A quick guide to recording yourself
Recording yourself doesn’t need to be complicated or stressful. The most important thing is to feel comfortable and focus on what you’re saying – everything else is secondary.
What to talk about
It’s often the personal side that people connect with most. Audiences really enjoy hearing artists speak about their process, so you might want to focus on that – but it’s entirely up to you.
You could talk about:
- How the piece came about
- Why it took the form it did
- Your approach to source material or collaboration
- A moment of discovery, an accident or challenge met
- Anything that gives insight beyond what’s visible on the wall
Think of it as offering the listener a way into the work – something only you can share.
Timing
It’s surprising how much you can say in a short space of time:
- 130–200 words is roughly 60–90 seconds
- Around 70 words will give you about 30 seconds
Shorter is absolutely fine, and many people naturally wrap up just before the two-minute mark.
Recording tips
- Keep it relaxed
A natural, conversational tone works best. - Use what you have
A phone is perfectly adequate – no special equipment needed. - Find a quiet space
Soft surroundings help reduce echo and background noise. - Watch out for small noises
Avoid knocking the table if your phone is resting on it, and be mindful of squeaky chairs. Placing your device on a piece of cloth can help reduce vibrations. - Don’t worry about mistakes
If you stumble, just go back to the start of the sentence and try again – no need to restart everything. - Keep recording
It’s easiest to press record and continue until you’re happy you’ve covered everything. Most recordings we receive are around 3–5 minutes long. - We’ll handle the rest
As long as the key elements are there, we can edit and tidy the audio for you.
The essentials
- Keep it natural and conversational
- Record somewhere quiet
- Don’t worry about mistakes – just repeat the sentence
- Aim for around 30–90 seconds (but shorter is fine)
- Focus on sharing something personal about the work
The goal isn’t a perfect recording – it’s simply capturing your voice and perspective.