Everybody is waiting for you!
Week of Sep 28, 2009
Throughout my life as a performer, director, teacher, and speaker, I have faced some pretty tough crowds. Yet despite the challenges, I have seen even the iciest audience completely melt when they sense a voice that is open, alive, playful, and free. Many people, not in touch with their own winning voice, are grateful for anyone who gives them a glimpse of it. If you are willing to risk failure, you will almost always succeed. When someone walks the tight rope, even the most jaded old cynic at the circus starts to ooh and ah just like an excited child. Your audience is waiting! Get out there!
LISTEN to Everybody is waiting for you!
Grow your voice!
Week of Oct 5, 2009
Do this: Describe the following famous voices: Lauren Bacall, Richard Burton, James Earl Jones. Would you say these celebrities had good voices? Compelling voices? Attention-getting voices? Now describe your own voice. Would you say you had a good voice? If anything, what don’t you like about your voice? Make a list of adjectives to describe your voice.
Now…Did you know that all 3 celebrities I just mentioned had problems with their voices which they were able to correct? Lauren Bacall had a high whiny voice with a heavy New York accent. Young Richard Burton had a thin tinty nasal voice. And James Earl Jones, one of the most famous voices of our time, still constantly works to correct a life long problem with stuttering. These examples are only a few that prove that you can “grow” your voice,and get your own WINNING VOICE!
LISTEN to Grow your voice!
Get to know your voice!
Week of Oct 12, 2009
We never actually hear our voices the way other people do. Many people, and you may be one of them, will be told that they have a good voice, but they can’t quite hear it themselves. Getting to know your own voice requires patience and time spent listening to recordings of your own performances.
Over time, it is important that you come to know your voice so that you can sell it effectively.
(Charles Michel insists on recording all of his private coaching sessions so that his clients can come to know their own voices.)
LISTEN to Get to know your voice!
Pull the "trigger"!
Week of Oct 19, 2009
When you describe your voice, do you ever use adjectives like flat, loud,soft, monotone, boring, whiny, etc? If you do, please note that all of these adjectives and most others that you might use are really more about your vocal approach than your innate voice. For example, if you say your voice is loud, soften it and it’s not loud. If you say your voice is flat, add more variety of tone and it’s not flat. Almost anything that you would like to change about your voice can be accomplished by making simple adjustments in your approach. I call these adjustments…“TRIGGERS”.
LISTEN to Pull the "trigger"!
Put some lipstick on it!
Week of Oct 26, 2009
A good Voice Over voice is not a normal voice! It is the illusion of a normal voice! In other words, when you speak normally, what you hear as vocal energy and excitement generally translates on microphone as slightly flat. If you use more variety of tone, it will usually not sound inappropriate to your listener. It will simply give you vocal color that will create an attention-getting voice. This is analogous to wearing makeup on TV or in a film. A big masculine TV actor wears a little rouge and lip gloss not to look made up, but to simply look alive. If you use more tone variety than you use in normal life, your voice will simply sound alive!
LISTEN to Put some lipstick on it!
Move!
Week of Nov 2, 2009
Your whole body is involved in producing a good voice. Take some text and stand up and read it while standing completely still. Now take the same text and read it with a little movement in your body. Wiggle your spine and swing to and fro slightly as if you were moving to the sounds of a favorite song on the radio. If this seems silly to you, ask yourself “Can you sing without movement?” Try it. Stand completely still, don’t move a muscle, and attempt to sing. You’ll find that you can hardly get the notes out. Now move and sing. The notes are free. The same thing is true of the spoken voice. You need to move to have a voice that “Moves” people!
LISTEN to Move!
Feel the rhythm!
Week of Nov 9, 2009
An absolute key element to improving your voice is rhythm. Why? Food for thought: STUTTERERS DON’T STUTTER WHEN THEY SING. And the reason they don’t stutter is rhythm. Rhythm organizes your speech! Take some written text and sing it using the melody of a familiar tune. Do this several times. Keep moving. The movement of the body will not only open up the sound of your voice, but help you to feel the words rhythmically. Now read the same text with the same sense of rhythm that you had while singing, but do so in a spoken voice. Over time, you will find that this gives your voice a sense of organization which keeps you from stumbling. And rhythm also gives your voice a buoyancy, a groovy energy that, along with tonal variety, heightens your vocal presentation. Bottom line: Give vocal presentations that are closer to singing than what we normally think of when speaking!
LISTEN to Feel the rhythm!
Pretend!
Week of Nov 16, 2009
The most important thing that the hundreds of people that I have trained over the years have taught me by their example is that you don’t have to wait until you feel confident to speak confidently. Instead of waiting for some sort of epiphany, simply pretend your way into a more exciting voice!
LISTEN to Pretend!
Have faith!
Week of Nov 23, 2009
Paul Newman’s character in “The Verdict” says …
“Act as if you have faith, and faith will be given to you.”
I invite you to “Act” as if you have a good voice and get one!
LISTEN to Have faith!
Pull all the "triggers"!
