Some things just role off the tongue. Some scripts, or pieces or copy, are music to your mouth. You open the file on your computer and you smile because you know that it will be a joy to work with such a script, either because it is so clever, or because it is so beautifully written, or sometimes because it is just so fun. Other times you think, ok, no problem. Then sometimes you remind yourself that this E-learning content is important and you have to bring the meaning to life regardless of how it is written.
So, what happens when there is some very tricky vocabulary in the copy (that’s voiceover jargon for script.) Sometimes we get lucky and there is a pronunciation guide. Sometimes we are even luckier and someone has thought to attach a recording, especially if there is a regional dialect that effects how the word is pronounced. Other times we are left to figure it out. We can use the dictionary or the internet. Youtube videos can be amazingly helpful.
Occasionally I have submitted a project and been confident that my pronunciation was spot on only to be asked for a pickup for that word. The answer is, the client is always right! However they want you to say the word is how it will be in their project. At the end of the day, it is most important that the client is happy. I have never had a scenario where more than one pickup was needed on a specific pronunciation, so it always gets taken care of.
I guess the point is, no one has seen every vocabulary word or name or place, so we are bound to run in to something in our career and need to know how to say it. As long as the voice talent is pleasant and accommodating, it should always end with a job well-done!
As a voiceover talent, it is my job to make every word come alive and bring the script to life the way its creator intended. So I have been exposed to some pretty sensational writing, and I can tell you that as of recent sometimes the only word to describe a client who is all kinds of wrong is not even found in the English language. The word we need, instead, is the Hebrew word hutzpah.
There are a few problems with this situation. In order to send Sam walking, I had to have the confidence in myself and my work that I am worth what I know my work to be worth. I am not afraid to maintain my rates. Sadly, in recent weeks, I have gotten responses from these undesirable clients that they have multiple voiceover actors willing to submit at their rates. As long as folks new to the industry are willing to accept these low rates, they undermine the pay for the rest of us. If you are in this category, you might want to check out 
Laying in bed at night, I watch HGTV mesmerized by their programing. Even with the magnetic personalities of their hosts, who also happen to be good looking, guess what? There are always professional voiceover actors, typically women, narrating the show. Why don’t they have the hosts or realtors doing the voiceover too? Well, they have a product to sell and it takes a pro to do it!
10. A talent who is well connected in the voiceover community will be an asset to you, particularly if you need to cast other voices for your project in a pinch.
You’re so excited…you’ve made a fantastic video. Great job! You want your client to be as excited as you are when you present it, and a silent film is probably not what they had in mind. So how do you match your creativity with the ideal voice talent when there is a sea of potential candidates? Let’s delve into what specifically to seek so that you can cast someone who is sure to dazzle all involved with the project.
