Voicing For Narration:

What makes you want to listen to someone (or someone to listen to you) on the radio? One way to grab the audience is by good delivery, another is good writing. They sound like they are talking, like in a conversation style. They believe in what is being said. There is meaning behind what they are telling us. It is important to you and them. They are telling us the story and we can see it (they paint a picture for us).

What sounds good? (in moderation)

Not sound like youre reading. Sounds natural There is a rhythm and beat Good pacing (pausing), with pauses pay attention to what it means Punching (too make louder) Circumflex (sort of valley girl sound) Stretching Writing for the ear Change in pitch

What sounds bad? (too much of anything)

Monotonous (mono-tone, one sound, - always bad unless a for a performance effect) Sounds like reading Punching all the time (becomes sing-songy) Circumflexing all the times (becomes sing-songy) Too long pausing Too long stretching the phrase or words Too fast Slurring Unclear Too quite Bad writing Choppiness or halting

Voicing For Narration:

Some Toolseverything in moderation: Punching:
**You can say things differently as long as the meaning remains. Look over your script and mark you script (use a pencil), underline key words to emphasize. Be careful not to do too much of anything, try to make sure that sound still matches meaning of what is being said. to punch or make louder tool to use the least often. Dont want to call attention to yourself). What can you do to avoid this problem? Vary the pitch.

Pitch: Vary the pitch. Some people may mark their scripts (with arrows whether pitch up or down).
Valley girl sound (careful not to sound too much of a sing-song). Pausing: Pausing is critical. Careful not to pause too much (choppiness or halting). No-one just sits and take it all in, were always competing for the attention of listener. Too long pauses, arent good (this become stop-sign approach).

Circumflex:

Quickly saying the words or phrase: Use it in terms of meaning, for ex. When Listing or titles.

Stretching words: Only use it in terms of meaning, for ex. Long. Pacing: (pausing and speeding). Writing:

Sometimes whats going on is the writinghow can you sound natural if you are writing something thats not what they would say. Writing: Conversational style (not conversation). Strong and simple verbs (it painted a picture radio is really a visual medium). Read your piece out loud before you reach the edit stage.

The Broccoli Conversation Issue: (Because people not listen anymore and start thinking maybe theyll have broccoli for dinner).This happens when youre not inhabiting the copy - not connecting to what theyre saying.

Voicing For Narration:

Someone you really want to tell the story to you go up to them and your posture changes, maybe your hands. *Get your body involved. Thats how your voice comes out.You voice comes from your body. Good posture. Some people stand up and voice comes out best this way. If sitting down body should be at the edge and sitting upright (Opens up your lungs). Sitting bent is not good because lungs cant get air.

Posture and Body Language:

In the Studio:

First thing to do as soon as you get in the studio to record is drop your shoulders and open your mouth and yawn.

Do some exercises:

Say, Hello Joe in a chant like way. This relaxes and opens up your voice. (If you get tense, you tense your vocal chords). Be clear and to work around slurring do little exercises. Repeat and say faster each time: Whether the weather be cold, or whether the weather be hot, well weather the weather whatever the weather, whether we like it or not. Trouble with L or R issues, practice saying: Let Larry label That Truck.

Then put the paper in front of your face. Pretend - people are sleeping. Wake them up TELL them the story. Think about why is this story is important to you and to the listener.