I had just been hired as the new promo voice of a Television Network. During a long recording session the new Director of Promotions, whom I've only met once, enters the studio and hands me 9 dense pages of narration text extolling the virtues of the station for an internal meeting and says "Oh, by the way, would you mind putting this down ?" 9 Pages.
Yikes! I feel on some cosmic level I'm being tested. I immediately get to work reading out loud for discovery, and marking the script, trying to speed the process as he waits, and after a minute or so he says "Anytime you're ready". With all my courage I say "As soon as I review the entire script I'll be good to go". I take the time to read the script though once, fully, and then as if surrounded by angels, record it clean. A miracle in the moment, but in retrospect the reinforcement of many hours of 'reading out loud practice' paying off under pressure.
The lesson? Take the time you need to prepare the copy. Don't let anyone push you into hurrying, but know that most of your prep is done out- side of the studio on your own time. Success is prepared- ness meeting opportunity, the courage to stand firm for what you need, and faith in yourself to deliver.
