(After all, We Are Creatives!)
Are you prepping for your next video project and planning to work with a male voice over actor? When you hire voice over talent, it’s best to follow the age-old Boy Scout motto:
Be prepared.
Sometimes, working with creative types can be an interesting endeavor—to say the least. You’re focused on logistics, budget, branding and storytelling, and your voice over actor is thinking about adding their own “secret sauce” to the mix, which means you’re approaching the project from two very different perspectives. You might run into some roadblocks and challenges if you aren’t able to find common ground.
Hiring a pro vo to create a one-of-a-kind project for you is all about one thing: collaboration. You’ve got to establish a shared language.
So how can you ensure you and your voice over artist are speaking the same language?
Here’s how to crack the code:
The Inevitable Idiosyncrasies of Professional Voice Actors
Professional voice over actors are just that: actors. And let’s face it, creative types are never boring.
Working with a creative, engaged, seasoned, creative, you’ll find that they’ll quickly adapt to your character and bring thier words to life. If you’re looking for a different twist, this is where a seasoned pro really shines and can add value and nuance to your project. The primary goal is to provide you with a stellar final product that stands out from the crowd!
Perhaps you’re looking for a unique twist for your TV or Radio commercial and somehow you just haven’t heard it yet. A veteran can always replicate the staus quo, or take the read to the next level. Some of their ideas will be fun, exciting and even effervescent. AND, some of those ideas might end up sounding flat-out crazy! Don’t be discouraged. This fast-and-furious brainstorming energy is all part of the creative process for a voice over actor. If your working with a VO pro to discover a character, just know, it’s essential to toss out all kinds of ideas and see what sticks—and what doesn’t. Remember to have fun! Voice over actors who come to “play ball” will devour the specs for your latest project and work with you to come up with a refined, personalized final product, but it might look like organized (or not-so-organized) chaos until everyone arrives at the right solution. But guaranteed, together, it will happen!
The key here? Don’t panic while in the creative matrix!
Remember you’re working with a trained professional. Sometimes the easiest way to approach this collaboration is to share the problem you’re having instead of offering a solution. You might have a great idea to solve a problem, but a professional voice actor might be able to come up with an even better solution!
Guiding (and Taming!) the Voice Artist
Creative types don’t just require clear information about what you need from them—they crave it.
Sharing vital logistics for your project, things like specs, direction, deadlines and communication styles with your talent will ensure a quality usable product you can be proud of. Whether working on corporate explainer videos, elearning, or ad campaigns, providing straightforward information upfront is the best way to “wrangle” an artistic mind that tends to wander in search of the next great creative choice.
Without guidance and a clear understanding of what it is you need at the beginning, you may find that creative types stray a bit too far from the path(but perhaps return with some real genius)! Of course, you want a vibrant, dynamic and bold finished product—but all in the service of the story you are trying to tell.
So how do you find that perfect balance between letting voice over actors do their thing without spiraling out of control into an overly creative frenzy? How do you harness this energy?
● Describe the feeling you are going for. Voice-over actors are hyper-focused on the emotional journey. Do you want the project to be upbeat and cheery or heartfelt and compassionate? Let the actor know what you need. You may want to provide them with a music track to accompany or inspire the performance to really set the tone.
● Share the purpose of your voice-over project. What is the goal of your video? Voice over artists spend years cultivating their craft to maximize engagement with your audience. Tell your voice actor who they are speaking to and in what capacity to ensure you get better results.
● Share a sample. Perhaps reference a famous actor. If you’re struggling to come up with the right descriptors for the mood and tone of your project, you can always share a comparable project or record your own scratch track to help give your voice over actor an idea of what you need. Or ask for a free custom audition! (LINK to REQUEST AUDITION PAGE)
It’s also crucial to share your timeline with your voice over artist and keep open paths of communication to get your project finished just the way you need it and on time.
Trust Your Professional Voice Actor to Make Your Work Shine
Now, it’s time to let go and allow the actor to create.
In other words? Don’t be afraid to hand the script over to your trusted voice over talent and let them do what they do best. They’ll absorb your ideas, then take the ball—or the script—and run with it. Chances are, you’ll be delightfully surprised with how they will enhance the narrative with a new twist, turn or unexpected flavor.
The bottom line here? Like all creatives, professional voice over artists might seem a little … eccentric. But their process, their quirks and their exuberance all exist in service of a quality final product you’re bound to love!
If you’re in search of a professional male voice actor who comes ready to collaborate, brings energy, authenticity and positivity to each brainstorming session and project he records from his very own home studio, Alex Herring is your go-to guy.
Whether you need an authoritative voice, an approachable, conversational tone, or something totally off the beaten path for your TV or Radio commercial, corporate training module or elearning project, Alex pairs his extensive creative side with unparalleled professionalism to make collaboration a breeze.
Ready to jump in with both feet and work with a creative who will add to your creative process? Contact Alex today.