By Sally Clawson
I feel confident that I can write this statement: you are passionate about something in your life. Whether it’s wine tasting, omelet making, physical fitness, or guitar playing. There are things that you do without hesitation or second thought, and perhaps brazenly and boldly. Your passion gives you expertise in that “thing”. And because of this expertise, you know what it's like to feel certain, right, effective and powerful. However, when faced with recording a voice over audition, these feelings of certainty and power may dwindle because the nerves and fear have taken over.
Here is a suggestion on how to harness those feelings of boldness and effectiveness and use them while in the booth.
Talk out loud for a full minute about something that you are passionate about before recording a script. The one thing that you know more about than most people. The thing that you geek out about. By speaking about your passion for a full minute, it puts you in a mode where you feel great passion and enthusiasm about something you know and care about. So that when you begin speaking the words from the script, the feelings of passion and enthusiasm are still present and palpable.
And to maintain the feelings of expertise throughout the presentation, write a “trigger phrase” about your “thing” at the top of your script, so that it can act as a reminder of your ardor. For example, if your passion is cooking, write down the secret ingredient that makes your signature dish so special.
This exercise substitutes your fear, hesitation, and insecurity with feelings of personal knowledge and power. It will also help you deliver your audition with authentic interest, excitement, and eagerness. So try it! Speak out loud about your passion for a full minute before recording your audition. And write a trigger phrase about it at the top of your script. Reassure and remind yourself that you got this. You know how to do this. It’s your “thing”.
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