Who Do You Think I Am?

In this pop-up podcast episode, I tell you the latest about a piece of music I’m working on. It’s about disinformation. Hot topic? You betcha. Grab a cuppa and have a listen. Thanks for reading Who Do You Think I Am? Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ebclarke.substack.com

I hope you had a fantastic Christmas! Here’s to a brilliant 2024. I’m kicking off the year with a quick update. Basically, I had a good rest over the festive break, ate a lot of carbohydrates and I’m ready for all the opportunities and challenges the coming year will bring. More on that soon…I’m also announcing that I’ve been selected to be part of the #IAlso100 initiative by F:Entrepreneur This is a 100-strong group of female business leaders from all over the UK. I’m v much looking forward to the year's events and meeting all the other ladies!Anyway, have a listen. Enjoy!Start writing today. Use the button below to create your Substack and connect your publication with Who Do You Think I Am? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ebclarke.substack.com

In this episode of my pop-up podcast, I pretend to be a cow.But not just any cow.A cow that can TALK, and convey marketing messages about ice-cream and waffles.To be clear, I’m being a cow on the request of a client. I don’t habitually do animal impressions. No, I’m being a cow for professional reasons pertaining to my role as a voiceover.Enjoy.It is ridiculous.Thanks for reading Who Do You Think I Am? Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.If you like what I do, you can buy me a coffee!Find out more about me and my work here: https://emmaclarke.com/quick-links/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ebclarke.substack.com

