Weekly VO Workflow: When Skill Gets Comfortable

The Question of Craft versus Comfort

One of the challenges of running our voiceover business is that we can stagnate. As with any craft, we first absorb ideas, learn techniques, try and fail, pick ourselves up, and fail a little less the next time. We get better. After a while the skills get wielded with more confidence, and techniques become more embedded. What felt clunky and artificial becomes smooth and reliable.

However, as we gain comfort and proficiency, we may challenge ourselves a bit less actively. That’s not to say we shouldn’t trust those skills we’ve built. But, it’s always worth considering whether there are some areas that need refinement. Refinement could mean a slight polishing to knock the rust off, or something more akin to an overhaul.

Nothing remains in a static state. Clients who have relied upon us for years may suddenly “go in a different direction…” VO Agencies may fold or retool. The tone of advertisements may shift. It’s possible to suddenly look up and realize that our approaches are no longer viable.

How do we address that? It may be as simple as failing.

We often keep working the groove of what has been successful for us. That particular acting choice that worked for the last thing we booked tends to hang around as an easy go-to for the next project. Book a few more projects that way and there’s a chance it will take a bit of a “set.” We can fall into that approach without recognizing it was a choice to begin with.

I’m not suggesting we rip everything up and start afresh each time we step in the booth – only that we should not lose that vital spark of discovery. While a first take may land exactly where we want it, what fresh risk could we take? That spark is often found a bit past our comfort zone. After all, that’s where we likely began this journey.

Have you tested your studio’s audio quality to make sure it meets professional standards? For a free review of your vocal recordings, please use the upload tool on my Audio Review page.

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