My job as a voice actor is to take a script and make it come alive...
Whether it's a commercial, cartoon character, or piece of narration, my role is to interpret copy, and sometimes the specs seem to be in the way. I can hop on one foot, move my head from side to side, imagine I'm being hit, or crying like a baby but the only thing you'll really hear is my voice. Every job that comes my way includes a set of specs, and sometimes I'm stuck with the dilemma of whether or not to even look at them before trying out the script. Sometimes, I can do a better job getting into a vibe or performance before reading the specific particulars that someone is trying to get from an actor's read.
So what are specs, anyway?
Specs are what the client is looking for on a particular job: gender, race, accent, age, vocal qualities, etc. and lately, it's been getting really, really specific. Here's an example:
We’re looking for a warm, confident-sounding female voice talent, aged 25-45, open to any race, unaccented. Some texture and bravado in her voice would be ideal—thinking a slight rasp and/or a slightly lower register could bring out those characteristics. Ultimately, she’s a voice of expertise, so we’re aiming for some boldness in the delivery. But it should still carry some humility and authenticity to avoid coming off cocky or braggadocious.
How do I stand out and still stay within those specs? And do I still submit even if I'm not exactly all of those things?
The only thing I really have to bring to the table is myself. The agent gets my audition first, then it's passed on to the casting director, and then, if it makes it that far, the client will listen to it. There's a very good possibility they may not get further than six seconds of listening. I can't worry about all those factors. They're either going to like me or discard my audition immediately. My concern is to take the specs, look at what I'm supposed to say, and put myself into that world. And if the character or the product that I'm auditioning for doesn't move me, I substitute, I use my imagination to come up with a scenario that is believable to me. Because if I don't commit to what I'm doing, there's a good chance it won't sound real and most probably the ears on the other end listening will stop before those six seconds are up.
I have to be willing to play when I audition or record a job I've been hired for. Many times, specs can appear convoluted because the end client may not completely know what they want or need, so they throw in the proverbial 'kitchen sink' of descriptions. It's my job to sift through all the 'yada yada' and bring my best self to the audition.
I've never forgotten what my friend Barry Tarallo said to me so long ago in Miami. "Auditions are the job, acting is what we get to do once in a while."
When I start recording, I give myself permission to make mistakes, fail, be silly, and laugh or burp, and from those takes cobble together a sound that's believable, so when I'm uploading the file, I'm excited to hand it in. Same with on-camera auditions. I have to hand one in this week and I am determined to create a mini-life for this beautiful character. When I press send on Wednesday, I'll have a big smile on my face like I always do because I'll know I've done a good job. On to the next one! Thanks, Barry.