For those of us engaged in part-time or other suppplementary employment while building up to a full time voice over career — how do we get our energy up for recording auditions and gigs after a full day at the office?
Here are a few tips that I’m finding useful to squeeze that last bit of energy out:
- The first thing is to drink lots of water during the day, and try not to drink so much coffee or tea with milk — especially in the afternoon.
- Then when I get home I have more water and brush my teeth to lesson any mouth stickiness.
- Next I make a cup of herbal tea (one without liquorice or other ingredients that can coat the mouth), while humming along with the radio station for a gentle warm-up.
- Then, switch to comfy clothes[this sometimes includes pajamas.
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NOW for the serious warm up! I am often feeling quite sluggish, so I use my ‘step’. I put on more upbeat music and do aerobic exercises on my step bar while reciting tongue twisters (multi tasking!) for about 5 minutes.
By now I feel much more warmed up, buzzing & less fatigued — AND my breathing is more expansive and free.
A couple of sips of tea, a squirt of Entertainer’s Secret throat spray & I’m ready to start recording. I print off my auditions or scripts, give it a read aloud, mark it, and I’m away.
Even though it may be later in the day or evening, we’ve still got to take as much care with recording, capturing the feeling of the piece, and editing as we would if we were starting fresh at the beginning of the day — instead of the day’s end.
Does anybody else have tips on things that they do to rev themselves up for a voiceover session at the end of the day?
Please share them with us!
Here’s a lovely meditation which I found in Wendy Braun’s
Actor Inspiration Newsletter:
I trust in the Timing
I breathe in and feel myself trust in the timing of this journey.
I exhale and release feeling that things aren’t working out for me.
I breathe in and feel myself trust in the timing of this journey.
Cheers!
