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Latest Edition of EQ Mag online

April 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The latest edition of EQ  magazine is available online.

This is an extremely worthwhile publication for content (aside from being one of the slickest online publications I’ve ever seen).

EQ Magazine is geared towards audio technicians, audio studios, engineers, musicians, production managers, and the ilk…but almost everything in this magazine is applicable to the voice0ver industry….even the adverts.

Plug-ins, DAWS, microphones…there’s always reviews, and articles on software and hardware that we use every day in voiceover work.

Give it a moment for a look-see, and you won’t regret it!

CourVO

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

LinkedIn Lunkhead

April 29, 2010 By 1 Comment

Let me swallow big and come clean on something.

Dave Courvoisier has been egregiously ignoring LinkedIn, and CourVO is the loser.

As part of my preparation for the VOICE2010 presentation I’m making with Terry Daniel on Social Media, I agreed to take on the section on LinkedIn.  Terry admitted he was a lightweight on this particular online tool, and I was not far behind.

In the last two years, I’ve been quietly amassing more than 11,000 “connections” on LinkedIn.  Mind you…if I wanted to meet most of them in person, I’d have to go to Mumbai, India…but that’s not important right now.

What’s important is that I’ve rediscovered this important social media networking site, and I’m here to tell you, you should too.  Actually, that’s not fair.  I see many of you on LinkedIn, and apparently I need to do some serious catching up.

ONLY PROFESSIONALS NEED APPLY

LinkedIn is billed as the PROFESSIONALS Social Networking site.  Not for gadflies satisfied with 140 characters, or for your Aunt Gladys to post pics of her grandchildren.

Probably THE best feature of LinkedIn is the ability to join groups of like-minded folk.  There are a number of active groups on LinkedIn catering to the business of voiceovers, and they’re mostly populated by seasoned and fairly serious peers in the business, discussing timely topics.

Here’s a list of a few of them:

VOICEOVER PROFESSIONALS
VOICEOVER UNIVERSE
VOICEOVERS
VOICEOVER GIGS
VOICEARTISTS CONNECTIONS
VOICEOVER JOBS
LA-BASED VOICEOVER PROFESSIONALS
WORKING VOICE ACTOR GROUP
VOICEOVER VISION
ELEARNING VOICEOVER GROUP
SAVOA

….and many more.

Not satisfied that there were already that many LinkedIn VO groups, I promptly created another one: “SETTING VOICEOVER RATES“.  I’ve noticed the high interest in this topic whenever I blog about it, and already two discussions are gaining momentum under this heading.

ACCEPT MY INVITATION?

Here’s your invitation to join that group…if you’re already on LinkedIn, and have room for any more group memberships (50 is the limit), please click on the link above and join us.

As far as that goes, I’ve ALSO noticed a number of voiceover professionals on LinkedIn are second generation connections to me.  I’d like to make them 1st-generation connections, so look for an invitation from me soon, and hopefully, you’ll approve my request.

If you want to send me an invitation…here’s my e-mail address:  [email protected] (you’ll need that to prove you know me).

Also, here’s my the link to my LinkedIn profile:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/courvo

Also, I am digging pretty deep into LinkedIn’s newly revamped interface, and have some great suggestions for you at the V2010 Social Media General Session Friday morning.  I hope you’ll plan to attend.

This stuff is fun!

CourVO

Filed Under: Social Media/Networking, Social/Professional Networking, Web/Tech Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Voice Seekers, Success Seekers

April 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Paul Strikwerda, or Nethervoice, writes a darn fine VO blog, and if you dont’ have it on your RSS feed, you should do so NOW.

His latest article is an open letter to voice talent seekers, and although most of them will probably not see it, the blog article SHOULD be standard fare to anyone posting a voiceover job.

Read it HERE.

Nice going, Paul!

Also, a well-written online newspaper article giving the brief examples of how several women of various backgrounds, all decided to change course and be voice actors.  It’s in the MercuryNews.com.

Check it out HERE.

CourVO

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Munro Wednesday Training

April 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Kinda late word, so I wanted to get this out today.

I don’t mind being a shill in this particular blog article, ’cause I believe in Deb.

Deb Munro: voice talent, voice coach, and all-around dynamic personality is offering a pretty nice TeleVoice Workout, and has a couple of slots open.
If you’re seeking a great tune-up with somebody eminently knowledgeable, this might be just your ticket.  Click this link for contact info, and note her pitch below:

TeleVoice Opportunity

Can’t afford the workshops, travel, hotel and parking to get the training you need?.….let Top Voice Talent/Coach Deb Munro come to you from the comfort of home.

