General

When you go to the web page for the International Radio Creative and Production Summit you’ll see, among other things, that Dan O’Day limits attendance to 100. Several folks have asked me if this is a real number, or just a sales gimmick. It’s no gimmick. Dan really does limit attendance to 100 people. I’m going to be there this year. My oldest son Eric is going to be there with me because he’s working with me in my voiceover business, at least for the next year. So, that leaves just 98 places for you and everyone else who wants to attend. And since I know that Dick Terhune is going to be there again this year, Todd Tolces has told me he’s going to be back again. I think my friend from Chicago, Pam Tierney is returning, too. Now we’re down to 95 places. I’m pretty sure quite a few other previous attendees (Dan calls us Repeat Offenders) will be there, too. So, if you’ve been thinking about coming to the Summit, you might want to get your registration in sooner rather than later. Because once the 100 places are filled, that’s it. This year’s Summit runs August 8 and 9, 2008. It’s at the LAX Hilton once again.

How do you know if you should be there? For us in voiceover work, there is always a ton of valuable information. Some years more than others. This is one of the more years. We’re going to hear from Pat Fraley. If you don’t know Pat’s name, you’ve heard his voice thousands of times. We’re going to get a chance to work with Nancy Wolfson, one of the very top voiceover coaches. I’ve studied with Nancy personally and I think you’ll love her blend of brutal honesty and uplifting encouragement. And the legendary Dick Orkin (co-founder with Dan of the Summit) will be there.

If you do any commercial copy writing, there will be opportunities to learn some new ideas and techniques, practical stuff you will be able to put to use, literally, immediately. And, if you’re involved in radio imaging, there’s going to be a top-flight panel of imaging voice and production people.

So, if you do voiceovers or work at a radio station, especially if you write copy or do imaging, you should seriously think about attending the Summit. Or, let me put it in more concrete terms. By putting into practice what I’ve learned through my multiple years of attending the Summit, I’ve added, as a conservative estimate, $300,000 to my family’s income. Are you going to have the same results? I certainly can’t promise that, but I am confident you’ll benefit more than what you pay to attend. I have every single year, for eleven years running.

By the way, this year, for the first time, Dan has started an affiliate program for folks who have previously attended the Summit at least twice. The one exception being those who attended the Summit for the first time last year can also take part. (If you were at last year’s Summit or you’ve been to the Summit at least twice and you’d like to take part, email Dan and ask for details. His email address is on his web site, if you don’t all ready have it.) What this means is that if you decide to attend the Summit for the first time and you would like for me to get a commission on your registration, put my name as the person who referred you, in the comment field at the bottom of the on-line registration form. Or, if you fax or mail your registration, just write my name as your reference on your form.

But, please, if you’d rather I DIDN’T get the commission, then DON’T put my name in the comment box. Your price for the Summit will be exactly the same regardless of whether you put me down as referring you or not.

Again, that limitation of 100 attendees is real. The Summit is taking place the same weekend as VOICE 2008. I’m planning to attend both. That is, I’m going to attend all of the Summit and as much of VOICE as I can. What ever you decide to do that weekend, I hope I get to see you in Los Angeles the second weekend of August 2008.

Now and then a door of opportunity opens. That door stays open for a while, then is closes again. This is one of those doors. Currently I’m studying with a remarkable lady named Marice Tobias. She emailed me this evening to remind me about a voiceover seminar she is holding in Kansas City the weekend of May 17 and 18, 2008 on Promo and Trailer work. I had so much hoped to be there, but cannot because of other work obligations already on the books from many months ago.

So, about that door. The seminar is being held at Don Miller’s studio. His contact information is on his site. If you are a working professional voiceover, ready to move to the next level, you might want to walk through this door.