• HOME
  • DEMOS
    • Commercial
    • TV Commercials
    • TV & Radio Promos
    • Corporate
    • On Hold IVR
    • Explainer
    • E-learning
    • Midlands
    • Gaming and Animation
    • jingles
    • UK Accents & Characters
    • International Accents and Characters
  • ABOUT
  • CLIENTS
  • COACHING
  • BLOG
  • My Rich VO Life
  • CONTACT
Tanya Rich
British Voice Actor
+44 (0) 7368 127 778
tanya@tanyarich.co.uk
  • HOME
  • DEMOS
    • Commercial
    • TV Commercials
    • TV & Radio Promos
    • Corporate
    • On Hold IVR
    • Explainer
    • E-learning
    • Midlands
    • Gaming and Animation
    • jingles
    • UK Accents & Characters
    • International Accents and Characters
  • ABOUT
  • CLIENTS
  • COACHING
  • BLOG
  • My Rich VO Life
  • CONTACT

My Rich
VO Life

tanyarichvo

Pro Voice Over in all genres
RICH IN EXPERIENCE, EXPERTISE & EXCELLENCE.
One of the most established & experienced #British #voiceactor in the U.K.

In a 40+ year voiceover career, I’ve seen trends c In a 40+ year voiceover career,
I’ve seen trends come and go…

Authoritative > Announcer > Epic > Conversational > Synthetic…

But in amongst all those changes
there’s one thing that stayed the same.

The breath. 
Breath is eternal.
Breath is our life force.

It’s the pulse beneath every performance. 
The pause that builds…

…tension. 

Breath control isn’t just about technique.
It’s about the emotion maaaaaaaan. 

It’s about knowing when to hold
knowing when to release
and when to let the
silences speak 
the loudest.
SSSH!

For a while, humans couldn’t live without shell suits.
We learnt our lesson on that trend eventually.

Fortunately for us, breathing isn’t a fad.
It’s a craft that will outlast... well…
gaudy, crinkly, tracksuits
but you get the point:

It’s all about [pause here] the breath.
We can order food without speaking to anyone. Watc We can order food without speaking to anyone.
Watch almost anything we want instantly.
Have information delivered in seconds.

And now, thanks to AI, we can even create voiceovers without hiring a voice actor!
How exciting?
Very.

Convenience has never been greater.
But has happiness kept pace?

I'm not anti-technology. Far from it.
In fact, just last week I sent a Whatsapp message to someone. I know!

Every generation embraces tools that makes life easier.
You’ve done it. I’ve done it. We’ve all done it.

I suppose the problem is whether we've started
valuing convenience over everything else.

Surely the most meaningful things in life aren’t the most convenient.

What do you think we've gained from convenience?
And more importantly, what have we lost?
You’ve heard it on commercial radio. You’ve heard You’ve heard it on commercial radio.
You’ve heard it on telephone messages.
You’ve even heard it on an e-learning module.

The ridiculously melodic, up-down-up-down delivery
that sounds like someone running their fingers
over a small toy piano (repeat ad infinitum).

It’s not happy, it’s not jolly or jovial,
it’s not energetic, it’s not nice.

Nobody talks like that in real life, do they?
Sing-songing completely kills emotional truth.
 
Voice acting is about sounding real
and sounding like I mean it. 

So please don’t ask me for a sing-song delivery.
The effectiveness of your piece will die
…and also, I’ll die a little inside.

(That said, if you want me to actually sing a song for you
then I CAN do that, in a singing-a-song way.)
Has silence become uncomfortable for you? Have qui Has silence become uncomfortable for you?
Have quiet moments become a thing of the past?

I’m not really talking about the absence of noise altogether.
But the absence of conversation. The absence of the need to fill the gaps.

Think about the moment in a car journey when 
the conversation comes to a natural end.

Does the air feel heavy?
Can you hear the silent screams of awkwardness?

After 40 years behind a microphone, time and again
I’ve seen (and heard) that silence has value.

Just like in a real conversation,
in voiceover, it’s tempting to add something.

An explanation.
Another sentence here or there.
Another line saying the same thing, just using different words.

Yet often the most powerful moments happen in the spaces between.

