Voice Acting Tips I Learned in the Obedience Ring

I have two loves. My mic. And dog training. One requires focus, concentration and energy. And the other? Well. Same. Turns out, voice acting and dog training have more in common than you'd think. Voice over can actually make this weird slide into the Obedience and Rally rings. Look at Vocal Modulation. A higher modulation lends itself playfulness and energy. While a lower pitch conveys authority. It’s the difference between Retail or Comedy scripts, and Manifestos or Anthems. I use both of those when training my dog. When we do a Rally sign we’ve struggled with, and I blurt out a “Oh! Sooo Goood!” Friday’s eyes light up and I have to hope she doesn’t jump on me. Or a soft and deep “Leave it” when I need to get her nose off the mats. It doesn’t need to be shouted. Just a “caution”. Pacing and Timing are equally as important. Did you know that you have at most 4 seconds to reward your dog for doing what you asked before he’ll attach a completely different behavior to the cookie? It’s true. If you say “Sit”, they sit, and you spend the next 10 seconds digging in your pocket, your dog will think they're being rewarded for whatever they’re doing the moment you give them the treat. Whereas in voice acting, you’ll use a quick pace to convey excitement. You know. That big sale or an event you’re promoting. And a slow pace, even a pause…..to create anticipation or intrigue.  Think about Reese’s peanut butter cups. When they first hit the market back in 1928, the ad might have gone something like this: “What if sweet, creamy peanut butter was delivered……...in a crisp chocolatey shell? 

Is your mouth watering yet? Yeah. Now I want candy.

And then there’s Emotional Connectivity.Dogs sense your energy level instantly. There’s no faking it. I tried training Friday last Thursday evening. I had anticipated the match all week and did everything I could to make sure we got in early and put our best foot forward. My plans were shredded the moment I left the building keys at home with my husband. Needless to say, we were the very last to get our run. Most of the event had packed up and gone home. I had just finished judging and my feet ached.  And as much as I tried to fake energy, we were both wilting. Friday started missing on things she never does. We were toast and she knew it.

Voice acting requires genuine emotional connection to your script. The better your connection, the more solid your read. You work to find what invests you in the script and makes it relatable to your own lived experiences. That honesty shows up in your voice as intangibles that tickle the listener’s ears in ways so subtle, they’re beyond description. And when you deliver a script, and feel it in your soul, specs be damned, you know you're giving them something they’ll remember. If not for this casting, maybe the next.

Pitch, Pace and Emotional Connection. Can't escape them, so you best get comfortable. So tell me — where else in your life is this showing up? Because once you see it, you can't unsee it. Got a dog (or a kid, or a partner) who reads your energy better than your closest friend? Let's hear about it.