What role does emotion play in your voice-over performances, and how do you convey it effectively?

Voice work is an art, and art is emotion, and as such, emotion is at the core of what we do. For character work specifically, it's important to make the delivery as real as possible, or risk drawing the listener out of the experience.

The one thing I can say is - breath. Breath is at the heart of acting. Whenever I find I'm not hitting a line, I remind myself to breathe as the character would be in that situation, and it always works. I usually edit out most breathing noises in my work, but when it comes to an emotional scene (crying, shouting, pleading) I make sure to leave them in as that is what conveys the most emotion.

Mastering Time and Pace in Voice Work

Time and pace are fundamental to delivering a successful voiceover. The first step is aligning with your client—communication is key. Ask plenty of questions upfront to fully understand their vision and avoid unnecessary revisions later on. Clarity at the start saves time and ensures the final product meets expectations.

When it comes to pacing, it’s important to adapt to the script’s tone. For scripts with a more relaxed vibe, take your time. Let the words breathe, allowing the listener to fully absorb the message. On the other hand, if you’re working on a script with a fast-paced, reporting style, keep your delivery sharp, concise, and engaging.

By tailoring your pace to the content and maintaining open communication with your client, you’ll elevate the quality of your work and deliver exceptional results.

Gosh, emotion is everything in voice over!  No matter what you are recording, even if it is just a boring medical script or e-learning narration, if you sound like an emotionless robot, you will put people to sleep. As the voice actor, you have to imagine yourself in the role, acting as the person delivering the content. When you care, your audience will care. Yes, not all scripts are full of emotion, but putting yourself in the role of a doctor, a founder of a start up, or whatever, will help you find the emotion you need to deliver an authentic performance. If you can imagine yourself actually feeling the way someone in that role would feel, it should come through in your voice.

Emotion plays a crucial role in voice-over performances as it helps bring scripts to life and connect with the audience on a deeper level. To convey emotion effectively, I focus on several key aspects:

1. Understanding the Script: I thoroughly analyze the script to grasp the intended emotion and context.
2. Voice Modulation: I adjust my pitch, tone, and pacing to match the emotional nuances required.
3. Body Language: Even though it's a voice performance, my body language influences how I deliver emotions. I use gestures and facial expressions to enhance the authenticity of the voice.
4. Practice and Feedback: I continuously practice and seek feedback to refine my ability to convey emotion convincingly.
5. Personal Connection: I draw on personal experiences and emotions to add depth and authenticity to the performance.

You have to understand that emotion is different for everyone and that your job is to make sure you understand what that means to your buyer. I can't tell you how many times someone will say, "I need an emotional read," but what they really mean is they want to hear a real point of view with expression, meaning and a delivery that is believable.

It can also matter what part of the world your buyer is from. There are places in the world that the buyer wants an "emotional" delivery but to them, an emotional delivery may be flat and serious. Some parts of the world want an over the top excited read that will cause intense energy and emotion to be felt by the listener.

So just have your radar up when someone wants an emotional read and be sure to ask questions that clarify what  mean before you start your work.

Forget about the word "emotional" because it means something different to everyone. Just uncover the real meaning of the script and what the buyer needs from your voice. It's ok...it doesn't mean you don't know what to do...it only means you are a professional and ask valid questions.

Buyers can get easily frustrated with someone who doesn't understand what they mean by emotional so also make sure your communication skills are sharp and you know the right questions to ask. It's ok to ask for a reference link or even what music they intend to use because this can help you understand the emotion of the project.

Get clarification when you first look at your order! Ask the clarifying questions then. Don't wait until the delivery is due to ask the question because you may not get a response in a timely manner.

Buyers can smell fake a mile away.  Emotion is less about emoting, and more about conveying that you are a real person delivering information to someone you care about.  Remember VO is not about you, it's about the product you are voicing for.  Too many students I've helped start with the idea that somehow their voice is the hero of the script.  Once they realize they are support to a greater mission (the product or service or story being read) then they shift to a place in their reads where they can emote with ease. 

Another way to convey emotion is to stop sitting still and tensing up when you read.  When humans are emotional, they move their body to help convey that message.  Do the same when recording and it will convey and help you loosen up your read.  Like the old saying in VO, when you smile we can hear it. 

Emotion, with appropriate context, is almost the entire product. Its role is to connect with a clients audience.

Conveying it effectively results in a fun ride of dropping myself in the context of my client’s world, classroom, etc. and being someone the people in that world want to listen to. Doesn’t matter if it’s an ad for cybersecurity, high school e-learning, or a noir detective, each requires the ride.