Recently, I met up with my friend, Dave Courvoisier in Vegas!  Dave is a news anchor for the CBS affiliate, KLAS-TV and he was kind enough to write some nice things about me in his blog, http://www.courvo.biz/2009/06/nppa.html. When Dave's not working like a dog at the TV station, he is engaged in several voice over projects a week.  We became fast friends after meeting up in Los Angeles last year at Voice 2008.

It was a beautiful weekend in Las Vegas.  As I walked down the Vegas strip, I was reminded, once again, of how many opportunities there are in the field of voice overs.  Las Vegas is the Emerald City of Promotions, so there are voice over announcements being heard up and down the strip, inside and outside of the casinos, promoting specials of all kinds

Currently, I am doing a lot of the Stone Mountain Park announcements, which is similar to the announcements you would hear on the Las Vegas strip.   Stone Mountain Park is an Atlanta, Georgia theme park that has become a favorite family vacation destination.  Most of the announcements I do are in and around the park as well as the announcements that come on before their huge and well-known laser light show.

All voice talents should have a niche.  Could promo announcements be yours?

Post a comment »

Post a comment »

Over the past few months, my team and I have laid the foundation for the “Voice Over Club”. Our goal is to provide an exclusive membership training website that will deliver education and rich content about the process of becoming a professional voice actor. We are working hard and plan to launch the Voice Over Club this Summer.

In all honesty, the experience has been both challenging and a lot of fun. It’s like putting together a huge puzzle in that there are several key pieces that need to fit in order for this to work.

Unlike other training programs, the “Voice Over Club” will offer E-learning modules about the ins and outs of becoming a voice actor. Additionally, we will include expert interviews, blogs, articles and studio tours. For up-to-date information on what will be the ultimate educational tool for aspiring voice actors, sign up at www.VoiceOverClub.com.

I welcome your ideas, so let’s start with this question; What would you like to see on a voice over training site that would truly inspire you in your path to becoming a professional voice talent?

Post a comment »

Whether you're a professional voice actor, or someone who is just breaking in to this wacky business, it's important to develop and maintain your performing skills. You've no doubt heard stories about concert pianists who practice 8 hours a day - every day - in order to stay in top form. As voice-over artists, we need to do the same thing.

Ours is a performing craft, and we must be diligent about learning new skills and staying on top of the skills we have mastered. We need to constantly improve our talents for creating character voices, script interpretation, listening, responding believably, and expanding our marketing skills. Most voice coaches will recommend at least one to two hours of reading out loud each day to maintain your skills.

This means setting aside a specific period of time each day during which you will focus exclusively on developing your voice-over skills. This is in addition to your regular study of what other voice-artists are doing by listening to commercials, watching TV or animation, and taking classes. Most professionals constantly practice their technique by experimenting with new interpretation ideas and attitudes, and with every script they will explore different angles for interpreting the copy.

Practice is the process of learning and refining the skills you use as a performer - and it's a process that never ends. For voice-over, practice requires working with a script to understand its message and develop an interpretation. The goal is to build an arsenal of performing tools and techniques that become automatic to the point where you don't have to think about what you are doing.

To reach that goal, you must deliver the copy out loud - not silently in your head. Practicing out loud is the only way you can really find an interpretation that works. If you develop an interpretation by reading a script silently, it's almost guaranteed that when you deliver the lines out loud for the first time - it will sound completely different from what you thought it would sound like.

You'll save a lot of time and effort by working the copy out loud from the very start. Constant practice develops the habit of exploring new ways of interpreting a script, finding the techniques that work for you, and building on that experience to become a more excellent voice-actor. Be excellent! Keep practicing!

Post a comment »

These days, it seems as though everyone wants to start their own business. Seems easy enough doesn't it? Come up with a good idea, and the dollars roll right in! …Or do they?

Most people understand that running a business requires business know-how, but most successful business owners also possess some additional skills and qualities that help make running a business easier.

Before you decide to start a business, you might want to think about the qualities you possess, what makes you tick and how that might help you be a more successful business owner. But before you make that big decision, ask yourself these questions:

Am I a self starter? When you have your own business, there’s no boss or manager to tell you what to do and when to do it. To get your business off and running you’ll have to motivate yourself to get things started.

Do I enjoy challenges? Businesses provide constant challenges. If you enjoy a good challenge, it will energize you. If you don’t, you may end up feeling as though you’re engaged in a constant uphill battle.

Am I a creative problem solver? Creative problem solving is a key skill for business owners to possess. One way to hone your creative problem solving skills is to challenge yourself to think “out of the box”. Don’t go for the obvious, think in a different direction than you’re used to, and inhibit standard responses.

