ABSTRACT
In the previous chapter, we began to focus on how to develop your voice. Having a pleasant speaking voice is the fi rst step in being a professional performer. In this chapter, the plan is to take that good speaking voice and learn how to use it to develop a delivery style that is appropriate for broadcast performance situations. The most sought-after general delivery style in mass media is
a conversational tone-the ability to speak to hundreds, thousands, maybe even millions of listeners or viewers, yet make it sound as if you are talking one-to-one. Most broadcast situations make this fairly diffi cult to accomplish for two reasons: fi rst, you lack direct feedback that gives you a reaction to what you are saying; and second, you are often reading a script written by someone else, rather than saying your own words. Figure 5.1 shows this contrast between normal conversation and broadcast
Receiver Sender
conversation. The best broadcast performers overcome this environmental handicap and seem to be relaxed and conversational to the listener and viewer, even though they receive no audience feedback. The modern broadcast announcer also has to be more than a reader of words and is expected to be able to interpret and communicate the message of any script. This chapter begins to show you how to develop a natural performance style.