A well-placed pause creates anticipation. It adds weight.
It gives the listener a moment to absorb what they've just heard.

Sometimes saying nothing says more than saying something.

Not every gap in a conversation needs filling.
Not every quiet moment needs rescuing.

Sitting in silence is a sign that we're
comfortable with each other and with ourselves.

So for now, all I want to say is “ “.
“Hi Tanya, I need voiceover for a video. I’m looki “Hi Tanya, I need voiceover for a video.
I’m looking to build a team around me who I 
can rely on to deliver the best production possible.”
 
Great. Here’s my quote [£].
The work will be crafted with care
and experience for the ‘best production possible’.

“Yeah, the person who did the last one is less than
half that price. They’ve just left uni and are
currently working in an estate agents.”

BEST. PRODUCTION. POSSIBLE.
 
Voice actors may not seem like the cheapest option,
but they are the right option. Let’s talk.
You may never have thought about this stuff, but i You may never have thought about this stuff,
but intuitive design is everywhere. 

You may never have thought about this stuff,
because that’s the very point of it.

The things you don’t have to think about. 

The door with a flat panel you instinctively push.
The single white box on a Google screen, ripe for typing.
The hand shaped imprint in a dark tomb on a hunt for treasure…

We’ve all been there.

A voiceover in a production should be exactly the same.
The words are familiar. The message lands without thinking. 
The why and how, the knowledge and technique goes unnoticed. 

When voiceover is done well, 
your brain knows exactly what to do. 
It just absorbs it as part of the finished piece.

That’s intuitive design. 
That’s intuitive voiceover.
It certainly doesn’t demand attention.
You’re not even realising it sounds right… because it feels right.
Acting is beautiful. There’s the make-up, the cost Acting is beautiful.
There’s the make-up, the costumes,
the scenes, your performance partners…
You witness their lines as they happen and
you can respond to their tone, pacing & shifts,
perhaps adjusting your own reactions and delivery.

Now, take all of that away.
Oh wow, a void.
Darkness.

Better start imagining that make up, the costumes,
the scenes, who you’re talking to, how they react,
what they’re saying and how they’re saying it…

…and what about doing it all alone, in a box?

Voice acting is no less than stage or screen performance.
It’s more focused. It’s precise. And there’s no safety net.
 
We’re often left completely to our own devices. (Dangerous!)
Working out exactly how the script should be performed.

Next time you think voiceover is easy
get in your wardrobe and deliver a show stealer.
Voice actors are like neon signs. Flashing. Glowin Voice actors are like neon signs.
Flashing. Glowing. Buzzing. Jazz hands optional.
All trying to be the brightest thing amongst lots of other bright things.

And just like the early days of the internet, 
it’s all starting to become a bit of a blur.

In the 90s we called it banner blindness.
Pages plastered with flashing GIFs, 
counters, guestbooks, pop‑ups…
…all screaming for attention.

Eventually, people simply stopped seeing it.

Fast forward to now. 
Feed fatigue. Creator clutter. 
A wall of neon, a noiseless noise.

VISIBILITY IS NOT THE SAME AS MEMORABILITY.

I’m unmistakably me.
Are you unmistakably you?
Or are you forgettably… everyone else?

Would love to hear your thoughts on this, if of course it gets seen
and doesn’t just become another part of the neon wall.

Oh no.
Originals bands will beat covers bands all day lon Originals bands will beat covers bands all day long for me.
The cover may be technically perfect and note for note.
But the performance leaves you feeling pretty vacant.

The heart wrenching verses that make you cry?
The soaring celebration of the chorus?
Whose scars are they?
Whose feelings?

There’s something else that does a lot of copying at the moment.
But it’s not technically perfect. And doesn’t hit all the notes.
 
When you buy your next vinyl (yes, yes, stream it on Spotify)
will it be by the band who created it, or the covers act from your local.

When you hire your next voice actor…
will it be the one who’s been weathered by the world,
living their experiences, living their memories, living their dreams?
Or will it be the one who’s been programmed to speak a certain way?

It’s not even a comparison.
These days people talk a lot about “personal brand These days people talk a lot about “personal branding”.

These days (thanks Stewart Lee).

