My friend Mary McKitrick has launched a fabulous new look for her web site today. Wow!
General
Flash and SEO
Mahmoud Taji has a superb post on Voiceover Universe about the use of Flash to build your voiceover web site.
100 percent Accountability
Last week Bonnie Gillespie wrote Just Get Better to address a category of performers who complain about how “nothing is working.” This week she responds to an email she received in response, the author of which really disliked what Bonnie had to say in Just Get Better. After you read that first column (and yes, it will take a few mintues) be sure you don’t miss today’s column called 100% Accountability. (I didn’t think it was possible to get more pointedly on target that last week’s column, but Bonnie did.)
Branding insights
Tom Asacker has been pounding a drum for a long time about an old phrase that you’ve probably heard a few times, “A brand is a promise.” It would be wise to listen and consider what he has to say.
A very nice feature on Scott Rummell
The LA Times has a very nice feature story on voice actor Scott Rummell. My thanks to Donna Reed for tweeting the link to this article.
Voiceover for games
J. S. Gilbert has two superb blog posts that are must reading for anyone interested in doing voices for games and other interactive work. Part 1 is called Evolution of the Revolution. Part 2 is A Playbook for Winning Jobs! Well worth the several minutes it will take you to read both.
Build a better blog
My friend Stu Gray offers a review of the book 31 Days to Building a Better Blog on his voiceover blog.
You can Bank on Your Voice
Rodney Saulsberry tweets this morning that he’s working on the second edition of this book.
A contest at Voices.com
Check out Stephanie Ciccarelli’s post at Vox Daily for all the details about The Ultimate Success Story contest.
Rest in Peace, Doug Saye
Bettye Zoller Seitz posts this evening on the Yahoo! Voiceover group that Doug Saye died earlier today following a stroke.
Studio equipment being sold
My friend Janet Ault emails this evening with a quite remarkable list of studio equipment that’s for sale. Janet lives in the Phoenix area and through a series of connections is helping Brian James’ widow Kimberly sell what you see below. This is simply copied and pasted from the email Janet forwarded to me.
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Below I have a list of items I was preparing to sell. I arrived at these used prices with help of Rick Allen, a sales rep, and Clear Channel studio tech. Let me know what you think. These are pretty fair prices, but I will entertain offers! All wiring (Brian used good ones I’m sure) will remain intact for each piece that was in use.
Items that were in use:
Manley Massive Passive Stereo EQ with Tubes $3500
Focusrite Producer Pack ISA430 $1400
Telos Zepher Xstream $4000
Aphex Aural Exciter Big Bottom Base 204 $200
Drawmer Dual Gate DS201 $400
IsoBox $700 (not shippable–too big & heavy)
Items that are new & never used:
Focusrite Liquid Channel $2300 (never used, Brian paid $2500)
ProTools HD1 96 i/o, Core System $4700 (never used, in box, Brian paid over 5K)
Equipment roll-around rack $200 (never used, pre-assembled, not shippable)
Yamaha O1V 96 Mixer $2100 (never used, in box, Brian paid $2400)
There are also some portable studio cases (luggage style) on wheels that are new, never used. Brian was starting to build a portable studio so there are quite a few odds & ends here. I have several hundred in wiring too, so if you are in need of getting connected and need some wires, there are numerous items still in packaging here that you can have for less than what you’d pay retail. There are other pieces in boxes, such as a Matrix headphone amp (4 jacks), but there’s so much in his office it’s hard to go through it all at once!
I will also throw out there that he had an entire studio he was going to build, still in boxes, in my garage, still on the pallet … he purchased the furniture from RaXXess. If you or anyone you know (preferably local since it’s all very heavy and large for shipping) who is looking to put together a studio and in need of furniture, we can take a look into this stuff as well.
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If you’re interested, contact Janet Ault. She will help you get in touch with Kimberly.
Added to the blogroll today
I received a very nice email from Kevin Readdean today letting know that he’s started a voiceover blog called VO Meter specifically devoted to monitoring and reporting the history of voiceover and voice actors.
UPDATE: I also ran across another new voiceover blog today, interestingly enough from another voice actor named Kevin. In this case, Kevin Delaney, who calls his blog Voiceover Ninja.
Do you have a voiceover resume?
Tracy Pattin would like you input on that question over at the Voicebank Blog.
The answer to the networking wall-flower syndrome
Kristine Oller is a brilliant organization consultant. She’s also a recovering networking wall-flower, rather farther along on that recovery journey than I am. So I heartily recommend you visit Kristine Can Help Me and sign up for her free networking lessons.
Share the Experience audiobook contest is now life
You can read about the Share the Experience audiobook contest on Scott Brick’s blog. (There’s some background information about the contest on his blog.) And once you’ve read up on the contest, be sure you submit your entry through the official entry form. Contest ends at Midnight, 30 June 2009.
VOICE 2010
More information is now available through the Voice 2010 web site.
Change is on the way
Chris Brogan and US Airways
Most blog posts about air travel don’t have happy endings, but I think you’ll want to read what Chris Brogan has to say today about his recent travel experience.
And what does that blog post by Chris have to do with voiceover work? Hmmm. Let me know what you think. Comments are open. (My thanks to my manager and friend, Stacey Stahl, for sending along the link.)
First details about VOICE2010 announced
John Florian has published the first details about VOICE2010 on VoiceOverXtra.
The Summit is coming
Yes, the deadline for the early bird registration discount has passed, but there’s still time to register for the International Radio Creative and Production Summit. Everything you need to know is at Dan O’Day’s web site. And if you decide to register to attend, and you mention my name in the comment box at the bottom of the registration form, I will receive a commission. Your price stays the same regardless. And if you’d rather I didn’t get that commission, don’t put my name in the comment box. Of course, if you don’t mind that I get the commission, I’d be grateful if you do put my name in the comment box.
Last year at the Summit Blaine Parker, Dick Terhune and I got roped in to recording an “endorsement” video for Dan along with Dan’s nephew. Here, ladies and gentlemen is Exhibit “A” of why I never do on camera work.
Today is the first time I’ve seen this video. Wow is that … uh … words escape me.