If you were a painter, you wouldn’t use your paintbrush as drumsticks. If you were a drummer, you wouldn’t use your cymbals as frisbees. So doesn’t it make sense that as a voice over artist, you would want to make sure you keep your voice in tip-top shape? 

As voice over artists, our voice is our instrument, our money-maker, our prized possession. Thus, it’ll be in your best interest as a professional to make sure that you’re not doing anything to damage your voice. Because if you can’t speak, you can’t work. 

That said, there’s no reason for you to get worried over every syllable you utter. Instead, pay attention to the voice care habits listed in this article and by the end, you’ll have a much better understanding of how to maintain your pipes for when you need them most. 

Possibly the most obvious habit that you’ll want to stick to is simply don’t push your voice too hard. 

If you push your paint brush too hard against the canvas, you’ll cause it to fray. If you play your bass drum too hard, you might break the pedal. In the same vein, exerting your voice too much can damage your throat.

This type of exertion can take the form of speaking in a pitch or tone that you’re not comfortable with. If this is the problem, speak to a voice coach to figure out how to become more comfortable with it or ask the director if you can alter the voice to a more comfortable range. 

Another more obvious form of stress on your throat comes from simply being too loud. If you know that you’ve got a recording session coming up soon, maybe sit out during karaoke night or don’t go to that club where you’ll constantly have to shout over the music playing. And if you’re being asked to scream for work, don’t be afraid to ask for breaks. Like we said, your voice is your money maker and no singular employer should be able to ask you to damage that instrument for their project. 

Additionally, it can only help to have a warm-up and cool-down technique to go through before and after you use your voice. Whether you’re making your millions as a voiceover artist, a platinum-selling singer, or even a highschool teacher, you’re probably using your voice constantly. So don’t go in with no prep. Taking a few minutes prior to beginning to warm up your voice can be invaluable and the break you take from using your voice following can be just as important. 

Like with any form of exercise, you should always remember to do your stretches before and take your rest afterwards. 

(Insert link to article on warm-ups and cool-downs) 

So moving away from how you use your voice, let’s discuss some other types of habits. Firstly, what you eat will have a definite effect on how your voice operates. However much you may love your coffee and energy drinks, caffeinated or sugary drinks can have a negative effect on your voice. An always reliable option is, of course, water. Lubricating your vocal cords with a cool glass of water is a very helpful and easy way to keep your voice healthy. And this doesn’t just mean having a water bottle with you while you’re in the studio; rather, we recommend that you make it a habit to keep a bottle, jug, or thermos on you at all times. 

In addition, you may want to lessen your intake of heavy foods that will make your breathing heavier during recording. Not to mention the harm that can be done by smoking and vaping; remember that such habits can do nothing but harm for your vocal cords and your voice.  

And aside from diet, even the air around you can make a difference in your voice. A well-lubricated set of vocal cords are your best friend. Thus, a dry or cold climate might just be your worst enemy, but there are, however, ways to overcome nature. Using a humidifier can be of great benefit to combat the harmful effects of an unfavorable climate.   

And perhaps the best advice one can hear when it comes to voice care is simple to listen to yourself. 

If you feel the strain or pain when you speak, DON’T CONTINUE TO SPEAK. You shouldn’t go to work with a fever. You shouldn’t go to the gym with a sprained ankle. So why should you use your voice with damaged vocal cords? 

If you ever experience this, don’t worry. All you need to do is relax, use your voice as little as possible, and if the problems continue, consider seeking the aid of a voice expert. 

These sacrifices may seem a bit annoying, but remember. You’re a professional. If you’re known to go out and ruin your voice every night, no one is going to want to hire the voice artist who asks to reschedule a due date or can’t perform. 

These are some of the unfortunate sacrifices of the industry, but in the end, you’ll be happy that you developed these safer habits when your voice stays strong for years and years to come. 

And remember, these voice care tips are capable of being used by people within any profession in which the voice is a tool. If you or someone you know works in a field that requires you to use your voice on a regular, prolonged period, feel free to share this article and give them a hand with their own voice care. 

We certainly hope that these voice care tips helped give you a better idea of how to maintain a healthy set of vocal cords. Some may seem like common sense like avoiding overuse of your voice, but some may have surprised you like watching your diet.   

Whatever the case, we hope that you learned something useful!