I take great joy in the ingenuity of others, especially when it involves making something mundane a bit more exciting. Take John Palmer, a train announcer in Leicester, England who intermingles amusing observations with his regular railway announcements. I once had a roommate who would share a thought-for-the-day like this. Come to think of it, he was mostly just yelling at the TV.
On the other hand, Palmer’s questions and musings convey an almost Zen-koan-like levity: “Why doesn’t super glue stick to the inside of the tube?”, “Why don’t sheep shrink in the rain?” and “Why are boxing rings square?”
Railway commuters have gotten so attached to his fun facts and amusing observations, they comment when Palmer doesn’t include them in his announcements or when he takes a vacation day. Occasionally, an expert comes forward with a “plausible” explanation to one of his questions. But for Palmer, it’s about making the train friendlier and the commute more interesting. His employers agree, having encouraged him to continue.
What John Palmer does points to something professional voice-over actors and other creatives know—it’s not only about delivering information through your vocal chords, it’s about providing an experience. When you make information more human, it becomes accessible and relevant.
Voice actors often have to convey many things at once with our voices—not just read the words on the page. It’s about making that trip from Point A to Point B more rewarding for everyone involved, and maybe picking up some new friends along the way. All a-board!
SOURCE: DAILY MAIL
