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What If Presidential Candidates Were Voice Actors – Part 2

listening to voiceover actors

As a longtime voice over actor, I automatically pick up on different speech patterns, nuances and styles of speaking from those in the public eye. And you can’t get any more public than the lineup of candidates running for president in 2020. While some candidates may have solid experience in the political arena, I can’t help but ask how they’d fare as voiceover actors.

Our last post looked at our first three candidates on the list: Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, and Pete Buttigieg. This time we’re listening in the next three: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and Tulsi Gabbard. Even though Clinton has not officially announced a run for president in 2020, she has spent enough time in the spotlight to earn her a place on our list (and many predict she will enter the race at some point).

Donald Trump

Loud, repetitive, and a master at commanding the stage, Donald Trump no doubt knows how to put on a performance. In fact, he’s been likened to a “modern-day P.T. Barnum” for his keen ability to capture people’s attention. He is also a master at spontaneity who reportedly does not script his speeches in advance.

Vocal Style 

  • Exceptionally informal, even informal arena and capacity as president
  • Lack of ums, ahhs, and filled pauses, which projects a sense of confidence
  • A habit of using anecdotes and stories over statistics, which connects to people’s emotions
  • Spontaneous responses create a further connection with the audience
  • Repetition serves to cement ideas into people’s minds

Impact of Vocal Style

Repetition is a hallmark of Trump’s speaking style, sometimes saying the same sentence multiple times. Other times, his sentences may trail off without officially ending, which some may interpret as an inability to finish a thought. Others, however, have attributed that trait to him being a New Yorker and expecting others to finish his sentences for him.

Still, others have said such ambiguity is created on purpose. This allows everyone in the audience to fill in the blank with their own thoughts to finish the sentence, thereby aligning their own thoughts with what Trump meant and further strengthening the connection.

Exaggeration and embellishments are also a regular part of his speaking habits, which supporters know are not to be taken literally. They don’t take him literally but do take him seriously. The media tends to do the opposite, taking him literally and not seriously.

Potential Success as a Voice Over Artist 

His media and business background would work in favor of voice over commercials, while his large and loud style aligns well with announcer-type roles.

Hillary Clinton

Hilary Clinton is certainly polished in her enunciation and delivery on the stage – although some have argued she’s too polished. Critics say the overly polished delivery makes her non-distinct and non-relatable, unlike her folksy, more casual way of speaking earlier in her career. Others argue she is very relatable, especially since she has been known to change her accent and speech patterns when she thinks it will make her more appealing to a specific audience.

Vocal Style

  • Raises her voice to emphasize points, but sometimes so much “that it was almost screaming”
  • Switches between personal stories and lecturing style, which adds interest
  • Motivational, positive messages, but rarely smiling during their delivery
  • Authoritative gestures, strong eye contact with the audience
  • Speaking from the throat, rather than from the diaphragm

Impact of Vocal Style

Clinton’s speaking style tends to have two camps: you either love it or you hate it. Those who are captivated say her delivery is simple, direct and competent. Those who are less than thrilled note she uses loud, from-the-throat speaking (as opposed to speaking more deeply from the diaphragm). The from-the-throat speaking can be uncomfortable to listen to, watch and, above all, produce.

The volume of her voice is another point that has come under fire. While she frequently uses a loud volume and high pitch to make her point, those points can become blunted when the entire speech is loud.

Potential Success as Voiceover Actors

Fantastic for voice over work that demands a range of accents. Not so great if hiring for audiobook narration for bedtime stories.

Tulsi Gabbard

At 38 years old, Tulsi Gabbard is said to bring both “youthful joy and grownup gravitas” to the stage. She also brings a style of speaking that is straightforward, confident and, as “The New Yorker” called it, “faintly hypnotic.”

Vocal Style

  • Clear and confident
  • Straightforward language, even using words like “crappy” and “suck”
  • Voice with agreeable pitch and tone
  • Slow, reassuring delivery
  • Poised, rehearsed, lacking spontaneity

Impact of Vocal Style

Despite being unusually shy as a child, Gabbard said she trained herself to talk to strangers to help her breakthrough her anxiety. The result is enough of a comfort level with the audience to share personal anecdotes and even a hint of emotion. Like when her eyes glistened with near tears during a personal tribute to service members who lost their lives.

She’s also not shy about getting her point across, even if it means continuing to speak over a debate moderator who is trying to close out her time at the mic. It appears if Gabbard means to speak, she will, and she’s done so to standing-room-only crowds which appear to listen intently to what she has to say.

Potential Success as a Voice Over Artist

The hypnotic quality of her voice would not fare well for longer voice over narrations where the audience is at risk of falling asleep. Her style could align with shorter projects that required a confident and believable tone.

One thing we can say for sure: no two candidates are alike when it comes to having a unique speaking style. That makes for an interesting race right off the bat, one that’s only made even more intriguing by the message they relay. What do you think? How much of an impact does a politician’s speaking style have on your opinion of their ability to lead the country?

What If Presidential Candidates Were Voice Actors – Part 1

Presidential Candidates voiceoverWhen it comes to picking our next president, it’s not just about what the candidates say. It’s also about how they say it. With speeches, debates, and other political performances gearing up for the 2020 election, we have a good sense of some of the strongest voices vying for president. But what if Presidential Candidates voiceover was part of the debate?

As a longtime voice over artist, I can’t help but notice the speech patterns, vocal quirks, and other notable voice characteristics of politicians. Here’s a rundown on what I’ve heard from the first three candidates on our list: Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, and Pete Buttigieg.

Joe Biden

Folksy, choppy, and prone to mangling words, Joe Biden is the oldest presidential candidate in the running. Some have even questioned if his age plays a role in his speaking style, although those who have known him for years say he’s always been prone to misspeaking. He comes across as an average Joe, which often works in his favor.

Vocal Style

  • Folksy speaking style, using words like “malarkey”
  • Highly relatable, average-Joe type of delivery that puts the audience at ease
  • Apparent adoration of the word “folks,” which he once used more than 30 times in a single speech
  • A choppy style that often involves stopping or interrupting himself
  • Mangling and combining words in speeches. Examples include referring to Twitter as “Tritter” and making up words like “extredible,” which is a mishmash of the words “incredible” and “extraordinary.”
  • Frequent digressions, mix-ups, and gaffes, such as this one cited in The New York Times: “People are being killed in western, in eastern Afghan — excuse me, in eastern, uh, Ukraine,” Biden said.

Impact of Vocal Style

With a speaking style that’s largely disjointed, unpolished, and peppered with mangled words, you might think he’d be off the list of presidential candidates in a heartbeat. But that’s not the case. His folksy, unassuming speaking style has actually made him endearing to a notable number of supporters.

He has particularly strong support from working-class voters who find him relatable. Some see his informal style and penchant for storytelling as part of his charm.

Potential Success as a Voice Over Artist 

Very little, unless you were hiring for a folksy character that is supposed to frequently go off script or forget his lines.

Elizabeth Warren

Elizabeth Warren has been hailed as an exuberant and captivating performer, and there’s no doubt she has the vocal power, extravagant gestures, and stage presence to command a room. While some are enchanted by her style, others are a bit less enthusiastic. The tone and delivery of her message have been compared to that of a domineering teacher scolding the class. Or as one recent meme put it, “She’s like the substitute teacher who assigns homework.”

Vocal Style

  • Lecturing style; lecturing the audience, sometimes even scolding them
  • Polished performance, as if she’s in a one-woman stage play
  • Rapid delivery likened to machine-gun fire or dodge ball
  • Speaks with her entire body, “vibrates with feeling,” many arm and hand gestures
  • Native Oklahoma twang

Impact of Vocal Style

Warren’s performances are polished and well-versed, particularly since she uses no notes or other prompting. Yet it’s been noted that such an exceptional level of polish may actually work as a barrier between her and the average American. It’s been said that her town hall meetings and more intimate gatherings are more personable and relatable than her more prominent performances. Yet they may still come across as performances during which the performer remains separate, on a stage high above the audience.

Potential Success as a Voice Over Artist 

Excellent if hiring for the teacher or no-nonsense professor type. Maybe some e-learning applications would be a good fit. Low if hiring for the conversational style of a trusted friend next door.

Pete Buttigieg 

Out of the three presidential candidates discussed here, Pete Buttigieg has the most straightforward speaking style. While Biden and Warren have several articles picking apart their speaking styles, the articles on Buttigieg refer to him as “cool,” “eloquent,” and someone who “excels at inspirational oratory.” This doesn’t mean, however, he would be a shoo-in for any voice-over job that came his way. He lacks the folksy connection enjoyed by Biden and certainly lacks the emotional charge Warren delivers.

Vocal Style

  • Voice with agreeable pitch and tone
  • Well-paced with generous pauses
  • Direct, calm, reserved
  • Perhaps too reserved at times, which may make him less relatable

Impact of Vocal Style

Buttigieg’s mom says he’s always been reserved, which is evident by the way he sticks with facts and figures rather than disclosing personal stories. Buttigieg himself admits he’s laidback, a trait that is often misinterpreted. “I’m misread as being bloodless,” he said in an AP story.

His speeches may not leave you warm and fuzzy, but they will leave you with a sense that he is intelligent and down to earth. Although his lack of emotion makes his speeches easy to transcribe, it may also make it tougher for voters to make a more personal connection with the man up on stage.

Potential Success as a Voice Over Artist

Ideal for medical narrations or other gigs where you need a straightforward, non-emotional delivery.

Of course, the substance of a candidates’ words are important — although it can be tough to concentrate on the substance if we’re too busy being distracted by the delivery. And if you think this lineup of politician vocal quirks is intriguing, just wait until you see who we have in store for the next one. In the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts on the speaking styles of politicians.

Communication is Key for Voice Over Success 

While all businesses rely heavily on communication for success, it’s even more important in the world of voice over. That’s because communication is at the heart of all we do. The main goal of our profession is to effectively communicate a message to the audience, and that can only be achieved if we are effectively communicating with our clients. Understanding this component of your voice over business is key to long-term success.

Good communication brings clarity to every situation, imparts professionalism and builds long-lasting relationships. Here’s how.

Communication for Clarity  

All voice over jobs start with a rundown on what the client wants, and the only way you’re sure to deliver is to ask the right questions. You need to ask relevant questions that give you the information you need to fully understand exactly what they’re going for. Questions here include things like vocal tone, file type, delivery method and all other details associated with a particular project.

It’s then imperative to carefully listen to what they say so you can deliver what they asked for. If things are unclear, clear them up before you begin. You’ll save a lot of time that you’d otherwise have to spend correcting something that was vague or misunderstood.

Communication for Professionalism

How you communicate with clients says a lot about your competence level, whether it’s through a quick phone call or a detailed email. You always want to be respectful and professional, ensuring you use appropriate guidelines for business correspondence. Sending a professional email is not like texting a quick message to your pal in all lower-case letters with two-letter abbreviations.

You want to use proper grammar and salutations, spell check before you send, and include your logo, branding, a professional email address and good tagline. Part of your online communication also includes your website and social media accounts. Every email you send, post you create and image you choose reflects directly on you as a professional.

Impeccable emails and a polished online presence indicate you’re someone who knows what they’re doing. They paint you as someone who is experienced and can be trusted to complete the project to the specs required. 

Communication for Building Relationships

While communication with a new or prospective client is best kept rather formal, you can relax the formalities a bit when you work with repeat clients over an extended period. I find ways to personalize communication, to make it feel more like a friendship when appropriate.

I have many clients with whom I’ve worked for years, so in some instances I know details about their families, their work transitions and their overall lives. When it’s appropriate, I enjoy being chatty and casual. I like to deepen the bond with them, so they see me as not just a voice talent, but a trusted friend and a fellow human being.

I also never under estimate the importance of a thank you. This could be for a referral, a recent job, or just for being a loyal client. I’ve tried many different approaches to this over the years, including sending postcards, personalized notes, birthday cards, gifts, or just reaching out through email or social media.

Posting a review for a client on their LinkedIn page or other platform shows your thoughtfulness and may help them with their marketing. Letting clients know how much they’re appreciated and valued can go a long way, especially when you do it in a way that gives them an extra boost to their own business.

Two More Tidbits on Communication

In a previous blog I wrote about The Biggest Voice Over Customer Service Mistakes, and it’s no surprise that poor communication made the list in two instances. They bear repeating. One was delay in communication, which can give off the vibe that you don’t really care. The other was not really listening or understanding what the client wants, which we also touched on above.

Responding to audition requests or messages to clients as quickly as possible shows you’re a pro who is ready to deliver what’s required. In the case of new clients, being the first to respond is often the move that gets you the job.

Truly listening and understanding what a client wants is another big deal. It’s better to ask tons of questions than make tons of mistakes. Good communication involves good listening skills and really paying attention to what the client is saying.

Keep these communication tips in mind as you move forward in your voice over career, and you may be happy to find your career moves forward with success. You’re apt to be seen as a true professional who can deliver exactly what the client wants while building beneficial relationships that can endure for years.

The Biggest Voice Over Customer Service Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Customer service has always been a huge part of doing business, and in our hugely competitive, global market, it’s become even more important than ever. Folks put a lot of stock in the online customer reviews they read, and disgruntled customers are not typically shy about speaking their minds. The digital age has also opened up the door to instant gratification – which people have come to expect when it comes to timely replies from your company.

Since voice over talent works so closely with clients, delighting customers is especially vital in the VO industry. Keeping our clients delighted involves staying on top of our game while avoiding these top customer service mistakes.

Putting New Customers above Existing Customers

Some businesses offer amazing deals, free gifts and all types of perks to new customers to generate new business, forgetting the existing customers who helped to get them where they are. This can happen in the voice over world when talent puts a priority on gaining potential new clients at the expense of existing ones. Some mistakenly assume once they land a client, the client is already in their corner and they needn’t continue to cultivate the working relationship.

How to Fix It:

Customer loyalty is not something that comes automatically, and ignoring your current customer base is a surefire way to test it. Treat existing customers with the same level of enthusiasm you do new customers. Offer them perks, nurture relationships and quickly respond to their needs. I regularly touch base with my existing customers through an email newsletter, and I also offer a Client Loyalty Rewards Program.

Delay in Communication

When you snooze, you lose. Speedy delivery of an audition or communication back to a client can be critical for proving you’re a professional, ready to deliver what’s required.

How to Fix It:

Respond ASAP to all inquiries, especially new ones. Being the first to respond is often what lands you the job. Because I’m a full-time voice talent, I’m on my computer all day, checking email about every 15 minutes or so. I always aim to respond immediately to requests for quotes, auditions or project details. We all love it when we get an immediate response, so do everything you can to provide that to your customers and prospects.

Over-Promising and Under-Delivering

Demos are great and necessary, but make sure you can deliver that same performance in a session with a client, or even just on your own, without one-on-one coaching. This especially holds true for newer voice talent in the market.

How to Fix It:

Under-promising and over-delivering is a much keener strategy, and it will lead to stronger client loyalty. While you still have to meet deadlines and do your best to give clients what they’re asking for, under-promising often provides the opportunity to exceed their expectations. Delivering the finished recording earlier than promised will most certainly elevate your value in the eyes of your client, prompting them to hire you again and again, and even refer business to you when appropriate. On the other side of the coin, keep in mind that clients sometimes ask for the impossible, and it’s important to be honest about what you can deliver. Your client will appreciate your integrity.

Also make sure you’ve developed your skills and talents to a level where you can deliver whatever a client needs in a session. Reaching this level takes time, practice and good coaching. Even if you don’t get direct feedback from the client you can usually tell if you ARE delivering what they want. The session will go smoothly, and you won’t have to spend inordinate time providing multiple takes. 

Not Listening or Understanding What the Client Wants

Doing it your way doesn’t always work for delivering exactly what the client wants. It’s imperative to understand all the details of the job, from the vocal tone and style all the way to the technical issues. These include format, file labeling, delivery method, audio processing requests, and other details. You need to be clear on client expectations before you even begin.

How to Fix It:

If you’re not sure what the client wants with a script, ask more questions until you do. Some of my clients like to provide direction during a live recording session, in which case I set up my phone patch so they can. This often saves everyone time and trouble, allowing for hand’s on direction in real time, resulting in an approved, final product the FIRST time through, avoiding a lot of back and forth over email.

When it comes to technical issues, talk to other voice over talent or do online research to find out what you’re expected to know about different file types, delivery methods and other details. Sometimes you’ll be asked to provide something you’ve never provided, which can be a cue to learn something new and add it to your offerings.

Being aware of the top customer service mistakes is the first step to avoiding them. The next step is making sure you’re covering all bases when it comes to satisfying customers. You’ll be on the right path if you treat every customer as your best customer, delivering exactly what they want as quickly and professionally as possible.

Exercises for Voice Over Actors to Combat Life in the Recording Booth


As voice over actors, our vocal cords regularly get a hearty workout. But the same may not be true for the rest of our bodies which is why we need special voice over exercises. Even if we consistently schedule exercise into our off-work hours, it may not be enough to combat the effects of spending our days in a recording booth.

Whether we sit all day or stand while recording and then sit for editing, we’re still not moving around all that much. While a combination of sitting and standing can be better for you than prolonged bouts of just sitting, the effects of a largely inactive job can still add up.

Detriments of Sedentary Jobs

When we engage in extended, uninterrupted bouts of inactivity, a number of negative biochemical reactions can actually start to occur. Our bodies become less effective at breaking down cholesterol and blood sugar, which increases the risk of strokes, heart attacks and diabetes.

Being sedentary for extended periods can result in:

  • Higher blood sugar levels
  • Increased triglycerides, which are fats known for causing disease
  • Lower levels of HDL (aka “good”) cholesterol
  • Increased fatty buildup and calcium in the heart’s arteries
  • Increased risk of obesity
  • Higher risk of heart disease and cancer

If you switched your extended hours of sitting for prolonged hours of standing, you can end up with an entirely new set of risks. These include:

  • Lower back issues from constant compression of the spine
  • Deep vein thrombosis, varicose veins and other cardiovascular problems
  • Double the risk of heart disease over people that mostly sit

How to Lower the Health Risks   

Being aware of all the risks gives us great motivation for correcting them, and we have several things we can do.

Maintain Good Posture: One of the most important is to maintaining good posture, whether sitting or standing. We voice over artists tend to maintain good posture when recording, as we know the effects on our delivery if we don’t. But we may still hunch over or slouch when we’re editing or otherwise working at the computer.

Follow the 20-8-2 Rule: Another recommendation is known as the 20-8-2 rule. For every 20 minutes we spend sitting, it recommends eight minutes of standing and two minutes of gentle movement. Since this may be impossible to keep up based on our recording schedules and deadlines, we can at least get up and move around when we get a few minutes between tasks.

Physical Exercises for Voice Over Actors

One more way to help combat the negative effects of inactivity is with exercises specifically designed to work areas that tend to stiffen up throughout the day.

Neck and Shoulder Stretches 

Stretch the sides of your neck by sitting tall and dropping your left ear towards our left shoulder. Keep your shoulder level, making sure you don’t raise it to meet your ear. Hold for five seconds, then repeat on the right.

Stretch the back of your neck by dropping your chin toward your chest, then smoothly and gently rolling your head from one side to the other side.

Stretch your shoulders by shrugging them up towards your ears. Hold for five seconds, then release. Repeat five times.

Upper Body Stretches

Open your chest by bringing your palms together behind the middle of your back. Sit tall, pressing the palms together and holding for at least five seconds. 

Stretch your sides by extending your left arm over your head, then reaching as far as you can while bending to the right. Hold for several seconds, then repeat on the other side.

Do a seated spinal twist by turning your upper body to the right, putting both hands on the arm of your chair. Drop your shoulders and twist to the right, lengthening your spine as you inhale. Look over your right shoulder and hold for at least three seconds. Repeat on other side.

Stretch your upper back by intertwining your fingers with your palms facing outward. Reach your palms upward towards the ceiling as you inhale and elongate your spine.

Lower Body Stretches and Exercise

Do mini squats by standing up from your chair, and then sitting back down 10 times in a row.

Work your calves by standing up behind your chair, holding the back for support. Start with feet flat on the floor, then raise your heels as you stand on your toes. Lower back down slowly. Repeat to complete three sets of 10.

Stretch your glutes by putting your feet flat on the floor while seated, and then lifting your right ankle onto your left knee. Gently press down on your right knee three or four times. Repeat on other side.

Stretch your legs with a knee hug. Bend your right knee, then lift your knee to your chest, wrapping your arms around it to pull it as close to your upper body as you can. Hold for at least five seconds, then repeat on the left.

Although we may still spend hours in the recording booth, these tips can help offset the detrimental effects of daylong inactivity. Moving, stretching and exercising throughout the day, even briefly, can also make us feel more energized while bringing on longer-term benefits.

Eye Health for Voice Over Actors

Eye Health for Voice Over ArtistsWhile voice over work may not be at the top of the list of professions with on-the-job hazards, we still have a few potential risks to think about. Our eye health is one of them.

Like millions of other folks in this digital age, we’re typically staring at the computer screen for extended periods every day. We might start to get headaches, feel pressure behind the eyes, get dry eyes, blurry vision or neck and shoulder pain. All these are symptoms of what is known as digital eye strain. Voice over actors can have a higher risk of eye strain due to dim lighting and proximity to our computer screens. We’re frequently in dark recording booths looking at a bright screen, and we may sit closer than an arm’s length away from the screen to view it properly.

Being aware of what digital eye strain is and how it affects us can help us avoid it. So can developing new habits to maintain good eye health both in and out of the recording booth.

Digital Eye Strain by the Numbers

Voice over actors aren’t the only folks at risk for digital eye strain. The condition can occur to anyone who spends a notable amount of time in front of the TV, computer or other digital device.

A report from The Vision Council noted nearly 60% of American adults experienced one or more symptoms of digital eye strain.

  • 32% reported eye strain
  • 27% reported dry eyes
  • 28% reported headaches
  • 28% reported blurred vision
  • 35% reported neck and shoulder pain

Voice over talent would align with the 80% of adults who say they use digital devices for more than two hours each day, and we may even match up with the 67% who say they use two or more devices at the same time.

Even when we’re not officially at work, we could be checking our phones, watching TV or continuing screen time in other ways. Nearly 80% of adults say they use some type of digital device in the hour before going bed, and 55% percent use them within the first hour they’re awake.

How Voice Over Actors Can Avoid Eye Strain

Keeping our eyes healthy can start by adjusting our work environment and habits to reduce the risk of eye strain. These tips can help immensely.

Give Your Eyes a Break

Eye strain tends to occur when you’re in front of the computer for an extended stretch of two hours or more. You can start to experience what’s known as focusing fatigue, which occurs when eyes tire out from constantly focusing on the screen.

Avoid it by implementing what doctors call the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look away from your screen to focus on something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This gives the focusing muscle a chance to relax.

You can also focus on something in the distance for at least 10 seconds, then focus on something up close for at least 10 seconds. Alternate between the two 10 times. This exercise helps ensure your eyes’ focusing ability doesn’t lock up during extended screen time.

Blink Frequently

We tend to blink much less frequently when we’re reading from a computer screen than we do when we’re reading off a printed page. Blinking keeps our eyes lubricated, helping us avoid irritation and dryness.

Make a habit of blinking 10 times every 20 minutes to keep eyes moistened. If you’re still having dry eye issues, lubricating eye drops may be helpful. Just make sure you pick those designed to lubricate the eyes. Those meant to get the red out only decrease the size of the blood vessels without necessarily easing irritation.

Blink to prevent eye strain

Pay Attention to Lighting

Staring at a bright screen in a dark recording booth can increase the risk of eye strain, due to the contrast between the dimness of the booth and the brightness of the screen. This causes your eyes to put more effort into focusing and more strain on your vision.

You can decrease the risk of eye strain with several tactics:

  • Reduce the brightness of your monitor, adjusting it to more closely match the level of illumination in the booth.
  • Increase the contrast, which makes dark text on a light background stand out better for easier focusing.
  • Increase the font size, which can also make it easier for your eyes to focus.
  • Add a small light source, such as a mini USB lamp, to even out the lighting.
  • Eliminate any glare, which you can usually do by turning the screen away from any light source shining directly on it. If you wear glasses, you can get lenses with an anti-reflective coating to protect your eyes even further.

Adjust Your Work Setup

The layout of your voice over workstation has an impact on your eye health. You want your monitor to be at least 20 inches away from your eyes, with the center of the screen angled about 15 degrees below your eyes. This makes reading it more comfortable and ensures you’re not craning your neck.

If you’re reading from both a screen and a printed page, put the printed pages on a stand next to your screen so you can look back and forth with ease. Use a small light on the printed page if needed, ensuring that it doesn’t create a glare on your screen.

Your overall posture plays a role in your eye health, as well. Sit up straight, and keep your chair at a comfortable height that lets your feet rest easily on the floor.

Try Computer Glasses

If you wear glasses, you can look into customized computer glasses that are designed to work at the exact distance you sit from your computer screen. These can be particularly helpful if you have bifocals or progressive lenses that would normally make you tilt your head to get just the right focus through a specific band on your lens. All that head tilting can eventually lead to a sore neck, back or shoulders after extended periods.

Computer glasses instead give you an entire lens that’s adjusted for optimum viewing of your computer screen. You can also get an anti-reflective coating to cut down on glare, along with photochromic lenses that darken to shield your eyes from harsh indoor or outdoor light.

Just put the custom glasses on when you work at your computer, and then switch back to your regular glasses when you’re done. My husband normally wears progressive lenses, and he has a pair of custom computer glasses that he says makes a huge difference in his comfort and ability to see the screen clearly from any angle.

Additional Eye Care Tips for Voice Over Actors

It’s important to pay attention to eye health even when we’re not at work, and a few tips can help. Getting regular eye exams is always a good idea, as is wearing sunglasses to protect our eyes from bright sunlight. Regular exercise and a healthy diet likewise contribute to good eye health.

Even though our voice may be our greatest asset as voice over artists, our eyesight is equally important both on the job and off. Not only are these tips are easy to follow and add to our daily routine, but they can make a big difference in the long run.