Voice type and physical type don't match?

Hi, I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for people who have a leading person's voice in a character actor's body? I have this problem as do some of my friends. Do you sing songs that suit your voice even if they're meant for someone not of your type, or do you sings songs that don't show off your voice as well but that fit your type?

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Show off the voice, but sing funny. Sing against type, but play the type anyway. Let them know you know that they know you'd never be cast in this part in a million years. Be smart (but not smart-assed).

A man I worked with had the pale, thin (THIN--never skinny), non-muscular physique of the screaming sissy that he was. He also had a rich baritone. When auditioning he would go out there and give them butch--"My Defenses Are Down" from Annie Get Your Gun--and by doing that, telegraphed that he could not only do character roles, but also make beautiful noise.

He also on a dare, once sang I Hate Men (Kiss Me, Kate) with suggestive asides and in his baritone range.

He worked all the time because they thought (correctly) that they could throw a lot of things at him.

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Hmmm. I would always sing what is in your voice to sing. If you don't look like that "type," maybe style your hair a different way. You can also sculpt your body to look a certain way (i.e. a leading man needs to have muscles, so go to the gym and try to build some). I would always go with what is in you, and then sculpt your appearance to match. It's amazing what a different hair color and/or clothing style can do. But that's just me.

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Updated On: 9/12/06 at 06:42 PM

I have the same problem. I'm short, skinny, and have the huge ingenue eyes, but I don't have a light bell-like soprano voice. It kind of throws people off.

I understand what you mean W0SQ, but many modern bigger women have reclaimed the word fat as many gay people have reclaimed the word queer. I know not everyone is comfortable with this, but sometimes some of us use the term fat as a simply descriptive term, hoping to remove the negative associations it has. Unfortunatly, in this society there is a negative image associated with anyone who is not within say 30 lbs of the "norm" (which is media projected and not actually a "norm"). I truly wish all body types, tiny through super large could be embraced.

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I have this same problem, while I won't suggest everyone doing this there are chances are, from what you've types that you could pull this off. Sing song's that suit your voice, and be the person. I'm and overweight Baritone. I was able to convince a room full of people, at my last audtiton, that I was Magaldi. Honestly sex appeal/leading roles are character/confidence. But, there will always be people that won't cast you based on this, but there will be just as many people that will cast you.

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I have the same problem.

Honestly, I say play to your type (if you can). Embrace it. Sure I can sing circles, but I stopped trying to make people see the leading man in me a long time ago. It gets you no where. If people are going to look at you and think ____, affirm their belief. Otherwise they will say, "Wow, what a voice. I have no clue where to put you."

If you can't sing to your type (ie being a bass who looks like a tenor), I really can't lend any advice, and I feel for ya!

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I'm just over 6 feet, and a soprano- can't belt to save my life, but I don't look like an engenue. there's really nothing I can do to make me shorter, so I wear heels. Show off what you've got! If you've got curves, short legs, whatever, make it work for you. The casting people always rember me, with the really really long legs!

I'm a mezzo-soprano and tall. Yet, I'm a junior in high school and it feels like all the songs for mezzos are for 40-year-old women. It's harder to find songs that suit your age, I think.

Look into Aida, it's a mezzo part and the music is beautiful

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