Presenter Voice

Our older brother Michael once addressed our full school assembly, and spoke in a false baritone so comical Col can’t think about it without squealing with laughter. Pretty much everyone who’s spoken in front of an audience or gotten on camera has inadvertently used a weird Presenter Voice. But really, the only thing weird about it is a hope or expectation that we’ll be able to speak normally. You’ve spent your whole life having low-pressure conversations one-on-one or in small groups. Tens of thousands of hours of practice. Speaking from stage or down the black hole of a camera lens is a totally different skill. You should EXPECT to be crap when you start out. In the state of Victoria you have to log 120 hours of driving as a Learner before you’re even allowed to take the test to get your full license. 120 hours is probably more than you’ll need to get passably good on camera or the stage, but it’s not a bad goal. Mastery takes time. And without at least ten hours under your belt, don’t judge yourself harshly for your Presenter Voice. Just keep practising.