0614 – Talking About Studio Talkbacks

2022.09.06 - 0614 – Talking About Studio Talkbacks

Talk-back mics

The gallery production area will have mics which are used to ‘talk back’ to you in the studio. Sometimes these may be left on (or ‘open’) as you record, either by mistake or deliberately, which means you will hear the coughs, comments, conversations and script suggestions from the producers, directors and clients, live, in your headphones as you read. This can be quite off-putting, so request that their mics can be muted so you can focus on your performance.

After each or a few takes, those in the production area will discuss what they’ve just heard and this will likely happen with the talkback mic off so you won’t hear their conversation. It can be a bit disconcerting to know that they’re talking about you, there may be glances in your direction, and you may also see their facial expressions. Try not to look. You don’t know what they’re saying and the only feedback that’s important is that distilled from the discussion and given to you by the director.

Having said that, it may not come from the ‘director’, it may be from a ‘producer’, ‘sound engineer’ or someone with a quite different title from the agency or the company being advertised, the thing is that any thoughts on what you are doing and changes that have to be made should be discussed and distilled before they are given to you as direction. (For the purposes of brevity, I will call the person who directs you, the director. Cos that kinda makes sense!)

And don’t forget this person is essentially giving you free feedback, which is virtually training.

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