Comments on: My greatest weakness http://bobsouer.com/blog/2005/05/12/my-greatest-weakness/ Posts about voiceover, life and assorted other ramblings from Bob Souer Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:28:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michael http://bobsouer.com/blog/2005/05/12/my-greatest-weakness/comment-page-1/#comment-11774 Michael Wed, 03 Nov 2010 13:24:24 +0000 http://bobsouer.com/2005/05/12/my-greatest-weakness/#comment-11774 Back in 2006 Kerry wrote: am looking to purchase John doremus passing parade radio shows any idea where I can start looking for these recordings? Now it's four years later an Kerry has probably found what he wanted, but just in case anyone else is interested, I can tell you that the rights are owned by Grace Gibson Productions: http://www.gracegibson.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=36%3Anostalgiahistory&id=99%3Athe-passing-parade&Itemid=62 The Passing Parade is still being broadcast on radio stations around Australia. Back in 2006 Kerry wrote:
am looking to purchase John doremus passing parade radio shows any idea where I can start looking for these recordings?

Now it’s four years later an Kerry has probably found what he wanted, but just in case anyone else is interested, I can tell you that the rights are owned by Grace Gibson Productions:

http://www.gracegibson.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=36%3Anostalgiahistory&id=99%3Athe-passing-parade&Itemid=62

The Passing Parade is still being broadcast on radio stations around Australia.

]]> By: Bob http://bobsouer.com/blog/2005/05/12/my-greatest-weakness/comment-page-1/#comment-11573 Bob Mon, 02 Aug 2010 15:29:35 +0000 http://bobsouer.com/2005/05/12/my-greatest-weakness/#comment-11573 Jay, Very interesting and cogently expressed thoughts. I very much appreciate your contributions to the conversation. Be well, Bob Jay,

Very interesting and cogently expressed thoughts. I very much appreciate your contributions to the conversation.

Be well,
Bob

]]> By: jay bacchus http://bobsouer.com/blog/2005/05/12/my-greatest-weakness/comment-page-1/#comment-11572 jay bacchus Sun, 01 Aug 2010 17:48:46 +0000 http://bobsouer.com/2005/05/12/my-greatest-weakness/#comment-11572 Well, I'll take Bob's comment a few steps further. Yes, I agree, classic 'announcer voices' seem to have fallen out of favor with the agencies that do voice talent casting. There are a few voices right now doing national accounts, that simply would not have been heard on the air 15 years ago. These voices would have not been hired to work in a market the size of Toledo or Fort Wayne. IMO, not persuasive, not stylized in any way. Not at all distinctive. No edge. One of these voices (no, I won't name him) has taken a handful of national accounts by storm. He's being heard doing EVERYBODY'S spots. Lots of financial services campaigns. Probably a very nice fellow who would be liked very quickly by you, me ...or most anyone. But he's very SHALLOW voice talent. Sounds like he's 19 years old. Is this what producers and big agency creative directors have come to like? I think there's more to it. Why would an agency want to pony up AFTRA rates to use a particular voice on so and such spot in the top weighted U.S. markets for a specified number of weeks? That could become expensive, especially upon consideration of renewing the campaign. Is there a better business model? WHO is a voice talent in August, 2010? WHAT is the voice over business?What are the qualifications of talent? Are there any experience requirements? This is no longer a game of farming out reels to agencies or directly to clients and hoping for a response. You are a national voice talent if you SAY you are on any of a half dozen voice talent portals. Can you afford an RE 20? Maybe a U 87? A little sound-proofing? You have a reasonably muscular laptop that can run Pro Tools? Can you learn the utter basics of editing and effects? Is it possible for you to have an ISDN line installed and get hold of a used CODEC? All of this gear combined doesn't cost anywhere near as much as opening a small strip mall franchise today, a sandwich shop for example. 6 to 10 thousand dollars, maybe less with used gear, and you're in the voice business. Since you don't have a small business loan---or credit card debt---for $135,000 hanging around your neck, and you're working from your basement with no rent and little overhead, you can do spots on the cheap. Reallllly cheap. You can voice :30 spots for national use and charge $115 if you like. Why not? I'll make the point that we're hearing lots of these 'eco-spots' on national accounts everytime we listen to broadcast radio or TV. As budgets are stretched tighter than piano wire in the coming couple of years, I expect to hear more and more of this. It's simply a great time for anyone who'd like to do voice work ...to jump in. If you can assemble the infrastructure, there's a good chance you'll be hired---on the cheap---to start your new career. You certainly don't have to sound like Ken Nordine or Like Ernie Anderson used to sound. Sound any way you wanna sound! Somebody is bound to contact you with an offer. Well, I’ll take Bob’s comment a few steps further. Yes, I agree, classic ‘announcer voices’ seem to have fallen out of favor with the agencies that do voice talent casting. There are a few voices right now doing national accounts, that simply would not have been heard on the air 15 years ago. These voices would have not been hired to work in a market the size of Toledo or Fort Wayne. IMO, not persuasive, not stylized in any way. Not at all distinctive. No edge. One of these voices (no, I won’t name him) has taken a handful of national accounts by storm. He’s being heard doing EVERYBODY’S spots. Lots of financial services campaigns. Probably a very nice fellow who would be liked very quickly by you, me …or most anyone. But he’s very SHALLOW voice talent. Sounds like he’s 19 years old. Is this what producers and big agency creative directors have come to like? I think there’s more to it.

