Welcome to My Blog!
Hot off the Presses…
The 3 Undesirable Consequences of a Successful VoiceOver Blog
Success Breeds Hangers-On Daily and weekly blogging is an offshoot of voice-acting for me. It started as an online record or repository of my own resources...the place where I knew I could go to call up that site, or fact, or technique or acting method I'd found and...
read moreJust Before that…
A Warning From the FCC
Quaint Notion, VO Prospecting
CRACKING CRAIGSLIST Yesterday, I was reading through my Google Alerts, and came across a Craigslist ad placed by a seasoned VO pro. I've re-printed most of it for you to see below the line-break. The ad came complete with a graphic, phone #, website address, a map to...
The New Humble Brag
Why you're reading this blog I don't know. By almost any measure of VO success, I've failed. I'm good at writing blogs, though. Maybe that's what I should do. Full-time writing. ...only That's even more challenging than voice-acting. ALL the freelance endeavours...
Conversational, Part Deux
Just a Given... ...That there is a macro key designed into every keyboard used by producers/copywriters/clients/and advertisers that automatically places the phrase: "non-announcery" into the specs for every audition sent out to the masses. My blog Monday about about...
Radio?
Yes...RADIO The transistor radio was my intro to geekdom. Once I had that wireless, battery-powered plastic 'n' metal box in my hands, I was untethered and unalterably transformed. Growing up near St. Louis, I had powerhouse KMOX talk-radio at my fingers. But on a...
Say The Most Powerful Word in Voiceover
VoiceOver Pro? You. The seasoned professional. You, the experienced voice-actor. You, the knowledgeable and worldly audio producer. What are you saying when you're approached by someone who shows the proper respect, passion, drive, and sense-to-ask-the-right-question...
Voice Over Education
The Challenge of Finding a Worthy VO Coach
There are plenty of scoundrels, imposters, shysters, and charlatans in the world of VO coaching. Here’s a suggestion.
Can You Escape Your Voice’s AGE?
Does your age define or limit the number of jobs you qualify for?
Short ‘n’ Sweet
A blog for you TL:DR people.
Video: State of the VO Industry
Here it is…the promised recording of the GVAA/VOAA/WoVO Webinar.
Your Invitation…
…to an online conversation you need to see.
Do This Crucial Thing…
…to save your time and grief.
The rest will follow.
The VO Newcomer Playbook
There’s no more secret to approaching VO for the first time than there is ANY freelance “gig” profession.
It boils down to one word.
The #1 Enemy of Voice Actor Progress
You’re gonna hate me when you find out what it is.
You already know, and you’ve let it get in your way.
No SEO Will Survive THIS Search Method
Just when you think you might be gaining ground in the holy grail of search optimization, along comes a method for finding voice actors from way out in left field.
VO Coaching Conundrums
Apparently, a lot of people want to coach voice acting these days. But why?…and who? When does a voice talent become a voice coach…and where are the rules & regs? A few observations within…
World Voices #WoVochat
No Really…this is the TRUE Secret to VO Success (honest)
…just back from a visit to my VO guru in a place called “The Tropicana” somewhere by a hidden mountain in Nepal and have come back with this wisdom.
…and so it begins
WoVOConV starts this weekend!
MissingLettr Uppercase Event
Uh…just what is this? Inquire within.
Disappearing Days
Uh…August?
I’m just sayin’
Video: Newest Rates Roundtable!
WoVO is at it again…with another expert panel discussing rates.
3 Must-Know Messages for Monday
Mondays. Ugh!
But news of a special price on a singularly seminal event may brighten your day.
Read on!
WoVO: For All the Right Reasons
6 years ago, World-Voices sprang into being.
Now more than ever, our profession needs the ethics we uphold.
WoVO MiniCon #2
You need more than a voiceover conference, you need a World-Voices Organization mini-con!
Details within.
Friday Fun @ VOAtlanta
You woulda loved being here.
Opening Night: VO Atlanta
The faithful are here for the gathering.
Enjoy some photos?
VO Business & Compensation
The 3 Undesirable Consequences of a Successful VoiceOver Blog
Success Breeds Hangers-On Daily and weekly blogging is an offshoot of voice-acting for me. It started as an online record or repository of my own resources...the place where I knew I could go to call up that site, or fact, or technique or acting method I'd found and...
Quaint Notion, VO Prospecting
CRACKING CRAIGSLIST Yesterday, I was reading through my Google Alerts, and came across a Craigslist ad placed by a seasoned VO pro. I've re-printed most of it for you to see below the line-break. The ad came complete with a graphic, phone #, website address, a map to...
Radio?
Yes...RADIO The transistor radio was my intro to geekdom. Once I had that wireless, battery-powered plastic 'n' metal box in my hands, I was untethered and unalterably transformed. Growing up near St. Louis, I had powerhouse KMOX talk-radio at my fingers. But on a...
Voice Over Education
4 Things That Will Make Your VO Clients Love You
Courtesy never goes out of style. Neither does consideration. If this is a relationship business, then here are some tips to curry good relations.
Creative VO Prospecting
Yesterday, I was reading through my Google Alerts, and came across a Craigslist ad placed by a seasoned VO pro. I've re-printed most of it for you to see below the line-break. The ad came complete with a graphic, phone #, website address, a map to his major U-S city...
Clearing Out the Crud
When your speaking apparatus is gunked-up... you can't keep up your VO commitments so well. And Boy Howdy, this is the season for gunking! How many times have I seen anguished posts on social media groups begging anyone for quick-fix solutions that will allow the...
Starting Out
Launching into the world of voice acting is a steep challenge. There are no manuals, but plenty of "opportunities". The opportunities range from legitimate offers of help to outright predation, and everything in between...including the costs involved. As you would...
