*3 vocal tips actors use for speaking

The first one is rarely addressed.

ENERGY – which is so needed in speakers these days.  Do you speak to an audience the way you speak in your daily life, with friends and colleagues, occupying a very small energy space?  You won’t draw people in.

Instead try filling  the room you are speaking in,  with your energy.  How do you do that?  It’s not about being louder.  It’s about being present.  It’s about imagining that you are covering your body over the whole area and make yourself  bigger.  Give all of you to the audience.

The second one is BREATHING.  Breathing before you speaking and speaking on the breath (not holding it – please).  Breathing before every couple of sentences.  It will center your voice and your energy bringing it down to your abdomen – the source of your energry and voice.

The third is SLOW DOWN.  Too many speakers don’t give an audience time to absorb what they have just said and rush forward with the next thought, thinking they are leaving too much empty space.  Pauses are your friends.  And remember give each word it’s total value.  Last night I had an actor in class who grouped his words togther  -  I’mvery  happy  toseeyouagain.  Give each word value and say the whole word.  Of course it helps if someone is guiding you.  Habits are hard to break.

Oh and just a suggestion – take an acting class.

Barbara Kite is an executive speaking coach and professional acting coach as well as a professional actress and director.  www.barbarakite.com