The funny thing is, punk figured that out decades ago. 
DIY posters. A sound you recognised instantly. 
Spitting at gigs… well, maybe not that one.

I lived in that world.

And when I started to inhabit the voiceover world,
I didn’t need to build a brand because my brand was… me.

This 2026 photo is me with JJ, the lead singer of Discharge.
It screams punk attitude. My attitude. His attitude.
It’s not put on, that’s who we really are.

Forty years in voiceover later, nothing and everything has changed. 
My attitude is the consistency… in a very different world.

With me there’s no pretending.
No polishing myself into someone beige.
No biting my tongue if I have something to say.

Some people didn’t love that back then. 
Some really don’t love that now.

But I never set out to be universally loved.
I set out to be unmistakably me.

That’s the brand. It always has been.

Photographer: @gtrueman666
Only 30% password security? Bad. 30% possession in Only 30% password security? Bad.
30% possession in a football game? Bad.
A theatre performance that’s 30% full? Bad.
 
Okaaay then. 

So, when can 30% ever be a good thing?
When it’s an increase in user engagement due to voiceover!
 
Despite what fear mongers are still shouting
voice matters more than it ever did.
 
A voice still captivates. It still holds a room.
It turns a passive viewer into an active listener.
 
Your piece could have the best visuals the world has ever seen.
But if it sounds like, well, like the producer gave 30% effort for the audio…
 
Maybe it’s time to give your content a voice worth listening to.
It might not be the best piece of music ever It mi It might not be the best piece of music ever
It might not have the best lyrics ever

BUT

There’s something special about a jingle that refuses to leave your head.
There’s something magical about a jingle that lingers for YEARS.

It might even be a jingle that annoys you so much
it makes you want to scream when you hear it.

All that means is, it’s a job done well.
The very point is to be remembered.
 
Some classics from over the years are
Shake and Vac, Go Compare,
Milky Way Red Car Blue Car,
Birds Eye Potato Waffles,
Toys R Us and Dominos
latest. I’m so sorry.

Jingles are like time machines. 
They take you straight back to your living room,
your childhood, your favourite show, your favourite advert.

The power of audio blah blah blah.

SO LET’S HAVE THEM.

What’s the jingle you STILL remember, even if you haven’t heard it in 20 years?
(My favourites are Shake and Vac, Orbit sugar-free gum, R Whites Lemonade!)
Here's the latest from @andiwhiteofficial... It's Here's the latest from @andiwhiteofficial...

It's got me in it, hurrah, and also @pavel_douglas , HURRAH!
Another brilliantly written piece from Nova Productions.

You can listen in all the usual places but
here's a couple of links to get you started.

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4uguGYZ7Fb5becpaNmiMZ0?si=d20271767e2e49a5

Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/double-takes-starring-tanya-rich-and-pavel-douglas/id1749474627?i=1000790006552
Oooh flashy visuals. Aaaah and nice fonts. Well Oooh flashy visuals. 
Aaaah and nice fonts. 
Well done. Well done.
 
But no voice means no thought for accessibility.
Looks slick. Sounds like… well, nothing at all.
 
What about people who are blind or visually impaired?
Or those who struggle with literacy or cognitive load? 
 
Too many people still think voiceover is an extravagant expense.
It guides the story and adds tone and nuance.
It makes meaning accessible.
It’s inclusion.
 
But don’t make it about ticking a few boxes.
Make it about respecting your audience. All of them.
The people who shout the loudest often get the wor The people who shout the loudest often get the work.

Not necessarily because they’re the best.
Not necessarily because they’re more experienced. 
 
Because they’re the ones who keep showing up.
Loudly, repeatedly, and relentlessly. 

And while I might not love that reality, I do understand it.

But when all of your peers are showing up
loudly, repeatedly, and relentlessly…
are you really getting noticed 
in the way you want?

What’s the solution?
Shout louder?
Shout more?

To rise above the waves of carbon-copy-content
all you need to do is this three point master plan:

Be different in how you communicate. 
Be different in how you present your craft. 
Be different in the way you make people feel.

Ok, you might be thinking, “yes Tanya but you are VERY loud”.
Alright. That’s valid.

