I talk fast.
I always have. I guess it’s because I assume whomever I’m talking to will get bored so I gotta get everything in before they wander off.
Unfortunately, that habit has carried over to my voiceover career. I have to make a conscious effort to slow down almost every time I step up to the mic.
I mention this because last week at a recording session one of my fellow talents needed to leave as soon as possible to get to another engagement. There was a rotating cast of talent there that day and we were happy to accommodate. She was allowed to record her scripts first and I was in some of them.
Since she was in a hurry, she was rushing. I have worked with her a number of times and noticed she made a lot more mistakes than she usually does. A lot.
She stumbled through it and got the hell out of there. I could tell she was a bit frustrated and maybe even embarrassed. We’ve all been there before so it was no big deal.
It reminded me of when I narrated my first audio book. I sucked. I sucked not just because I didn’t know what the hell I was doing, I sucked because I was talking so damn fast.
Since this was my first audio book and it was for a major publisher, I wanted to make a good impression by being efficient. We had 500 pages to get through in five days and I was terrified to not get it in on time. I made a bunch of mistakes which made me go even faster since I thought I was wasting time by making mistakes. A vicious cycle, indeed.
As a result of talking at a breakneck pace, we did it in four days and I was all impressed with myself but I didn’t do a good job. Needless to say, they never brought me in to narrate another audio book. I don’t blame them.
TIP OF THE WEEK
Fast does not equal good.
I have learned that if I take my time, I make less mistakes. By slowing down I’m honoring the words, the characters, and the story. I’m acting better and I’m listening better.
If you find yourself speeding up or you’re in a hurry to get to the next whatever; breathe, smile, and relax. You’ll screw up less, do a better job, and finish just as quickly.
NEWS AND NOTES!
VOAtlanta (March 4-6) is getting closer! There are a few slots left in my XSession: The Voiceover Business And How To Act Like One. Also, I will be moderating an audio book panel featuring Scott Brick. Go to www.VOAtlanta.me to register.
I will be a guest of the Voice Over Body Shop! Tune in to www.VOBS.tv on Monday, February 15th @9PM EST. We’ll talk about social media and marketing tips. If you have a question you’d like me to answer during the show, email it to theguys@nullvobs.tv. I hope to see you there!
Check me out lookin’ all fashionable in my killer Agent 1.22 t-shirt! You can get it in a variety of colors & sizes from our Cafe Press store: http://www.cafepress.com/agent122
HAPPY HAPPYS!
Happy Lost Penny Day and Make a Friend Day!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
From my village to yours; this is Tom Dheere, GKN News…
Tom Dheere is a 20-year veteran of the voice over industry who has narrated thousands of projects for clients in over a dozen countries. He is also a coach at Edge Studio, voiceover business consultant known as the Voice Over Strategist, and is currently writing & producing the comic book “Agent 1.22”.
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