Ooo-Weet

01 Jun Ooo-Weet

Read the tip title aloud, exaggerating your enunciation. This is a standard vocal warmup used by theatre professionals. We’re sure you have your own rituals before you work or compete, but you may not have an efficient way to warm up your voice. Beyond the obvious benefits, George Washington University psychology professor Fallon Goodman said that “When the world is predictable for us, we can more easily get into a flow state that will improve performance.”

Goodman was referring to active and mental speaking rituals. For instance, actor Jeff Daniels records audiobooks. He warms up his voice with Budda-Gedda, repeated many times with increasing speed. Other vocal warmups include Ooo-weet, Who-you, even the vowels A, E, I, O, U with different consonants preceding them. Wayne Brady blows bubbles with a straw into a water bottle, which slows down and controls his breathing. On the mental side, Deborah says to herself “They need what I have to deliver” as an effective mantra. You may listen to a favorite song, popular among Olympic athletes.

Heed psychologist Goodman’s insight and create rituals that work for you. Make them simple and test them out for efficacy. Presenting in front of others is not for the weak-of-heart. Years ago, Eloqui did a session on warmups at a tech conference. When asked what she learned, the Purchasing Manager faced a large audience and said “OOO-WEET” and “WHO-YOU!” After a brief, stunned silence, the audience laughed and applauded. She had them.