Don Morrow blogs. And very well, I might add. For example, he answers a really important question on that blog. Why haven’t I booked anything?
(edited to fix typo)
Insight from Mr. Morrow
Blog
Gary Vaynerchuk on social media
Last May Gary Vaynerchuk was interviewed on CNN about social media. Tracy Pattin featured this video earlier this week. Today Chris Fadala emailed me about Tracy’s post. Now, I’m passing this along to you.
Key points: “I care” and “Give people what they want instead of what you want to tell them.” Top notch stuff.
Quote for the day
In my email inbox today from my friend and manager, Stacey Stahl:
The true way to render ourselves happy is to love our work and find in it our pleasure.
— Francoise De Motteville
Lubbock and Kara
My friend Kara Edwards is featured in this article about Lubbock, TX (her home town) and comics, cartoons and anime’.
Anthony and Michael
My friend Anthony Mendez is the voiceover for this Michael Buble commercial.
Mighty nice work, Anthony.
Studying with Marice
Marice Tobias has been my voiceover coach since October 2007. I continue to study with her because every time she helps me grasp some insight or push past some barrier. My most recent time with her in Chicago was no exception. The difference between a read that’s good and one that books is often quite subtle.
My “aha!” moment this time came while we were working on commercial copy. I had chosen something that was very typical of the kind of commercials I get as auditions, a piece for a hospital. Marice helped me see that my “natural” or initial approach to the copy was going too far. The copy itself had enough emotion in it. I just needed to say the words, not layer on more emotion than was needed.
Every now and then, when we paint our word pictures, we lay it on with a heavy brush; but most of the time we need to be much more subtle. Now, to keep this lesson front-of-mind, I need to spent time practicing what I’ve learned.
Pam’s Wave
My friend Pam Tierney is not only a talented voiceover performer, she also works on-camera (something I avoid assiduously) and is featured as the first of the females in this new commercial for Wave Petunias.
The team
My friend Mary McKitrick writes about her team and how it has recently grown in a very good way. We all have teams. Some are smaller. Some are bigger. Be good to your team. You need them. They need you. (And be sure to check out the spiffy new digs for Mary’s blog while you’re at it.)
For example, this blog would be largely meaningless without you. Among all the things I love about my work as a voiceover talent, the thing I love the most are the connections I’ve made. Thank you for being a member, at whatever level, of my team and for letting me be part of yours.
Break Into Audiobooks is next week
News from from Nancy Wolfson and Anna Vocino:
Our Break Into Animation Part 1 Teleseminar was such a hit, we’re at it again–but this time with Audiobook Superstar Hillary Huber!
Join us for Break Into Audiobooks on Wed March 31, 2010 – 6 pm PST/ 9 pm EST.
With us, our special guest and audiobook veteran Hillary Huber gives thorough, no-BS insider answers to all of your audiobook questions.
From business to craft to all the details in between, Hillary’s gonna spill the beans on everything audiobook.
Go to Break Into Voice Over to reserve your space on the call (includes a studio quality MP3 of the teleseminar as well).
Just a few of the great questions to be answered:
* Do you read the whole book? Do different people read different parts and characters?
* How do you get into audiobooks? It seems so mysterious…do I need to know book publishers and authors?
* Do I need a specific audiobook demo? Are there audiobook agents?
* How could I even keep track of recording a whole book by myself in my home studio?
* I’ve been listening to a ton of audiobooks, and I KNOW I’m ready to break in, so tell me the action steps I can take NOW to get the audiobook gigs coming my way!
Go to Break Into Voice Over–$49 buys you a seat on the call and a studio quality MP3 copy as well.
More About Special Guest Hillary Huber
Hillary Huber has been working steadily as a voice over talent for 15 years. She has done hundreds of commercials for clients such as Toyota, McDonalds, Tylenol, Coffeemate, Boeing, Subaru, Ford, Taco Bell, Walmart and countless others; promos for WE, CBS and the E! Network; and live announcing for The People’s Choice Awards, The Family Television Awards, and The Emmys. She discovered audiobooks in 2006, when her research, perseverance, and creative thinking resulted in a flourishing and profitable career in audiobooks. She now records books on a regular basis for major publishers such as Harper, Macmillan, Random House and Scribner. Some titles include Skinny Bastard and Light in the Piazze. Her next project is Tell-All by best selling author Chuck Palahniuk. Her narration consistently garners both critical acclaim and industry awards, including several Audie Award nominations.
