I recently received the following question from an actor I’d trained who’s now working professionally on a regular basis: How do I tactfully advocate protecting my vocal health in a rehearsal room where I may not have a voice/text coach? As actors, we’re sometimes asked to do things that we aren’t comfortable with and when this happens, it’s important that we’re our own advocates.
This is often easier said than done when your job is on the line, and the challenge for the voice actor is two-fold. First, there’s tremendous pressure on the actor to say “yes” to every direction or suggestion. Two, we can’t see the voice. Unlike staged combat where it’s clear someone is going to get hit by a sword, we can’t see damage to the voice.
I find that asking a question is a great way to start a conversation before resorting to an outright no. When you know what the director’s vision is, you may be able to work collaboratively to find what’s needed to tell the story while allowing you to be safe and get the job done. Here are some common situations you may find yourself in and how to deal.
READ: Sound Advice: Trade Secrets from Leading
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