This weekend I was painting my voiceover booth when I realized how much painting and voiceover acting have in common.  Now I bet you’re saying to yourself, “Brian you’ve sniffed too many paint fumes.”  You’re probably right but humor me and keep reading.  I think you will agree with me in the end.

I spent a part of my life as a professional painter almost by accident.  I worked with a construction company for a while and ended up being quite good at painting so eventually the boss made me the “go to” painter.  I mention this so you know that I actually do have a legitimate perspective in comparing voice over to painting.

Painting takes a certain level of skill.  Sure lots of people do it but only a certain number are good enough to make it a full time profession.  One of the guys I worked with was an excellent framer and he’s the man for tile work.  But he’s awful at painting,  absolutely terrible.  So he didn’t paint often.  VO is the same way.  As a client you want to make sure your VO (or your painter for that matter) has the talent, skill and experience needed to get your job done right.  As a painter I was lucky to have a mentor who taught me the “old” ways of painting, critiqued my work and helped me improve.  I was very fortunate to work for him.  A professional voice over will also work to improve their talent and skill through additional training methods.  I’m also very lucky to have a few mentors willing to work with me and help me improve for my clients.

A quality painter uses the proper tools for each job.  As a painter I love to use a quality Purdy Nylox brush.  It has a great action, paint flows smoothly off the bristles, and it’s a breeze to clean up.  But it’s not the right tool for all jobs.  Sometimes I need a foam brush or one specifically for oil paints.  A professional voice actor will also select the proper tools for each job.  In his or her case the tools include their voice – how they modify things like tone and delivery speed – along with the proper selection of mic, preamp etc.  As an example I generally use a Sennheiser MKH 416 for imaging and promo work but I might select something like an ElectroVoice RE20 for a radio or tv commercial if I am trying to convey a particularly warm sound.

In achieving a great paint job, a professional knows that prep is very important.  When painting a wall it needs to be smooth and clean, drop cloths need to be laid down and primer might need to be applied.  Prep is key to a quality voiceover as well.  A pro voice actor discusses your script with you before the session and rehearses the read before they ever hit the record button.

A good professional painter can cover minor flaws when painting- making the overall room look great.  A professional voice artist can work through minor flaws in your script as well providing you with a delivery that enhances your overall project.

Painter's Comb

And if you wanted to learn something about painting- umm okay…  Here’s a PROTIP:  Get  a painter’s comb.  This is by far my most helpful tool when painting. It makes cleaning brushes a snap and it costs about $4.00. Make sure and get the kind that has both the comb and the bristles.

Well?  I may be high on paint fumes but I bet you’ll agree that painting and voiceover have more in common than you  first thought when you read the title.