Kudos to you if you read this headline and immediately sang it to the tune of Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass.” I think it’s safe to say that Weird Al isn’t in danger of me becoming the king of song parodies.
In this one sentence I have gone from a pop culture reference to a throwback to the 80’s. At this point, you’re probably wondering, “What does this all have to do with voice overs and live announcing/hosting?”
It all comes down to trust. There are thousands of amazing voices in my profession. But what distinguishes great voice actors is how they build trust. When I think of some of the most effective, well-known voices out there — James Earl Jones (unless he is voicing Darth Vader), Morgan Freeman, and David Attenborough to name a few – I immediately get a sense of expertise, connection, and, most of all, trust.
When voicing a project, it is imperative that I understand the audience, that I can relate to them, and that I can create the kind of expert delivery that engenders a connection.
How do I do this? There are three key elements I always keep in mind:
- I am personable so that the audience feels like it can relate to me
- I make the audience feel like I’m conversing with them and not talking at them.
- I am my most genuine self.
If I don’t accomplish all these things, even if my voice sounds amazing, I will not be deemed trustworthy by the listener, and they will tune me out. Being a “people person” helps because I can easily put myself in other people’s shoes and know what type of delivery would feel authentic and relatable.