Voice Over Artist | Lindsay Abbott

Posts Tagged ‘cambridge video companies’

Only recently, I was speaking to someone in business, and they made an assumption that using a voice over artist is an expensive matter. This perception had never crossed my mind before, so I thought it worth setting the record straight, as it may be more cost-effective than you think!

Of course, if you’re a celebrity voice, or one of those well-known voices you’ve heard before but rarely see (such as Peter Dickson aka The X-Factor), then you’ll be paying a lot more!

Back to reality… The rest of us usually charge an hourly rate which is generally based on our expertise and experience. As an Equity member I do use their rates as a guideline but I tailor it to suit the type of service (and its intended usage) I’m asked to provide.

Cost-benefit in time saving and added credibility!

Cost is usually dependent upon the number of words, and how much time it is likely to record and edit the piece. The more experienced we are, the less time the voice over is likely to take, so there is great cost-benefit to be had by using a good voice over artist who is experienced in providing voice overs for companies.

As an aside, on more than one occasion I’ve been asked to step in and record a professional voice over following an attempt on behalf of the company concerned to do it ‘in house’. In those instances, by not using a professional they have wasted valuable time, possibly lost some business and, worse, credibility if the product or service has gone ‘live’.

Example: Costs for web video voice overs

For example, voicing a short web video on behalf of a company, whether a sole trader, SME , or large blue-chip corporate can be done at relatively low cost, from as little as £40 to about £250. My corporate showreel will give you some examples of voice overs I have provided in this area. These are all extracts from real voice overs I have done, not made up!

Own studio reduces client cost still further

With the benefit of having my own studio facilities, rather than using a separate studio, this can help to reduce client costs still further. As voice overs, we liaise directly with your video service provider.

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…