Azure
01-10-2007, 09:41 PM
This guide was written by Kitty (http://voiceactingalliance.com/board/member.php?u=2813). Let's all thank her :hug
This is something that I have spent some time pondering about for a good while. I see many productions that are posted, demo reels, songs, etc., where many VA’s say things like "whah i suk" or "i have no talentz i nevar getz castedz". I think that some of us need to learn to have a better attitude when it comes to our performances, whether it is voice acting, singing, performing musically, or something else along those lines. I have no real voice over experience, except a few school related things, but I have been performing for about my full life musically and chorally. So, I have discovered the right attitude you should have, because it will make a big change in your performances! Believe me, your attitude matters. Let's begin.
Topic 1: "I suck."
The most common thing I hear in many AVA's, despite if they actually give an amazing performance, is the lovely phrase "I suck". I think when we all start out, we think that, and we may even say it, but as we grow, we need to boost up our esteem. It really pains me to go into a thread, and see a really
well done performance by a cast, and then seeing a cast member or two downgrading themselves. To explain this, I give two options.
One: The person has no self-esteem whatsoever and they truly feel that they are not good at all. This is an easy thing to cure, so hang in there! We'll get to you in a moment.
Two: The person is fishing for compliments. This is one of the most annoying, frustrating, and overall stupid things that you can do. This is not the easiest thing to help, but I'll explain what you need to do to stop.
"Cure" for Problem 1: So, you have no self-esteem in yourself. But let me ask you this. Why do you think you were cast in a production, if you suck so
much? Or, if you sing, why did people say you were good? Do you think they are lying to you? Most likely, they aren't, so that has to mean something.
If a producer thinks that you are a bad VA, then why would they cast you in their production? It doesn't make sense. They must have liked your
performance, so cheer up! It is a hard thing, to suddenly be thrown out in front of people, performing musically, vocally, or in a different way. It kind of makes you feel that feeling of being naked in front of a crowd, am I right? After time, and when you discover that you do have talent, believe me, you will see that you really are amazing, if you just set your mind to it. Prove to us you are worth listening to, and prove you like what you're doing. Do that, and believe me, you'll be amazed at how better you will both feel and sound.
"Cure" for Problem 2:
Fishing for compliments both gets on people's nerves, and downgrades you in people's views on your character. A person who constantly says:
"oh i suk lol i nevar getz casted so lol" really says to me, " Oh, yes. Tell me I'm good. Tell me I deserve to be casted, because I think I'm good. So tell me I'm amazing." Can you see the difference from problem one? This problem is not one that I can offer a magical cure for. YOU have to get over yourself.
Topic 2: Attitude during VA Work
The biggest one of them all! Your attitude when you are recording, sending in auditions, lines, or singing is very important. I'll describe each of these (recording, sending in auditions/lines) in detail.
1. Recording: This is the start of everything. The dreaded recording stage. You're nervous, you think you're going to mess up, you know you'll never be able to get high or low enough an- Hey, relax. Take deep, relaxing breaths, and meditate for about five to ten minutes, if you think you can't do it. Then, repeat over and over again that you CAN do it, and you WILL do it. Trust me. It works. Attitude is everything.
2. Sending in Auditions/Lines: You know that when you send in lines in a production that you were cast/scouted in, that you must do your best. So
when recording for your finished lines, make sure to have the right mindset. You can do it, if you just think that you can. Believe in yourself. So, let's get down to auditioning. The main thing about auditioning is proving that you are capable to hold that role. You want that role? Then do all that you can to get it. Now, I'm not talking about bugging the producer until they block you. I'm saying that you, yourself, need to do all you can with your voice to get the role. Don't automatically think that you'll be able to do a voice within a second, and do it well.
Auditioning is a very big process, either professionally, or non-professionally. Either way, you're in the spotlight.
So, when auditioning, don't just think, "Oh, I won't use my full range or any REAL emotion. I'll just breeze through, and if I get cast, I'll make it perfect." WRONG. You aren't going to impress anyone with that frame of mind. This is the same way with singing. Just by going, "Oh, this song is pretty; I'll sing it, without really getting into the lyrics and all the emotional ties with the music, I'll just sing and I hope it turns out good. Yayz." will get you no where near the level of being good. That is just plain mediocre, and an extremely terrible attitude. Let's show some effort, shall we? To me, a person's auditions reflect how they would sound like if they were cast, so you wouldn't want to send in half-hearted auditions, would you?
Topic 3: Attitudes of Producers. Yes, they need a good attitude, too!
Producers have the most awesome attitudes to work with. But let's work with you now, shall we? (You thought you were going to get off easily, didn't you?)You, as a producer, need to understand that VAs aren't always free on time, and they have limits, because they are people too! Please don't request tasks that they cannot accomplish and you must be patient! Don't snap at a VA because they missed deadline by a day. Sometimes, like the real world, things happen. Be a nice, considerate producer, and you'll be a lot more successful.
Topic 4: Pep Talk.
Overall, you have to believe in yourself. As simple as that sounds, it does a world of difference. If you just have confidence in yourself, I guarantee you that you will learn to love what you do, and you'll sound so much better to others, because you'll have a real nice confidence in your voice. Just love what you're doing, and believe that you are good, because I'm sure that in someone's eyes, you are amazing. Just keep in mind that you need to be positive and never, ever give up. It sounds terribly sappy, but it's the truth. I wish you all the luck in the world, and I hope that I've helped a bit. Good luck, lovelies.
