I’ve struggled with a weak voice for decades. If I talk too much, I get hoarse. If I go to a bar or party with loud music and have to yell to be heard, I lose my voice inside of 30 minutes.
My voice is a delicate antique that turns to dust if I try to pick it up.
Trouble is, I have to perform sometimes. I have to record audiobooks sometimes. In these situations, I need my voice to work, and it’s been touch and go at times.
The problem got bad a few years ago, so I searched for a voice coach. I went to a couple of experts, one in New York (a top voice coach in the voiceover world), the other in Chicago (a professional opera singer).
I heard Tony Robbins had the same problem as me. His voice would give out when he did his 7-hour seminars day after day. I heard that his coach was a guy named Roger Love, the top voice coach in the world.
Then I heard this same Roger Love worked with Jeff Bridges to deepen his voice for Crazy Heart. He did the same for Joaquin Phoenix to help him sing like Johnny Cash in Walk the Line. He coached Reese Witherspoon, too. Two of them won an Oscar. The third was nominated.
Roger Love costs a fortune to hire, of course. He’s the best.
Good news for me: he sells a voice program online. It’s steep, but not as much as hiring him in person. I bought it, and it’s been a lifesaver. When I do his voice exercises, I feel like my voice can do anything.
I’m grateful for Roger Love every time I speak and sound comes out.
I've worked with a lot of seasoned voice actors who have different techniques for keeping their voices going strong, including vocal exercises, specific diets and breathing techniques. It's great you found a pro to teach these tools, because your voice is your second greatest asset you have next to your mind.
I always appreciate recommendations for stuff like this. I don't think I need this program at the moment but glad to have a solid rec if I do in the future.