In traditional theatre, actors have weeks - if not months - to create and refine their characters. In the recording booth, we have an hour or two as we prep the audition, and maybe a little extra time in the booth when we get the job. In improvised theater, you know your character best when it’s time for curtain call and not a moment before, since everything can change at any time. The demure religious scholar you’ve been portraying all evening could actually be the murderer… and you won’t even know until everyone else (including the audience) knows.
Oftentimes, you walk out on stage with no character, hoping that one springs forth from your head as Athena did from Zeus’ while you speak your first line. You have to be ready to be whatever is necessary to support the narrative, even if it’s something you would never be cast as in a million years. I once spent half a show as a sentient fish who had taken over Earth and enslaved humanity.
No amount of character study can prepare you for THAT!
And so, as improvisors, we tend to do a lot of work on building characters quickly, and adapting them as the story unfolds. I’ve done my share of improv character workshops throughout the years with masters of the craft. Every single one of them brought new tools to my “Character Creation Tool Belt.” And yet, I still found myself slipping out of characters as a show progressed.
All of these tools helped me create the characters, but my creations were ephemeral and tended to fade away when I left the stage, returning slightly more dilute each time they re-entered the scene. And if I was playing more than one character in a show? Forget it.
Fast forward to Summer 2019. I was taking a class at Voice One and the instructor said (and I’m paraphrasing here) “In the booth, the only thing you have is your voice. No sets, no lights, no makeup… just your voice. But - you can use your physicality as a costume.” I nodded and tried to look philosophical as I thought about what she just said, but I wasn’t actually able to wrap my brain around it until a few months later when I was teaching a drop-in improv workshop for Voice Actors.
We were doing work on creating characters. They'd start with an animal, or a name, or a job, then dance until I say "freeze," using their frozen pose to inspire a character. We were having a really good time creating rapid fire characters when I suddenly had the idea to tell people to remember their pose before we went on to the next. Everyone found a new pose, we wandered around the room in character talking to each other for a bit, and then I told everyone to strike that previous pose again and switch back to that previous character.
And that’s when it clicked for me.
The physicality of the poses were the characters’ costumes, and by putting those costumes back on, it was easier to find the character again.
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Our brains are always very busy. Sometimes we’re thinking about the script (or lack thereof). Sometimes we’re thinking about the stage lighting, or the fact that we missed dinner, or how Tim didn’t see us enter from stage left, or figuring out what the story needs at 8:32 PM on a Thursday... We are always thinking. When we’re in the booth, we have the added pressure of taking direction, and listening to the engineer, and hoping that the other people in the room aren’t as important as they look. When we’re improvising, we’re watching the story as an audience member even when we’re on stage telling the story.
So when you try to do a character, your brain looks at everything else it’s got going on and just says “Ain’t nobody got time for that.” And poof. Bye bye character.
But our bodies? Our bodies don’t have a whole lot to do. They hold us upright and help us move. Most of the work they do is automated so that the brain doesn’t have to think about it. Your body has plenty of spare bandwidth. Your body is smart.
No matter HOW you create a character, give that character a distinct physicality immediately. Figure out how they hold themselves, or how they sit, or what part of their body twitches when they’re nervous.
It doesn’t have to be huge or complicated, just make it specific.
When your body returns to that physicality it’s going to remember all the other stuff that went with it. Because your brain said “Oh look, body’s got this one” and offloaded all of the heavy lifting in regards to that character.
This is something simple and effective you can do while you’re recording to remember (or even just maintain) a character. The only thing in the booth is your voice. Nothing else matters. The booth doesn’t care if you are contorted, or if your eye is twitching, or if you’ve got your lips curled up in a snarl. All the booth cares about is your voice.
That means you can take advantage of your body’s intelligence and use it as the costume that makes that character stand out in your brain. That means you have a quick and easy shortcut to returning to that character after lunch, or after a bathroom break, or even after playing a totally different character. And even better? A really specific physicality can distract your brain just enough to make you less nervous.
Your body is smart. Use it. Trust it.
Prolific voice actors of animation talk about their careers
by Clay Robeson October 1, 2020
Announcing October's Professional Invitational guest!
As a voice actor, you are your brand, but you can also become part of a company's "brand voice"
Check out what we have in store for you you this coming month!
A quick look at classes starting this week and next week!
Voice Actor phenom here to teach our VO Master Class
A quick look at classes starting this week and next week!
Voice One's new line of "Vocal Athlete" t-shirts are now available in red and black in the Voice One store!
