How do I prepare for a long voiceover script?

Finally, as a voice actor you get the script and you realise its long. Really really loooooonnnnnggg! When a script is this long how do you use your voiceover skills to ensure you get through it all?

Many times scripts are written for visual effect rather than audio - we can always tell when this is the case. It means that sight reading and plenty of breaths are the key to get your through it all. Then there are scripts that keep on going and going and going with no punctuation in sight.

• Learn how to breathe: Why is it important in the voice over world?  We need to breathe to give us enough breath to get through those tricky sentences/paragraphs so that the sentences make sense and it doesn't become too breathy. There are many exercises that you can practice so you can achieve optimum breathing capacity for narration. You need to do diaphragm exercises daily to keep it in top condition, because like anything if you do not use your diaphragm properly on a daily basis then your muscles will lose their ability. You need to breathe deep down, not just short breaths but deep breaths feel those lungs fill up. Try not to lift the shoulders but focus on your belly expanding moving in and out. Count up to 5 breathing in  then let the air slowly out, then 10 etc doing this for a good few minutes if you find it helpful focus on a spot on the wall. When you are in the booth remember your exercises and when you come across those tricky sentences use those muscles in your diaphragm. They will get you through.

• Twist your tongue: Whilst you are in the booth or before you go into the booth, make sure that the voice is properly warmed up too. Use tongue twisters- our favourite of course is about fish "Fresh fried fish, fish fresh fried, fried fish fresh, fish fried fresh." Give your mouth a good work out and stretch it out by making exaggerated smiles that make you grin like the Joker. 

• Read the script: Before you go in the booth, sit down, digest and understand what you are trying to say, who you are talking/selling too. Find the important words you need to highlight in your script and underline them and mark the pauses.  It is your time so use it wisely. Settle down make sure you have water available and don't rush through the script and if there are words you don't know how to say or understand ASK. RELAX, take a deep breath and away you go. MOST OF ALL ENJOY. Because if you are enjoying reading it out loud your audience will. And that could make a voiceover artist out of you yet.

How do I write a Voiceover Script?

Despite it being hotter than Hades out there and in here currently, Big Fish Media, The UK’s premier Voiceover Agency, has been busy working on some very fun audio projects.

The team have been schooled in copywriting over the years and over the past few months we have been working with clients old and new on refreshing and reworking their content.

With over 2000 voiceovers on our books we have worked on all sorts of audio projects. All of our voices are hand picked and put through their paces. They are experienced, professional and able to take direction. This month we took on some new clients who loved our voices and how conversational they are.

We’ve been busy writing scripts as well as tweaking clients copy. Does your script for your video animation need to be written? Or does your next TV Commercial need to be voiced and produced? Over the years we have written content and providing the voice actor to that audio production.

We have picked up a few copywriting tricks over the decades working with content. Take a look at the list we have;

1.        The Rule of three – The holy Trinity of all content. The trio concept always emphasis a point and hammers home facts. 
2.         Kiss – Keep it short and simple, yes it is that simple. Long and over-complicated sentences cause audiences to turn off and let their minds wander away from your brand, product or service.
3.        Cut, cut, cut – content always ends up being too long. Less is always more. Be ruthless and understand that the narration is an indication and not a lecture. 
4.        Audience – who is the content for? It makes a difference to language and words when you need to communicate a brand/product or service to a young audience vs an older audience.
5.       CTA – Call to Action – Every script needs to have a call to action to bring it all together and ensure that the target audience does exactly that…take action.

Our voice talent have decades of experience reading copy for voiceover recordings. They are highly trained and know how to deliver lines to suit the copy's needs. Please get in touch with us when you need your own voiceovers.