“Hillary Huber’s narration is lyrical enough to be set to music.”
-Audiofile Magazine
Go to Break Into Voice Over to reserve your seat!
When you’ve had “enough”
My friend Pam Tierney first told me about The Simple Dollar several months ago. Always interesting, but this post, I’ve Had Enough, really seems like something I should share with you, too.
Audiobook insights on VoiceOverXtra
John Pruden dishes up some advice from the trenches on the challenges of recording audiobooks efficiently on VoiceOverXtra.
Reinvent the Wheels and the Kevin
My friend Kevin Genus is the voice for the new reality series Reinvent The Wheels.
Kevin, that is smokin’ hot!
How did they make that Old Spice commercial?
From my friend and manager Stacey Stahl came the link to this video today. Absolutely captivating video from twit.
Dave and PBS
Video game acting
With thanks to my friend and mentor Philip Banks for posting this link on the VO-BB, the London Guardian looks at the state of voice acting in video games.
Social Media ROI
Here’s a thought-provoking video that speaks to all of us running our own business, that would include 100% of voice actors and a very high percentage of our clients:
My thanks to Peggy Campbell for the email linking to this video.
DIY Monitor Stands
Audio monitors that is. For your audio studio. My friend Brian Hart details his work building said stands on his blog. Great work, Brian. Thanks for posting so we all can see and learn.
Break Into Audiobooks
News has just come from from Nancy Wolfson and Anna Vocino:
Our Break Into Animation Part 1 Teleseminar was such a hit, we’re at it again–but this time with Audiobook Superstar Hillary Huber!
Join us for Break Into Audiobooks on Wed March 31, 2010 – 6 pm PST/ 9 pm EST.
With us, our special guest and audiobook veteran Hillary Huber gives thorough, no-BS insider answers to all of your audiobook questions.
From business to craft to all the details in between, Hillary’s gonna spill the beans on everything audiobook.
Go to Break Into Voice Over to reserve your space on the call (includes a studio quality MP3 of the teleseminar as well).
Just a few of the great questions to be answered:
* Do you read the whole book? Do different people read different parts and characters?
* How do you get into audiobooks? It seems so mysterious…do I need to know book publishers and authors?
* Do I need a specific audiobook demo? Are there audiobook agents?
* How could I even keep track of recording a whole book by myself in my home studio?
* I’ve been listening to a ton of audiobooks, and I KNOW I’m ready to break in, so tell me the action steps I can take NOW to get the audiobook gigs coming my way!
Go to Break Into Voice Over–$49 buys you a seat on the call and a studio quality MP3 copy as well.
More About Special Guest Hillary Huber
Hillary Huber has been working steadily as a voice over talent for 15 years. She has done hundreds of commercials for clients such as Toyota, McDonalds, Tylenol, Coffeemate, Boeing, Subaru, Ford, Taco Bell, Walmart and countless others; promos for WE, CBS and the E! Network; and live announcing for The People’s Choice Awards, The Family Television Awards, and The Emmys. She discovered audiobooks in 2006, when her research, perseverance, and creative thinking resulted in a flourishing and profitable career in audiobooks. She now records books on a regular basis for major publishers such as Harper, Macmillan, Random House and Scribner. Some titles include Skinny Bastard and Light in the Piazze. Her next project is Tell-All by best selling author Chuck Palahniuk. Her narration consistently garners both critical acclaim and industry awards, including several Audie Award nominations.
“Hillary Huber’s narration is lyrical enough to be set to music.”
-Audiofile Magazine
Go to Break Into Voice Over to reserve your seat!
Happy Birthday, Ralph
My friend Ralph Hass has his birthday today, the 14th of March. In honor of the number 14, Ralph has written a blog post that you might enjoy.
Harlan Hogan and Dan O’Day
Last May I took part, along with a number of other voice actors around North America, in a month long series of teleseminars hosted by Harlan Hogan and Dan O’Day. The focus was on Starting Your Own Voiceover Business. The discussions stayed on topic. Even though I’ve been a voice actor since 1983, I found a lot of valuable information in these 4 weeks of classes. So, why am I mentioning all of this so many months after the fact?
Because I think there’s a real good chance Harlan and Dan will do a series of classes again this year. Again in May. But, with the improvements and insights gained from last year’s classes. And again focused only on the BUSINESS of voiceover. Your business.
I’ll post again when I have more news.
(edited to fix typos)
