more comfortable you're gonna be in general.
And that way it could be literally like anything that's put in front of you and you'll be able to do it nice and smooth. It could be work you don't even wanna do, but all of a sudden you're doing it and you're getting paid for it because you can do it well. Uh, you know what I mean? So it's like you're training your eyes and your mouth to just work together in the best of ways.
So do that site rating. Do it often and switch up the material so that way you can go ahead and you can, you know, just kind of, um, broaden the horizon if, if you will. Now to go along with that site. Reading's important. The other part of this that isn't really important is like understanding the material that you're reading if you don't understand it.
You're probably gonna sound like you're a little confused that you're not understanding it. So, you know, it's, it's just good. Even if you can get the, the Cliff's Notes version of something to understand if it is a longer form project exactly what the tone of something is supposed to be, then it's gonna set you up for success.
But just make sure that, you know, you're able to do the reading nice and smooth and that you understand what you are reading. Um, and what I've always found too. Is just making sure that your mouth is open. Uh, that sounds dumb. Uh, you know, when I just said it out loud, it, it felt dumb coming out, but I know that I'm not wrong.
Like, the articulation of everything is, is vital. Um, now there's a happy medium to this because you don't wanna be too articulate. Because then your teas are gonna be too crisp, and it's gonna sound kind of like you're a little bit too proper, if you will. Like you've went to some sort of etiquette school and, uh, I don't know, you own a yacht or, or, or something.
I, I don't know. But you need to still be able to talk like you, you know what I mean? Uh, so it's, it's articulation to an extent. You just wanna make sure that you're able to. You know, get everything out so it's not muffled. Um, so articulating is, is really important. Being expressive is important. You know, some people really, really hold back in the beginning until you realize how important it is to the story that you're trying to tell, or the, the item that you're trying to sell or the location that you're trying to paint the picture of, like.
Some people are scared to move around, you know? 'cause any sound that might happen, I'm literally moving around right now. I bet you couldn't tell. Uh, you know what I mean? If I, if I wasn't, we'd have a problem because then I'm not being the Italian that I am. Um, so, you know, you gotta be able to be you. You gotta like, loosen up a little bit and just go ahead, be expressive, do gestures, if that's what's gonna help you get to where you need to be.
Now, what people also. Don't really understand. Well, they, you understand it, but it's just, it's one of those things that can be very challenging because you don't necessarily feel it at first. Pacing is very important. Pacing is key because if something is very excitable. You know, it can be expressed throughout the pacing, but you also still don't wanna go too quick because somebody needs to grab hold of what you're saying, you know?
And you don't wanna go too slow because then things are also gonna be kind of, almost feeling of like robotic, but. Think about what's happening in whatever it is that you're reading as an example. You know, I had a student earlier and what we had was like a very dramatic story that was building a little bit of suspense.
You know what helps building suspense? I. It's elongated pauses and you know, leaning into some of the description and really kind of getting in and whispering a little bit more. And you're, you're painting a picture and somebody needs to be able to envision what you're saying and feel. The build you're pacing is gonna help.
So. It's one of those things, you just gotta kind of really work with it. That's where it's like you wanna record and you wanna listen back because that is where you're really gonna know the difference that it makes, and if it's having the impact that you want it to have and. The, the last thing that I can have you go ahead and really just understand how important this is, uh, to throw in here into the mix is, is just relax.
Oh God, I know it's hard at first because you just wanna do well, you wanna be successful, you want to go ahead and knock it outta the park. You can't knock it outta the park if you're stiff as heck. Uh, you know what I mean? So you've got to just take a nice, big, deep breath. Don't let this be a bolder that you're holding of like, oh my God, I, I gotta do it.
Well, and on the first go, let yourself let loose and enjoy the process. The more that you enjoy it, the better everything is always going to be. And the way, the better everything is gonna sound and the better you're gonna feel. 'cause you're letting yourself enjoy the moment. And, and that's what it's really all about.
So. Hopefully these little things here are going to help If you're maybe trying to have a more effective read this weekend as you're going and doing some practice and whatnot, like start. Implementing some of these things, even if it's just at step one of reading out loud more. So you could be just smoother in the moment.
You know, one step at a time. This is how you get to where you need to be. And uh, you know, it's taken me a long time. Uh, you know, I mean, slight dyslexia and all. Uh, so if I can do it, you can do it. But it takes work, it takes practice, it takes time. And, uh, start making the time for it little by little and it will take you the distance.
But we've got another new episode of Voice Coaches Radio. It's heading at you next week. Um, you can always hit me up at [email protected]. I get a lot of spam there. I would love to get some questions. So [email protected] and, uh, again, brand new episode is coming at you next week. Stay safe, everybody.
