The College Radio Zone

Communicating With Your Voice March 9, 2010

Image by NCReedplayer via Flickr

Your show’s about to start…The song is fading out.  You’ve done your show prep so you’re comfortable and know exactly where you’re taking the conversation.  Everything seems in order so it’s  show time right?  Just one question…how’s your delivery? What I mean is does your voice reflect the enthusiasm of what you’re saying?  Does it flow with the pace of the music that just faded out?  Do you inflect your voice in a natural, conversational tone?  Do you sound friendly and sincere?  Not sure?  College radio tends to offers so much freedom and creative license  that one of the areas that get’s pushed to the side is delivery of the message itself.  Listening back to an air check of yourself is probably the best way to discover your strengths and weaknesses.  But if you’re still not sure of how to get the natural sound that professionals have where do you start?

Here’s an idea that worked for a friend of mine  It’s called parroting and it’s  exactly what it sounds like it is.  Basically, my friend wanted to read news like a professional but since he never read news in his life and didn’t understand the concept of inflecting his voice he decided the quickest way to learn the craft was to simply tape a news cast from someone he felt was really great.  Then he transcribed that news cast, listened to it over and over then, reading along with the taped version, he matched the pacing, pitch, and inflection.   After several parroting sessions he began to develope his own style and rhythm and, as a result, at age 12, he won state championship in a news reporting category.  By the way, because of this process (in part) he has enjoyed 45 years in radio.  There is no doubt that parroting is a great way to jump-start a sluggish delivery.

The truth is NOTHING kills a great story more than a monotone delivery.  If you don’t sound enthusiastic about what you’re talking about how can you expect your listeners to be interested?

Since radio is theatre of the mind the first impression you make with your audience won’t be what you say so much as  how you say it. All that your listeners have to go on is  your delivery  so it’s a good idea to develope an affective, natural delivery.  A monotone or less than enthusiastic delivery will make you sound uninterested in your own subject and the audience will pick up on that immediately.

If you’re serious about becoming a professional broadcaster then take the time to learn how to sound enthusiastic.  Find a professional announcer you like, record him/her then transcribe the recording, listen to it a few times, then read along with it and try to match the pace, inflection, and style (as best you can).  When you think you’ve got it…record yourself reading and listen back to see how well you did?  The results will amaze you!  This is the easiest, quickest way to find your own style of delivery. It may take a few tries and you will have to leave your comfort zone to get this but remember… EVERYONE in entertainment started out by leaving their  comfort zone.  If you’re willing to do this you will be well on your way to becoming an affective communicator!