Getting past being mic shy?

[DoctorKobold]

So, I noticed that things I record seem to be a bit quiet and underplayed due to mic shyness and worries that my upstairs neighbors will hear me. My neighbors don't seem like the kind to mind a little noise every now and then, but I'm still nervous as hell, haha. Anyways, I have a feeling I'm not the only one who's gone through something like this. Anyone know a good way of dealing with it, or outright getting over shyness?

[Jorrich]

Watch this before you record.

[RobotButterfly]

Hahaha what XD

Well to answer your question, DoctorKobold... when I was starting out, I had the same problem. Basically, you should do all you can to make yourself feel more isolated. There's a safety in feeling like you're alone with your mic, and since you're worried about your neighbors, that seems to be what you need. Record in a small space, maybe use noise-cancelling headphones.

But it would still be a good idea to, instead of/as well as blocking yourself off from an "audience", to overcome any stage fright you have. I'm sorry to say that only comes with practice, though.

[tjthompson]

I am some what shy as well but I have overcome it A LOT. First of all stage drama FORCED me to break my shyness and made me a completely other person (outgoing). After that not so much bothered me. I remember though... I used to voice act on YouTube, wow, back when I was like 12 and I would be very mic shy. I recorded in the garage but was afraid my parents or my brother would hear me. Not that it mattered... they knew I liked to voice act, I would just get embarrassed if somebody heard me. When I started voice acting back up (around age 15-16) I recorded in my dad's office which is very small (He built a little room in the garage, 'cause he's nifty like that), and the fact that it was so isolated made me feel A LOT better. Plus, then I got noise canceling headphones and would monitor myself voicing and that made me feel very alone and comfortable. Give this a try! Now I don't care. I know my neighbors must hate me though, because I can get pretty loud

[x3Ren]

Hmm.. try to get into character more then. That's how I got over it. Get into character and you'll just get over it. Well for me anyways. I hope this helps a bit.

[finalCrystine]

Hmm.. try to get into character more then. That's how I got over it. Get into character and you'll just get over it. Well for me anyways. I hope this helps a bit.

This.

If you focus on your lines and emotions you will forget about your surroundings. I had the same as you before. I do hate it as well when my mom is home and she is always home (I still record in the living room) and sometimes I forget she is in the room next to me because I got in character. I do still hold in a little at really extreme emotions though; then I wait for them to leave the house.

[N-Sz]

I guess your situation is a bit different from mine, since for you it's about neighbors in (I'm assuming) an apartment. For me, I go to the basement when everyone's sleeping a lot of the time haha and I still feel nervous even though I'm pretty sure my voice wouldn't reach anyone. But as mentioned above, once I get into character, I might even start yelling and I'll feel pretty comfortable.

As for you, in an apartment, I would just think that your neighbors would assume that you're talking to someone on the phone and are maybe joking around and being silly. That shouldn't be too embarrassing.

[TwilitWing]

Getting into an isolated room is a good start, but soon enough you'll have to legitly BREAK YOUR BARRIERS and ALLOW yourself to be batshit insane sometimes.

I sometimes do this before I have to do a character that's completely opposite my personality, I run about the room, flailing my arms like a crazy person, have a tantrum for about a minute or so.

Not only will you feel more freed and powerful, it'll improve your performance tenfold.

And for someone like myself that has very tight reigns around herself when it comes to public appearance, it's hard. Extremely hard to not listen to that voice in your head that's telling you "You're not supposed to be like this! Calm that body down right this instant!" And it's always in the voice of your mother, father, adult that disciplined you, what have you. You'll have to learn that that voice isn't real. It doesn't control you when you're acting.

The more you tell it to STFU, the happier you'll be in the long run.

[Stephanie W]

SCREAM!!!

That's how I used to get over it. I don't know why, but just letting out a loud scream/yell would make my nerves go away.
If you're just recording speaking lines then you probably won't be heard but if you're recording yelling lines, then there's 9/10 chance you'll be heard anyway. Just let it all out. Don't care what other people think.

RobotButterfly mentioned isolation. You can go in your closet (doesn't have to be a walk-in one, mine is a super small one but I made it work) and record in there. It helps SO MUCH, trust me. Also, I've heard of people recording in their cars. If you have a car, then maybe you can try that?