Posted by in the biz on April 23, 2010 at 10:49:08:
In Reply to: Resources for better natural, on-air reading? posted by Former on April 23, 2010 at 10:47:48:
A great radio professional once said, "look those listeners in the eye!" Good thing to keep in mind when you're speaking into the mic (sort of along the lines of putting a picture of your friend in front of you when you're running lines, as one poster suggested), in order to keep things conversational.
Another tip that many voiceover talents use, to keep you from sounding too "read-y" or "announcer-y" is to practice speaking softly, with your hand a couple of inches from your mouth. If you can feel your breath, it can be considered too loud on recordings.
Also, try checking for voiceover coaches. The AFTRA office should have some referrals for you.