13181: That Moment When You’re Just About To Perform
Hey there, hero!
The little moments in life when we do what we do as performers…record an audition, narrate a chapter in an audiobook, self-tape an on-camera audition…they are juicy, aren’t they?
I’m wondering what goes through your head, just as you’re about to start.
To take that “blank page” and add content to it.
To change it from nothing to something.
Do you have doubts? Are you supremely confident? Something in between?
Do you even notice that moment anymore?
I wonder how that on-the-brink moment hits you these days. Let me know in the comments below.
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Want to be a better VO talent, actor or author? Here’s how I can help you…
- …become a VO talent (or a more successful one):
- …become an audiobook narrator on ACX (if you’re an actor or VO talent):
- …narrate your own book (if you’re an author):
- …have the most effective pop filter (especially for VO talent):
- …be off-book faster for on-camera auditions and work (memorize your lines):
Raw transcript:
Raw transcript:
there is a moment pretty much every day
in our lives as
performers where we’re presented
with a look on our computer screens or
on our
phones whatever is recording an audition
or an actual piece for work and I wonder
what it’s like for you at that very
moment is it a moment of Terror
or is it something else we’ll talk about
that in this episode of the vo Heroes
[Music]
podcast what do you feel even if for a
fleeting moment when you are presented
with
this or some equivalent of that that is
the uh screen that is given to you as
you are just about to start recording in
audacity but that screen appears no
matter what kind of software you’re
using or what kind of device you’re
using you have a moment where your
device or your software shows you ready
to go ready for your input ready for
your amazing performance Mr Lawrence
five minutes you know thank you five
minutes um what does it feel like for
you at that moment that’s my
question it is a very quick thing
because eventually you hit the record
button but it is a moment and the
question
is do you have that little moment of
Terror do you have that feeling of
uncertainty what am I going to do I hope
this is fantastic gosh I hope they pick
me you know or is it a moment of okay I
got this this is good I’m going to do
this this is this is a chance this is an
opportunity this is a a moment where I
might uh I might make a difference in
somebody’s life in their production in
their commercial or in their audio book
or in their on camera gig their
commercial their their Prime Time
television
show how we handle that
moment may not be something that we
remember it may not even be something
that we’ve
noticed but I’d like you to do that the
next time you are just about to create
something just about to put the
proverbial pen to the paper or the uh
brush with paint to the to the canvas or
your voice or your face to a
recording and I would submit to you that
however you respond to that is how you
respond to it but you do have a
choice and the choice that you
make can affect and will affect your
performance if your choice is one of
fear or debilitating uncertainty I don’t
know if I can do this oh my God here we
go again this is going to be
horrifying this is going to be awful I’m
going to have to take my 991 takes or if
it’s okay let’s do this I got this I
love this if you make a choice that is
supportive of your talent and supportive
of your training and preparation and the
homework that you’ve done about what
you’re about to create you know how
you’ve studied the scene or you’ve
designed the character and all of those
things we do have those choices to
make and so my question is what choice
are you making now and what choice would
you like to
make let me know in the comments below
I’d love to get your feedback on this
because it’s one of those things that
can make a big difference in your
performance uh while you’re at it you
can hit the like button you can
subscribe to the channel you can be
notified of future uh episodes as
they’re released you can share this with
another actor or voice Talent OR author
who you think should see this let me
know I’m David H Lawrence the 17th I
thank you so much for writing and for
listening and I will see you in the next
episode of the vo Heroes podcast
[Music]
(from YouTube)
David,
Thoughtful, as usual.
Thanks for making us think about such things.
David: Responding to your questions on this one. For recorded events that I’m involved in…audio books…podcasts…my radio show…I have no trepidation at the moment of recording. I think that’s mainly because of the editing that is available to me. These events, for me, are more of a production task…getting it on time and completed. The performance can be revisited and enhanced if necessary. My biggest problem there is self-directing. I still struggle with wondering if I’m REALLY communicating. On stage…I still get a few butterflies before I go out but, like in football, after the first hit…I’m ready to play. What little on-camera experience I have however has taught me that I really like it. For me, it’s much easier to relate to other performers and be more genuine in the small snippets done at different angles etc. Directors have said, “Yep, I like what you’re doing there”…when, in my mind, I’m only just talking to the other guy. It’s cool.
When I started thinking about doing the audio book version of my stories, I really didn’t think of the performance aspects of the narration. Since my books are fiction and involve danger, romance, and general mayhem, I guess it really is like (radio) acting. And that makes me a bit nervous, but, hey, what have I got to lose?
It’s just a few seconds to review the checklist before taxiing onto the runway and taking off.
Great message! Always try to keep the adventure going and the sense of competence and confidence. Succeed more than not!
I feel elated and grateful when I have the opportunity to record children’s magazines for CRIS (Connecticut Radio Information Service – Audio access for the Bind and Print Challenged.) I imagine that I am reading to a child and structure my delivery to suit the content and engage the listener, who may also be reading along with me.
However, when I make a recording for my own audience (regarding small business skills), the gremlins sneak in and start questioning my authority and veracity.
David, thanks to your insights; the next time those creeps step forward, I will smack the little buggers and get into the same service mindset that works for me when I record for the kids.
I love that moment just before walking on stage. I don’t get to say “wait…I am not hitting the record button yet..” The orchestra is playing. you are on! There is your cue. You are on! Live theater works with this moment so well, it is a thrill that I want so much I want it during an audition because it helps drive me. When recording, I can pause, take a breath, go when ready. Live theater…not so much…but what a great moment!
Hey David,
I look forward to all of your podcasts! Today’s was an excellent question. I have to say that sometimes it’s a mixture of, “Can I give them what they want? Do I understand exactly what they’re asking for? They probably already picked someone. Or, they’ll probably pick someone else”….. BUT…. I have to say that stop that negative inner voice, shake it off, and I get very excited because I love VO work!!! I have too much going on in my head!!
Thanks for asking and for listening!
When I auditioned for the audiobook I just completed I was stoked, I wanted to be the narrator for this book. I was clear on my intention and managed to do the audition in one straight take. (I had practiced before this take a few times).
As I was working through the chapters I did have moments of “please help me tell this woman’s story correctly”… When I was heading into self sabotage, I stopped, took a few breaths or wrote down what my head (the one that tells me I can’t do things) was saying and then started with excitement and yes, joy. I truly loved reading this book.
On stage is somewhat different, the overture plays or your cue is said and ready or not you’re on. Breathing, I find, helps that also. To me, preparation is key. That’s why I LOVE rehearsals-the time you experiment and find your Point of View goes far in providing excitement and confidence instead of dread and depression.
This might be my favorite episode! I’d say my first thought probably runs the gamut. But sometimes it’s even a mischievous giggle as I think to myself “I can’t believe I’m doing this”. And after viewing this episode, I’m going to make point to say something positive out loud before hitting ‘record’ like “This is going to be great!” or “This is going to be fun!”
Sometimes, just before I start my Dungeons and Dragons podcast, I tell myself, “You got this.”