Why do Voiceover Artists need to be healthy?

Surely as a Voiceover Artist, all you have to do is stand there (or sit) and read out loud. Why do you need to take care of your health when the job is so easy?

If you are ill or not well or not on top form you will sound like it. Legendary DJ Tony Blackburn was much criticised during the height of his fame for his cheesy happy sound. He sounded happy because he was actually smiling!

                                  Practise, Practise, Practise 

If you have a cough or a cold you sound different- your nose is blocked and you find it hard to breathe and may wheeze too. So therefore you cannot work.

Once very highly respected Voiceover Artist who we met at Vox 2015 says he doesn't drink alcohol. At all. Because it affects how he sounds when voicing at 6am. Other voice talent won't voice before 10am as they don't sound awake enough.

Getting regular exercise is also a good idea - if you are unfit your breaths will be much heavier. So, get fit and learn how to breathe from your abdomen.

Make sure you can hear properly - and can tell when a take is bad and why.

        

Before glasses were needed

Make sure your eyes are good - and get them checked regularly. When I was reading the news on BBC Radio 2 I slowly found it increasingly hard to focus on the scripts - which initially I put down to tiredness due endlessly-changing shifts. But no, I was just the wrong side of 40. 

I now wear glasses to read all my voiceover scripts. And I insist on 14 point font for the scripts. 

Which Voiceover Booth should I buy?

If you are looking for a new vocal booth in which to record your voiceovers, we recently saw this on social media and thought it worthy of discussion.

This is a link to a YouTube video about the new IsoVox 

     

David W takes a selfie in our vocal booth

My first reaction was "Is this an April Fools joke?" It looks ridiculous: far too small and cramped. And claustraphobic.

From the video I was wondering how you would ever be able to read a script in there? It looks as big as your head and no bigger. But from the Isovox website, it is clear you could read from a tablet and there is a light source. Whether it's a good enough light source I cant tell. I hate reading from a tablet - I still prefer paper (not least so you can mark up the script with amends.)

What I dont understand is their claim (at 0.40 on the YouTube clip) why a conventional method is good for recording but not practising.
 
   

What no voice talent?

Its only available in Sweden. For the moment.

Even if it does reach the UK, I really don't fancy sticking my head in a box to record my next voiceover. I just don't see how it would lead to a good performance.