Join her TeleVoice Workout this Wednesday – Two session times to choose from – 2-4 p.m. EST or 8-10 p.m. EST.  All via telephone, skype or free internet phone services.

This is not a Webinar – this is a hands on mini workshop that will make a significant difference in your voice auditions.

This weeks focus will be complimentary to this years workshop – Audition Acrobatics – if you tuned in to her webinar or attended any of her workshops, you won’t want to miss your chance to work with her directly.  Run through the audition process from beginning to end and discover techniques that will help you to stand out above the rest.  Each talent will be catered to depending on his or her level of experience and all sessions will be recorded and sent to you after the workshop.

- Expand your voice skills
- Work on current auditions
- Discover voice techniques
- Honest direction without the sugarcoating
- Individual mic time
- Q & A
- Biz of the biz
- Marketing

These sessions are in your control. Follow class curriculum or create a session plan that will work for you

ONLY 4 students per session allowed for fair mic time.

Advanced registration required to arrange your participation preferences – TeleSeminar or Telephone Skype or other internet phone service.

Register immediately – only 2 spots left

Two hours with Deb Munro for only $105.00 – that’s over 50% savings

Working via skype or phone is  more successful than you know.  This is a good way to take this method for a test drive.  You’d  be amazed at what you can learn from the comfort of home.

After all this is an Audio Medium.  She only needs to hear you to tell you what you need to do to improve.

Two hours with the energizer bunny – one of the most honest, generous coaches out there today!

CourVO

Filed Under: Teleseminar Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

5 Great VO Branding Tips

April 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The number of books and articles written about branding could sink Noah’s Ark.

But brand is something you absolutely MUST spend some time thinking about…preferably BEFORE you spend a lot of money on websites, business cards, graphics, and letterhead.

The no-brainer approach to VO branding  dictates you find a decent picture of a microphone…choose a name or a slogan with the word “voice” in it somewhere, and start plastering it all over your website, your FaceBook page, and maybe even buy some ad space on a high-traffic VO forum.

‘Nothing wrong with that whatsoever if that’s what you want your brand to be.  Ultimately, your brand represents your essence, the character, personality trait, ability, or reputation that defines you and your work.  Am I wrong?

Uh, maybe…Seth Godin makes a career (and a healthy living) out of dissecting “brand” and here’s his definition: A brand is the set of expectations, memories, stories and relationships that, taken together, account for a consumer’s decision to choose one product or service over another.

In fact, a great case can be made for the theory that VO branding is virtually indistinguishable from any other service-oriented or freelance branding.  This is the sneaky way I am able to justify offering the following 5 links on branding in general, and claim they’re VO Branding Tips.  (so shoot me!….I did some research on this, and these are GREAT ARTICLES!)  My favorite:  #2.

VO Branding Tip #1
Seth Godin Defines “Brand”
http://goo.gl/8YaX

VO Branding Tip #2
Think You’re in Control of Your Brand?  Think Again!  Google Never Forgets!
http://goo.gl/ckLM

VO Branding Tip #3
Build Your Brand So People Will Refer You
http://goo.gl/eW3F

VO Branding Tip #4
7 Ways to Identify and Market the Uniqueness of Your Freelance Business
http://goo.gl/RhQX

VO Branding Tip #5
Top 10 Free Tools for Monitoring Your Brand’s Reputation
http://goo.gl/KT3u

…AND ONE FOR THE ROAD
How to Best Promote Your Brand Using Social Media
http://goo.gl/ouqD

CourVO

Filed Under: Branding Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

West Rim…as promised…

April 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment

…but boy was I disappointed!  A gorgeous day for a drive with the convertible top down.  That turned out to be the hilite.

Yes, you have to drive about 10 miles on a bone-jarring, wash-board gravel road, but so what!…I was going to be walking on a giant see-through SkyWalk, projecting me out over the rim of the Grand Canyon 4,000 feet up!

As soon as I arrived, the disappointments began:

1) The place has a military-camp feeling…lots of tight security
2) You feel “handled” from the moment you step onto the site.
3)  You also feel like your pocketbook is being assailed from the get-go.
4)  By-pass all the Sight-seeing plane and helicopter booths if you can find your way past them.
5)  To be able to walk the SkyWalk, it costs $75
6)  It’s not till you’re riding the bus TO the SkyWalk that they explain YOU CANNOT TAKE YOUR CAMERA ONTO THE SKYWALK!!!
7) WHAT!!!???
8]  Pass through a metal detector before walking the SkyWalk.  You get a locker to hold your stuff. (‘used to be a dollar, now free — wow!…thanks!)
9)  Watch with frustration the West Rim Photographers with THEIR cameras on the SkyWalk sell you their photo packages of you.
10)  Ice Cream Cones $2.25 (well, it is a remote location)
11)  The ultimate disappointment: The SkyWalk doesn’t even extend over the Colorado River canyon itself…you’re extended out over a tributary canyon.