Anybody that listens to this podcast unfortunately knows that, um, you know, I can't help, you know, I, I've got so many in this house. And. Losing penny back in the fall was like the worst thing ever. It's still, it's sometimes I've got my bad days, I will admit. Um, and it's, it's hard to talk about her for too long, so I'm not gonna, instead I'm going to just think about all of the lovely snuggles from some of these fur babies that are just the most beautiful thing.
Uh, they really are like the greatest piece of joy because you get nothing but like. Unconditional love in the purest of ways. So yeah, again, hug your fur kids for me. Give 'em a little extra treat or something. Okay. Um, I don't know what you got going on this weekend. I know we're like a week away from Easter, so maybe not doing a whole lot of traveling just yet if you do to get to some various families or whatever.
Uh, I am doing traveling this weekend. I am going to a Celtics event in Boston, just like a quick turnaround and come back sort of scenario tomorrow. And some might think like, that's ridiculous. You're gonna do what? It's like six hours round trip maybe. Um, yeah, I'm crazy and I don't care. Like I used to do that trip all the time.
So it really doesn't feel like much to me. And I'm such a Celtics fan that when I saw this event coming up, I'm like, I gotta go. I just, I gotta, uh, and it's like this whole fan fest thing. They're having it over at Fan U Hall. You may know, know it more as, as Quincy Market. Uh, Quincy Market. Um, and there's like.
The hang time with like four of the players. Not like the big stars, but just like, you know, if you're a fan, you're a fan, you know, and I'm just excited to, to hang out with these guys and, you know, get the photo op and, uh, the, the signed stuff for my studio and just a, a cool moment. So like, you know, kind of like a once in a lifetime ish sort of thing.
I'm, I'm like, yeah, let's go. I'm, I'm in for it. So I spent my money, I hit the road tomorrow morning, I'll be back by like, you know, mid evening and, uh. And then it's like a nice little weekend getaway for a hot second. But hopefully you've got some good plans and you're ready and just excited. Um, some nice weather hopefully starting to happen for you as well, depending on where you're listening from.
We're trying desperately to get it here. It's just not sticking with us yet. Not yet anyway, but um. You know, as we continue and the season's changing, uh, I know you might be like a little bit more allergic to things and that could be causing some problems and some reads that you're doing and oh boy, have I been there?
Uh, you know, there's so many ways to, to help in those aspects, but, uh, you know, we've, we've done many episode on, uh, how to go ahead and keep yourself in tip top shape and, and listening to your own body. But, you know, I wanna do, I wanna talk about like, effective reads today. 'cause I, I think it's one of those things that.
As, as I've said before, you know, I've been doing this a really long time and, and I just go in and I just do, and sometimes it's really easy to forget what is causing what I'm doing to be effective, if that makes sense. Because like. I do, it's, it's like when you hop on a bike and you haven't done it in a while, but you still know how to do it.
Like I get in a studio and I just do it, and I don't really think about what I'm doing. I just do it. It's kind of like my everyday conversation in, in general. But when you're just starting out. Man, is that challenging? And I understand that. So there's a number of things that you wanna go ahead and start doing to just make sure that you can have an effective read.
It might not be something that happens immediately, because let's face it, all of us think we're fantastic at reading out loud at first. Guess what the truth is, a lot of us suck at it. Uh, it's just, it's the, the God's honest truth, you know, because. We think we do it more often than we actually do, and then when we go to do it, we don't realize the tricks that our eyes love to play on us.
So first and foremost, you've gotta get more comfortable with it. So site rating is a huge, huge piece to this puzzle that, I mean, when I've got students that start with me, I, I mean, somebody else might be a little bit more specific in what they want them to do. I'm always just like, dude, pick up anything.
Everything and just read. It could be the back of the cereal box. I don't care. Pretend you're a kid and you're, you know, at. The ditch, like the kitchen table on a Saturday morning and you flip that box around while you're eating your cereal, like, read it but read it out loud. Um, you know, it's like, it could be a book, it could be, I don't know, there's a lot of angry Facebook posts out there.
I'm sure you could find something to read and then it's getting you to play around a little bit with some, some moods. Um, but it's the site rating that's key because the more that you do with that. The better you're going to get at it, you know, the less your eyes are gonna be like adding words or taking words away, the more comfortable you're gonna be in general.
And that way it could be literally like anything that's put in front of you and you'll be able to do it nice and smooth. It could be work you don't even wanna do, but all of a sudden you're doing it and you're getting paid for it because you can do it well. Uh, you know what I mean? So it's like you're training your eyes and your mouth to just work together in the best of ways.
