Recording Auditions in Your Home

The good news for so many of us in this profession is that we can do a large portion of the work from our own homes these days.  The bad news is that that often means that we are creating audition recordings without any sort of coaching or direction.  That puts a little more pressure on you to carefully consider what the client will want and to create a very clean recording to show off your skill.  Here are a few things that you should do to improve your chances of making a good impression every time:

Take Time to Prep Yourself Warm up vocal exercises may sound a bit ridiculous when listening in on someone else, but there is a good reason that actors, actresses, singers, and yes… voiceover artists do them.  Warming up your voice, stretching, and, in general, taking time to prepare yourself before stepping into the recording booth can really make a big difference.

Limit the Recording Time I can be tempting to try to complete a large project or, in this case, several audition tapes all at once.  However, this isn’t always a good idea.  Your voice can wear out, as can your motivation, if you spend too much time in the studio each day.  So, limit the time you will spend recording, and take breaks as they are needed, especially to keep hydrated.

Read First, Record Later Above all else, be sure that you are familiar with the script before you start recording.  Read through it, at least once, before you take to the microphone.  This is your chance to check pronunciation and to determine the approach you will take. You may even want to record notes to yourself in the margins.

Be Your Own Harshest Critic Don’t send an audition recording off if you are not pleased with it.  How can you possibly sell something that you don’t believe in?

Label and Cover Be sure that you have carefully read through the submission instructions, so you know how to label your audition recording.  Every casting director will have slightly different expectations.  Not following those rules can result in your losing the job before your voice has even been heard.  You should also include a cover letter, unless it has been stipulated that you not do so.