Qualified to be a VO Coach?
The estimate that only 5% of voice actors are truly supporting themselves and their families with strictly voiceover work is probably close to correct. (remember, 47.93% of all numbers quoted online are made-up). Whatever the number (almost impossible to discern),...
My Monday Night Visitor
What day of the week would you say comes with the highest concentration of VO audition requests? Uh-huh. Monday. Now, let me explain that my prime daypart for recording auditions is midnight to 3am. Lately I've also adding 11am - 1pm after I rise, for doing...
Your Homework Assignment for Tonight
Does anybody watch TV without the DVR running in the background any more? Either way, your homework assignment for tonight is to play back pay a prime-time or prime-time access program and pay special attention to the commercials. Right. The thing that we all...
Lookin’ For a Reason To Come To Vegas?
...like you really needed one, right? Well, September 10th-11th is apparently a very popular VO weekend in Las Vegas. Two coveted voice acting coaches will be here for weekend workshops. #1. Pat Fraley Pat is hands-down one of the top VO coaches...he could do this on...
VO Email Marketing
Your email signature bookends your salutation. Both are perfunctory, and yet pertinent.As overlooked as the signature can be...don't you always notice when it's missing?...or minimal...or overdone?The email signature for a voice-actor is part marketing, part...
3 Warnings About Blog Titles With Numbers in Them
Why? Because it’s a manipulative device to get you to read it! That’s the #1 reason. You don’t want to be manipulated do you? Virtually every last blog about and for bloggers mentions this magic formula. I’m sure there’s some psychological reason behind it…so let...
Voice Over Hardware & Software tools
‘Best of the Web
Stuff too good not to share.
It’s Not About the Mic!
Stop spending big bucks on fancy mics. Here are the three things you SHOULD be focusing on.
ConnectionOpen: Free Day Passes
Sure they want you to try out their new product. And once you see how amazing it is, then you get to give it to others.
A Bounty of Choices
Mmmmm, the latest mobile recording devices
“…the best of the best of the best…”
A classic line from one of my fave movies.
Can you guess what flick?
Polly Want a Crack at VO?
One of the world’s biggest-ever companies is making voice-syth technology available to the masses.
Gear Drooling
A decidedly geeky affliction that hits whenever drool-worthy gear is revealed.
Dissecting the Compilation Demo
Aren’t ALL demos, by dint of necessity, compilations?
Pronounceology Proud
Adam Verner did it, and it looks great!
Give it a try?
Gmail Users Only
The sheer amount of Gmail add-ons can make your head spin.
Here are the cream of the crop.
Voice Over Events
No Really…this is the TRUE Secret to VO Success (honest)
…just back from a visit to my VO guru in a place called “The Tropicana” somewhere by a hidden mountain in Nepal and have come back with this wisdom.
…and so it begins
WoVOConV starts this weekend!
MissingLettr Uppercase Event
Uh…just what is this? Inquire within.
Disappearing Days
Uh…August?
I’m just sayin’
Video: Newest Rates Roundtable!
WoVO is at it again…with another expert panel discussing rates.
3 Must-Know Messages for Monday
Mondays. Ugh!
But news of a special price on a singularly seminal event may brighten your day.
Read on!
WoVO MiniCon #2
You need more than a voiceover conference, you need a World-Voices Organization mini-con!
Details within.
Friday Fun @ VOAtlanta
You woulda loved being here.
Opening Night: VO Atlanta
The faithful are here for the gathering.
Enjoy some photos?
Atlanta-Bound
The great VO pilgrimage is underway!
Watch here for updates.
Listen to my Commercial demoVoice Over Niches
The 3 Undesirable Consequences of a Successful VoiceOver Blog
Success Breeds Hangers-On Daily and weekly blogging is an offshoot of voice-acting for me. It started as an online record or repository of my own resources...the place where I knew I could go to call up that site, or fact, or technique or acting method I'd found and...
A Warning From the FCC
Quaint Notion, VO Prospecting
CRACKING CRAIGSLIST Yesterday, I was reading through my Google Alerts, and came across a Craigslist ad placed by a seasoned VO pro. I've re-printed most of it for you to see below the line-break. The ad came complete with a graphic, phone #, website address, a map to...
Voice Over Hardware & Software tools
3 Incontestabe Facts About Choosing Mics
…three facts that have nothing to do with polarity, capsules, or name-brands.
read more
Will CourVO Make it on COVOCO?
The greater questions might be: Will Courvo WANT to make it on COVOCO?
read more
A Browser Just for Us!
…and isn’t it really about time?
Get the download links here.
2 “L’s” and an “S” + 1
LinkedIn x 2 and SoundCloud.
Some stellar web resources.
Wouldn’t YOU Share?
Maybe it’s the “news guy” in me. I just hafta tell people when I see important stuff.
Like in today’s blog.
Resources, Resources!
Ebb and flow. Some days the VO world seems to be quiet, but over the weekend it was decidedly not!
read more
Make it Easy on Yourself
One of the all-time great VO collaborations, and I’m not talking about an audition.
See how two minds = one great idea.
Pronounceology
Voice Actors who see a need in our business, and fill it with a great idea.
Here’s a perfect example.
5 Reasons Why You Should NOT Produce Your Own Demos
Yeah…don’t even think it.
Here’s why.
DIY Websites: The Lowdown
How important is a website to your business?
Crucial.
So do you really wanna do it yourself?
Freebie Friday
Everybody seems to have turned against Facebook lately. Yet, Instagram is the new social media darling. WTF?...FB owns Instagram...and they keep trying to mess it up! For now, though, everybody thinks IG is the new holy grail of online marketing. Hey, even Peter...
Persistence is Your Friend
Cheerleading was never my strength. And yet…
Tales From the Trail
Relationship and History.