So do that site rating. Do it often and switch up the material so that way you can go ahead and you can, you know, just kind of, um, broaden the horizon if, if you will. Now to go along with that site. Reading's important. The other part of this that isn't really important is like understanding the material that you're reading if you don't understand it.
You're probably gonna sound like you're a little confused that you're not understanding it. So, you know, it's, it's just good. Even if you can get the, the Cliff's Notes version of something to understand if it is a longer form project exactly what the tone of something is supposed to be, then it's gonna set you up for success.
But just make sure that, you know, you're able to do the reading nice and smooth and that you understand what you are reading. Um, and what I've always found too. Is just making sure that your mouth is open. Uh, that sounds dumb. Uh, you know, when I just said it out loud, it, it felt dumb coming out, but I know that I'm not wrong.
Like, the articulation of everything is, is vital. Um, now there's a happy medium to this because you don't wanna be too articulate. Because then your teas are gonna be too crisp, and it's gonna sound kind of like you're a little bit too proper, if you will. Like you've went to some sort of etiquette school and, uh, I don't know, you own a yacht or, or, or something.
I, I don't know. But you need to still be able to talk like you, you know what I mean? Uh, so it's, it's articulation to an extent. You just wanna make sure that you're able to. You know, get everything out so it's not muffled. Um, so articulating is, is really important. Being expressive is important. You know, some people really, really hold back in the beginning until you realize how important it is to the story that you're trying to tell, or the, the item that you're trying to sell or the location that you're trying to paint the picture of, like.
Some people are scared to move around, you know? 'cause any sound that might happen, I'm literally moving around right now. I bet you couldn't tell. Uh, you know what I mean? If I, if I wasn't, we'd have a problem because then I'm not being the Italian that I am. Um, so, you know, you gotta be able to be you. You gotta like, loosen up a little bit and just go ahead, be expressive, do gestures, if that's what's gonna help you get to where you need to be.
Now, what people also. Don't really understand. Well, they, you understand it, but it's just, it's one of those things that can be very challenging because you don't necessarily feel it at first. Pacing is very important. Pacing is key because if something is very excitable. You know, it can be expressed throughout the pacing, but you also still don't wanna go too quick because somebody needs to grab hold of what you're saying, you know?
And you don't wanna go too slow because then things are also gonna be kind of, almost feeling of like robotic, but. Think about what's happening in whatever it is that you're reading as an example. You know, I had a student earlier and what we had was like a very dramatic story that was building a little bit of suspense.
You know what helps building suspense? I. It's elongated pauses and you know, leaning into some of the description and really kind of getting in and whispering a little bit more. And you're, you're painting a picture and somebody needs to be able to envision what you're saying and feel. The build you're pacing is gonna help.
So. It's one of those things, you just gotta kind of really work with it. That's where it's like you wanna record and you wanna listen back because that is where you're really gonna know the difference that it makes, and if it's having the impact that you want it to have and. The, the last thing that I can have you go ahead and really just understand how important this is, uh, to throw in here into the mix is, is just relax.
Oh God, I know it's hard at first because you just wanna do well, you wanna be successful, you want to go ahead and knock it outta the park. You can't knock it outta the park if you're stiff as heck. Uh, you know what I mean? So you've got to just take a nice, big, deep breath. Don't let this be a bolder that you're holding of like, oh my God, I, I gotta do it.
Well, and on the first go, let yourself let loose and enjoy the process. The more that you enjoy it, the better everything is always going to be. And the way, the better everything is gonna sound and the better you're gonna feel. 'cause you're letting yourself enjoy the moment. And, and that's what it's really all about.
So. Hopefully these little things here are going to help If you're maybe trying to have a more effective read this weekend as you're going and doing some practice and whatnot, like start. Implementing some of these things, even if it's just at step one of reading out loud more. So you could be just smoother in the moment.
You know, one step at a time. This is how you get to where you need to be. And uh, you know, it's taken me a long time. Uh, you know, I mean, slight dyslexia and all. Uh, so if I can do it, you can do it. But it takes work, it takes practice, it takes time. And, uh, start making the time for it little by little and it will take you the distance.
But we've got another new episode of Voice Coaches Radio. It's heading at you next week. Um, you can always hit me up at [email protected]. I get a lot of spam there. I would love to get some questions. So [email protected] and, uh, again, brand new episode is coming at you next week. Stay safe, everybody.
This week on Voice Coaches Radio, Marissa talks about what can be so easily forgotten about once you’re up and going and established….all the elements that it took to get you to perform an effective read.
