Tips to Improve Your Voice

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, your voice is not the biggest aspect of your job as a voice over artist.  Though marketing, accounting, and networking will claim far more of your time than you might guess initially, your voice is important.  You have to be good at all aspects of running a business, but your voice is your instrument, so you do have to take the time to care for it as well.

There are several things that you can do to improve your speaking voice, thereby making yourself more appealing to potential clients.  In this blog post, I will provide a few tips that will make you sound better in any recording.

Set Aside the Nerves I understand.  I really do.  It is always a bit nerve-racking to audition for a new job, to kick off a new project, or to face a very tight deadline.  Anxiety, though, is not your friend in this business. The more anxious you are feeling, the faster and higher your speech will be.  That can result in muddled sentences and a less attractive voice.  Always, always take the time to calm yourself, to “find your center”, and to settle into the routine of speaking into the mic.

Have Confidence in Your Voice You, for all intents and purposes, are now a salesman (or saleswoman).  Once you enter the voice over arena, you must be able to sell your product.  That product is your voice.  And, as will all salespeople, the first rule is to believe in your product, because if you don’t believe in it, no one else will.  So, be confident as you approach the mic, approach a new client, or approach a new project.  I assure you that the confidence will come through in your speech.

Care For Your Voice As I said above, your voice is your instrument.  You can be certain that musicians take the time to clean, restring, and repair their tools of the trade on a very regular basis.  The process might differ, but your instrument must be cared for as well. Practice breathing techniques to avoid gasping or hard breaths on tape.  Try not to shout, yell, or scream in your day-to-day life as this can strain your vocal chords and make it very difficult to do your job.  Get plenty of sleep, because the rest properly restores your voice for the next day.  Take the time to warm up before you start recording.  There are many vocal exercises that can prepare you for a long day of recording.
And make sure you're eating the right foods to maintain a healthy voice box. As well as staying away from foods that may cause throat or mouth problems... such as dairy, coffee, etc. Research foods that may affect your voice and determine which ones cause you problems. 

In short, be sure that you are taking care of your money maker, so that you can have confidence in it.  That will reduce your anxiety and help you sound great in every recording.