Voice-Over Pro Tip

Mastering Cold Reads

Hey Reader,

Oftentimes in VO, you need to get auditions and projects over to the clients right away. That's where strong cold reading skills come in. Being able to interpret and deliver a script effectively on the fly is a huge asset for any VO Talent.

Here's a simple approach to practice mastering those cold reads: Scan for the "big picture" before you speak.

When you get a new script, resist the urge to just jump right into reading. Instead, take a moment – literally 10-15 seconds – to quickly scan the entire script. Look for:

• Punctuation: Notice periods, question marks, exclamation points, and commas. These give you crucial clues about pacing and inflection.
• Keywords/Phrases: Identify the main message, key product names, or important calls to action. These are the words that need emphasis.
• Overall Tone: Does it feel upbeat, serious, informative, quirky? A quick read-through can give you a gut feeling for the desired emotional landscape.

This brief pre-read helps you avoid a flat, word-by-word delivery. By knowing where the sentence is going, where the pauses are, and what the core message is, you can start your read with intent and deliver a more natural, confident performance right from the start.

Give this quick scanning technique a try next time you face a cold read, whether it's an audition or a last-minute project!

-Michael

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Thanks so much!

-Michael

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​www.MichaelLangsnerVO.com​

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