Unexpected Inspiration from Steve Harvey

“You cannot play it safe your whole life. You know, ships are safe when they’re in port … But that ain’t what ships are built for. You’re built to sail.”

I had an unexpected moment of inspiration today from Steve Harvey. While scrolling through Instagram, I encountered his quote. It made me reflect on what’s called a “nice read” in voice acting. Voice actors often submit readings that sound similar. They use the same intonation, rhythm, physical effort sounds, and emotional choices. These fall under the “nice read” category. The director might cordially look at you smiling and say “That was a nice read. Thank you.” This typically indicates the read was unremarkable, though adequate and competent. It can be so frustrating to hear!

The Fine Line Between Good and Great

A fine line separates good from great. The great ones understand how to manipulate scripts in ways that disrupt the norm, but this requires risk-taking. As Steve Harvey said, you cannot play it safe. You’ll make bold choices that might make you question yourself afterward, but sometimes that’s exactly what the casting director or project leader prefers.

Tim Downie’s Bold Reading

Tim Downie, who played Gale in Baldur’s Gate 3, provides a great example. He had to deliver the line “stop licking the damn thing.” He gave one unexpected, bold reading, delivering it as if speaking to his daughter who was trying to eat something off the floor. The sentence came out almost as one word, with urgency, creating a brilliant, funny moment in the game. (I often do the action just to hear him say it!) Other “nice reads” might emphasize different words or use standard approaches, but there are opportunities for variation. Different subtexts can transform the line - perhaps it’s someone annoyed by another’s gross eating habits, or a wife speaking through gritted teeth to her husband at a fancy dinner, trying to avoid embarrassment. These variations require risk-taking and deviate from the norm, but that’s where growth and creative joy emerge. Ships are meant to sail, and actors are meant to breathe life into words on a page.

Taking Bold Choices

I encourage starting with bold choices in private - your booth, closet, or wherever you practice. I understand the initial embarrassment; I myself was worried about neighbors hearing me. I cringed at my own voice making unusual sounds. Now, years later, I strive to make bold choices part of my approach, disrupting the “nice read” to leave an impression, for better or worse. Whether the seas be calm or choppy, I’m willing to take risks and explore what lies ahead.