Why would an agency want to pony up AFTRA rates to use a particular voice on so and such spot in the top weighted U.S. markets for a specified number of weeks? That could become expensive, especially upon consideration of renewing the campaign. Is there a better business model?

WHO is a voice talent in August, 2010? WHAT is the voice over business?What are the qualifications of talent? Are there any experience requirements? This is no longer a game of farming out reels to agencies or directly to clients and hoping for a response.

You are a national voice talent if you SAY you are on any of a half dozen voice talent portals. Can you afford an RE 20? Maybe a U 87? A little sound-proofing? You have a reasonably muscular laptop that can run Pro Tools? Can you learn the utter basics of editing and effects? Is it possible for you to have an ISDN line installed and get hold of a used CODEC? All of this gear combined doesn’t cost anywhere near as much as opening a small strip mall franchise today, a sandwich shop for example. 6 to 10 thousand dollars, maybe less with used gear, and you’re in the voice business.

Since you don’t have a small business loan—or credit card debt—for $135,000 hanging around your neck, and you’re working from your basement with no rent and little overhead, you can do spots on the cheap. Reallllly cheap. You can voice :30 spots for national use and charge $115 if you like. Why not? I’ll make the point that we’re hearing lots of these ‘eco-spots’ on national accounts everytime we listen to broadcast radio or TV.

As budgets are stretched tighter than piano wire in the coming couple of years, I expect to hear more and more of this. It’s simply a great time for anyone who’d like to do voice work …to jump in. If you can assemble the infrastructure, there’s a good chance you’ll be hired—on the cheap—to start your new career. You certainly don’t have to sound like Ken Nordine or Like Ernie Anderson used to sound. Sound any way you wanna sound! Somebody is bound to contact you with an offer.

]]> By: Bob http://bobsouer.com/blog/2005/05/12/my-greatest-weakness/comment-page-1/#comment-11398 Bob Mon, 24 May 2010 02:59:43 +0000 http://bobsouer.com/2005/05/12/my-greatest-weakness/#comment-11398 Brady, I think Arthur Godfey's style would work great at any time, because he was so much just himself. And I'm a huge John Doremus fan. Be well, Bob Brady,

I think Arthur Godfey’s style would work great at any time, because he was so much just himself. And I’m a huge John Doremus fan.

Be well,
Bob

]]> By: Brady http://bobsouer.com/blog/2005/05/12/my-greatest-weakness/comment-page-1/#comment-11397 Brady Mon, 24 May 2010 02:41:34 +0000 http://bobsouer.com/2005/05/12/my-greatest-weakness/#comment-11397 What do you think of Arthur Godfrey's conversational style announcing? I think he was way ahead of his time. Of course he also got a little big for his britches and ruined his career, but I still think he would fit in well on the air today. And John Doremus? Excellent, of course. Different style. I still listen to Patterns in Music on KNXR. I'm afraid the style is mostly lost on anyone under 50...just because there's no exposure to it anymore. What do you think of Arthur Godfrey’s conversational style announcing? I think he was way ahead of his time. Of course he also got a little big for his britches and ruined his career, but I still think he would fit in well on the air today.

And John Doremus? Excellent, of course. Different style. I still listen to Patterns in Music on KNXR. I’m afraid the style is mostly lost on anyone under 50…just because there’s no exposure to it anymore.

]]> By: Bob http://bobsouer.com/blog/2005/05/12/my-greatest-weakness/comment-page-1/#comment-3148 Bob Sun, 17 Dec 2006 16:35:27 +0000 http://bobsouer.com/2005/05/12/my-greatest-weakness/#comment-3148 Kerry, I'm sorry, but no I do not. I wish you success in your search. Be well, Bob Kerry,

I’m sorry, but no I do not. I wish you success in your search.

Be well,
Bob

]]> By: Kerry http://bobsouer.com/blog/2005/05/12/my-greatest-weakness/comment-page-1/#comment-3091 Kerry Sun, 17 Dec 2006 11:12:36 +0000 http://bobsouer.com/2005/05/12/my-greatest-weakness/#comment-3091 am looking to purchase John doremus passing parade radio shows any idea where I can start looking for these recordings? am looking to purchase John doremus passing parade radio shows any idea where I can start looking for these recordings?

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