photo credit: re_birf

How do you write good copy for voice over?

Writing for the spoken word can be dramatically different than composing a piece that is meant to be read.  Take a magazine article or newspaper and read it out loud and you will quickly see what I mean.  You have to think about the context, the target audience, the speaker’s point of view… and on and on.  A lot goes into good VO copy.

I referenced good copy in my article “How to Hire A Voice Over” to some extent with the intention of addressing copy later in a separate post.  Digital Newsgathering has beaten me to the punch with a great  piece called “Say What? Best Practices for Writing Voice Over Copy” that you should read before sending that script off for the VO.

Its all good stuff but pay particular attention to the section on timing.  It can be very hard to condense your message into 30 seconds and keep the pacing at a good speed but it’s critcal to having a great voiceover read.

It is also good practice to read your script out loud after you have written it.  You’ll find things that may seem clear on paper but don’t translate well in speech.  We also tend to write rather formally and your VO may call for a more informal approach.  For example I might write  “We are all going to the store”.  However you might not say we are in casual conversation, you might say we’re.  It’s those little details that can really bring out the character and enhance your message in great copy.

In addition to being a professional voice actor Brian Hart also offers copywriting consults and services.

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.

I understand the thought of hiring a voice actor can be overwhelming to many so I have written an article called “How To Hire a Voice Over” as a service to my clients and prospective clients.

I have done my best to explain the process as concisely as possible but the article does have a good amount of meat in it.

If you find the online version hard to read you may download the PDF version instead:

How to Hire a Voice Over by Brian Hart

Please  leave a comment if you find “How to Hire a Voice Over” helpful,  if you find that I need to clarify or correct any information, or  if you have your own thoughts on the process you would like to add.

The article begins after the jump:

How to Hire a Voice Over

By Brian Hart 02/18/2010

Finding the right voiceover can be a daunting task.  You may feel that it would better to enlist professional help and hire a marketing firm or talent agency when searching for voice talent.  There are also times when you may want to manage a talent search on your own.  In either case, by following these simple steps as you begin your search for that perfect VO will make the process much more efficient, increase the effectiveness of your project and contribute to its overall success.

Assess Your Needs

It is important to assess your needs at the beginning of your project.  The first step is to define exactly why you need a voice over.  Perhaps you are integrating an automated interactive voice response system, also known as IVR, into your company’s automated phone system. As part of your marketing strategy you might be crafting a radio or television commercial. You might be searching for a voice over for a business presentation, a video introduction to your website, or a narration for an audio book.   Depending on your project it is possible you can do the voice over in house and may not need to hire a professional VO talent.   If that is your decision the process ends here.

But you may decide that a professional voice actor would better serve your project.  “The key to obtaining a successful voice over, regardless of application, is hiring the right voice over professional to record your message… in other words, finding the person whose voice and interpretation of your script best aligns with your brand,” says Stephanie Ciccarelli, Chief Marketing Officer and co-founder of Voices.com.   “Remember, the talent chosen for this project will represent you and your company and may serve as the first impression prospective customers receive of who you are and what you stand for.” A professional voice talent can bring credibility to your project and engage your audience.  Ciccarelli continues, “Their voice and artistic interpretation will also need to resonate with how current customers presently perceive your brand.  The human voice is one of the most persuasive tools known to mankind for expressing messages because the voice, when used properly and effectively, can evoke emotional responses in a deeper, more personal and primal way than any other form of communication. “

Choosing the proper voice for your message is critical but how do you determine what type of voice best represents you?