10 Things You Learned in Kindergarten That’ll Help You With Voice-Over Acting
We’re going to have a little fun and take a bit of a trip down memory lane to show you how those kindergarten lessons really, um, secretly set you up to be voice-over stardom!
That’s right, folks—those skills you picked up while you were learning to tie your shoes and share your crayons are way more valuable than you may have considered. So grab your favorite snack, and let’s delve into how your five-year-old self was unknowingly prepping for a career behind the mic!
1. Sharing is Caring
Remember that time when your teacher praised you for sharing your favorite toy? I know you didn’t know this then, but you were actually practicing one of the most critical VO skills! In the voiceover world, it’s genuinely all about collaboration. You can work with a director, producer, or fellow actors to bring a script to life. It is comparable to building a block tower as big kids—everyone shares ideas, and then there’s this fantastic something at the end.
For example, say you’re recording a voice for some cartoon character. He might say, “Can you make the voice a little squeakier?” Instead of holding onto your script like Linus holds his security blanket, you’ll need openness to suggestions and willingness to experiment. It’s about sharing your talent and ideas to make the final product pop!
And hey, at least in voiceover work, you don’t have to worry about some kid swiping your cookie when it’s snack time!
2. Listen Carefully
Do you remember when your teacher used to tell you, “Put on your listening ears!”? Well, believe it or not, those listening ears are one of the most valuable tools in your voiceover toolkit!
Obviously, for a voice actor, it is just as important to listen as to speak. You must be able to hear the director’s directions, understand the feelings behind the script, and catch the fine emotional cueing of the story.
It’s like when you had to listen carefully to follow the rules of “Simon Says“—except now, instead of touching your nose or hopping on one foot, you might need to “sound more excited” or “slow down the pace.” And trust me, messing up “Simon Says” is way less embarrassing than having to re-record a line for the tenth time because you didn’t listen to the directions!
3. Use Your Imagination
Do you remember when a cardboard box became a spaceship, a castle, or even a submarine? That is the same kind of imagination that will set the sauce on your voice-over acting!
As a voice actor, you’ll spend a lot of time in a small, usually soundproof booth with only a script in front of you. But inside your head? You could be anywhere! You might have to imagine you are a brave knight fighting off a dragon or you’re a nervous student on the very first day of school.
It’s like dressing up, but now you’re dressing up your voice instead of your body. The best part? Nobody can see if you’re making silly faces to get into character. So go ahead, scrunch up your nose, and stick out your tongue if it helps you nail that troll voice!
4. Practice Makes Perfect
Remember how you used to practice your name over and over when you first learned to write? Or how you would run through your part in the class play so many times that you could recite your line in your sleep? Well, guess what – it’s all about voice-over acting practice, practice, practice!
Voice actors, much like you, learned how to develop their craft. You might practice tongue twisters to perfect your diction or read scripts aloud to practice pacing and emotional delivery, just like you learned to write neater or project louder on stage.
It’s like learning bicycle riding: first, it seems impossible to balance and pedal at the same time, but then you practice, and you are zooming down the street without a second thought. In the same way, delivering long and complex lines ng between different voices of the characters becomes native with enough practice.
And hey, at least now you’re able to practice without your mom telling you to keep it down because your little sister is sleeping!
5. Enunciate
Remember your teacher saying, “Use your words” or “Speak up so everyone can hear?” In voiceover acting, clear speech is literally your bread and butter.
As a voice actor, you have to ensure the precise delivery of lines that are easy to understand for your audience. Whether you are delivering an audiobook narration, the voice of a character in an animated movie, or making a commercial recording, diction will help you out.
It’s like having to get up in front of the class and describe your summer vacation. But now, rather than mumbling about the sandcastle you built, you’re going to be explaining a new car’s features or dramatically revealing the evil plan of the villain.
And the best part? Unlike in kindergarten, no one’s going to laugh if you accidentally say “pasghetti” instead of “spaghetti” – you can just do another take!
6. Be Confident
Do you remember strutting into class that day you got to wear your favorite superhero costume on the dress-up day? That is what will give you an upper hand in voice-over acting!
All one needs to do is believe in himself and what he can do best in the profession. From auditions for new roles to studio recordings, voice confidence gives one the upper hand.
It’s just like raising your hand to answer a question in class, not knowing whether you’re really right. In voice-over, you’ve got to make bold choices and go with your performance, even if you’re not entirely sure.
And hey, if you could confidently tell the whole class you wanted to grow up and be a dinosaur, you most definitely can nail that audition for a talking tree in a cartoon!
7. Follow Directions
Remember playing “Simon Says” or following the teacher’s directions to make that craft? Following directions is a skill in voiceover acting!
More often than not, directors and clients will give specific instructions on how to deliver a line. Your job is to take those directions and bring them to life with your voice.
It’s like those instructions your teacher gave you to fold a paper airplane. Now, instead of “fold the paper in half,” you might hear “say the line with more excitement” or “pause for dramatic effect after the second word.”
And here comes the best part: unlike in kindergarten, if you mess up, you won’t have a ball of crumpled paper—you can just take another take!
8. Be Patient
Remember waiting in line for the swings or waiting for the class pet hamster to come home with you over the weekend? Well, voice-over acting requires a lot of patience, too!
You may need to wait for audition results, your turn in the recording booth, or feedback on your performance. Patience is huge in this business.
It’s like waiting for your art project to dry before you can take it home. Except now, instead of a macaroni necklace, you’re waiting to hear if you got the part of the talking dog in the new animated series.
And hey, at least now you can occupy yourself with something more exciting than counting the tiles on the classroom floor!
9. Play Well with Others: The Friendship Factor
Do you remember when you were taught in school that it’s good form to treat your classmates right and to be friendly? Being friendly and easy to get along with is a huge key in the world of voice-overs!
You definitely don’t want to build a reputation for being a jerk; likewise, good relationships with directors, producers, and fellow actors can give you more opportunities and create a positive reputation within the industry. Being professional only means you’re cooperative and pleasant to be around.
It’s like performing a group project in class. Except now, instead of making a poster about the solar system, you might be working on a multi-character scene in an animated movie.
And here’s the best part: Your new voice-over friends probably won’t try to eat your crayons or steal your favorite toy!
10. Have Fun!: The Joy of the Job
And last but not least, remember how much fun you had in kindergarten? Well, guess what – acting for voices-over should be fun too!
Yes, this is work; yes, it requires hard labor and dedication. However, voice acting, at the core, is all about playing and creating for the sake of making other people happy with your performance.
I mean, it’s like the equivalent of when you got to finger paint or play dress-up in class. Now, you paint with your voice and dress up your words to be characters and tell stories.
And the best part? You get paid for it! You get a gold star for every performance, and that gold star literally means thousands of real money. Now, that’s what I call adulting done right!
And there you have it, folks! Ten kindergarten lessons that really were setting you up for a magnificent voice-over acting career. Who knew? Sharing your toys or speaking clearly could mean so much.
Well, do remember that for the beginner as much as for the more seasoned talent, these fundamental tools of the trade are always appropriate. So the next time you find yourself in a recording booth, let loose your inner five-year-old—without, of course, the sticky fingers and the runny nose. Embrace that creativity, that willingness to learn, and that pure joy of play.
Who knows? Your next big break might just come from remembering to “use your words” or “play nice with others.” So go out there, have fun, and show the world what your voice can do! After all, every great voice actor was once a kindergartener with a dream—and maybe a macaroni necklace.
Now, if you will excuse me, I think it is time for a snack and a little snooze. Some of those kindergarten habits are just too good to give up!