Total time on-site:  2-hours.  Total time on the SkyWalk: 5  minutes.  I coulda stayed longer, but I was so steamed by then, I didn’t want to.

Here’s a link to a short video I put together of shots I took while I was there.  My suggestion:  go to the South Rim or the North Rim.  Both are much more beautiful, less expensive, and more accessible.

VIDEO

CourVO

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: , , , , ,

A Day…

April 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

…just one day…to do absolutely nothing.

Actually, I’ve been doing a pretty good approximation of that all week, as I’ve taken a week off my TV job, and have just been sticking around the house catching up on a host of  stuff.

But Friday, I’m taking a day drive in the old Chevy SSR to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon.  Yes, the WEST rim.  ’Never been there, and it’s about a 2.5 hour drive from Vegas.

Check back here in 24 hours for pics, video, and the complete story.

….and yes, that is the see-through-bottom horseshoe-shaped walkway out OVER the canyon where I’ll be Friday.  ACK!

CourVO

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: , , , , ,

15 Reasons To Be at VOICE2010

April 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Actually, when you click on THIS very informative newsletter from VOICE2010 founder James Alburger, you’ll only see 14 reasons…

So, here’s #15:  Friday Morning’s General Session features veteran voice actor Terry Daniel (and me) presenting on the topic of “Leveraging Social Media for Your VoiceOver Business”.  A must see!….and a $7623 value…all included in your registration for VOICE2010  ;-}

Seriously, click on the link to hear the great info James shares.

CourVO

Filed Under: VOICE 2010 Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Politics vs. Voiceover

April 22, 2010 By 1 Comment

Even that title doesn’t do it justice.  But what would?

The passions of politics are SO polarized these days that no one can say or do ANYTHING.

Here’s the story.  I take no sides.

”A voice-over actor — best known for telling viewers they can save 15 percent or more on car insurance — says he lost his gig doing Geico commercials after leaving a voicemail with a group that organizes Tea Party events to ask how many of its employees are “mentally retarded.”

Los Angeles actor D.C. Douglas in a press release said he was dropped from the upcoming Geico “Shocking News” campaign after leaving a message with the press shop at FreedomWorks, a Washington-based organization led by former Republican leader Dick Armey that has been at the forefront of the Tea Party movement.” (Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2010/04/21/geico-voice-over-actor-fired-after-calling-tea-party-group-mentally-retarded/#ixzz0loTVRVmb)

See  more links here:

http://mystateline.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=155395
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/21/geico-fires-dc-douglas-vo_n_546038.html
http://www.prweb.com/releases/freedomworks/geico/prweb3906104.htm

Even though, he took it down, see DC Douglas’s original blog here:
http://goo.gl/TrOb

My only take:

I subscribe to the notion that there is no such thing as bad PR.  If you want to get noticed, you can do so with positive OR negative press.

The notoriety here goes to Geico, FreedomWorks, DC Douglas, and VoiceOver talent in general.  All are getting unbelievable press over this thing.

CourVO

Filed Under: People, Politics Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Poddio Update

April 21, 2010 By 1 Comment

You might remember my writing about using the iPhone as a rudimentary auditioning device if you were in a pinch on the road (Previous Blog article HERE).

The whole scheme depended on having an installed app on your iPhone that would let you do some basic editing of the sound file.  I recommended Poddio, an incredibly powerful full-featured sound wave editor.  Unfortunately, the price was also a little too powerful for some.

Now, Vericorder, the maker of Poddio has a new approach.

I was contacted first on Twitter, then through email by Gary Symon, the President and CEO of Vericorder with a quick mention of the latest from his company, and many who were put off by Poddio’s cost will find this welcome news.

Here’s the essence of his email to me:

“…(our  new) app is just on the app store. It’s called VC Audio Pro. Costs $5.99, and you can also get the even cooler version called ShowCase for $7.99. ShowCase lets you do all the audio editing, and you can then create narrated videos and send them by email.

I would suggest our sending you the free beta version, but frankly, for 5.99 you’ll get all the updates, and there is a very important update coming down in the next couple of weeks that you’re definitely going to want.”

Thanks for the update, Gary…

Uh, s’cuse me, I was gonna write more, but my iPhone “App” icon beckons.

CourVO

Filed Under: iPhone, Software, Technology Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
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