How to Deliver a Compelling Voice Over Performance 

Bill...this has to be one of your best videos to date. "You can never sound good enough to make someone believe you". That line alone is enough to shift an entire mindset. Thank you Bill.

Bill, I have watched many videos from VO professionals and by far what makes you different is your sincerity and willingness to help. You shoot videos with the intention of sharing your knowledge and helping out those who are looking for a new source of income. Thank you!

Genuiness. Sincerity. Empathy. Bill's got those down pat. Thanks Bill!

This is amazing stuff, Bill. I love how you said, "hey, Bobbie....." I have done that in the booth before.... ( of course deleting the hey. Bobbie part ) but it really helps get into the personal emotions.

Being new at this, NEVER would have though song and VO would be the same but it makes SO much sense.

I hope you’re keeping safe and well Bill. I’m spending my isolation here in NE England kicking off a VO ‘career’. I’ve recorded a test piece for an audiobook audition, and it’s been accepted and favourably commented on. Thanks for your help in the videos. I’m on my journey!

The art of the conversational read!!! I hear it in my head when I take on a script, but I can't push it out. Many times it ends up sounding "radio". So frustrating. I've used the thought process you teach in this video but holy cow, I keep doing the control and polish. Grrrrrr.

Make it PERSONAL, I love it.

Bill, Your video came just at the right time. I just had a customer ask for a re-do because it was not "conversational" I did two more reads after your advice and they loved it. Thanks again.

Thank you for this. I'm brand new to VO. I'm taking classes locally (via Zoom at the moment). My coach has told me several times to be less "announcer-ish" and to bring more emotion into it. There's something about the way you explained it that clicked. My practice sessions will be changed from this day forward. You now have a new subscriber.

In the work that I do as a Life Coach using Solution Focused Strategies, (an intervention) listening for the meaning behind the questions is critical. Being able to respond with honesty is most important. Great behind the scenes stuff Bill, Thank you.

Outstanding advice Bill. If anyone has been hearing the NetSuite by Oracle ads running on Alexa you can hear exactly this - vulnerability. I've heard the ads in multiple voices, both male and female. It's easy for me to think that I could have done that more "professionally", but it's obvious by the similarity between voice actors doing these ads that vulnerability is what they are after. It comes across as being real and genuine - certainly not in the manner of a controlled, perfectly executed read. I think the Baptist Health example you gave demonstrates the point perfectly. When reading it with emotion or vulnerability - it sounded like you were talking to directly to those on the front line fighting covid-19, not like you were just talking "happy talk." Thanks Bill, powerful stuff!

Hi Bill, Cleopatra here again. I really am enjoying your videos. Thank you for sharing. I publicly read scripture at my church and what happens when I read is not so nice. At home, I take time to read the passage and practice but when I begin to read in church I become so nervous that one can literally hear how nervous I am. As I continue on, I do lose the nervousness. Its crazy and I cant pinpoint what really happens to me. I do think that I'm so concerned about reading well, pronouncing the words well, and reading audibly. I believe my reading sounds too professional and boring, perhaps even fake, if this makes sense. Your video is so helpful and I will certainly use your advice. Hopefully I will connect with the passage and read better in church. In fact I hope that perhaps someday I too can enter into the world of voice over. Who knows... By the way, we have a gentleman in church who reads with such command that the congregation literally sits up to listen. I so wish that I could read like him - his reading is fantastic to say the least. Our pastors have been contemplating on asking him to do an audio book for our Sunday School. I wish that I could read like him.

Great stuff, Bill. This is why voice acting is very much so acting through and through. Smile on mic and the listener can "hear" that smile.

Awesome tips, Bill!

Thanks Bill, stay safe

Absolutely LOVE this!

Brilliant advice thanks Bill!!!!

Another brilliant video Bill!!

ALWAYS LEARNING FROM YOU!!!

top content from you, Bill!

This makes perfect sense...thx Bill!

Yep, one of your best videos. Well done!

You are appreciated.

These videos are great.

Thanks Bill... I’m a little misted up... you are so right... I am a semi-professional vocalist and it is about “ owning” the song

Hi Bill. Thank you for an excellent video!

This is wonderful information and a great example!

Thank you.

Thanks Bill. God Bless You and yours. Stay healthy.

Bill, one of your best, by far!!!

Yes, super helpful. I’ll be back! Thank you.

Bill, This provided an excellent example. Thanks

OH MY GOD THAT MAKES SENSE AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

I've been following you and am a member of of your VO Blueprint. This is a video that I've been craving for you to do! Thanks! I will be listening to this many times!

Notification crew! Stay safe and best wishes Bill! Hoping to continue improving my performance and start gigging soon.

I think this is a great video. Thank you, Bill! Your videos are always insightful and helpful!

Bill, probably one of the best and relevant and useful videos from you. Bill, Thank you.

I found it interesting you mentioned it feeling like you were toasting someone. When you changed the read, that's exactly what I thought it sounded like. Fantastic content as always!

100%. The emotion and all the subtleties that come along with that have much more of an impact than just sheer volume and speed.

This is one of the best advice to example I have heard. It coincides with what your books says too.

Bill, great advice and most needed for us to be compelling as VO:s. I have a read today and certainly gonna think about this. Thanks👍 Cheers from Sweden

enjoying your videos.

Hm, my projector comment posted here for some reason. Anyway, there was a lot of good wisdom in this video. I'll start to record with the questions of how I feel and what I want the audience to feel in mind. "It begins with the end." That's good stuff! So was the tip about differing tones / intensity not being different reads. I'll keep that in mind too.

