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You Know How to Breathe....Right?????
by Ann Utterback, Ph.D.
Breathing is the most important aspect of a broadcast voice because breathing is the energy for speech. If there’s anything wrong with your energy source, you know that everything will suffer. Imagine trying to make a call on your cell phone when the battery is dead. No way, right? Well the same is true for speech. Without the energy of the breath, nothing performs as it should.
Proper breathing should begin low in the torso around your waist. You should feel your stomach expand as you inhale and contract as you exhale. One way to feel this breathing is by lying on the floor on your back with a book on your stomach. If you breathe comfortably, you will see the book rise as you inhale and fall as you exhale.
Once you have the feeling of proper abdominal-diaphragmatic breathing, try it standing. Place your right hand on your chest and your left hand at your waistline. Breathe so that you feel your left hand moving while your right hand remains still. This breathing will give you the best breath support for your broadcast voice and will reduce tension in your throat.
15-Second Fix--Practice this every day by taking a deep inhalation before you answer your phone or while you’re at a stoplight in your car.
Focus on Success in Live Shots
by Ann Utterback, Ph.D.
Nothing is more important in a live shot than focus. Focus will affect how fluid your delivery is and how smoothly you can talk about the most important points in your live situation.
So what is Focus? In sports they often call it being in the "zone." It involves focusing your energy and your thoughts and screening out all distractions. Live shots always happen in places that are full of distractions. You may be reporting from a county fair, a rally, or a busy street corner. Or you may be at an accident, a fire, or a shoot-out. The locations are endless and so are the distractions. The goal is to stay focused in live shots no matter what’s going on around you.
15-Second Fix--To get better at focusing your energy and thoughts, go to a busy place like a shopping mall or the lobby of a movie theater. Lock your focus on one thing such as a plant or a poster and see if you can stay totally focused on that object. If your mind wanders, keep bringing your focus back to your object. Focus is the key to success in live shots.
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