Whoo hoo! You’ve booked your first live session with a client! Or maybe this ain’t your first rodeo and you’re no stranger to live sessions. Whatever the case, it’s important to keep a few things in mind—and in your booth—when you get on the line with your client.
Here are my top 5 tips for rockin’ your live recording session:
1. Stay hydrated! We live in Vegas, which is one heckuva desert (if you haven’t already noticed)! As a voice actor, you have to stay super hydrated, especially if you live in a dry climate. It’s critical to your vocal health (and your overall health. Dry mouth = mouth clicks…a voice actor’s nemesis! Y’all know how much I love my coffee, but I drink over a gallon of water every day AND a ton of Throat Coat tea, too, to make sure I’m hydrated at all times…
2. Sour candy is your best friend. Speaking of reducing mouth clicks and dry mouth, any kind of sour candy can help get your salivary glands going when you’re in a pinch. If your mouth feels like it’s stuffed with cotton before a live session, eat a piece of sour candy a few minutes before the session starts. See ya, dry mouth!
3. Keep a pencil handy. Your client may ask you to make changes to the copy on the fly, or give you a certain direction to keep in mind throughout the session. It’s crucial to have a pencil with you so you can make notes on your script as you go.
4. Use lip balm! Lip balm… All. Day. Long. My favorite is Virtuoso lip balm from Trader Joe’s. Good stuff! You can get ’em in a 3-pack! Again, it’s crucial to stay hydrated.
5. Water, water everywhere…but in a bottle. While we’re talking about hydration, ALWAYS have water with you in your booth. But make sure it’s bottled water with a sealed cap. Because if you bring a glass of water in the booth…and put it next to that expensive recording equipment…and get really into your read and really physical with it…and your hand accidentally hits that glass of water…YIKES. You see where I’m going with this. Bottled water, folks.
My survival kit during long, directed sessions includes: Water, hot tea, coffee, hard lemon candy, pencils with erasers, lip balm, & tissue.
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Don’t forget to bring your own survival kit with you in the booth! Now get in there and ROCK that live session!