VO Mindset: Consistency

It sometimes feels as though trying to maintain “consistency” might actually work against our need to be creative. For many of us, the allure of voice acting – or any act of performance – is the tangible tension of the instant creative moment.

We are expected to perform.
We are the instrument.
We need to take off the brakes and fly.

All of which can make focusing upon file structures, worrying about recording levels, or the technical steps of the audio input chain feel like a constraint. Perhaps it even gets in the way of the mad act of creation.

That’s the odd balance of what we do as voice actors. We need to be able to wrangle our files, solve technical issues, and also be able to jump into the booth to voice an over-caffeinated woodland creature.

That’s where a bit of structure and consistency can support us. There’s a lot to be said about “habit” – it’s one of the reasons I appreciate James Clear’s “Atomic Habits” so much. I love his useful focus on those tiny triggers which can flip us into the creative space.

In a very imperfect way, it feels like my subconscious knows that at a specific time, I’m going to be behind a microphone, or in front of my computer writing. Being in the right place at a certain moment each day seems to prime things a bit.

Consistency alone does not make things effortless. And I’m in no way claiming that every first utterance or written word begins as pure gold. But showing up regularly creates a framework: I’m going to find a solution to the challenge before me. That simple process becomes more powerful the more times you do it.

One of the quotes I tend to keep within view:

“I only write when inspiration strikes. Fortunately it strikes at nine every morning.”

– William Faulkner (attributed)

Which pairs nicely with these “5 Choices” I once scrawled into a notebook:

• Show up on time
• Reduce friction (scripts done and ready the night before)
• This mic – that interface – into the template – don’t reinvent stuff that’s working
• Make strong choices
• Edit ruthlessly

As creative individuals, we often chafe under any rigid structure, thinking that it may in fact limit that creativity. But I like to think of it more as cupped hands nurturing a tiny flame. We have to show up and be open to the appearance of that spark.

This information recently went out directly to my email community.
If you would like to join in to receive those emails the day they publish, please take a moment to share your contact information through this sign up form.
Thank you.