Listen to the podcast episode above, read the companion article below.When I explain what I do for a living, sometimes people are perplexed. (“What? You talk for a living? Like, seriously?”) I understand why they don’t get it.When I started acting, I hadn’t realised that being a voiceover was a thing. I certainly didn’t think I could make a career out of it.I didn’t realise it’s something people do all day in recording studios, booths and cupboards up and down the country.I mean, it’s an unusual job that probably attracts unusual people. Let’s be honest, you have to be ‘a type’ to handle the double challenge of perpetual solitude and the trial of listening to your own voice all day.There are many people who think being a voiceover is a fun job with loads of variety. (It is). And there are some people think that being a voiceover means you’re a bit…how can I put it?…lacking in intellectual rigour.“What? You just sit there reading out loud all day?”“Yes.”“Well, I could do that. Anybody could do that.” And sometimes people follow up with the classic rejoinder: “It’s money for old rope.”I’m never sure how to handle this one.Should I laugh along to save everyone’s embarrassment?To my shame, I’ve certainly done that.Should I challenge them and tell them just how much skill is involved in voicing an over-written script and make it fit with a tail-sung jingle within a tenth of a second’s accuracy?I’ve never dared risk it for fear of sounding like a proper weirdo.At a party – I went to one once! – an academic bloke said, “and you’re happy being a voiceover, are you?” I said I was. “Is that honestly the best you could do with your life? Your parents must be so proud.” And then he walked off to get some crisps.Astonishing.I think it’s true that professionals make the stuff they do look easy. It’s why they’re professionals, right?Watch a guy chuck pizza dough around and it looks like a doddle.A hairdresser makes cutting a classic bob look simple.Yo-Yo Ma plays his cello to a packed concert hall and it looks effortless.Except it’s not.It takes years of practice and experience to deliver a skill – any skill – to an iterative professional level.Some people think being a voiceover isn’t a proper job. It’s just something you do ‘on the side.’After  a recording session an ad agency guy said I could ‘get back to doing the housework.’ As if being a pro voiceover is something a woman might dabble in, while making her husband’s tea, polishing her knick-knacks and doing the laundry, barefoot.At one radio imaging conference, I understand one producer said, “whatever you do, don’t ask the voiceover’s opinion. The voiceover knows nothing.”A voiceover colleague recounts that a commercial producer told him that voiceovers “are like puppies and goldfish. You’re all the same,” which is objectively bollocks because I sound nothing like my hairy biker bloke VO pal.But the suggestion that voiceovers are a homogenous bland blob of mouths is just plain wrong.Years ago an ad agency creative opened a radio commercial recording session to tell me we were going to read some radio commercials that would also be recorded and did I understand this? I asked him to tell me what we were here to do once more, just to make sure I’d got it into my silly noggin.I don’t mean to sound snippy but not even Chat GPT knows what voiceovers bring to the table.I asked: How much money does the voiceover industry contribute to the UK economy?It replied: I don’t have access to real-time data or specific financial figures beyond my last knowledge update in September 2021. The contribution of the voiceover industry to the UK economy can vary over time, and specific financial data would require up-to-date research or information from authoritative sources such as government reports or industry associations.To find the most current and accurate information on the economic contribution of the voiceover industry in the UK, you may want to consult reports from the UK government’s Office for National Statistics (ONS), trade associations related to the media or entertainment industry, or research publications that focus on the creative sector’s economic impact. These sources can provide detailed statistics and insights on the economic aspects of the voiceover industry in the UK.A pro voiceover has to develop core skills across their career: vocal versatility, mic technique, audio production, marketing, accounting and admin. That’s several areas of expertise, right there.To be fair to Chat GPT I asked a follow up question about whether a voiceover had to be intelligent. Here’s the response.Intelligence is a complex and multifaceted trait that comes in many forms. The intelligence required for a voiceover artist is not necessarily tied to traditional academic intelligence, but rather a combination of skills and attributes that can contribute to success in the field. Some of the key qualities and skills that voiceover artists often possess or develop include:1. Versatility: Voiceover artists may need to adapt to various roles, styles, and accents. Being able to quickly understand and imitate different voices and speech patterns can be considered a form of intelligence in the context of their work.2. Emotional Intelligence: Many voiceover roles require conveying different emotions and connecting with the audience on an emotional level. Understanding and expressing these emotions effectively is an important aspect of voice acting.3. Language and Diction: Strong language skills, including pronunciation, enunciation, and clear diction, are crucial for delivering a script effectively.4. Interpretation: Voiceover artists need to interpret scripts and bring the intended meaning and character to life. This involves understanding context and subtext.5. Technical Skills: Working with recording equipment, understanding acoustics, and post-production editing require a certain level of technical proficiency.6. Creativity: Being able to add a unique and creative flair to their performances can set voiceover artists apart. This creativity can manifest in how they interpret and deliver lines.7. Market Intelligence: Voiceover artists often need to understand the industry, market trends, and the needs of clients and audiences.8. Business Acumen: Many voiceover artists are self-employed or freelancers. They need to manage their careers as businesses, which involves marketing, negotiation, and financial acumen.9. Persistence: The industry can be competitive and challenging. Perseverance and a strong work ethic can be essential for success.10. Learning and Adaptability: The voiceover industry evolves, and artists may need to continuously learn and adapt to new technologies and trends.In summary, while voiceover artists may not need traditional academic intelligence, they do require a unique set of skills and attributes that encompass various forms of intelligence, including emotional intelligence, linguistic proficiency, technical know-how, and more. Intelligence, in this context, is about the ability to effectively convey and interpret information and emotions through voice, adapt to different roles and challenges, and thrive in a competitive and ever-changing industry.I was going to elaborate on all these things but AI stole my thunder.For me, emotional intelligence is key to being a successful voiceover.Without it, voiceovers wouldn’t be able to understand empathy, or create authentic emotional reactions in a totally inauthentic setting.Voice actors have to understand how to present ideas and information on various different media; for instance, narrating for a TV documentary is very different to reading an ad for radio.Voiceovers need a granular understanding of what a client needs to achieve with their project. Who do they want to speak to? What’s the subtext of the script? What’s their objective? Will the vocal style match the rest of the client’s output?And to sustain a business in the creative industries when the economy is being buffeted by powerful forces beyond our control takes brains and guts in equal measure.If a client chooses not to ask for a pro voiceover’s input during a session, they’ve missed an ace opportunity to get insight from someone who’s spent years making audio for all sorts of people, all sorts of products and services, all sorts of media that can be heard in all sorts of places across the world.And if you’re in the audio business, why wouldn’t you want to listen to a voiceover?Thanks for reading Who Do You Think I Am? Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.If you like what I do, you can buy me a coffee! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ebclarke.substack.com

