You may not realize it, but creativity is pretty difficult to define. On Dictionary.com the definition is “the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like” i.e. “originality, progressiveness or imagination.” This is second after the less exciting definition of “the state of being creative.”
So what is creativity? Is it an ability? A state? A trait?
Wikipedia may not always be the most reliable source but I appreciated one author describing creativity as “a phenomenon whereby something somehow new and somehow valuable is formed.” WOW! A phenomenon! I can tell his author appreciates the value of creativity as their definition seems somewhat reverent.
So creativity is a phenomenon, the ability to transcend, a state of being. It sounds magical! And creativity is magical. It’s anything and everything. It lives in a place without lines, labels or boundaries and for some folks that can be very scary! But for others it is freedom.
You may be thinking, that’s nice but so what? Why does this matter to me? And why would it be important to hire a creative voiceover?
#1 Creativity is memorable
A great video is great! But in the age of Instagram and TikTok is great enough? A creative video will be remembered. And you want your audience to remember! Which commercials do you remember from 10 years ago? Come on, I know you remember some. And I’ll bet it’s because they were creative! Whether it’s the product you’re advertising, the service you’re explaining or an eLearning module training a learner, creativity will make your content memorable.
#2 Creativity inspires others
Creativity is contagious and one creative idea often leads to another. Ever heard of brainstorming? It’s a group creativity technique that takes advantage of the inspirational nature of creativity! Having a creative voiceover in the booth adds to the creativity already in the room from the creative director, the writer and all the other collaborators building the project. The voiceover actor brings another creative perspective to bring your copy and video to life.
Just for fun, here’s some brainstorming ideas from Post-it®. Post-it® notes are the mascot for inspired ideas as they were created by accident! (And they come in really handy for brainstorming.)
Creativity’s inspiration is also key for your audience. You want them to take your video and imagine applying your ideas to their lives. So it’s not just inspiring for your team, you’re looking to inspire the creativity of your audience as well!
#3 Creativity is dynamic
If one idea doesn’t work creativity always has another. That’s the beauty of creativity, it’s boundless and infinite by its very definition! And new creative ideas can turn great ideas into awesome ideas. And awesome ideas can go viral!
One of the best examples of the dynamism of creativity can be found by watching children. Children are an endless source of creativity because they’re not bound by rational thinking. Don’t believe me? Have a look at what Dropbox has to say about it!
Creative voiceovers like kids, in the best way possible! They tap into that limitless place not constrained by logic. And that place is full of ideas.
#4 Creativity lifts words off a page
Have you ever thought “being a voiceover isn’t so hard, it’s just reading!” Well, if you still think that you’ve obviously never tried it. Or maybe you’ve only heard good voice over actors! If you’ve ever listened to someone reading directly from their notes, you’ll know the importance of creativity. A creative voiceover can lift the words of the script off the page and make them come to life. This is crucial to engage your audience and connect with them.
It can be the difference between a voiceover just speaking out loud versus the one who pictures exactly who they’re speaking to. The one who personalizes the message to create the emotional tone needed. The one who creates a character to tell the story. These differences can sometimes be subtle, but trust me your brain catches them. And the listeners’ brains do too!
#5 Creativity is FUN!
Last but certainly not least, creativity is so much fun. And we all need more fun in our lives! Remember, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Now your name may not be Jack, but I bet you enjoy when your work day is more fun than work. Creativity does just that, adds fun to work! Trust me, working with a creative voice over actor is absolutely going to be a fun time. Your face just might hurt from smiling!
Still not convinced? Send me an email at Mo@MoniqueDanielleVO.com and let’s work together. I’m confident that I can prove it!