When we think about public speaking, images of standing on stage in front of an audience usually come to mind. But there are many forms of public speaking. With the right voice, you could be a voice actor and even make a living at it.
Today’s post is from Sarah Stockton. Sarah is an Outreach Coordinator for Voices.com, a site that connects businesses with professional voice talents. She enjoys helping people find their start in the voice industry. In her post, Sarah provides a wealth of insight and resources for those interested in this “nontraditional” form of public speaking.
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Have you ever been told that you have an amazing voice? Have teachers or colleagues remarked on how well you read aloud? Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to make money with that unique and wonderful voice? If these questions sound familiar and you would like to capitalize on your vocal capabilities, you’re in luck. There’s an entire industry built around vocal talents just like yours and it is more accessible than you might have imagined.
Possibilities
If you have only had a vague interest in turning your vocal abilities into a profitable career, you might not know where to start or what types of careers are available. It’s possible you don’t even know exactly what a voice actor does. Most people never think about all the voice actors they hear on a daily basis. But the people narrating commercials, reading the books on your e-reader, bringing your favorite animated characters or video game heroes to life, and even telling you which number to push when you call you bank are all voice actors. Considering how frequently we hear vocal talents it is amazing they are not more well-known.
Let’s look at just one of these examples, the audio book narrator. The Audio Publishers Association has a wonderful site that explains how to become a narrator and offers a variety of resources for this niche. Almost all of the types of careers previously mentioned have similar associations and websites filled with information. If there are specific types of projects you are interested in, these types of resources are invaluable.
Getting Started
Now that the possibilities have been reviewed, it’s time to talk about training. Many vocal actors have a background in theater or music. Both of these disciplines are great for learning how to maximize vocal abilities. There are also a few academic courses designed specifically for those interested in this type of career. However, while many vocal talents do pursue formal training it is not strictly necessary.
There are several ways to learn more about the industry that do not involve academic programs. Voice Over Times is an industry publication which offers news about the field and valuable tips and information for novices and experienced vocal actors. This is an inexpensive and interesting way to get the heartbeat of the industry. There are many authoritative sources available online that can teach interested individuals about the audio recording technology utilized in the industry. Resources such as blogs, podcasts, technical articles, and tutorials are easily accessible and can help steer a motivated person in the right direction.
Network
It is amazing how much networking can help virtually every type of career. It has almost become necessary to have an online presence, including profiles on a variety of networking sites. Fortunately the most popular are easy to use and free. Online networking levels the playing field for those new to the industry in ways that would have been unimaginable even five years ago.
In a world where celebrities often respond directly to Tweets from their fans, it shouldn’t be surprising that experts and celebrities within specific vocal niches would be willing to respond to a polite and inquisitive industry novice. Take advantage of the manufactured intimacy of the internet to network with those whom you respect in the field.
So, now that you have a better idea of what you can do with your amazing voice, what do you want to do?
Carl Frederick Buechner - American Author and Theologian
In the past, I have written articles stressing the importance of making data meaningful for our audiences. Drawing inspiration from such sources as Carl Sagan and the Long Island Initiative, I have tried to show examples of how statistics need to be put into context. As Chip and Dan Heath emphasize in Made to Stick:
Statistics are rarely meaningful in and of themselves. Statistics will, and should, almost always be used to illustrate a relationship. It’s more important for people to remember the relationship than the number.
Thus, I was delighted to receive an email a few weeks ago from Jen Rhee of MBAonline, offering me the opportunity to use her great info-graphic on the Internet. In the info-graphic, which is displayed below, Jen creatively displays how much time is spent on the Internet every single day using statistics and simple graphics.
However, from a presentation perspective, I particularly like those statistics that Jen puts into context so that we can process a large number more easily. For example:
These statistics and images would be very effective in a presentation about the Internet and how much time we spend on it. Of course, you would have to divide the images over several slides or use software like Prezi to zoom in on one statistic at a time.
Have a look at Jen’s work below. I hope that it stimulates your thinking about how you can put your own statistics into context for your audiences.
Created by: MBAOnline.com
Liz Smith - American Journalist
This post is part of a series on rhetoric and rhetorical devices. For other posts in the series, please click this link.Device: Erotema
Origin: From the Greek ερωτημα (erotema), meaning “question”.
In plain English: A question that is asked without expecting an answer because the answer is strongly implied; a rhetorical question.
Effect:
Notes:
Examples:
“How long, O Catiline, will you abuse our patience? And for how long will that madness of yours mock us? To what end will your unbridled audacity hurl itself?”
— Cicero, 63 B.C.
“Was I an Irishman on that day that I boldly withstood our pride? Or on the day that I hung down my head and wept in shame and silence over the humiliation of Great Britain? I became unpopular in England for the one, and in Ireland for the other. What then? What obligation lay on me to be popular?”
— Edmund Burke, Speech to the Electors of Bristol, 6 September 1780
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“Another thing that disturbs me about the American church is that you have a white church and a Negro church. How can segregation exist in the true Body of Christ?”
— Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., 1956
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“Isn’t that incredible?” … “Want to see that again?” … “Pretty cool, huh?”
— Steve Jobs, Macworld 2007 Keynote Address, speaking about the iPhone
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“Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who would want to live in an institution?”
— H. L. Mencken
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Lisa Simpson and her grandmother (singing Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind”): “How many roads must a man walk down, before you can call him a man?”
Homer Simpson: “Seven!”
Lisa: “No, Dad, it’s a rhetorical question.”
Homer: “Rhetorical, eh? … Eight!”
Lisa: “Dad, do you even know what ‘rhetorical’ means?”
Homer: “Do I know what ‘rhetorical’ means?”
— Homer Simpson, The Simpsons
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“All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a freshwater system and public health … what have the Romans ever done for us?”
— Monty Python, Life of Brian (1979)
Welcome to Manner of Speaking. If you're looking for informative and entertaining tips to improve your public speaking skills, you've come to the right place. Have a look around and enjoy your stay.
— John Zimmer