Award-winning UK voiceover Emma Clarke demonstrates a selection of Hallowe'en themed character voices, perfect for commercials.To find out more about Emma and here work, click here: https://emmaclarke.com/quick-links/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ebclarke.substack.com

I asked Chat GPT to do the following. Please write me a conversation opener and the kind of thing I would say to show my personality when I match with a man on a dating app, in the style of the British voiceover Emma Clarke, who lives in Manchester.Have a listen to find out what happened. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ebclarke.substack.com

"The world feels like it’s in a weird place, so as we head towards Christmas, how am I adapting?"Voiceover, writer, composer and mentor Emma Clarke tells us what she's been up to over the summer. For more info about Emma and her work, check out her website: https://emmaclarke.com/quick-links/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ebclarke.substack.com

Voiceover Emma Clarke shares some behind-the-scenes audio from a radio station branding voiceover session. Emma Clarke is an award-winning British voiceover. You can sign up to her newsletter here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ebclarke.substack.com

"I've been contacted by someone who worked with someone I worked with three years ago."Voiceover and composer Emma Clarke shares an update. Find out more about Emma and her work here: https://emmaclarke.com/Sign up for her newsletter here: https://emmaclarke.com/newsletter-signup/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ebclarke.substack.com

Find out more about Emma and here work here: https://emmaclarke.comSign up for her newsletter here: https://emmaclarke.com/newsletter-signup/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ebclarke.substack.com

Today I did something that might surprise you. It’s something I’ve not told you about. It’s something…a bit different.Have a listen to the bitesize podcast episode to find out more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ebclarke.substack.com

After a nasty bout of covid, Emma reflects on how to hit the reset button.Find out more about Emma's work here: https://emmaclarke.com/quick-links/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ebclarke.substack.com

Voiceover Emma Clarke has a very sore throat and frankly sounds like a swamp creature. What do voiceovers do when they can't voiceover? To find out more about Emma and her work, click here: https://emmaclarke.com/quick-links/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ebclarke.substack.com

On the eve of King Charles III's Coronation, the BBC asks voiceover Emma Clarke to critique the King's public announcements for London Underground. Listen to find out what happened.To find out more about Emma's work, click here: https://emmaclarke.com/quick-links/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ebclarke.substack.com

Voiceover and composer Emma Clarke discusses hosting quiet online work sessions. With guest appearances from the child, the dog and a tempest.To find out more about Emma and her work, click here: https://emmaclarke.com/quick-links/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ebclarke.substack.com

Voiceover and composer Emma Clarke goes to a celebrity party, worries about which coat to wear and gets sinusitis. To find out more about Emma and her work, click here: https://emmaclarke.com/quick-links/To find out about her Substack, click here: https://ebclarke.substack.com/about This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ebclarke.substack.com

Voiceover and composer Emma Clarke explores how she hears sound. She also explains how she goes about creating a character voice.To learn more about Emma and her work, click here.To subscribe to Emma's Substack, click here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ebclarke.substack.com

Voiceover and composer Emma Clarke discusses the art of forgetting what you've just said, what it's like to be a talking lift....and a new character voice is born on Twitter. To find out more about Emma and her work, click here: https://emmaclarke.com/quick-links/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ebclarke.substack.com

Listen to the audio above. You can also read the short article below.Sometimes you’ve just gotta surrender to events. As I write this, a massive digger is churning up my driveway.* There’s also the occasional pneumatic drill. It’s not so much the noise. It’s the vibration that’s the issue.Have a listen to what the sound-proofing is managing to cut out.You see what I’m up against?The electricity keeps getting turned off as the engineers fix a cable. It’s also snowing. This means we have little or no heating.As you can imagine, it’s a right laugh.This is in no way conducive to creating ideal working conditions here at the sound studio at Clarke Gables. So how to handle it? Have a listen to the audio at the top of the page and find out. *At this point I’m very glad we didn’t go ahead with the block paving. Thanks for reading Who Do You Think I Am? Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ebclarke.substack.com

Voiceover and composer Emma Clarke discusses a piece of spectral music, BREATH AND BONE which is made of the sound of a man breathing. "Our lives are made up of individual breaths, like beads on a string."Find out more about Emma and her work here: emmaclarke.com/quick-links/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ebclarke.substack.com