Angeli Fitch e-laborates on her experiences in E-Learning
Announcing our first Professional Invitational guest of the Fall 2020 Semester!
Don't worry, a lot of people think that...
Check out what we have in store for you this month!
A quick look at what's coming to Voice One next week!
A quick look at what's coming to Voice One this week!
A quick look at what's coming to Voice One this week!
A quick look at what's coming to Voice One this week!
Join our official server! Open to current students, Voice one alumni, and prospective students too!
Sign up for both of our Advanced Character classes in June and save $50!
Download the Summer Brochure and check out our July-August classes!
Join Sally every Wednesday morning and start your day with a free 20-minute Vocal Workout!
We are excited to announce our new guest instructor for Anime Mania!
Our next "Nailing the Audition" guest is from outside the Bay Area!
Three 2-hour "deep-dive" sessions have been added to the class calendar. Join one, two, or all three!
Starting in just a few weeks, this class is the perfect class for beginning and intermediate voice actors.
We've got four incredible workshops coming your way next weekend! Find out more in this update from Sally!
We've moved this class on the calendar to better suit the online format
How to Manage your Training and Career During Social Distancing
Look who's coming to Voice One next week!
Join Sally in the morning or evening for an 8-person 2-hour voice over workout!
For the time being, all Voice One classes have been moved online. Here are the confirmed dates.
The schedule for the 2020 Summer Fast Track series is now available for online registration!
If you use a grocery list – rejoice! Sally shares a technique for strengthening your VO with a shopping list.
Voice over industry veterans share their words of wisdom on the video game industry.
Three steps to stop listening to yourself while performing commercial VO
Our February Professional Invitational guest is revealed!
In the voice over industry, you must stand apart from the rest, and in more ways than you might think!
Let’s tackle big, old, ugly fear. Here are five ways to conquer your fear of trying improv, or anything new.
We've created a guide that you can print up and bring with you to your Super Bowl watching party. After the game, upload your answers and compare!
This interview with Christi Soper casts some light on casting at DreamWorks.
We'll be sending a new-and-improved commercial watching guide for 2020 - check out last year's guide and repsonses, and stay tuned!
Danny spoke with Leapfrog senior producer and fellow voice actor Chuck Wedge to find out why his upcoming "Sense of Play" class has been on his mind for over 10 years.
Sally suggests letting these four words become your mantra for 2020.
Sally toasts to 2020 with a story of a time she felt like she could conquer the world...
Sally ponders what would happen if actors were to give an audition as a gift to their client.
We've got a poem for you that we think will make you laff... errr, we mean LAUGH!
Give the gift of learning this holiday season. Voice One holiday gift ideas for your list or theirs!
Due to popular demand, beginning in 2020, Voice One will now be offering online classes!
Happy Holidays! Our December 2019 newsletter has arrived, and is chock full of exciting announcements and offers!
We had such a great response to our Black Friday sale, we've extended it to Cyber Monday!
Here's a look at what's coming to Voice One between now and the end of the year. End the year with a strong finish as you continue to hone your craft!
An article from our upcoming Professional Invitational guest, John Kovacevich
We are excited to announce our special guest for the final Professional Invitational class of 2019!
Take a look at our ten brand new classes coming to Voice One in 2020!
Now through Monday 11/4 at 5pm, take advantage of our discounted pricing for these classes
See what Voice One has in store for 2020, including some exciting new classes!
Join us this Sunday to meet the "VO-mad" as he speaks about his career as a world traveler
From Robin Williams to Tina Fey, here are 25 reasons why improv not only make you a better actor, but change your life!
The Voice One Training Vocal Booth is available to rent in San Francisco! Here's how you can use it...
What is the meaning of this mantra? Take "Script Analysis" with Sally and find out!
Sally muses on a recent article from Second City's Kim Greene Hiller on how improv builds resiliency, listening, team-building, and creativity.
Another VO for Kids (ages 10-17) is just around the corner. Help spread the word to any youngsters you know who are itching to get behind the mic!
Find out why Copy Intensive is some students' favorite class at Voice One
Be understood no matter the circumstance using clear diction
The latest bookings, signings, and other news from your peers!
Sally reflects after her recent showing of Hamilton
We've got some great classes headed your way next week and there are a handful of spaces available in each of them! Take a look...
Guess who's back?! That's right! Lil' Dino has returned to usher in the fall with a Labor Day Weekend Flash Sale!
