VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

iladelf · Guest

For all the years I've read copy into a microphone, I just recently had an epiphany on how to read without getting "ahead" of yourself and stumbling. By simply using your index finger as a pointer, on or floating above your copy as you read, you may find that you're able to read copy, even in cold fashion, without errors and at the right pace.

Anyone else do this?

Deirdre · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:47 pm Post subject:

I use my finger all the time! When I read ahead too much I accidentally interpose words from the next line into the line I'm reading.

I also use my finger to point at words that are hard to say in comination so I slow down a tiny bit. It's a life-saver.
_________________
DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

Jowillie · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 4:57 pm Post subject:

"Not that finger!"
Gasp

I worked with a buddy years ago that would pre-read a page of live copy and deliver it on-air exactly as written. I was amazed at how he did it. He recently returned to the air on an oldies station in Kansas City.

There is a school of thought that teaches you to read ahead a complete phrase and then read and sell the idea of the words in the phrase...something about photographic reading.

I am interested in hearing other techniques and thoughts.

Willie E.
_________________
Wild Willie Edwards
www.hometowntvtoday.com
http://vomictest.blogspot.com

Deirdre · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:50 pm Post subject:

I tend to read in whole blocks— when I read a book aloud, I can kinda pre-read many lines at once, nearly a paragraph sometimes. It's fine if I don't need to be letter perfect becaue I can paraphrase on the fly, but reading ahead is a pain with commercial copy.
I use my index finger to slow me down.
_________________
DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

TheVoiceOfBob · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:46 pm Post subject:

I may have to try that myself. With long reads I tend to speed up as I go along. I have to constantly yell at myself (in my head) to slow down. I need something to regulate my speed.
_________________
Try to imagine a world where there is no such thing as hypothetical situations.

The Voice of Bob

Audiogal · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:50 pm Post subject:

I use the finger pointer sometimes. Just depends on the copy. It helps when it's a convoluted script.
_________________
Mary

Philip Banks · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 11:19 pm Post subject:

Do any of you lower your head and place your arm around the paper so that no one nearby is able to copy you?

Ok. Who attended a "Finger tracing workshop" in a studio near Windshear and 3rd? Raise your hand, I mean, move the index finger of your left hand slowly to the right.

www.thecorporatevoice.com/tracing.mp3

Jowillie · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:27 am Post subject:

bobsouer · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 7:23 am Post subject:

Deirdre · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 6:40 pm Post subject:

Philip takes no prisoners.
_________________
DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

Bruce · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 10:07 pm Post subject:

I like to mark up my copy a lot, especially on really intense commercials or to guide me over troublesome spots, but now that I'm trying to go paperless it sure is making a mess out of my monitor!

And rare is the time when I've had to read copy so slowly that I've had to put a finger on the page to keep the words from going by too fast. Hmmmm.

B
_________________
VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

Yoda117 · Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 7:25 pm Post subject:

I don't usually mark my copy unless there's an error that I know will screw me up.

Otherwise I've just learned to read ahead. Actually after passing over it once or twice I've got it memorized, which is rather weird, but it's working for me so whatever works, eh?
_________________
Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones