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VOICE ACTING
Wear Your Mask On Halloween,
But Drop It In Life And At The Mic

October 6, 2014

By Deb Munro
Voice Actor & Coach

My favorite time of year is upon us yet again. I love Halloween the most because I find most people more ‘themselves.’

If you go out for the evening, or are on the streets with the kids, pay attention to how much more approachable people are. I think people come out of their shell because they are behind a mask for protection. Just like when they have a little drinky-poo to allow them to feel more comfortable at a venue or to get up and dance.

We all tend to live behind a mask. Well, most of us do. 

We don’t want people to truly see us for who we are. Frightening really. 

People love the Simon Cowells of the world because they are truly themselves and don’t give two craps about what anyone thinks. Many of us who don’t like him or that style of forwardness, of course, but that is because they are stuck behind a mask, and because he lacks tack. 

BE WHO YOU ARE

I am a very honest person, and don’t have much of a mask. I’ve been asked during much of my life to go behind a mask and try and be someone I’m not, for someone else. But that didn’t work well for me. 

I’m not perfect. I make mistakes. I’m too honest, in fact, to some degree, but I believe I possess tact - which helps considerably. I truly believe if every person would be who they really are with honesty, that they would find much more happiness. 

Not everyone has to like who we really are, which is significant. But they need to allow us permission to be who we want to be, and they can make their own decisions themselves if they want to be absorbed by that type of personality. 

AFFECTS YOUR VOICE OVERS

This is very profound in the voice world.

Many prefer voice over to on-camera acting because in voice over they get to hide behind the microphone. 

I get it. But it actually restricts you when you don’t want people to see the real you

In voice over, WE ARE SELLING PERSONALITIES. And I can’t express this enough. 

If we don’t allow the real self to shine through, we can’t stand out as unique individuals. 

LET OTHERS KNOW YOU

Are you the kind of person who loves to sing - but only if no one is listening? 

You’d love to dominate the karaoke machine - but you fear judgment? 

Do you talk back to the screen or mimic what you hear, or break out in character? 

If you keep hiding behind the mask of what you think others want you to be, then you are robbing the world of what could be an incredible individual. You are falsifying who you are. 

TAKE THE RISK ...

You will never be able to attract like minds. Take off your mask. Throw away concerns of what others think and of normality - because despite what people think, there is no rule book or "Right Way To Be.” 

Voice over is an industry of risk, and it’s about time you took it. 

You have most of the answers, so it’s time you trusted your intuition about what's best for you. That's usually never wrong. 

Take risks this month to be who you really want to be. Stand up to those to whom you need to say no. Don’t allow yourself to be taken advantage of, or for granted. 

Sing karaoke without the need for a drink to loosen up. Or to break out in character when you want to. 

Don’t worry about embarrassing others by your behavior because it’s only reflected on you - it’s not about them. 

YOUR CHALLENGE ...

I challenge you to truly be you, and to see if you’re around the right people who truly accept you for you.

That is how you succeed in support - in relationships and life: to be around those who accept you. You deserve it!

So take off the mask and love who you are.
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ABOUT DEB

Deb Munro is a leading and award-winning voice talent and coach, and recently moved to her new home and studio in Toronto. She offers private voice over coaching by phone and Skype, and workshops on voice acting, business and demo prep in many Canadian cities.

Email: deb@debsvoice.com
Web: www.debsvoice.com

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Comments (4)
Conchita Congo
10/6/2014 at 10:03 AM
Fantastic article, Deb!
I'm coming out! Thank you.
BP Smyth, Narrator
10/6/2014 at 9:34 AM
As always Deb, great advice.
Rebecca aka LoveThatRebecca
10/6/2014 at 6:36 AM
Deb's right, and I want to add that this is true for all actors. I believe that VO talents are actors and if you don't like that label, then 'performers'. Those of us who are pronouncing ourselves as actors know that what Deb is saying is absolutely true, and probably this is what attracts us to this art. Don't be frightened! Embrace it!
Sean D
10/5/2014 at 6:36 PM
Thanks for another great article, Deb! Looking forward to our next session!
Warmest Regards,
Sean
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