We’re in the middle of the summer: peak season for beaches, barbecues, block parties, and binge watching. But pause the leisure activities for a few minutes and let’s take (summer) stock of our voiceover career and remind ourselves of some voiceover basics that will last long after the summer ends.
DRINK WATER
I know I am a broken record, but last week I spent two days casting a voiceover for some fun radio spots and I stopped a handful of actors (some Tony-nominated ones, too) mid-audition to remind them to drink, drink, drink. You should always bring your water bottle into the recording booth, but please remember to drink before your audition as well. I have a very discerning ear and can hear a dry mouth two seconds into your audition.
WARM UP BEFORE
Please remember to do all those vocal warm-ups and tongue twisters before you show up for the audition. There’s a reason your parents spent all that money on acting classes when you were younger and why you’re still in acting class now. You need to keep those fun phrases at the tip of your tongue so you are fully warmed up before your audition.
DICTION
Practice reading the cereal box ingredients out loud every morning, or read the front page of the New York Times out loud to your roommate. It’s a great way to warm up and make sure your words are clear, coherent, and easy to understand, and you’ll stay up to date with the current (sad and scary) news of our world.
COME EARLY
You should do everything in your power to come early to every single audition you get. When you arrive, sign in and check to see if the copy is out and available to read before you go into the room. Grab the copy and find a seat. Now is your time to read the lines to yourself and get familiar with the script. What is the product? What are the most important words to emphasize in your reads? Ask yourself those basic questions. Remember, this time in the waiting room is not the time to do your vocal warm-ups or practice reading out loud.
DRINK MORE WATER!
These are simple tips but I’ve seen even the most savvy and experienced voiceover artists stumble from time to time when they don’t remember to drink or warm up. Take your voiceover auditions as seriously as you would any other audition. Even though you didn’t have to apply makeup for this one or worry about what to wear, the stakes are very high and the pressure to give a great audition is still the same.
Jen Rudin is an award-winning casting director and author of “Confessions of a Casting Director: Help Actors Land Any Role with Secrets from Inside the Audition Room.” Backstage recently named Jen one of the top 23 Los Angeles–based casting directors to follow on Twitter. Visit www.jenrudin.com and follow @RudinJen.
Ready to pur your warm-up skills to the test? Check out our voiceover audition listings! And for more pre-audition vocal advice, watch the video below:
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