Good Use of Voice & Good Volume: The 5th of the 7 Techniques Utilized by Effective Public Speakers & Storytellers

Storytellers and all public speakers need to use good storytelling techniques. There are seven key techniques that all effective public speakers need to employ:

1. Good Eye-Contact

2. No Distracting Motions

3. Good Enthusiasm & Expression

4. Good Preparation

5. Good Use of Voice & Good Volume

6. Appropriate Talking Speed

7. Good Use of Body & Hand Gestures

This article will address the importance of making good use of your voice and using good volume when you perform.

Whether you use a microphone or you just speak out, storytellers should speak loud enough so that everyone in the audience can hear.

Work with the appropriate volume and modulation of your voice. Be very sensitive to people's ear drums. In other words, don't speak so loudly that you hurt people's ears. On the other hand, you need to be able to project your voice loud enough that even the people in the back rows can hear very clearly. You need to find that balance so that you are speaking loud enough but not too loud.

I once was one of a small group of storytellers hired to tell stories in a mall. Chairs were set up for the audience members. A sound system was provided so that people could easily hear the stories above the sound of shoppers and excited kids out for a shopping jaunt. While I waited my turn to tell, a very talented storyteller and writer told a spooky ghost story. She was very good at making those dramatic pauses to heighten the suspense. She was way too good at projecting her voice. In other words, she could easily have told the story without a microphone and be heard quite clearly. Her particular story contained several instances where she intended to yell to intensify the excitement of the action. She loved activating her audience members' startle-reflex by making them jump in surprise or fear. Sadly for my ear drums and the ear drums of my fellow listeners, instead of holding that microphone at a sufficient distance from her mouth when she yelled, she chose to yell while the microphone was almost touching her lips. I jumped all right; however, it was in pain rather than fear. My eardrums were in agony for the next several hours. Please, please, please be aware of the comfort level of your audience at all times.

It is also extremely important to protect your voice. Try to breathe, speak, and perform from your diaphragm (i.e., your gut area) rather than your throat or chest area. You will be able to project your voice a lot further. You also will not run the risk of getting a sore throat from straining your voice. There are many fine articles on the World Wide Web on diaphragm usage; therefore, I will not speak any further on that particular topic.

Every now and then you are hired to tell stories in a space that has wonderful acoustics. You are doubly blessed if this is a venue where people came specifically to hear stories with full intention to actively listen. At that time, you can allow the microphone to carry your voice even when you speak very quietly to emphasize certain portions of your performance. The excitement of the audience is almost palpable at those times. It is moments like those that make telling stories pure adrenaline-fun.

Should I Use Voices And Sound Effects While Performing?

Should I Use Voices And Sound Effects While Performing? In my opinion - yes. It is fun to use a different voice and personality for each character in the story. This helps bring the story alive. Plan voices to fit the characters of the story. For example, to add excitement to the story of "Goldilocks And The Three Bears," talk like the Papa Bear, talk like the Mama Bear, talk like the Baby Bear, and talk like Goldilocks. Audiences find it hysterical when they hear a guy or man using a feminine-sounding voice. They also enjoy hearing a girl or woman using a masculine-sounding voice. Help characters break out of their two-dimensional mold by fitting voices, postures, and even personality traits to each character in your story. At the very least, use a voice with a masculine or feminine flavor. Talk like a baby, boy, girl, man, woman, monster, royalty, etc. If there are animal characters in your story, make animal sounds. If there are inanimate objects, you could add sound effects.

Proper Microphone Usage

I have had the pleasure of being the artist-in-residence at numerous five-and ten-day storytelling residencies. I would work with five classes a day, teaching the students to tell stories. To make certain that each student could hear even the shyest of their classmates perform, I provided my own sound system for the students to use. These are the instructions I would give before handing over the microphone to each group of students. You can adjust these instructions to fit your own particular situation.

After picking up the microphone, make certain you move away from the speaker so as to avoid making that squealing feedback sound. Turn the microphone on by flicking the button. When you have completed your story, turn the microphone off, and put it back in the proper place.

Hold the microphone at a fixed position to your mouth except when you need to use a yelling voice as part of your tale. In that case, move the microphone far away from your mouth so that it will not blast anybody's ear drums. Physically harming your audience's hearing is not a good way to get a positive audience response.

Try not to move your hand around on the microphone or to shake, twist, or carry the cord as this will create sounds detectable and distracting to the audience.

Exciting spooky, wind, or storm sounds can be created by cupping your hand around your nose, mouth, and the microphone and blowing or humming into that tunnel space created by your hands. Have fun and experiment until you achieve the desired sound effect.

You might choose to be so active with your actions that you plan to fall down during your story. For example, if telling the story called "The Gigantic Turnip," you might want to fall down when the farmer and his family and pets finally get the turnip out of the ground. However, please protect the microphone by making certain that you fall backwards onto your bottom and cushion the microphone on your chest or stomach. Please make certain that the microphone does not hit the walls, floor, or furniture.

In any case, whether or not you choose to uses a microphone, adjust the volume of your voice so that it is loud enough for your audience to hear but not so loud that their ear drums are damaged.

May all your stories that you tell be good ones. May all your listeners enjoy your well-crafted tales. Have a great day!

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