Don't Lose Your Cool: Taking Direction in a Live Voiceover Recording Session

Years ago, I was in a recording session with another voice actor. We were both hired to bring life and excitement to a new commercial for a well-known company. But as soon as he opened his mouth, it became clear that something was amiss. The clients kept providing him with feedback and direction, but none of it seemed to be working out for him. In fact, it seemed like he only got more frustrated with each suggestion they made.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of back-and-forth between the client and the actor, he yelled "That's enough!" Before storming out of the studio in a huff. Everyone was shocked - no one expected such an outburst from someone so professional. I wish I had had my iPhone with me. It would have made quite the TikTok video!

After the session, we all talked about what had happened and speculated on why he reacted the way he did. We eventually concluded that maybe he didn't like being told how to do his job or maybe he wasn't feeling up to the task that day.The client then had to hire another talent pronto and have them come to the studio immediately! In the end, we were all glad when the session ended because it was a bit traumatizing to witness what had happened.

Being a voice actor often means taking direction from clients. As professionals, we need to remember that even if we don’t always agree with the feedback, it’s important to put our egos aside and listen. In a live-directed session, clients will never miss the faces you make when you disagree with their direction or get frustrated. Guard those facial expressions with your life or you will lose the respect of everyone in the studio or on the Zoom or Souce Connect call. This could be a client for life so remember to stay professional.

Voiceover-directed sessions are an important part of any voice actor's job. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, it's essential that you understand how to make the most out of these sessions in order to get the best results for your client. Make sure you understand the client's expectations before the session begins. Read through the script and ask questions if anything is unclear – this will help you better understand what your client wants from you and give you an opportunity to practice different takes ahead of time. It's important to stay open-minded and ready to take direction without getting defensive or argumentative – be prepared to try things differently than expected!

Creating a good rapport with your client by being easy to direct is an essential skill for any voice actor—it can make all the difference between getting repeat work from them or not! Showing humility and being open to critique and suggestions gives your clients confidence that you are serious about doing a professional job and delivering quality work. When they know that they can trust you as an actor, they will be more likely to hire you again in the future. And for god's sake, keep your cool and don't storm out of the session!