Wow. Thank you for demonstrating the script and the importance of emotion.

Bill, thanks for another great post! The similarities to being a musician continue in that it's all about conveying emotion. I once read an article where two established guitarists were praising another guitar legend. The first guitarist said that the legend's tone came from his hands while the second said that it came more so from his heart. Touchy-feely? Bring it on!

Hi Bill, I appreciate the depth of your insight. Especially when you quoted Covey, who is a big influence on me. I look forward to the 4 week course. Be well, stay healthy.

Awesome information I listen to your videos while iam Trucking it here in Texas keep up the great work Bill God bless 😎🤘🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Great information. I found it very helpful. I would like to have you as a coach from time to time.

This as awesome, feel the read I too was in radio and its tough to turn that off!

Bill, I look forward to hear your announcement of your four week class. Cheers.

Great advice. Bill is not only knowledgeable and experienced, he speaks from a place of integrity. I am glad to have found his website.

Love this video - feeling it and bringing that emotion into your performance is magic - and a huge edge, especially when doing vo for marketers. It's a powerful tool.

You are an encouragement. Earlier I mentioned that I want to read my published book, making it audio. It's my story about when tragedy hit our family and changed everything. I worried that while reading, my emotions would bleed through. Though I will have to pull back some...your posting has empowered me. I'm gonna keep listening, you have great training. I'll be waiting to hear about the classes you've developed.

Top notch Bill. Your advice is similar to what I have said as a gigging musician to bandmates: If the band is not "feeling" what we are playing, the audience won't either. Keep up the great work!

Thank you, Bill !!! Straight to the heart ... I'm saving this to a "Playlist for Single Moms Aspiring to Share their Wisdom with each other" with whom I am bringing VALUE ... So, naturally ... you're my choice. Happy Easter 2020 !!! It's already a great year for growth !!!

Fantastic advice. I'm taking a VO class here in Georgia and we each read some material and then are critiqued by the instructor (in a positive way). We have class tomorrow via the web, and I plan to use all your tips to see what difference that makes! I have a good feeling! Cheers!

Thank you Bill that was inspiring, really open my eyes.

Hi Bill, I am excited for your new course/training. I am willing to sign up. I have a question. I am more interested in tips related to voice delivery, like this one, and marketing strategies as well. Please let me know if this will be covered in the course. Thanks Bill!

Thank you. When will you have another class?

After over 20 years in radio, I can completely relate to the "make it pretty and shiny" comparison vs the personal style of delivery. The problem is maybe two-fold; having bosses just say sound more natural but unwilling or unable to give guidance and second being confined to the script. Depending on the level of the script (local, regional, national), the writing can be a big part of how natural it can be read. Now, I'm not saying those are the only reasons, because trying to find my natural delivery after so many years of doing the opposite is continuing to be a challenge. And splitting my time between on-air and production didn't help in this area. As you probably know Bill, as a production director it's like meatball surgery. You get a stack of orders at 2pm with half of them needing voice over, so you're kind of forced to slam these out in your comfort zone just to get them on the air. Now that I've been away from radio for a while, I want to pick up good habits but find myself reverting back to the old way. Frustrating!!! Thanks for the video, take care Bill!

I enjoy your videos and appreciate the advice. Do you happen to know off the top of your head a good mic that handles very deep voices?

That was great advice, I'll try to remember to remain vulnerable when doing readings. Would you say this applies to doing narration for audiobooks as well, or would that require a different kind of mindset?

Greetings Mr. DeWees, I came accross your videos about a little over a year ago as I am getting my own VO/VA career off the ground on the side while I still have a full time job. I've watched some of your vids and they have all given advice that I've been able to use. So thank you for that. With that advice, I've been using it to get a feel for VO in general by doing some fan works here and there (mostly character work in the Machinima niche). Now that I feel I've got at least a good understanding of who I am behind the mic, I was preparing to have a professional demo reel made. However, due to circumstances, it appears that I will either have to wait, as most of the pro-recording studios near me are currently within the hot zone of LA (I live in So. Cal.) Or i would have to struggle and take a chance in making my own (which is much less than ideal). Is there some kernel of advice you would have that could point someone like me in a direction? Or how one would even MAKE a demo reel in this current environment since I can only assume most, if not all, recording studios are shut down to stay safe. I know this is one of those things that can get EASILY messed up or put a damper on the upward journey. Thanks for your time and all the advice you've given thus far Stay Safe T.K.

Thank you, Bill. I really enjoy your videos. I’m seeing this video 5 months after you posted, so I know your 4 week classes have already happened. I’ve recently been laid off from the production company I worked for, after a lengthy furlough. All due to the pandemic. I’ve been in the corporate production industry for 25 years. I’m now jumping headfirst, full time into the VO world. I’m very interested in taking your classes. Please lmk how to reach out via email. Thank you.

So true, Bill! Great acting is not about a perfect, polished sound; it's about connecting emotionally to your heart!

Excellent advice! I’m looking to start a career in voice over and this was invaluable. I can’t wait to hear about this class

Bill, you doing any online voice over classes currently? Thank you very much

That 4 week class sounds amazing btw, sign me up!

We should be able to give 2 thumbs up or more :)

Hi Bill - I just found you and think you have some of the best videos/advice regarding the world of voiceovers. Do you have or can you create a video explaining Source Connect? I see that as a requirement on auditions and don't know much about it. Thanks and stay safe!

did I miss the 4 week class.....

I do English narration in Tokyo and the directors here reinforce the veneer and polish. Due to the language barrier, they hear the sound and rarely the connection:(

is it just me or does he sound like the 5-second ridles guy /: