All I Am Hearing Is White Noise

I work at a sound studio, and we do recording sessions for clients making ad jingles, announcements, and voiceover work among other things.

A client is with me in the studio while the voiceover actor is in the recording booth. The voiceover actor works with us often and was chosen by the client based on their online portfolio (with samples of their work). This voiceover actor is also African American.

Client: “Hmm, I don’t know. Make them sound blacker.”

Me: “I really need you to make me know what you mean by that.”

Client: “Just… make them sound blacker.”

I pushed the studio mic toward the client:

Me: “You tell him that.”

Suddenly the client was very happy with the recording!