What are my strengths and weaknesses? The ability to do this is also invaluable for the business owner. Recognizing what you’re good at and what you’re not will help you decide how to use your time, when to delegate, and when to call in experts or outside professionals for help when needed.

What interests, talents, and skills do I have that will assist me in running my new business? Business owners often have to juggle lots of hats. Inventory the abilities you already possess, and think about all the ways you can use them to grow your business will make the juggling easier.

What skills do I need to learn or brush up on to run my business effectively? Recognize which skills you need to develop in order to run your business most effectively. Identify the ones that are worth investing time into learning, and which ones you might be better off finding outside sources to perform.

Will I be doing work that is meaningful and really interests and excites me? Running a business is a lot of work and effort, and it’s often a long term commitment. It will be more fun and rewarding if it speaks to who you are and the things you hold dear. When we’re engaged in doing something rewarding it helps to motivate you to keep going even when things get tough. Start by getting back in touch with your values and see if there is a synergy between them and the things you’ll be doing in your business. If not, see how you can spin things so that there is.

Who is my competition? Learn everything you can about the others in your field who provide similar products or services to the same ideal customer. This information will be invaluable in learning how to “position” your own business.

What do I offer that the competition doesn't — what makes my services or product unique? This is the basic premise of any USP (Unique Selling Proposition) and the case you’ll make to your prospective customers to buy your product or service. It’s essential to a compelling marketing plan.

Who are my ideal target customers? Every business needs customers. And the most successful businesses know exactly how to describe who their best customers are, what “pain” they’re feeling and what they need and desire. And don’t forget: one of the most important qualities of an ideal customer is whether they can afford your product or service.

Do I have effective marketing and sales plans? No business can survive without a constant supply of new customers. Develop a compelling USP, values proposition, sound-bite and marketing message; set-up a marketing schedule to get your message out there consistently; and learn how to close deals without using pressure to ensure you’ll have all the customers you need.

Have I established business goals? Setting goals is an important part of any business plan. But setting a goal is only part of the picture. Achieving them is even more important. Learn how to identify which goals are important enough to commit to, and systematically work towards them by breaking them down into steps, establishing timelines, identifying resources needed, and benchmarks for success.

Will I need capital to startup my business? If so, how much? Not all businesses require a lot of start-up money, but don’t fool yourself into thinking that you don’t need any. Be realistic about how much money you’ll need, and how much time it will take until you can draw a salary; so that you give your business idea enough time to grow and flourish.

Have I written a business plan? If I need to raise startup capital, is my plan powerful enough to attract investors? Not all business plans are created equal. Make sure you include all of the sections that investors will look for. Also, make sure that the type of plan you’ve written is appropriate for the amount of money you’re looking for.

What are the things that my business will require that I cannot do myself? Will I have funds to pay for them? Don’t forget to add these important line items to your start-up cost spread sheet.

Post a comment »

There’s no doubt that our tough economy is preventing people from buying discretionary products and services. Many are afraid that they won’t have jobs at the end of the month, so they are reluctant to spend money. And they are starting to second guess purchases they would have originally made without a second thought.

So, as business owners we need to set ourselves apart and offer top quality, second to none services and products. Here are 5 tips to grow and maintain your business in this tough economy.

1. Setting and maintaining realistic goals that can be accomplished long-term, will keep you focused and on track.

2. Grow wisely without surplus or waste. Carefully think through your buying power. Do you really need that new laser copier or will the ink jet on your desk suffice for now? Spend your business income wisely as there is no guarantee that the money will come in tomorrow. So, manage your funds wisely, frugally and carefully.

3. Understand your market and how you belong in it. By knowing who your target market is, you will be able to promote your business correctly and more efficiently.

4. Be courteous. Treat your customer like they are your only customer. Go that extra mile to ensure that your customer is satisfied with your product and/or service.

5. Under promise & over deliver. When your customer feels that they are getting the best value for their hard-earned dollar, you have earned their trust and they will be repeat customers.

Post a comment »

Podcasting for online business is essential for success and allows you to develop a more personable relationship with your customer. Though traditional advertising owns a very respectable place in the media world, podcasting permits your customer to get an idea about the face, voice and life of your product or service. Additionally, when the podcast is of decent quality, it gives your company a competitive edge of professionalism. The customer becomes acquainted with you personally and it establishes a greater level of trust and value in your product or service.

So here are a few do’s and don’ts of podcasting so that you can maximize your efforts and distinguish yourself from the competition.

The Do’s:

Make it Professional: Whether you’re podcasting from the basement or in a recording studio, there is no reason that your podcast should not have a professional sound. There is nothing worse than having a dog barking or a baby crying in the background. It is very distracting and the listener will more than likely turn off your podcast in midstream. There is software that can be used to filter noise from the background and will increase its clarity, so there is no justification for poor quality audio podcasts.

