One of the most searched phrases on the web for those who have turned their voice into a profession, or for those who would like to do so, is certainly “How to become an Advertising Speaker”. Maybe you’re looking for the right training school or more technical information on which equipment to buy to become a good voice actor working from a home studio. The first thing I want to say, to reassure everyone, is that anyone can become an advertising speaker. Anyone who, however, has three fundamental qualities: a good ear, determination, constant desire to learn.
The repetition of small efforts will accomplish more than the occasional use of great talent.
CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON
This may seem obvious but it is not. First of all, because many in the wake of restlessness and the want for everything immediately, will leave out the most important thing of all; the speaker’s skill. If you are a beginner and are thinking of buying top-of-the-notch of the most performing computer, the most expensive and accurate microphone, the standard software in all recording studios in the world, well… hold on friends, you are making a big leap forward that won’t do you any good.
The truth is that your clients, and those who will contact you by word of mouth, will come to you time and again for your artistic ability, your vocal preparation in knowing how to give warmth and color to the text, and how much your clients will be satisfied with your results. In short, the more talented you will be, the more you will work and earn. And this, unfortunately, does not depend on how much money you spend on equipment. The higher the quality of your microphone, the more it will pick up your errors.
In my opinion, there are essentially three priorities for becoming a good speaker and advertising voice actor:
Let’s see them in order
When you start, spend all you can on a good diction and acting teacher, possibly an advertising speaker with the natural gift for teaching (not all good advertising speakers are also remarkable teachers) and steal from them as much as possible to obtain a decent level right from the beginning. Practice diction, articulation, enunciation and reading. Diction must be learned and forgotten, in the sense that you must become fluent as if it were a second language to be used when needed. And exactly like when you study foreign languages, the only way to succeed is to practice and practice. Record yourselves, make your own comments, correct yourselves. Let your teacher listen to you, so that he/she can show you all the defects that you are not still capable of picking up alone because you have not yet developed your own judgment.
Having a good ear is possible, and essential. You can certainly develop this by starting with listening to ads made by great professionals. Be careful not to copy or parrot. Try to understand what they do and why, make the techniques your own and use them in your own image and likeness. The ear must be trained just as chefs train their palate to detect which fresh ingredients are used, how to combine them and how to transform them into works of art. You have to do the same with sounds, with your voice and the voices of ordinary people as well. Sometimes you find the best intentions and emotions right in front of you. Stay alert and listen to what that angry lady has to say, or to that excited loved one who is telling you about an important feeling. And then reproduce it, or at least try to. It will be of great help for your training as an actor…
I took advice from none but the best… how I listened: that’s how I finally became my own expert.
PEGGY GUGGENHEIM
Let go of the anxiety of procuring the equipment, this is not the time. There are so many cheap USB microphones out there now to begin with (starting at €100) so it’s really the least of your problems. All you will really need is:
And a corner of your home to be equipped as a small studio. I know… This is, perhaps, the most complicated phase of your start-up as an advertising speaker. The acoustics of the recording studio. If you have a small room, or a walk-in closet, you’re good to go! If you have a large but still quiet room, you can invest a little more in sound-absorbing panels and bass traps with which to strategically dampen various reverbs and echoes in the room. If you’re unlucky, you don’t have a small, quiet room. But you will certainly have a wardrobe. That’s how I started, and many of my colleagues can confirm it. Clients don’t care where you record yourself, but how it sounds. Should you manage to obtain an incredible technical result, even if you record yourself in the washing machine, well please, let me know, I’m curious. I will certainly include it in my next article on technical aspects.
Now you can easily contact me and await a quote, or instantly purchase your voice service via the online purchase form you see below. If you already have a clear idea of what you need, proceed by inserting, in the notes field only, all the information or links to the files (draft video, music and effects) that may be useful to me.
If you don’t know what the video distribution will be (internal only? Via the internet on a website? With marketing campaigns on social media, through sponsored and pre- or post-roll videos on streaming? Will it air on TV?) write to me before ordering online and I will be happy to help you.
If you prefer speaking to me over the phone, I am always more than happy to personally connect with the clients that I will have the pleasure of working with, and to understand, in person, what they are looking
for, for their audio project.
+39 366 3376905 | info@giovannigiudice.com
