Do you use a grocery list when shopping? I certainly do. I can focus on filling my cart with essentials instead of potato chips.
Sometimes I end up walking the aisles, speaking the list out loud. Turns out this is a valuable tool that helps me, and can help you, strengthen your voice over performance.
When recording a voice over script, have you ever noticed that your energy and engagement dwindle at the ends of sentences? Maybe you begin to mumble and fade out. That’s caused from habits when reading aloud. We’ve been taught to vocally indicate that a sentence is ending by winding down our energy when we see the period approaching. In voice over, this deflates the impact of your message because your audience stops listening This habit also occurs at the ends of paragraphs, which is deadly in commercial work, since the client’s branding and tagline is always stated at the end.
Recite your grocery list out loud to help.
Try this sentence out loud: “I’m going to the store to buy butter.” That is a short, definitive sentence. Your energy and forward momentum stop after saying “butter” because that’s the end.
Now say this out loud: “I’m going to the store to buy butter, bread, eggs, milk…” Do you hear how you energetically lift each word into the next? And do you hear how each item stands out? Reciting a list pushes your energy forward because you know - and therefore sound like - there is more to come.
When speaking voice over text, and you come to the end of a sentence, vocally lift the last word like an item in the middle of your grocery list. This will not only strengthen the impact of your ideas, but also the listener will hear the vocal lift and will know that you have more to say. Leave your audience anticipating what comes next.
If you use a grocery list – rejoice! Practice strengthening your VO technique, which will build your confidence and bookings. And, perhaps, keep your cupboards full.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (January 13-19) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (January 6-12) and what's coming your way next week.
Don’t overlook these ten essential tasks for wrapping up the current year.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (December 16-22) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (December 9-15) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 25-December 1) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 18-24) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 11-17) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 4-10) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 28-November 3) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 21-27) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 14-20) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 7-13) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 30-October 6) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 23-29) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 16-22) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 9-15) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 3-8) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 26-September 1) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 19-25) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 12-18) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 5-11) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 29-August 4) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 22-28) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 15-21) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 8-14) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 1-7) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (June 24-30) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (June 17-23) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (June 10-16) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (June 3-9) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 28-June 3) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 20-26) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 13-19) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 6-12) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (April 29-May 5) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (April 22-28) and what's coming your way next week.
Check out this article from People Magazine to see if you can guess the actors behind iconic '90s and '00s cartoon characters!
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (April 15-21) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (April 8-14) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (April 1-7) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (March 25-31) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (March 18-24) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (March 11-17) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (March 4-10) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (February 26-March 3) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (February 19-26) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (February 12-18) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (February 5-11) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (January 29- February 4) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (January 22-28) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (January 15-21) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (January 8-14) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (January 2-7) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (December 11-17) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (December 4-10) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 20-26) and what's coming your way next week.
We wish you happiness, success, and good company this Thanksgiving
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 20-26) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 13-19) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 6-12) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 30-November 5) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 23-29) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 16-22) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 9-15) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 25-October 2) and what's coming your way next week.
Celebrating Hispanic Voice Actors for Hispanic Heritage Month
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 11-24) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 11-17) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 5-10) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 28-September 3) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 21-28) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 14-20) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 7-13) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 31-August 6) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 24-30) and what's coming your way next week.
What does the SAG-AFTRA strike mean for Voice Actors? NAVA shares a helpful resource.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 17-23) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 10-16) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 3-9) and what's coming your way next week.
Pedro Pascal, The Mandalorian, and Voiceover
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (June 26-July 2) and what's coming your way next week.
With 148 Character VO Emmy Award nominees, who stands out and why?
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (June 19-25) and what's coming your way next week.
Video game voice actors discuss Artificial Intelligence and its impact on Voiceover
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (June 12-18) and what's coming your way next week.
The story behind why Kayleigh McKee decided to become a voice actor.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (June 5-11) and what's coming your way next week.
How do voice actors protect themselves with the rise of AI?
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 30-June 4) and what's coming your way next week.
A deep dive with ZeniMax Online Studio’s VO Lead, Becky Ichnoski about how all of Tamriel’s characters get their voices!
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 22-28) and what's coming your way next week.
A hilarious social media handle has dedicated itself to narrating animals' inner monologues.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 15-21) and what's coming your way next week.
Celebrating AAPI Voice Actors for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 8-14) and what's coming your way next week.
If ad agencies are thinking about poetry, as voice actors we must also keep this top of mind.
