My friend Mary McKitrick has posted a review of an older book, a book about brain chemistry and it’s influence on our personalities and health. Very interesting reading well worth a few minutes of your time.
General
DB Cooper featured in the paper
My friend DB Cooper, a fabulous talent and the Czarina of my favorite virtual watering-hole, the VO-BB, is featured in the Portsmouth (Maine) Herald today. A wonderful article marred only by an incorrect last name. DB’s real name as she noted in her interview with me some time ago, is Deirdre Williams.
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.
A fun meet-up in Chicago
I had a trip this weekend to Chicago, a city where I lived for just about the entire decades of the 70s and 80s. My wife Cinda grew up there, so we have lots of reasons to visit between family and friends. The reason for the visit was bittersweet, as I’ve mentioned previously, with the passing of my wife’s grandmother. Nana was an amazing woman and her memorial service was truly a celebration of her life and the 96 years of influences she’s passed along to the many generations that follow her.
One of the sweet parts was getting together with some of my voiceover friends who live there. It was a small gathering this time, in part because several of our voiceover number were traveling to other places this weekend. But Lou Zucaro, Tom Test, my son Eric and I did enjoy our time under the buffalo head at Ted’s Montana Grill in Schaumburg.
From left to right, this is Tom, Lou, me and Eric. As you can see, Eric and I wore our VO-BB t-shirts.
Also joining us were my wife, our 2 younger sons and one of my long-time friends and former co-worker in radio, Beverly Brennan. We had a delightful time talking about voiceover, life and topics that wandered all over the landscape.
Our entire family is going to make another trip to Chicago in the middle of June this year. We’re hoping to gather a somewhat larger crowd next time and I’ll write about more about that as the days get closer.
New audio from Scott Brick
Scott Brick has posted some new audio to his blog, the first chapter of Stephen R. Donaldson’s book Lord Foul’s Bane. The entire audiobook will be available on the first of May 2008.
Health Insurance survey
John Florian of VoiceOverXtra emails to say that he’s conducting an on-line survey about health insurance. I’ve already taken the survey. I hope you’ll take a moment and do so, too.
(edited to correct typo)
Speaking of Dave Foxx
I mentioned a few posts back about Dave Foxx appearing in the spoof voice talking video. Dave actually has a seriously good video about radio imaging on YouTube.
My thanks to my friend Dan Nachtrab for reminding me about Joe Szymanski’s blog post featuring this video from earlier this year.
Mary’s Source-Connect experience
My friend Mary McKitrick has written an excellent and informative article, published at VoiceOverXtra, about her experiences with installing Source-Connect.
Audiobook weekend with Pat Fraley
If you are interesting in jumping into audiobooks with both feet, the very best thing you can do is sign up for one of Pat Fraley’s Audiobook Master Events. The next one is Saturday and Sunday, the 3rd and 4th of May 2008 in Los Angeles. Space is limited to 12 participants. The cost is $1400 Cash, Check or Credit Card. Payment schedules arranged upon request. It’s taking place at …
World Famous Buzzy’s Recording
6900 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90038
To Enroll, email patfraleyteaches@aol.com or call (818) 400-3733.
A bit less than 2 years ago, I flew out to Los Angeles and took one of these Audiobook Master Events. As with the upcoming event, I received an audiobook demo some days after the event. I took that demo, followed through on only some of what I learned about marketing myself during Pat’s class, and starting less than 3 months later have been working consistently doing audiobooks for several different publishers.
Yes, you’re going to learn much more than just how to effectively read audiobooks. You’re going to get solid, practical ideas about how to market yourself. There’s much more detail on Pat’s Audiobook Master Event site.
Technorati Tags: audiobook, Pat Fraley
Solid advice from a working pro
I noticed in my server logs today that I received a visit by someone who followed a link I’d never encountered before. Curious, I followed the link back to the excellent site of Dan Popp and his company Colors Audio. While digging around on this site I came across an excellent article chock full of solid advice for you if you’re just thinking about getting started in voiceover work.
Mileposts and markers
As I was taking a few minutes to check out the blogs of a few friends today, I ran across a nifty post written a few days ago by Stu Gray in which he chronicles some reflections upon turning 33. Good stuff, Stu. For a young guy, you have a lot on the ball.
Voice talking the dream
With my thanks to Stephanie Ciccarelli for posting this on the Vox Daily blog, here is a fun little video that’s part of a contest being run on YouTube.
Checking the credits at the end, I see that Dad is played by legendary radio imaging producer and voice talent Dave Foxx. The video is produced by POYKPAC.
Update: My friend Dan Nachtrab emails this evening with a link to this story on the Voice Over Times site with background on the video, including an explanation of how Dave Foxx ended up playing the role of Dad.
