The voiceover industry can be a difficult one. You have many voice over talents to compete with, and that can lead to feeling defeated. Luckily, there is something you can do about it. You can improve your skills, so you can rise above many of the others trying to get the same jobs as you. The following are some of the most important skills you should try to improve.
Voice Clarity
Voice over talents must be able to articulate well. People need to understand what is being said in the voice that the project manager requires. It’s important to have the perfect balance though. Over articulating is just as undesirable as under articulating.
Minimal Mouth Noise
When speaking, some people have mouth noise. This includes smacking of the lips, clicks, and natural stops for swallowing. It’s possible to improve this by drinking enough water, swishing with mouthwash, or using a throat spray. It’s also possible to limit mouth noise by just paying attention to it and trying to avoid it.
Consistent Voice
There’s a rhythm that voice over talents have to master to be successful. This rhythm has to do with the volume, energy, and pacing. Different voices should sound natural, not forced. When the voice is consistent, it appears natural.
Cold Reading
You’re given a script and you’re told to read it. That’s what cold reading is, and you should work on making it perfect. People want to see what you can do without practice because after you practice you’ll be much better. If you can show people how good you are the first time, they will be ready to be impressed after you can review it a few times.
Being Able to Convince People
People need to believe you know what you’re talking about even if you have no idea about what you’re talking about. That’s the convincing skill you need to work on. It’s your voice that sells, and when people believe you have knowledge or authority simply by the sound of your voice, you end up getting the job.
Start working on these skills today. You may not master them in one day, but if you focus on each one until you get them up to the quality you desire, you’ll be able to see you’ll have more success in the voice over industry. Let me know if you need any help with improving the skills mentioned here. I enjoy helping voice over talents improve their skills!