Week of Nov 30, 2009
There are essentially three ways to build your voice. I call them “TRIGGERS”.
1) Physical “TRIGGERS”… Involve the whole body in the process … Move!.
2) Musical “TRIGGERS”… Add heightened levels of tonal variety and rhythmic energy.
3) Imagination “TRIGGERS”… Pretend your way into more exciting and confident states of being. Once you have opened up your voice in these ways, begin to take a look at the lively qualities in your voice that should now be more visible and make more of them!
LISTEN to Pull all the "triggers"!
Make more of it!
Week of Dec 7, 2009
It is interesting to note that most of us can do little impressions of old time movie stars like Bette Davis, Jimmy Stewart, James Cagney, etc. But we are not as easily able to do impressions of modem actors such as Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt. Why is this? Those earlier stars came out of a Hollywood studio system which surrounded them with hundreds of vocal coaches who encouraged those actors to exaggerate their idiosyncratic vocal qualities for further effect. I doubt that Jimmy Stewart actually stuttered as much in real life or that Bette Davis actually jabbed at every phrase as in “Whaat a dump!”
I invite you to exaggerate your own vocal idiosyncrasies just a bit. If you are willing to appear slightly foolish, you will be perceived as a genius communicator!
LISTEN to Make more of it!
Free it up!
Week of Dec 14, 2009
Over the years, when I have invited someone to show off a good voice, that person will usually present something that is stiff, formal, and serious. They will make a conscious effort to do things vocally that sound traditionally beautiful to the ear.
This is a mistake. Your best voice is not necessarily your most beautiful voice. Your best voice is your FREEST and most exspressive voice!
LISTEN to Free it up!
Screw it up!
Week of Dec 21, 2009
Let’s compare the voices of two former Republican Presidents, Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. Aesthetically speaking, Richard Nixon had a stronger voice. He had a commanding rich baritone. But hardly anyone ever thinks of Richard Nixon as having had a good voice; Whereas Ronald Reagan’s voice was vocally wobbly and a little thin and yet we remember him as “The Great Communicator.” Why?
Because Ronald Reagan was totally free in his voice. Reagan was famous for beginning speeches by simply saying “Well… “ What I interpret that “Well … “ to mean is…
“Well … What the hell! Here goes!”
Get out there with your voice. Make mistakes. It will be messy at times, but you cannot make an omelette without cracking open a few eggs and even Martha Stewart can’t do that without being messy!
LISTEN to Screw it up!
Put it all together!
Week of Dec 28, 2009
Summing up some earlier tips
1) Many people, including celebrities, have vastly improved your voices and you can too!
2) You don’t hear your voice the way other people do.
3) Most of the things that you don’t like about your voice can be changed by simply changing your approach.
4)Use more variety of tone than you use in normal speech.
5) Move your body.
6) Feel the rhythm.
7) Overall, recognize that a good voice comes from a somewhat heightened vocal presentation.
8) You can Pretend your way into a more dynamic voice.
9) Exaggerate a bit, appear foolish, and be perceived as a genius.
10) Instead of presenting a voice that’s proper and right. Present a voice that’s dynamic and free!
LISTEN to Put it all together!
Speak softly and carry a "winning voice"!
Week of Jan 4, 2010
Bill Clinton’s constant battle with vocal fatigue brought on by chronic laryngitis and allergies is a well-known fact. On many occasions, Clinton’s voice was reduced to a husky whisper-especially during the final days of his first presidential campaign in the fall of 1992. At that time, when Clinton struggled to say, “I feel your pain,” voters listened and identified. Ironically, it was then, when he had the weakest voice, that he was most heard. So often, we assume that the winning voice is the most powerful voice, but in Clinton, you can see a clear example of a vulnerable voice being turned into a communication strength. The next time you need to make a point, try whispering instead of shouting, and see what happens! This is particularly true when using a microphone.
LISTEN to Speak softly and carry a "winning voice"!
Speak from the heart!
Week of Jan 11, 2010
Consider one of the most well-known stories in American history: Lincoln at Gettysburg. In the context of re-thinking the winning voice, it is an important story to once again recall. On that legendary day, the 16th president’s speech followed a very long address by one of the most noted orators of that time. Lincoln spoke so quietly at Gettysburg that even people close to the platform had trouble hearing him. Yet, it is Lincoln’s voice that resonates through the ages, because a heartfelt voice, one that honestly expresses your deepest concerns, is one that people remember. After making improvements to your physical voice, remember that it’s also important to be sure of what you want to say so you can figure out the best way to communicate your point.
LISTEN to Speak from the heart!
Pour your heart into it!
Week of Jan 18, 2010
Be passionate! Can you think of the words, “I Have a Dream” without remembering the rolling baritone of the Southern Baptist Preacher who first uttered them? It’s almost impossible. In the same way, JFK’s call to “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” still echoes in our ears in exactly the voice he used on that day in 1961. A passionate voice cannot only live forever in the memories of others…
It can change the world!
LISTEN to Pour your heart into it!
Be yourself!
