Voice Over Artist | Lindsay Abbott

Posts Tagged ‘Blog’

Lindsay Abbott’s Voice Over Audio Boos!

I’ve just launched my own Audio Boos section on this website, which you can download and listen to as audio files. The first set of Audio Boos are an audio version (in 3 parts) of my recent blog post Becoming a Voice Over Artist: It’s Easy – ‘innit?! .

Blog update: Many thanks to Philbegnett.com for being my top referrer!

I am currently working in collaboration with Phil Begnett of WTV Media for Voice-Over services on a range of online videos and information supplements.

Sometimes it works better for the business owner/employees to present themselves on camera and/or voice their own internet video, depending upon the product or service they offer, and the aim of the piece in question. However, many people have never done this kind of thing before and are unsure as to how to present themselves both physically and vocally.

Utilise your voice to its fullest potential

This is where we can help to provide one-to-one coaching to bring out the best in them, and offer tips to improve their vocal tone and quality as necessary. Most people do not know how to utilise their voices to their fullest extent and think that they are stuck with what they have; when in fact, with a little help, the majority can improve considerably. The tools are there, we just need to bring them out and dust them off, as some of them may never have been used before! In the same way, so many people tell me that they can’t sing. However, whilst this is true for a minority, the rest have just been conditioned to believe that they can’t, which can be attributed to background and upbringing, and geographical origin, as well as confidence.

‘Centre’ your voice

What I come across most of all is where people speak from their throat rather than their diaphragm. This tends to result in a rather thin sound, which is unstable as it’s not supported from what I call the ‘centre’, ‘root’ or diaphragm. This, in turn, can make people sound as if they lack confidence, or straining their voices. So, how do you obtain that ‘centred’ sound? Stand up straight, feet slightly apart, hands by your sides. Make sure your feet are firmly on the ground. Take a deep breath in and use an exclamation that you tend to use when you’re angry – it’s usually something like ‘Huh!’ Using anger is brilliant, as it is a base emotion and we instinctively are better able to use a more gutteral sound. Notice that, when you do this, you are more likely to be using your diaphragm, and you should actually feel that ‘Huh!’ resonating through your body right from your feet upwards. This effect is what we call using a ‘centred’ voice. Your vocal tone will sound more definite and meaningful, and you should find that people are more likely to take you seriously. It’s not the content of what you are saying, it’s how you sound which will determine the message you are trying to convey.

Watch this space as I report back on the exciting projects that we’ll be collaborating together on…