The name says it all: voice acting.
The microphone is important. Your voice is important. But neither one replaces acting.
Character Comes First
Every line has a person behind it.
Before worrying about how I sound, I want to know who I’m playing and what they want.
A line can be delivered ten different ways depending on the character’s intention.
Don’t Sound Like a Voice Actor
New performers sometimes think professional voice-over has a particular sound.
It doesn’t.
A commercial may need to sound conversational. A video-game character may need to feel exhausted or terrified. An animated character might be completely exaggerated.
The performance determines the sound—not the other way around.
Check out my commercial voice-over page to hear this approach in action across different types of reads.
Intention Changes Everything
If I change what the character wants, the same words can suddenly mean something completely different.
That’s why simply reading the words correctly isn’t enough.
The audience needs to hear the thought behind them.
Directability Matters
Professional acting is collaborative.
A director may want more energy, less energy, more vulnerability, less attitude, or a completely different interpretation.
The ability to adjust without losing the character is essential.
Your Voice Is the Instrument
Think of your voice as an instrument.
An instrument can be beautiful, but the musician still needs to know how to play it.
The same is true here.
Develop the acting. Learn the instrument. Then use both together.
If you want the full story on how I got started, check out my blog on how to become a voice actor.