Week of Jan 25, 2010
The voice you possess is so personal and unique that you may not want to change it. Look at Barbara Walters: For years, Saturday Night Live comics and other impressionists have been poking good-natured fun at her voice. All the while, Ms. Walters’ stardom has continued to rise, missing r’s and all! “TWULLY an achievement”, as she might say!
Speaking of achievements, Humphrey Bogart is another star who proved he could succeed as a great leading man-even though he had a lisp. Some speech purists might cringe at Kate Hepburn’s shakiness or Marlene Dietrich’s growl, but these qualities worked for them. The above examples prove that a “flawed” voice can often be a winning voice. One person’s impediment can be another person’s signature! Stars are not perfect … They are special!
LISTEN to Be yourself!
Go and get it!
Week of Feb 1, 2010
When a nineteen-year-old New York model named Lauren Bacall first appeared on screen to teach that guy with the lisp (Humphrey Bogart) “How to Whistle,” Bogie and millions of others fell in love-both with her look and with her voice. What is fascinating about that (and what most people don’t know) is that the voice they heard was the product of Bacall’s concentrated efforts. Bacall’s original voice was shrill with a thick New York accent. Encouraged by mentors such as director John Houston, Bacall worked hard to create a different voice for herself-one that would match her beautiful look…And she got it. So while it is not always necessary or desirable to alter your voice, if you want a changed voice, you can get it.
“Just like Bogie and Bacall”…
Why not have it all?!
LISTEN to Go and get it!
Make a fool of yourself!
Week of Feb 8, 2010
Most people are deathly afraid of ever appearing foolish which doesn’t really make sense when you consider how much people love clowns like Jerry Lewis, Jim Carey, Robin Williams, Bob Hope, and Whoopee Goldberg. The people who make us laugh for a living are often considered national heroes, held in the highest possible esteem. These funny folks have found a playful voice that has helped them become famous and wealthy, because they have discovered the power that can come to anyone who is not afraid to appear foolish. Terror is a large obstacle in getting a winning voice. To succeed, embrace failure! Play the fool!
LISTEN to Make a fool of yourself!
Breathe!
Week of Feb 15, 2010
Take a deep breath. No, Really. Take a deep breath! If you are like most people, you are probably not breathing deeply enough to support a truly winning voice.
Think about this: When your doctor places a stethoscope to your chest and says, “Take a deep breath,” does your chest heave and fill out? If you answered yes like most people do, you are not getting a deep breath. Deep breathing actually comes from the diaphragm opening, so it is your gut area that should be dramatically expanding when you breathe…not your chest. Since breath is the essential fuel for the winning voice, you want as much as you can get. So, go get it!
LISTEN to Breathe!
Go with your gut!
Week of Feb 22, 2010
Retraining yourself to breathe from the gut instead of from the chest is simple, since you do it naturally when lying down.
So do this: Lie down on your back on a firm, flat surface (preferably a floor or firm bed or mat). Now, breathe deeply. Notice that your gut naturally rises and falls when you breathe in this position. Place your hands on your stomach and begin to slowly stand up, making sure that you’re breathing is still coming from your gut.Your chest should remain fairly still and relaxed. By doing this, and concentrating on your breathing, you are actually retraining yourself to breathe from the diaphragm when standing or sitting. For some time, you will probably need to monitor your new breathing technique by placing your hands on your stomach, but with a little practice, real deep breathing can and will come naturally to you.
LISTEN to Go with your gut!
"Up and in"!
Week of Mar 1, 2010
Microphone Technique:
If you are like most people you are probably not projecting your voice effectively for the microphone. Generally, folks attempt projecting forward in an effort to reach and fill the microphone with sound. What you should be doing is actually just the opposite. You should be taking your sound “UP AND IN” to your body instead of pushing it out at the microphone. This will create a voice that is richer and less shrill with almost no vocal wear and tear. Very importantly for the microphone, you will eliminate the popping of any “P” sound and the hissing of any sibilant “S”. Unskilled voice projection and microphone technique that incorporates an “UP AND IN” approach are as different as screaming is from singing. The first is noise, the latter…music! ( “UP AND IN” is one of many techniques specifically developed and coined by Charles Michel for Voice Over Training.)
LISTEN to "Up and in"!
Get a feel for it!
Week of Mar 8, 2010
Getting a feel for projecting “UP AND IN”.
( “UP AND IN”… A fundamental approach to vocal work on a microphone…. Is one of many techniques specifically developed and coined by Charles Michel for Voice Over Training.)
How do you learn to project your voice “UP AND IN”?
Start by breathing deeply and moving gently. As you continue to move, bring your hands toward yourself as if you were scooping water and splashing it on yourself. Lean backwards just a bit and wiggle slightly as if you were sliding under a limbo stick. While your physical focus moves backward, begin to speak…Almost inhaling the sound.
Concentrate on projecting your voice “UP AND IN” to your body. Imagine that the sound is escaping out of the back of your head, instead of in front of you. Practice this until the approach makes it’s way into your “muscle memory” and becomes a natural and automatic part of your voice and your microphone technique.
LISTEN to Get a feel for it!
