The Ask Joe week 9 video is now out from Joe Cipriano.
Find more videos like this on voiceover universe presents…
For more, visit the Ask Joe Group at Voiceover Universe.
Blogging
The new "bridges" podcast is live
Four times a year, the Office of Science and Technology at the Embassy of Austria in Washington, DC publishes “bridges“, an online publication on Science and Technology policy intended to build “bridges of knowledge and expertise between Austria and North America.” It’s my delight to serve as the narrator of the podcast version of each volume, recording a selection of the articles each quarter for simultaneous release. Volume 18 is now live.
Great insights on search engine strategies
Bryan Eisenberg is one of the leaders of Future Now, a company at the forefront of helping companies make the most effective use of their web sites. He was interviewed a short while ago by Search Engine Watch editor Kevin Heilser, and that interview is now published on the Future Now Blog.
Bobbin Beam is featured on Voice Overs on Demand
Trish and Terry feature an interview with my friend Bobbin Beam on Episode 18 of the Voice Overs on Demand podcast.
For more about Trish and Terry, check out the Voice Overs on Demand group at Voiceover Universe.
Welcome to blogging, Dan O’Day
Dan O’Day emailed this morning to let me know that in spite of his determination not to, he’s started a blog. I know Dan to be an excellent writer, though he’s told me a number of times that it always takes him a long time to write something. He says it’s because he’s a slow writer and it takes him a while to correct the mistakes he made in his first draft. So, while the posts may not be all that frequent, I’m confident that what’s there will be choice material indeed.
Update: Edited to better reflect the reality that Dan notes in his comment below.
Silence is golden …
… is a trite old phrase that’s largely fallen out of favor. Seth Godin reminds us that when it comes to marketing ourselves and our business (including our voiceover services) silence distinguishes between the the professional markets and the amateurs.
After reading Seth’s post I reminded of some advice I was given many years ago: “It’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.”
Spread the word
With thanks to my friend Juan, I’ve just signed up with rssHugger.
Whatever else they have going for them, it’s a cute logo. The site is run by Collin LaHay and he explains the idea behind the site on his About page.
I have no idea if this site is going to generate a ton of new traffic to my blog. After all they don’t have a category on the site for voiceover; but like Juan, I thought it was work the few moments to sign up for this free service. And I’ve submitted a request to add “voiceover” as a category.
I’ll offer updates from time to time about my experience.
Happy Blogiversary to my friend Joe
I’m a month late (but better late than never?) in saying Happy Blogiversary to my friend Joe Szymanski.
Something important for April
(Update: I’m bumping this to the top of my blog again today, since it’s now the last day of April.)
During the 2007 edition of Dan O’Day’s International Radio Creative and Production Summit, I learned that Steve Stone and I have something in common beyond the fact that we both do voiceovers. And it’s that point in common that prompts today’s post. It’s a letter Steve has written and is distributing as far and wide as I can. And no, aside from our common work interests, this has nothing to do with voiceover. Here is Steve’s letter…
———————————————-
April is here, and with that something very close to my heart. It’s Autism Awareness Month. Even more specific is World Autism Awareness Day on Wednesday April 2nd. Autism has become a silent epidemic. Did you know that one in every 150 children born today will be effected by Autism?
I’m truly blessed to have a wonderful wife (Leslie) and family. We have three young children, Jacob (9), Joey (5) and Julia (4). When our first child Jacob was born, my wife and I had no idea what was waiting for us. As Jacob got older, he wasn’t developing socially like other kids his age. He would throw tantrums that lasted for hours, he would obsess over the same toy, or word, he couldn’t look in our eyes, and what crushed me was that when showing him affection….it wasn’t reciprocal. There were many nights my wife would cry herself to sleep because of the stress, and the not knowing what was ailing him. Soon after at the age of 4, Jacob was found to have Aspeger’s Syndrome (AS).
WHAT IS ASPERGER’S?
Asperger’s syndrome is a developmental disorder that is part of the autism spectrum. Signs and symptoms of Asperger’s syndrome include:
* Engaging in one-sided, long-winded conversations, without noticing if the listener is listening or trying to change the subject
* Displaying unusual nonverbal communication, such as lack of eye contact, few facial expressions, or awkward body postures and gestures
* Showing an intense obsession with one or two specific, narrow subjects, such as baseball statistics, train schedules, weather or snakes
* Appearing not to understand, empathize with, or be sensitive to others’ feelings
* Having a hard time “reading” other people or understanding humor
* Speaking in a voice that is monotonous, rigid or unusually fast
* Moving clumsily, with poor coordination
* Having an odd posture or a rigid gait
It’s an everyday struggle, Jacob has been in therapy for more than four years. The constant battle with anxiety and his paralyzing rigidity is overwhelming at times for my wife and me. To make things twice as hard our middle child Joseph has been diagnosed with Asperger’s as well. Again make no mistake Autism is an epidemic. I’m not asking for your money, I’m asking for your help in raising awareness.
After all we are in the “media” business right?
HBO recently debuted a documentary called “Autism: The Musical“, which has received great reviews for it’s intimate look into the world of Autism.
There is also a feature film documentary that is making the rounds at film festivals, about a teenage boy with Asperger’s.
http://www.billythekiddocumentary.com/
The most comprehensive information can be found at
Autism Spectrum Disorders can be overwhelming for parents and families, early intervention is key.
I’m happy to say that both Jacob and Joey are making great strides, and are learning to cope.
Thanks for your time.
Steve Stone
——————————————————
Thank you, Steve. Cinda and I also have a son with autism. Brian is his name. He is our youngest son. He’s 10 and doing amazingly well. But, we too want to be sure you know about the importance of this month and this day. Thank you for reading.
