VO tip for the day!

Happy New Year!  We're off and running here at the ChopShop in Valley Village, CA.  Yesterday, I recorded tracks for my 4th demo of January 2016-- a wonderful new talent named Kara Andrews-- and I thought I'd share something that happened.  During the session, I asked Kara to give me an "a, b, and c" of a particular line in the commercial script we were working on. You know what that means, right?  Say the line three times in a row with just a small pause between each delivery.  Well, it also means say the line differently each time.  In fact, this is usually why a producer is asking for an "a, b, and c" in the first place.  Yet often times our natural inclination is to say the line a certain way the first time, and then say it essentially the same way the second and third time.  WE ALL DO IT!  WHY!?  Well, even us grizzled veterans of VO occasionally space out and forget our training.  But when I pointed it out to Kara, she said, "Oh man, you're right!  I think I was trying to perfect it the second and third time."  And I knew exactly what she meant.  I do the same thing when I'm auditioning, and have spent 22 years trying to rid myself of this bad habit.  We talked it over and agreed the lesson to be learned is-- Don't be afraid to fall flat on your face with your "b" read (the second time you say the line.)  Changing "b" just for the sake of making it sound nothing like "a" will break the mold you've established, and often times help you create a completely different yet equally brilliant "c" read.  Don't think about, just do it.  Don't plan your "a,b,c", just concentrate on making them as unique as possible.  Sure, you'll drop some stinkers.  But it's worth it if it means giving your reads the magic of spontaneity.  Even in a session, a producer will forgive your unlistenable "b" read if they get lightening in a bottle on "a" and "c." Trust yourself.  Surprise yourself.  Live the VO vida loca! :-)