This is something that I have spent some time pondering about for a good while. I see many productions that are posted, demo reels, songs, etc., where many VA’s say things like "whah i suk" or "i have no talentz i nevar getz castedz". I think that some of us need to learn to have a better attitude when it comes to our performances, whether it is voice acting, singing, performing musically, or something else along those lines. I have no real voice over experience, except a few school related things, but I have been performing for about my full life musically and chorally. So, I have discovered the right attitude you should have, because it will make a big change in your performances! Believe me, your attitude matters. Let's begin.
Topic 1: "I suck."
The most common thing I hear in many AVA's, despite if they actually give an amazing performance, is the lovely phrase "I suck". I think when we all start out, we think that, and we may even say it, but as we grow, we need to boost up our esteem. It really pains me to go into a thread, and see a really
well done performance by a cast, and then seeing a cast member or two downgrading themselves. To explain this, I give two options.
One: The person has no self-esteem whatsoever and they truly feel that they are not good at all. This is an easy thing to cure, so hang in there! We'll get to you in a moment.
Two: The person is fishing for compliments. This is one of the most annoying, frustrating, and overall stupid things that you can do. This is not the easiest thing to help, but I'll explain what you need to do to stop.
"Cure" for Problem 1: So, you have no self-esteem in yourself. But let me ask you this. Why do you think you were cast in a production, if you suck so
much? Or, if you sing, why did people say you were good? Do you think they are lying to you? Most likely, they aren't, so that has to mean something.
If a producer thinks that you are a bad VA, then why would they cast you in their production? It doesn't make sense. They must have liked your
performance, so cheer up! It is a hard thing, to suddenly be thrown out in front of people, performing musically, vocally, or in a different way. It kind of makes you feel that feeling of being naked in front of a crowd, am I right? After time, and when you discover that you do have talent, believe me, you will see that you really are amazing, if you just set your mind to it. Prove to us you are worth listening to, and prove you like what you're doing. Do that, and believe me, you'll be amazed at how better you will both feel and sound.
"Cure" for Problem 2:
Fishing for compliments both gets on people's nerves, and downgrades you in people's views on your character. A person who constantly says:
"oh i suk lol i nevar getz casted so lol" really says to me, " Oh, yes. Tell me I'm good. Tell me I deserve to be casted, because I think I'm good. So tell me I'm amazing." Can you see the difference from problem one? This problem is not one that I can offer a magical cure for. YOU have to get over yourself.
Topic 2: Attitude during VA Work
The biggest one of them all! Your attitude when you are recording, sending in auditions, lines, or singing is very important. I'll describe each of these (recording, sending in auditions/lines) in detail.
1. Recording: This is the start of everything. The dreaded recording stage. You're nervous, you think you're going to mess up, you know you'll never be able to get high or low enough an- Hey, relax. Take deep, relaxing breaths, and meditate for about five to ten minutes, if you think you can't do it. Then, repeat over and over again that you CAN do it, and you WILL do it. Trust me. It works. Attitude is everything.
2. Sending in Auditions/Lines: You know that when you send in lines in a production that you were cast/scouted in, that you must do your best. So
when recording for your finished lines, make sure to have the right mindset. You can do it, if you just think that you can. Believe in yourself. So, let's get down to auditioning. The main thing about auditioning is proving that you are capable to hold that role. You want that role? Then do all that you can to get it. Now, I'm not talking about bugging the producer until they block you. I'm saying that you, yourself, need to do all you can with your voice to get the role. Don't automatically think that you'll be able to do a voice within a second, and do it well.
Auditioning is a very big process, either professionally, or non-professionally. Either way, you're in the spotlight.
So, when auditioning, don't just think, "Oh, I won't use my full range or any REAL emotion. I'll just breeze through, and if I get cast, I'll make it perfect." WRONG. You aren't going to impress anyone with that frame of mind. This is the same way with singing. Just by going, "Oh, this song is pretty; I'll sing it, without really getting into the lyrics and all the emotional ties with the music, I'll just sing and I hope it turns out good. Yayz." will get you no where near the level of being good. That is just plain mediocre, and an extremely terrible attitude. Let's show some effort, shall we? To me, a person's auditions reflect how they would sound like if they were cast, so you wouldn't want to send in half-hearted auditions, would you?
Topic 3: Attitudes of Producers. Yes, they need a good attitude, too!
Producers have the most awesome attitudes to work with. But let's work with you now, shall we? (You thought you were going to get off easily, didn't you?)You, as a producer, need to understand that VAs aren't always free on time, and they have limits, because they are people too! Please don't request tasks that they cannot accomplish and you must be patient! Don't snap at a VA because they missed deadline by a day. Sometimes, like the real world, things happen. Be a nice, considerate producer, and you'll be a lot more successful.
Topic 4: Pep Talk.
Overall, you have to believe in yourself. As simple as that sounds, it does a world of difference. If you just have confidence in yourself, I guarantee you that you will learn to love what you do, and you'll sound so much better to others, because you'll have a real nice confidence in your voice. Just love what you're doing, and believe that you are good, because I'm sure that in someone's eyes, you are amazing. Just keep in mind that you need to be positive and never, ever give up. It sounds terribly sappy, but it's the truth. I wish you all the luck in the world, and I hope that I've helped a bit. Good luck, lovelies.