While checking out the Voice-Overs Forum I came across a very cool warm up idea posted by one of the members (I won’t say who because I’m not sure about privacy issues — better safe than sorry.)
It’s the NBC announcer test. The test originated at Radio Central New York (NBC) in the 1940s as a reading test given to prospective radio talent. The prospect would read the script for clarity, enunciation, diction, tonality and expressiveness. It had to be performed perfectly — no stumbles or stammers. Plus, it was to be read with feeling and meaning!
It’s good to start off slowly to get the enunciation down. Later you can read it fast for articulation. And here it is…
One hen Two ducks Three squawking geese Four Limerick oysters Five corpulent porpoises Six pairs of Don Alverzo’s tweezers Seven thousand Macedonians in full battle array Eight brass monkeys from the ancient, sacred crypts of Egypt Nine apathetic, sympathetic, diabetic, old men on roller skates with a marked propensity towards procrastination and sloth
Ten lyrical, spherical, diabolical denizens of the deep who haul stall around the corner of the quo of the quay of the quivery, all at the same time.
Looks easy… but this is how it should be read (hold on to your hats):
One hen
One hen
Two ducks
One hen Two ducks
Three squawking geese