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There are times in your life that will give you perspective. And those times, as hard as they can be, can actually help your performance.
Overcoming Anxiety in the Voiceover Booth
As a voiceover artist, it's not uncommon to feel some level of anxiety in the booth. You may feel the pressure to perform perfectly, deliver auditions on time, or even decipher confusing directions during a live session. While these feelings are normal, they can negatively impact your vocal performance and, ultimately, your success in the industry.
Here are a few of my best tips for combating anxiety in the booth:
Take a deep breath and relax
The first step is to take a deep breath and remind yourself that it's just voiceover work. Your state of mind and heightened anxiety can have a significant effect on your vocal performance. When we're anxious, our voices tend to pitch higher, we speak quicker, and we don't focus as much on the copy or the story we're trying to tell.
If you're in the middle of a live session and receiving confusing directions, take a moment to pause, breathe, and relax. This will help you refocus and deliver a more authentic, believable read by allowing you to immerse yourself in the scene and character.
Find perspective
My cancer diagnosis in 2012 changed my perspective on anxiety in the booth. After going through a health crisis and a period of time away from the booth, I realized there's more to life than just voiceover work.
Returning to the booth with a new outlook, I was able to appreciate the freedom and fun in my work, allowing myself to relax, play, and step outside my comfort zone. This experience not only put things into perspective for me, but also greatly improved their performance technique.
Bring yourself to the party
The key takeaway from this episode is to bring your true self to your voiceover work. That's who the listeners want to hear and connect with. It's essential to enjoy the process, have fun, and connect with the copy authentically.
If you're struggling with anxiety in the voiceover booth, remember to take a deep breath, relax, and find perspective in your life. By doing so, you'll be able to overcome anxiety and deliver better, more authentic performances in your voiceover work.
Thanks for reading!
Keep on rocking your business like a #VOBOSS
About Anne Ganguzza
Recipient of multiple Voice Arts Awards for Outstanding Narration Demo - Anne Ganguzza is California-based Voice Over Coach and award-winning Director & Producer specializing in target-marketed voiceover Demo Production. Anne's production team creates SOVAS-nominated demos across several genres, including Commercial, Corporate Narration, and eLearning, and her VO BOSS podcast is the winner of SOVAS Outstanding Podcast in 2022.