VO Pro Tip: Physicality in the Booth

Published 14 days ago • 1 min read

Physicality in the Booth

Hey Reader,

Have you ever listened back to a take and thought, "It sounds technically fine, but it just feels... flat?" Oftentimes, a "flat" read happens because we are standing perfectly still, staring at a screen or a piece of paper. In the real world, we don't talk like statues. We use our hands, we shift our weight, and we use our facial expressions to emphasize our points.

If you want your voice to sound more dynamic, you have to get your body involved.

How to use physicality to your advantage:

The "Hand-Talker" Advantage: If you’re voicing a high-energy commercial, use your hands! Pointing, gesturing, or even "chopping" the air on emphasis words will naturally add "pop" and rhythmic variety to your speech.
The Power Pose: For a confident, authoritative corporate narration, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your chest open. This physically opens your airway and naturally lowers your pitch for a more grounded sound.
The "Smile" (and the Squint): It’s a classic tip for a reason—smiling while you speak adds a "bright" tone. You can truly hear a smile in someone's voice. But try squinting or furrowing your brow for a serious or intense read too; you'll be surprised how much that physical tension translates into your vocal texture.
The "Shift": If a script has a "turn", literally shift your weight from one foot to the other when you hit that transition. That physical movement can help the "turn" come through in your voice.

Pro Tip: Be careful not to hit the music stand or create "clothes rustle" noise! Wear quiet fabrics and be mindful or wearing any jewelry and keep your gestures within the "dead zone" of your mic's pickup pattern.

-Michael

Check out all of the past VO Pro Tips here! VO PRO TIP ARCHIVE

Hope you find this useful! Feel free to reach out with any questions! And if you find these emails helpful - please share VoiceoverRoadmap.com among any VO groups your part of - Facebook, Reddit, etc... or just tell others about it!

Thanks so much!

Curious about my own personal VO Work?

www.MichaelLangsnerVO.com

Want to help support future content from VORM? Use our Amazon Affiliate link when shopping on Amazon by clicking the link below!

VORM Amazon Affiliate Link

Unsubscribe · Preferences

VO Pro Tip: The Second Take

The Second Take Hey Reader, We’ve all been there. You finish a solid first take, feel good about it, and then the audition request (or the client) asks for a "Take 2." You take a breath, pause for a moment, and... you basically give them the exact same read, just maybe 2% different. It feels safe, but it doesn't give the client the variety they actually need to make a choice. It also doesn't do much to demonstrate your versatility as a talent. If you want to ensure your second take is a true...

about 6 hours ago • 1 min read

VO Pro Tip: The Importance of Room Tone

Using Room Tone Hey Reader, We spend a lot of time and money trying to make our booths as quiet as possible. But "Digital Silence" (absolute zero sound) actually can sound unnatural to the human ear. If you edit a mistake and leave a gap of total silence, the listener will hear a "dropout" that feels like the audio just cut out. This will be especially noticeable if the noise floor in your booth isn't quite low enough or you are not adept enough at editing to disguise the cut/edit point....

7 days ago • 2 min read

VO Pro Tip: How to Build a "No-Audition" Relationship with a Client

The "No-Audition" Relationship Hey Reader, We spend a huge portion of our careers auditioning. It’s the "job" before the job. But to really build a sustainable business as a VO Talent, you need to start gaining repeat clients and preferably those with which you have a "No-Audition" relationship. This is the holy grail of a VO career: becoming a "preferred vendor." It’s when a producer or creative director has a script, thinks of your voice immediately, and emails you to check your...