The Song Fight Bulletin Board

Hey guys, tomorrow I'm doing a vocal audition, which will put me up for consideration for a range of broadcast-related jobs, both radio and tv-related. I'll be in a normal sound booth, and will be given a script to read. I am to read the script in a normal speaking voice, not a big broadcast-y voice.

Read slowly, enunciate without sounding retarded, don't pop (esp if there is no pop-blocker), don't breath loudly... does anyone have extensive experience in live broadcast or voice-over work? Glenn, you've done this stuff forever, right?

I don't have a discernible Texas accent, and I'm confident that once I get a face-to-face interview with someone, I'll get a job. It's just the faceless audition thing that's kind of tripping me out.

Sober wrote: Read slowly, enunciate without sounding retarded, ...

I don't have a discernible Texas accent...

I want to push your own advice there. No matter how good a reader you are, don't let your eyes get ahead of your mouth. Read it as fast as you can in your head once or twice before you do the live take. The one thing that will kill you is 'do overs'. They always want someone 'easy' to work with. One take voice overs are what they are looking for. Sure, there will always be room for a second take...but you want that second take to be a choice, not a fall back.

(*has done some voice over work and currently does it for the phone company he works for)

If you are concentrating when you read, you really shouldn't worry too much about an accent. Understanding that you are careful to pronounce and enunciate properly, this should cover any accent issues.

I hope that I'm being helpful even though you are already mentioned the things that I'm covering. I just think that those things are probably THE most important.

Thanks.

Part of the script will be a fake news story, and I'm terrified that I may slip into a BBC News voice, because that's the only news I ever hear

Just tell them you're British and stay in character the rest of your life. But let them know that you're pretty good with an American voice too. They'll think you're some kind of genius, like Tracey Ullman.

Practice. Read stuff out loud. Get used to doing the action.

I don't have much to say that hasn't been said (pick up a paper and pretend it's your script?) Other than the fact that I've only seen you asleep, drunk or hungover (either you or myself, I don't remember which), I dig how you apply yourself in so many different ways. Good luck tomorrow!

I'll see your Naomi Robinson and raise you one Bill O'eilly

Maybe this is too late but...

Drink water. Lots of fucking water. And mind how you breathe through your nose.