"The Next Day Effect"
In singing and voice over recording, there is a phenomenon that I call "The Next Day Effect". It goes like this: It's midnight. You've just finished recording and editing the BEST audition you have ever done, or you have just finished a final mix of your new song. You hit "EXPORT" and you're ready to send it off.
Cut to 10am the next day. You give your prized work another listen. WHAT?? This couldn't be the same version that I finished last night!! This is the The Next Day Effect. For quite a number of years, I experienced that, and occasionally still do. So why does that happen? Where is the GAP between what we think we did and what we actually did?
There are a few things at work:
1) You get used to hearing only your work and your mind plays a little trick on you. Your ears haven't had enough time away from 'you' and you have lost perspective.
2) You haven't learned how to listen to your work objectively. This may take years to master and some people are never able to do it. You must be able to listen to yourself at every step of your self direction and recording process as if you are listening to a stranger.
3) You don't have the DIRECTION TOOLS necessary to give yourself the proper feedback while you are creating your audition, song or other creative work.
So how do you get better at this? Well, repetition is one of the keys of course. The more times that you record yourself and then do the exercise of listening to your work the next day or days, the more you will improve. But you have to be brutally honest with yourself. Take note of when you ENJOYING your work rather than CRITIQUING your work. At this level, you need to CRITIQUE. I am not talking to those of you with issues about hearing your own voice. For YOU: You need to embrace the enjoying part for awhile. I'm talking to those of you who are looking to deliver a professional level product. Perfectionism will always be an enemy but right now we are talking about the art of OBJECTIVE SELF-CRITICISM.
In the area of Self Direction, particularly for voice over I can help. I've decided to offer 2 upcoming workshops that have Self Direction as their primary themes. In the voice over industry SELF DIRECTION IS A MUST. The first class is coming up Wednesday August 12th and there are still a few spots available. It is a COMMERCIAL Voice Over Workshop for all levels. The intermediate and advanced students will be training in Direction and Self Direction. The other upcoming class is only for intermediate and advanced students and is a 3 Saturday Direction and Self Direction Intensive. Get a director's perspective and find a whole other layer to your technique.
For more info on the classes starting on August 12th and August 15th, CLICK HERE.
I highly recommend reserving your spot soon!
VOICE TECHNIQUE TRAINING TIP - THE FLOOR EXERCISE
Lie on your back, using a hard mat if necessary, with your very slightly lifted with a book or a shallow pillow. Your neck should be aligned with you spine. Allow your shoulders to rest against the ground as much as possible and release any tension in your legs, which are straight.
- Observe your breathing, noticing that diaphragm 'takes the breaths' for you. Take note of that, because that's exactly how you should breathing in your speaking and singing technique.
- Allow your lungs to fill a little more, but in the same 'passive' way that you have been working so far. Notice that the RIB CAGE is expanding more and you may feel your torso lift a little of the ground. Keep waiting for the next breath.
- On your next exhale - make a ZZZZZ sound, and then go back to another passive inhale, then another ZZZZZ. 5 Times.
- Continue breathing, not feeling that you have to fill up all the way
- Sing a song. Continuing to allow the same passive inhales at first. (longer gaps between phrases) Then try to slowly minimize the lengths of the gaps. Eventually you will be able to 'CONTROL the Passive inhale.'