What to test
If you are serious about making your voiceover website as effective as possible, then testing the various elements on your site is more than a little important. Some of the brightest people on the planet, when it comes to website optimization, work at a company called Future Now. The did a webinar last week that’s now available on YouTube.
Read about it and find the video link in this Future Now blog post by Bryan Eisenberg.
Voiceover lessons from Jazz and Philip
Things have been rather quiet on the blog for the last couple of days. I’ve been traveling internationally for the last several days and some of that time has been spent away from Internet connections. I’ll be back to my usual verbose self again in another 24 hours or so.
But, I can’t wait another day to pass along some of the voiceover lessons I learned while I was in Scotland for just over 24 hours earlier this week. I spent my time with my good friend Philip Banks. Philip, along with his wife Ann, were the most gracious of hosts and I had such a wonderfully time with them. Not all of our conversation centered around voiceover work, but since it’s a passion for both Philip and me, the subject did come up a few times.
Also, welcoming me to the home was Jazz.
Jazz is as full of life as any dog I’ve ever encountered, and I mean that in the nicest possible way. He boundless in his energy, but he’s also a wonderfully obedient and caring dog. Boundless enthusiasm for your pursuits is one important lesson I learned from Jazz; regardless of the specifics. If you find the prospect of tackling your next voiceover project is more drudgery than delight, turn to a different pursuit for a while.
Jazz has a favorite toy that he loves to play with. One of his favorite games is to bring the toy over and put in down right next to you. But, when you reach for it to give it a toss, he’s pounce on the toy with his paws or snatch it up with his mouth before you can get to it. I played this game with him for hours the afternoon I arrived. When I would try to ignore him, he’s push the toy even further in my direction so that I couldn’t ignore him. Single-minded pursuit of your objective is another of Jazz’s voiceover lessons. Stay on task. Don’t take “no” for an answer.
In the morning, Philip and Jazz took me to Spey Bay and to the wild and wonderful beauty of the place where the Spey River empties into the North Sea. While we were there, Jazz made a new friend, another dog who was also there for a walk along the riverbank. The two of them immediately feel into playing with one another with full-throated enthusiasm. Go full out, whether work or play, is the last of the voiceover lessons I’ll mention today from Jazz. Don’t hold back. Go for it.
Among the most beautiful of the places Philip took me was a stretch of the North Sea coast where you can see Bow Fiddle Rock. It was wonderfully windy and cold.
An incredible time at one of the most beautiful places on God’s green earth. I can’t wait to go back there again.
Teleseminar on Wednesday
Nancy Wolfson and Anna Vocino are doing another of their excellent teleseminars on Wednesday of this week, the 9th of April 2008. The teleseminar will start at 9:00 PM Eastern/6:00 PM Pacific. They’ve emailed this weekend to say that this will be their last teleseminar until the Fall.
Here are a few of the topics Nancy and Anna will cover this time…
* CONNECT THE DOTS –Another unique Braintracks coursework chapter – the 1st of three to address the AUTOPSY OF A RADIO SCRIPT
* What’s your through line? Sandbag the dots so the audience can connect them.
* Headphones or No Headphones? When wearing ’em will kill your audition, when you HAVE to have them on, and how to split the difference.
* Behind The Agent Curtain–Should I tell one agent when I book a job through another agent?
* Actor to Actor–Why it pays to include your agent.
Go to www.breakintovoiceover.com to sign up.
Good People
With thanks to my friend Liz de Nesnera for posting about this (she in turn got the idea from our mutual friend Peter O’Connell), today, the third of April is Good People Day.
Like Liz, I offer my thanks to Peter for supplying the graphic
Also like Liz, I could provide a long list of special people who have been and continue to fill my life with delightful relationships. But, this day will henceforth always have a bittersweet quality about it, because one of the very best examples of Good People that I’ve ever encountered was a dear lady named Helen Keener. We all knew her as Nana. She died today at the age of 96. She was my wife Cinda’s grandmother. In what I can only see as God providing the setting to match our mood, the rain is falling in Charlotte today.
Street Kings
My friend Anthony Mendez emails with a link to some of his latest work. Very cool Anthony. Very.
Audiobook insights from Scott Brick
Scott Brick has posted a new entry on his blog about how challenging it can be to narrate and audiobook now and then.
Update: As Tracy Pattin notes in her comment to this blog post, she has a podcast interview with actor Alfred Molina up on the Voice Registry Blog.
(edited to fix typo)
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…
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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
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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.
Rest in Peace, Wally Phillips
When I first arrived in Chicago as a college freshman in 1971, Wally Phillips was already well established as the number one radio personality in the market, as WGN AM 720’s morning man. He died March 26, 2008 following a five year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.