I've been in the field of voiceover since the last century, and I am continually puzzled when voice talent is considered as the last element of a media project. Often I've observed that voiceover is not the icing on the cake; it is not even the candles. Voiceover is the match no one can find just as everything is ready, and the client is awaiting the cake presentation. "Who has a match? Did somebody bring matches? Who is going to read this script?"
Stop and think for a moment about the importance and influence of the human voice. It has been called the most versatile instrument on earth. We respond to the human voice before we are born. We can recognize and identify the subtleties of hundreds of different voices. Even if we have not heard a person's voice for years, a voice can jog our memory as effectively as a picture.
We all find it easy to detect when someone is upset, excited, or disinterested, just by listening to the inflection and timbre of their voice. Consider the power a voice has to persuade, soothe, irritate, or bore us. Similar to music, voices affect the mind and stir feelings. The sound of a voice can raise or lower our blood pressure. Voices convey complex emotions and communicate so much more than mere words.
Forgive the blatant truism of this statement, but the voice is a powerful tool for communicating! So don't overlook the possibilities of voiceover for enhancing your message. Sure, anyone can talk. But can ‘anyone' convince, sway, sell, or command the listener's attention? Take the time to cast your audio project just as you would cast a movie. Most professional voice talents will audition gladly. Plan the time to search for and hire the right voice. From advertising to art, and everything in between, voiceover matters.
And while you're at it, stock up on matches and keep the drawer full!
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» left by Bev from Seattle (145 days 11 hours ago.)
I agree completely! I hate hearing bad voices on commercials, in store ads, or worst of all--training narration. Bad voices are torture. And I'm sick of that 'deep growling man' voice too!
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