But you can cut through the noise by being a different kind of noise.
So, the people who shout differently can also get the work.

/lesson
Being bored stiff when starting a new job is a pro Being bored stiff when starting a new job is a problem.
 
Training modules. YAWN.
Compliance explainers. YAWN.
Onboarding walkthroughs. YAWN.

Poor noob. Excitement and motivation destroyed.
Bright, wide eyes turn into dull, lifeless blobs. 
 
If the in-house productions are boring and lacking soul
that’s how staff will perceive the company and role.
(Hope you enjoyed that couplet).

But if you use them as opportunities to engage and inspire,
your staff will buy into the business without even knowing it.
This leads to culture, it leads to retention and it leads to ROI.
(Rich Orientated Investment).
 
The team is made up of people.
People with brains that crave connection.
And that connection comes from… other people.
But if you’ve used Beresford from the IT department
to do a voiceover teaching people where the fire exits are…
…good luck.
 
It's all very well telling someone something important.
Whether it’s heard is what really matters.
Last week I spoke about never standing still. This Last week I spoke about never standing still.
This week I’m going to speak about not standing still, again.
(I can’t work out whether that’s ignoring my own advice or not!)

This is all about breaking patterns. Changing things up.
Maybe even trying things you didn’t think you needed.

For me, that’s a mentor.

Blimey, 40 years in and getting a mentor? Why would you do that?!
 
My career has been built on craft, graft, 
and (without another word that rhymes), tenacity. 

When you do something for so long, it can make it very easy to think:
“I’m good. I’ve got this. I don’t need to change anything.”

But like I said before, the moment you stand still, you stagnate.

So I nabbed myself a BAFTA award winning mentor. 
Well, nothing wakes you up faster than someone brilliant 
looking at your work and saying, “You need some new stuff”. 

Ouch. And… fair.

Instead of carrying on using reels I’ve had for a couple of years, 
I’ve been moved towards making three brand new ones. 
A better reflection of the voice actor I am now.

What are you doing to break your patterns?
Casting a voice actor shouldn’t be like finding a Casting a voice actor shouldn’t be like finding a needle in a haystack.
Do you have time to scroll through hundreds of auditions waiting 
for an unforgettable read that has you deleting 502 other MP3s
quicker than you can say “lossy file format” in 3 styles.

(That was a long sentence. Sorry.
But totally doable with good breath control.)

The talent is out there, of course it is.
But how do you find it quickly?

If your brief is vague, your inbox will fill up fast.
If your brief is tack sharp, something happens.

Automatic filtering in AND OUT of talent!
You’ll have more of the right voices
and less of the wrong voices.

So… stop doom scrolling those auditions.
Fix the problem at the source: the brief.
Most of my life has been spent behind a mic. Over Most of my life has been spent behind a mic.
Over forty years, in fact. I know everything!
There’s no point learning any new stuff…
 
Yeah, right.

In an industry that has always evolved,
and one that is evolving faster than ever,
the moment you stand still, you stagnate.

So this year, I’m pushing my voice somewhere new.
It’s not a new genre, or an accent. I’ve done that.

It’s screaming.
And yes, I’ve done that too.
Mainly during big arguments.
(Which I win because breath control!)

But this is proper metal screaming.
I’m working on the false chord technique.
Full on, lip quivering, cheek wobbling, throat rattling.

Why not? I’m still curious. I still crave knowledge.
And standing still is the fastest way to fall behind.

So… see you in the pit?
@menugordonjones Yum! @menugordonjones Yum!
Follow on Instagram

Contact

Voice actor Tanya Rich with a cheeky smile
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

If you’re looking to book a British female voice talent for your next project, I’d love to hear from you. You’ll find that when it comes to the voice-over industry, I really am the voice of experience.
There are a few ways to get in touch, you can call me, message me on WhatsApp, or fill out the contact form below! Whatever works best for you.

Terms & Conditions

+44 (0) 7788 747 946
tanya@tanyarich.co.uk

Representation

Babble Voices
+44(0)20 7434 0002
hello@babblevoices.com

Privacy Policy
©2023 Tanya Rich // Voice Over Site by Voice Actor Websites