A commercial demo update was overdue.
[audio:https://bobsouer.com/BobSouer_MainDemo.mp3]My thanks to Nancy Wolfson and Rick Santizo who worked together to craft what you hear. Oh, I guess I was involved a little bit, too.
Brand spanking new
General
Head and heart
My thanks to Tom Asacker for linking to the article the other day in the Boston Globe about the CEO of a hospital in Boston who is finding ways to avoid laying anyone off from work. No, this article doesn’t have anything directly to do with voiceover; but it’s so worth a few minutes of your time because right now you probably need a shot of good news, even if it’s not good news that touches you directly. Well, take a minute to read the whole thing. You’ll be glad you did.
Agents, anyone?
Stacey Stahl, my manager, passes along some of the nuggets she uncovers every day (though never a McNugget that I can remember) and today’s is an exceptionally cogent bit of writing from Seth Godin on the way the world has changed regarding agents of all kinds. Travel agents, stock brokers and real estate agents are three examples that most of us have encountered at one time or another, especially if we’ve been adults for more than a few years. The application to talent agents for those of us in the voiceover business seem pretty clear to me.
(edited to fix typo)
Super power?
Seth Godin’s blog post yesterday asked the question What’s your super power? It’s well worth your time to read the whole thing. Once you’ve finished you’ll understand this next statement better.
Hello, I’m Bob. I’m a professional story-teller.
Leave a comment with your super power. I’d love to know what it is. (My thanks to my manager, Stacey Stahl for sending along the link to Seth’s blog this morning.)
A bit of voiceover hilarity
Onion Radio News has this bit of hilarity that touches the voiceover world as published on their site on Sunday, March 15, 2009.
My thanks to my friend Steve Knight for passing along the link to me.
Brian James Memorial fundraiser for his family
My friend Dan Nachtrab posted details on the VO-BB about the fundraiser being organized for the family of voiceover legend Brian James, who died a few days at at the all too young age of 48.
Cars special introduction
My friend and mentor Philip Banks does work for CNN. His latest YouTube post is his work on a special about the automotive industry.
Very nice work, Mr. Banks.
How to record voiceovers at home or on the road
The Harlan Hogan and Jeffrey P. Fisher free teleseminar on How to record voiceovers at home or on the road is now open for registration. You can see many of the questions they’ll be answering on the registration page. By the way, not only is the teleseminar free, so is the MP3 recording of it. When is it? Oh yeah, you probably want to know that too, don’t you?
Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 3:00 PM Eastern / 12:00 Noon Pacific.
My thanks to Dan O’Day for the email alert this morning about this event.
Rest in Peace, Connie Zimet
She wasn’t as well known as Don LaFontaine or Brian James, but Connie Zimet was a great voice talent. Based in Florida, she’s been battling ALS the last few years, and lost her stuggle with that disease two days ago. I learned the news this evening through Linda Bruno’s blog post on Voiceover Universe.
Update: The Miami Herald has a wonderful obituary tribute to Connie in Friday’s paper. My thanks to Zurek and his Voiceover Universe for the link to the story.
Swords and plowshares and change, Oh My!
Change is a word that has risen to prominence (there’s an understatement for you) in the last couple of years. Of course, change isn’t new. One of my favorite axioms of all time is “the only contant is change,” which just about sums up everything you need to know about life on Planet Earth.
Seth Godin offers some extremely cogent thoughts on the subject of change and in particular how to deal with massive sea changes, such as we’re living through right now. Not just economically, but in lots of kinds of ways. Read his post and then, if you’d like, leave a few comments here about how you see his thoughts applying to our specific world of voiceover.
My thanks to my manager, Stacey Stahl, for passing long the link to Seth’s blog post today.
What are some mistakes to avoid?
Don’t miss David Goldberg‘s exellent article at Voice Over Xtra about mistakes many voice talents make. Lots of wisdom here.
Demo Demolition Derby 2
James Alburger and Penny Abshire will be conducting another 90 minute teleconference designed to give you honest feedback about your voiceover demo on Thursday, March 19, 2009 from 5 to 6:30 PM Pacific/8 to 9:30 PM Eastern. Registration is $49 and all the details are on the VoiceActing web site.
promo pour l’Australie
In other words, a promo in French for Austrlia.
And why am I featuring this here? Because my friend Claire Dodin is one of the voice actors you hear.
The Don LaFontaine Celebration of Life Tribute
I noticed a Voiceover Universe headline a moment ago (but it’s been several hours since I last visited so I don’t know how long it’s been up there) about the new Tribute DVD being released to honor Don’s memory and to raise funds for the Don LaFontaine Memorial Fund.
Find more videos like this on VU
Click through to Voiceover Universe for all the details and to download the PDF order form.
Frank Welker featured at TWF2005
With thanks to my friend Craig Crumpton for posting the link on his blog, check out part one of a two part interview with voice acting legend Frank Welker at TFW2005.
Remember Paul Harvey
With thanks to my friend Charlie Glaize for passing along the links to these videos, here is the YouTube entry for Paul Harvey’s final broadcast on February 7, 2009.
And here is an interview Larry King did with Paul Harvey from a few years ago.
Rest in Peace, Paul Harvey. With you, Don and Brian gone from the scene the world is permanently changed.
Do you Photoshop?
If so, head on over to Erik Sheppard’s blog and check out his ridiculous branding contest. It should be a bunch of fun to watch, even if (like me) you can’t participate because you lack any graphical skills.
Cycle of Conflict show open
My friend and mentor Philip Banks demonstrates how to do a CNN programme open.
Well done sir. Very fun.
25 Tips to make your blog work
Valeria Maltoni’s blog Conversation Agent has a valuable post titled Why Start a Blog and 25 Tips to Make it Work. If you are now or are thinking about blogging, whether about voiceover or any other subject, there’s much to glean from this post.
And if you do start a voiceover blog, please leave a comment here or email me to let me know because I’d like to add you to my blogroll, which is an intentional effort to list every voiceover blog available.
Voice Actors in the News
Craig Crumpton, founder of The Voice Actor Appreciation Society, has started a new blog called Voice Actors in the News. According to the blog’s about page, Voice Actors in the News (or The VAN) is a new electronic format of a newsletter that started in 1999 as a print publication.
Just in the last couple of days, Craig has highlighted a plethora of interviews with the people behind and in front of the microphones on the new Wonder Woman animated film, provided some background information on the future of Futerama, and let us know that June Foray is going to be signing books next month in Woodland Hills, California.