Add it to iTunes: Pretty much anyone has either an iPod, an iPhone, or some other device that allows them to listen to podcasts on the run. By adding your podcast to the iTunes media gallery, you will ensure great exposure for your product or service.

Content Counts: Even though your audio quality is important, you must offer quality in your content as well. By offering content that is detailed, informative and/or engaging, your audience will appreciate the extra effort it took to create the podcast.

The Don’ts

Stay on Topic: Don’t stray off your topic of discussion. If your podcast is focused on pet grooming it wouldn’t been appropriate to rant about your political point-of-view. While some of your listeners may agree with your political opinion, the fact is the listener is expecting to learn about pet grooming. You may simply lose listeners if you do not stay focused and on topic.

Silence Your Ramblings: Don’t stay unnecessarily on a single point. You don’t want to bore your listeners by rambling on and on as they will not tolerate redundancy. Additionally unfilled silences or unsure “umms” and “errs”, will make your listeners move on to the next podcast. You have to keep the recording active and always use audio editing software to remove dead air or repeats. It will give your podcast a professional feel.

Ignore your Audience: Don’t ever ignore your audience. They are your next customer. Provide them with a way to contact you and allow them to give you feedback. This can be on a blog, a personal email, a forum, or a social networking site. By using good podcasting methods, you will definitely be successful.

I would like to announce the upcoming launch of “League of Extraordinary Talent.” This dynamic group features entrepreneurs of creative services come together from all over the world to share ideas.  This includes, but not limited to, voice talents, business coaches, writers, musicians, graphic artists, SEO experts, etc. Stay tuned for more information.

Post a comment »

Imagine, you are on a sandy beach enjoying the sun. You hear the waves splashing up over the rocks, the sound of seagulls singing a tune, and the laughter of children playing in the background. Suddenly, you hear footsteps walking toward you and then a voice appears asking to take your drink order.

Ah, the voice…deep yet comforting; bold yet soothing. You realize the power this voice has over you and you have the sudden urge to quench your thirst.  Hiring a professional voice talent will captivate your audience whereby convincing them that they need your product or service.

While cost is a factor in any business decision, it should not be the number one objective when hiring voice over talent. Take car shopping for example. Do you look for the lowest price tag or the car that will best fit your needs? The same holds true with a well-versed and seasoned voice talent.

They can interpret a script to make it sound conversational and believable. A specialized voice talent will offer superior sound and quality, which comes at a cost. They take pride in purchasing top-of-the-line equipment and have expenses as with any professional business.

Occasionally, a client will take the less expensive route only to be dissatisfied with the quality of the talent and eventually hire a more experienced talent to record the voice over. Understanding the proficiency and skill that I have as a professional voice talent, the cost should not be a factor as the end product will result in exactly what you are looking for. Keep in mind the old proverb “you get what you pay for.”

Post a comment »

Sam Mendes has such a talent for making films about depressed people who feel desperate and stuck. His dreamy and flush-colored drama about a young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s is a nice work of art. You would expect great performances from Kate and Leo but I really thought Michael Shannon stole the show as the genius yet troubled son of Helen Givings played by Kathy Bates.

This is a crafty drama brilliantly directed by Mendes. There were many frames of the film that could easily be displayed in an art gallery. Just like "American Beauty", he can take a simple shot and make it compelling and memorable.

If you're looking for a bowl of laughs or a cup of cheer, this probably won't be for you. If you appreciate intelligent dramas about real people struggling with the inner turmoil of life and coping with very difficult realities, you will really like this movie.

Post a comment »

The speedy way to a successful business is by watching and learning from your competitors.  With taking the time to investigate what has made their business work, you will be able to discover the best methods and improve upon their model.  Here are a few ways to examine your competition:

Watch and Ask: Observe your competitors both online and offline, or through word of mouth.  Don't hesitate to ask others about your competitors.

Study and Search: Look at your competitor's website and search other sites to see what they are doing and how they are doing it.  Find out what they are saying about their products and services.  This will help you to see how they use the Internet for advertising and as a marketing tool.

Socialize and Mingle: If you run an online business, consider joining social networking sites to follow or befriend your competitor.  If you primarily conduct business offline, consider attending like-industry seminars.  Either way, this will afford you opportunities to learn about your competitor in a non-threatening environment.

Reputation and Integrity: Learn if your competitor lends a helping hand when needed or does he/she bully their way around.  Good character is something to mimic and will promote your business quicker than being nasty or having a negative attitude.

By understanding your competition, you are essentially creating a successful business plan.  Therefore, don't reinvent the business wheel.  Just watch what your competitors are doing and then do it better.

Post a comment »