...according to Supaprat Panyarachun, 34
Singing lessons are essential for voice actors
If you don’t know how to control your breathing while giving a voice over, you will realize that you run out of breath very quickly. That’s why singing and vocal training are essential. This job requires immense patience. If you are angry, tired or frustrated, your emotions will reflect on your voice, and your clients will be able to sense this because the recording microphone is super high quality.
You must refrain from having food, coffee and alcohol before work These can dry up the throat and alter your voice.
I didn’t know this when I started working as a voice actor until one day when I ate pad ka prao while waiting for my turn at the studio. I went back into the room and the director said my voice had changed, so everyone had to wait for half an hour for my voice to return to normal.
The recording process lasts a lot longer than what you’d hear from the radio
If you get picked for a project, you’ll be briefed on the product you’re presenting, what type of emotion the client wants, who is the target audience, as well as the key points and keywords they want. A voice acting job for a 30-second commercial can go longer than you’d expect because there are several levels of clients that need to give feedback on your voice. Sometimes, they will ask you to repeat the script over and over again before they approve your record.
You need to create a character in your head
If I’m doing a voiceover for a property commercial, I would want to be a warm-loving husband or a dad. If I’m doing a car commercial, I need to imagine myself as a presenter in a motor show. You really need to act it out and bring out the right vocal character. It is not as easy as many people think, but it’s a fun job. I like that my voice is famous, but I am not. Everyone has heard my voice but they don’t know who I am. Most voice actors have a very private life.