Why I Don't Rehearse My eLearning Scripts (And Why You Absolutely Should)

The Fastest Hour in eLearning

I had an eLearning narration session for a new client the other day. We blocked out two hours to record a 2,000-word script, which is a fairly standard timeframe.

An hour later, we were done. We had recorded the full script, done a complete playback for corrections, and nailed the retakes. Everyone was thrilled. It was one of those sessions that just clicked.

While the engineer was doing some final edits, one of the end-clients on the line asked me a couple of questions that got me thinking. "How do you work so fast, make so few mistakes, and put the right emphasis on the right words the first time?"

My answer? Experience and a great script.

The Anatomy of a "Perfect" eLearning Session

I explained that after narrating in the same genres for over 20 years, you start to see the patterns. You develop an instinct for the rhythm, the flow, and the attitude of the copy. This allows you to lock into the client's desired style much faster. It also helped that their script was well-written, which makes a voice actor's job infinitely easier.

Then came the follow-up question: "How much do you practice the script before the recording session?"

I told them the truth. "I barely even read them, much less practice them."

They were shocked. And honestly, I get it. It sounds like a mix of arrogance and malpractice. But it's neither. It's the result of decades of doing the work before I get the work.

But let me be clear: this is a classic "do as I say, not as I do" scenario. My goal here isn't to tell you to stop preparing. It's to show you what to focus your preparation on so that one day, you can also rely on your instincts.

Three Strategic eLearning Narration Tips

eLearning narration is a specialized skill. It requires you to flex a specific set of muscles quickly and effectively. If you want to build the experience that leads to faster sessions and happier clients, focus your energy here.

1. Flex Your Acting Muscles (Yes, Even for eLearning)

I know it sounds crazy, but taking acting classes—especially improv—will make you a better eLearning narrator. The core of narration isn't just reading words; it's conveying a message in a way that connects with the listener. Improv teaches you how to make copy sound more conversational, more organic, and how to make strong, confident choices in the moment. That's the secret to sounding like a relatable expert instead of a robot.

2. Create a Pre-Flight Checklist

Effective preparation is about risk management. Your job is to eliminate as many potential problems as possible before you hit record. My "no-prep" method works because I’ve internalized this checklist over thousands of sessions. For you, it should be a deliberate process.

• Ask Good Questions: Is there a style guide? Who is the target audience?

• Look Up Pronunciations: Never assume. Look up technical terms, names, and acronyms in advance.

• Find Reference Material: Ask the client for other videos they’ve produced, or find some on their website. This gives you a clear target for the brand's voice.

• Ask for the Music: If a music track has been chosen, ask to hear it. The music instantly informs the mood, tone, and pace of the project. It’s a massive strategic advantage.

3. Master the Art of Looking Ahead

This one is a more advanced technique, so don't rush it if you're early in your VO journey. Learn to use your peripheral vision to read the next line while you're narrating the current one.

I know, it sounds like patting your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time. But once you get the hang of it, you'll see what's coming next and be better prepared to make a strong acting choice or nail a tricky transition. It also dramatically cuts down on misreads—assuming you don't accidentally mash a word from the next line into the one you're currently narrating. I've... uh... never done that. ;)

Want More eLearning Strategies?

The tips above will help you perform better in the booth, but what about building a business around this type of work? eLearning is one of the most consistent and profitable genres in voice over, offering a level of stability that many freelancers need.

To give you a deeper understanding of the opportunities, I created a how-to video, "eLearning: The Stable VO Genre." In it, I break down why this genre is a strategic pillar for a voice over business and how you can get started.

Click here to stream the full video along with a bunch of other great videos that will move your voice over business forward!

The goal isn't to skip rehearsal. The goal is to build the right skills so that your preparation is efficient and your performance is instinctive.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Saturday, September 25th @8PM ET: "Set Goals and Build a Business Plan". Now is the perfect time to create your voiceover business plan and set your goals for the next week, month, quarter, and year. In this online workshop, I will walk you through how to determine what success can look like for you and how to make it happen.

Thursday, September 30th @8PM ET: Marketing 201 webinar "The Sales Funnel". In this class, students will explore the concept of the “Sales Funnel,” and how it can yield more paying clients in the long run if used properly.

HAPPY HAPPYS

Happy Batman Day and Butterscotch Pudding Day!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

I am so sick of people taking out their insecurities on me. American Beauty (1999)

Tom Dheere is the VO Strategist, a voice over business & marketing coach and demo producer since 2011. He is also a voice actor with over 20 years of experience who has narrated just about every type of voiceover you can think of. When not voicing or talking about voicing, he produces the sci-fi comic book Agent 1.22.