Web 2.0, a video
My thanks to my friend Milton Friesen for linking to this video, thus helping me find it.
How not to contact potential clients
Seth Godin offers some devastating advice about how not to make contacts based on his recent personal experience; and follows with some solid guidance and good advice.
Something important for April
During the 2007 edition of Dan O’Day’s International Radio Creative and Production Summit, I learned that Steve Stone and I have something in common beyond the fact that we both do voiceovers. And it’s that point in common that prompts today’s post. It’s a letter Steve has written and is distributing as far and wide as I can. And no, aside from our common work interests, this has nothing to do with voiceover. Here is Steve’s letter…
———————————————-
April is here, and with that something very close to my heart. It’s Autism Awareness Month. Even more specific is World Autism Awareness Day on Wednesday April 2nd. Autism has become a silent epidemic. Did you know that one in every 150 children born today will be effected by Autism?
I’m truly blessed to have a wonderful wife (Leslie) and family. We have three young children, Jacob (9), Joey (5) and Julia (4). When our first child Jacob was born, my wife and I had no idea what was waiting for us. As Jacob got older, he wasn’t developing socially like other kids his age. He would throw tantrums that lasted for hours, he would obsess over the same toy, or word, he couldn’t look in our eyes, and what crushed me was that when showing him affection….it wasn’t reciprocal. There were many nights my wife would cry herself to sleep because of the stress, and the not knowing what was ailing him. Soon after at the age of 4, Jacob was found to have Aspeger’s Syndrome (AS).
WHAT IS ASPERGER’S?
Asperger’s syndrome is a developmental disorder that is part of the autism spectrum. Signs and symptoms of Asperger’s syndrome include:
* Engaging in one-sided, long-winded conversations, without noticing if the listener is listening or trying to change the subject
* Displaying unusual nonverbal communication, such as lack of eye contact, few facial expressions, or awkward body postures and gestures
* Showing an intense obsession with one or two specific, narrow subjects, such as baseball statistics, train schedules, weather or snakes
* Appearing not to understand, empathize with, or be sensitive to others’ feelings
* Having a hard time “reading” other people or understanding humor
* Speaking in a voice that is monotonous, rigid or unusually fast
* Moving clumsily, with poor coordination
* Having an odd posture or a rigid gait
It’s an everyday struggle, Jacob has been in therapy for more than four years. The constant battle with anxiety and his paralyzing rigidity is overwhelming at times for my wife and me. To make things twice as hard our middle child Joseph has been diagnosed with Asperger’s as well. Again make no mistake Autism is an epidemic. I’m not asking for your money, I’m asking for your help in raising awareness.
After all we are in the “media” business right?
HBO recently debuted a documentary called “Autism: The Musical“, which has received great reviews for it’s intimate look into the world of Autism.
There is also a feature film documentary that is making the rounds at film festivals, about a teenage boy with Asperger’s.
http://www.billythekiddocumentary.com/
The most comprehensive information can be found at
Autism Spectrum Disorders can be overwhelming for parents and families, early intervention is key.
I’m happy to say that both Jacob and Joey are making great strides, and are learning to cope.
Thanks for your time.
Steve Stone
——————————————————
Thank you, Steve. Cinda and I also have a son with autism. Brian is his name. He is our youngest son. He’s 10 and doing amazingly well. But, we too want to be sure you know about the importance of this month and this day. Thank you for reading.
Bobbin Beam’s blogiversary
A few days ago my friend Bobbin Beam celebrated her first blogiversary. Congratulations and thanks for a superb first year of blogging about voiceover, Bobbin.
Real Ritzy Ralph
My friend Ralph Hass has just done a very cool voiceover job. He’s posted about it on his voiceover blog. Very nice work, Ralph. And what a fabulous property.
Blogging and the Golden Rule
I’ve encouraged a number of my voiceover friends to start blogging, and some of them have done so. I’ve done this both because I’ve found that blogging about voiceover work makes me better at what I do and because blogging has turned out to be a wonderful way of starting, building and strengthening relationships.
Tiffany Monhollon has written brilliantly about the fundamental fact that the Golden Rule (Do to others as you wish they do to you) needs to rest as a bedrock of our blogging. I’m confident this is true for folks who blog for a business purpose as I do as well as for those who blog for social, emotional or other reasons. Here’s just one sample of what I mean from Tiffany’s post…
In blogging, relationships are really no different than offline relationships. They take time, effort and consideration to cultivate, and they must be maintained. But, they can really make a difference in your life and career.
Really good stuff, Tiffany. I’m adding you to my blogroll and will be back to visit your site many times.
A survey at Vox Daily
Stephanie Ciccarelli is conducting an informal survey of her readers at the Vox Daily blog. If you read, please visit, and leave a comment to her post.
Another addition to the blogroll
My friend Brian Hart has joined the voiceover blogosphere. I’m sure I’m going to enjoy reading what Brian has to say. I hope you will too.
New digs for Dave
My friend Dave Courvoisier has moved his voiceover blog to Typepad. Dave, the new site looks excellent.
Play the games
DB Cooper gives voiceover folk a wonderful place to hang out with one another on the Internet, the VO-BB. She’s a brilliant voiceover talent in her own right. And an avid gamer. These last two come together in a fabulous piece you about voice acting for video games that can read on Vox Daily today.
My thanks to my friend Jeff Kafer for posting a note about this article today on the VO-BB.
Update: And if you’d like to know more about DB Cooper, check out my interview with her.
Audiobook podcasts well worth hearing
While thinking about audiobooks, I want to let you know about a couple of podcasts that Tracy Pattin has recorded and published, interviewing Dennis Kao with Hachette Audio (formerly Time Warner Audio).
The first podcast is here. The second podcast is here.
Good stuff, Tracy. Thank you for these excellent resources.