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Charlie had it all. He was suave, sophisticated, and he hadthree beautiful private eyes to do his bidding. Oh, sure, the realdraw of Charlie's Angels wasn't Charlie. But whileevery other 11-year-old in America was ogling Cheryl Ladd, myselfincluded, what I really coveted was The Voice coming from thebox.
Fast forward to the 1990s. Nobody's heard Muzak likeI've heard Muzak, and I get my messages returned not withinhours, but within what seems like years. A few years ago, Idelivered a voice mail so pathetic, I later parachuted out of anairplane, hoping to scare myself so badly that answering machineswould no longer wrack my nerves. (It didn't work.)
Every year, $55 billion is spent by U.S. companies to trainemployees, with more than 60 percent of em learning how to use thatphone better. Telephone skills are important. As entrepreneur AnnaBernstein of New York City says, "Your phone voice is youridentity, and it has a lot to do with whether people trust you andwant to do business with you."
I believe it. As a writer, I interview subjects on the phone,and have long-standing business relationships with publicists andeditors, and yet I often only know these people through theirvoices. In fact, I've spoken dozens of time with the editors atEntrepreneur and, for all I know, the staff resembles TheAddams Family. (However, I've heard many rumors they allstrongly favor the cast of Melrose Place. And, afterconversing for months with an unseen colleague, my mind naturallydrifts: "I wonder how old this woman is. I wonder if she hasblue eyes. I wonder what she would look like in leather and spikeheels."
I guess it's just as well we sometimes don't see thepeople we hear. I once met an attractive editor for lunch, after ayearlong telephone business relationship. Her first words to mewere, "You look different than I thought you would." Shedidn't elaborate; I was afraid to ask her to. Perhaps shewanted Tom Cruise and felt she got Tom Arnold.
Now e-mail is threatening to wipe out even voice contact, whichcould be a blessing. Should Charlie's Angels everreturn, maybe ol' Chuck will deliver his assignments via amodem. If so, I'd like to start alerting casting agents now. Ican type :-) with the best of them.
It's Not What You Say.
It's how you say it. Here are three voices Anna Bernsteinloves:
1. Patrick Stewart: "His natural voice is soothingand sexy. He has the unique ability to sound attractive to both menand women."
2. Lauren Bacall: "She pronounces everything soclearly, yet doesn't sound as if she's trying. Her smokyregister is a gift, and she knows how to let it rise andfall."
3. Madeline K. Albright: "She always soundsdignified and serious, yet human. She allows her personality intoher voice, but you always know she's the Secretary of State.Her throat is open when she speaks, which signals she's beinghonest."
Three voices Bernstein wants to help:
1. Al Gore: "He's been pumping up the volume inhis speeches in an effort to sound more exciting. He should usepitch rather than loudness."
2. Maria Bartolomo, CNBC's "Money Honey":"'Maria, please stop shouting in the floor of theExchange!' We would be much happier listening to her if she lether voice drop to its natural bottom."
3. Sen. Phil Gramm (R-TX): "Nasal, nasal, nasal! Hepushes so hard into his nasal cavity that he sounds forced andinsincere. It turns off more people than it impresses and makes himappear stubborn."
Contact Source
- Voice Success, (212) 687-1144, VoiceSuccess@aol.com
