How to Prep for Voiceover Auditions
When it comes to voiceover auditions there are certain tips needed to succeed. Now that the audition room for many is your home, the time to get it right is plenty. Acting is an art in itself and VO work is no different. That is why it is so crucial to know what is needed when audition prepping for VO. Read below for the best tips and tricks on how to prep for voiceover auditions. The path to success starts here.
Review the script Read the script over a number of times to get familiar with it and to highlight anything tricky to pronounce or say in a string of words. If you don’t know any words, look them up. If you don’t know how to pronounce them, look it up. There’s nothing worse than saying a city or a product name that you’re not familiar with incorrectly. While they can correct you in the audition, imagine how good it will look when you nail it on the first go! Consider the clues. What clues has the client or writer given you about the character, product, or piece? If it’s a character, there are hints embedded in the script that can help you like the way they’re likely to talk, the way they’ve been raised, etc. It’s all in the words. If it’s a commercial or corporate piece, it’s all about the product. How are you going to make that product or service look like it’s the greatest thing that has ever been offered? Make that product sound amazing, but don’t become too presenter-y or sales-y unless they want that sort of read. Pay attention to read style. This brings us to the delivery. Often the client will be very specific about what they want to hear at that audition. They know how to best sell their product or service because they live and breathe it every day. By practicing beforehand using their notes, you can be ready with a few versions to offer them in your actual live audition. Just be prepared to let go of these and mix it up if they have any feedback or want a completely different read and vocal delivery.
Pre-audition practice. Speaking of practice, if you take the time to do a few test runs, reading the script out loud as if you were in the studio, you’re prepping your body and voice properly and you’re indirectly making that first read in the booth much easier for yourself. Pre-auditioning gets you ready for the real thing and means when you go into the booth, your body will remember and feel like it’s already done this. Remember the first time you did anything and how you were as nervous as hell? Well, this is your chance to reduce those nerves by practicing first.
Listen to your practice audition. It’s a good idea to listen back to what you’ve practiced. Does it sound like you want it to? Adjust and re-record if you must. Just don’t do it so many times that the script becomes over-rehearsed.
What not to drink. Don’t drink any alcohol the night before and avoid coffee or tea until after your audition. Alcohol is a big no-no if you want your voice to be youthful, clear, and not husky. Coffee, on the other hand, acts as a diarrheic, can dry out your vocal cords, and stimulate mucus production. Try and drink only fruit teas if you really want tea and drink plenty of room temperature water. Remember, water doesn’t work 10 minutes before casting so the same applies for at home auditions. You need to be drinking regularly up to three or four hours ahead of the actual audition so you’re sufficiently hydrated.
Now that you know what to do to prepare, here’s what to do once you’re at the audition.
Breathe and relax.
You’ve prepped. You’ve got this! You’re recording for a huge audition because your voice is one that they think would be perfect. Remember to breathe. If you get all choked up, you won’t be useful to anyone.
Comments