What do you think of when you hear the word meditation?

Most people think of monks high on a mountain somewhere high in the Himalayan mountains sitting around on mats with their legs crossed.

That’s not where I’m going. Meditation is simply deep thought. It’s actually something I practice quite often.

Let me explain…

There’s a common phrase “Think before you speak” and that’s what I am advocating… sort of.

When you get behind the mic (those of you who don’t have a lot of experience) what happens? Do you feel a tightness in your chest? Does your heart beat faster? Do your palms start to sweat and your mouth dry out? Why is that? There is another common statement that says “We fear what we do not understand”. I put it this way, “We fear what we do not know.”

There’s one obvious way around that: get more experience. This is hard to do unless you’re landing gigs. If you’re not landing gigs because you don’t have experience, there’s no hope, right? Not quite.

There’s a way around that and it’s pretty easy, but it requires concentration and imagination. One way I prepare myself to get behind the mic without ever powering up the studio is run through the process of an audition or recording in my mind. Yes, meditation. It works wonders.

I know it may sound weird, but if you run through the scenario (any scenario, not just voice over stuff) enough in your head, it will become second nature when you’re actually in that scenario at a later time.

For instance, I close my eyes and I envision myself holding the script in my hand, sitting on a stool behind a microphone. I feel the headphones on my ears and hear my voice when I speak into the mic. I look behind the mic and there is a large glass window, behind which sit a producer and an audio engineer. The producer gives me instructions and I hear them in my headphones. I do what I am told to do. I read the script and time slows down… you get the idea.

Go into as much detail as you possibly can. It helps some people to imagine themselves in third person, kind of like watching yourself do everything.

To go through a complete session only takes about five minutes or less. Using your imagination, put yourself in as many different recording environments as you can possibly imagine. Change the wall coverings, change the mics, whether you can see the producer or not, sitting, standing, etc. The more situations you run through in your mind over and over again, the more prepared and calm you’ll be when it comes time for an audition or recording session.

This exercise can be included in your warm up. Your voice, lips, mouth, and tongue aren’t the only things that need a good warm up, you know.

Don’t do this when you’re tired. Closing your eyes when you’re tired can only lead to one thing. Sleep. Get up, move around, and do some jumping jacks to get your heart rate up, then start the brain up. It will be easy from there on out.

Meditation takes a lot of practice to stay focused, but it helps keep you centered and helps you prepare. I recommend it, not only for voice over artists before auditions and recording sessions, but for every kind of performer before any performance of any kind!

May your mind be focused and your thoughts clear, young grasshopper.

No related posts.