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“Long Story Short…”

February 29, 2012 By 4 Comments

When’s the last time someone used that phrase on you….and it EVER ended up being a short story?

Why is it that when I hear “…long story short…” in a conversation, I always brace myself for a LOOONG story?  I’m beginning to think it’s some sort of subconscious sadistic and cynical way people have of preparing you for a “long story….. long”.

There’s never been a time in the history of humankind when the economy of words is more in demand.

Maybe it’s Twitter’s arrival on the scene that has led the way.  (140 characters)

But it’s more than that, really.  It’s also a courtesy, I believe.

People naturally want to talk about what’s important to them, and expect you to listen.  So when you keep YOUR schpiel short…you’re actually thinking of them…being considerate of their time. Talking just to hear yourself  talk is a selfish and wasteful way to waste MY time.

That’s today’s blog.  Short ‘n’ sweet.  If you want to know more…just scroll down to read the rest.  I’m trying to be considerate of your time.

CourVO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So as I was saying, about being thrifty with your words;  broadcast writing and presentation has prepared me well for not only being concise, but GETTING TO THE POINT.  When you have to tell a news story in 20-seconds, you learn to precipitate the pertinent facts down to the bare essentials. Period.  When you’ve made your point, you stop talking.  Next?

I can’t tell you the number of YouTube videos I’ve bailed out of because the main talent is eating (EATING!) during their presentation, or going off on some tangent that has no bearing to the INCREDIBLE! topic of interest that they sold you on to get you to watch their video.  See my site OnCamTips.com for a simple, easy mnemonic that helps you remember the essentials of on-camera presentations.

There are two downsides to this brutal economy of words:
1)  Traditional boardroom meetings,  phone conference calls or teleseminars become tedious in the extreme.  GET TO THE POINT!  Patter/Chatter become irrelevant.  Patience and attention span grow extremely short, and that’s frustrating.
2)  The tendency is to become TOO business-like and curt or short to the point of being rude. There’s a place for word economy, and a time for friendliness.  Knowing the difference is important.

Not only in verbal conversation but also, now in Social Media discourse, keeping it short does not mean being unfriendly.  In fact, the key to successful relationships on FaceBook, Twitter, Google+ and other sites is that you show something of yourself…enough for people to get to know you.  Do you want them to know you as a wordy blowhard?…a person who has lots to say, but says nothing?

So, long story short…when you write your newsletter, your blog, your email, record a YouTube video, or hold a teleseminar, puh-leez…get to the point.

In a time and in a culture when words mean so much.  Make your words count.  Don’t cry wolf.  When you talk (write), people will come to know that you’re not going to waste their time with drivel.

…end of rant.

CourVO

Filed Under: Ramblings/Off-Topic Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Oscars’ Female Voice

February 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Finding an article about Melissa Disney announcing at the 84th Oscars Award show (as promised in yesterday’s blog) has proven to be difficult.  Maybe it’s because she’s just a perennial shoe-in for jobs like this.

Disney (yes, she’s related to THE famous family) is arguably one of the top female Voice-actors in the country.

Here’s Melissa Disney’s IMDb profile.  She has done/is doing it all when it comes to voice.  A noted singer, she’s also the voice of Snow White.

V123′s Steven Lowell recently wrote a great Melissa Disney-inspired blog.

Some great footage of Melissa in a number of different roles in the YouTube Video below:

Just wrapping up the Oscars’ coverage…Brad Venable wrote a blog dissecting the big brouhaha launched about our business when Chris Rock made the suggestion that you can get a million dollars for doing voice-overs EASY!

And finally, an interesting article in the LA Times explaining that even though Oscar has been around 84 years…New Media is embracing the event.  “…Sunday’s Oscar ceremony generated 3.8 million comments on Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites, according to data generated by Cambridge, Mass.-based Bluefin Labs. That made this year’s awards show the second most talked-about entertainment event on TV since the company began measuring and analyzing social media traffic several years ago…”

CourVO

Filed Under: Careers Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Oscars’ Male Voice

February 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The voice at the Oscars (this year, two: Melissa Disney and Tom Kane)

Tom Kane.  The guy does it all.  Star Wars.  The Wild Thornberry’s.  Animation. Narration. The Smurfs, and more.

The mark of a good voice for the show that is seen by 100′s of millions around the world?
(1) You barely notice he’s there.
(2) He never makes a mistake.
(3) He’s worked hard to get there.

Check out Tom Kane’s IMDb

Here’s a great article about how Tom Kane prepared for the show (his 4th!). (Kansas City is proud of one of its favorite sons!)  It also explains all the other announcing he does behind the scenes at the show.

Also, here’s a quick YouTube video showing some of his versatility off-the-cuff.

Nice going Tom!

Melissa tomorrow.

CourVO

Filed Under: Kudo's Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Be Part of the Cloud Crowd

February 24, 2012 By 2 Comments

No online development will continue to have meaningful impact on the voiceover business like “the cloud” does.

Sure, you’re on DropBox or Box.net…and that’s great!  You may even be on Microsoft’s Skydrive.

But wouldn’t you like to show you clients you’re TOTALLY in control of this cloud thing?

What about developing your own client portal?

It’s a way to extend the brand you display on your website, your business cards, your twitter page, and your email blasts.  Imagine a branded page where you clients can go to download the files you’ve recorded for them.  This creates a wrap-around service for them that keeps ‘em in the fold of your brand from the point of contact to the delivery of the product (followed, of course, by your branded invoice!).

Click on the portal I’ve had built for CourVO.com to see what I mean.  Simple and clean.

There are services that design this for you.  FILE GENIUS is one that comes to mind.

From their promotional materials:  “…File Genius is now used by over 52,000 professionals and is the fastest growing portal solution available. More than 20,000 new users have come onboard in the past 4 months.  Unlike Box.net, Sharefile.com, and other online portals you do not pay for users, bandwidth, throughput, or any other “extras”.  Our solution moves files from one location to another and stores and organizes them for access in an extremely secure web environment. Anyone, including your clients, with a secure user account and access to the internet can use it and exchange documents. You can take a no-charge trial, no payment information is required,..”

File Genius may be overkill.  In which case,  just email me ([email protected]), and I’ll have my guy here in Vegas set it up for you…he’s very reasonable.

Some other new solutions “in the cloud” lately, are very impressive.

For you iPad users, check out OnLive Desktop.  It installs on your iOS tablet, but when you launch it looks and acts like you’ve got a fully-functional Windows desktop at your disposal with MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel (plus much more).  That is INDEED what you have at your fingertips… the program is in the cloud on some super-fast Windows servers.  You don’t even sense a lag-time.  You can do anything you’d do on  your desktop, even store and share to DropBox and much more.  Free for starters.  You pay $5/mo for the SUPER fast connection, and some extra features, but it’s pretty awesome with just the free installation.

Another program like this is ZEROPC.  Much the same as OnLive, this puts all your files in the cloud, and on your tablet, or your PC screen seamlessly.

Sometimes you have to play with these programs to understand the real potential of having all your “stuff” available to you no matter where you are.

-Demos
-Bio
-Pics
-Content files
-Links

Be creative…make this stuff work for  you…they’re just tools…but extremely powerful tools.

CourVO

Filed Under: The Cloud Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Transparenseekers

February 23, 2012 By 2 Comments

Apparently public self-flagellation is a big draw.

Yesterday’s blog: “THE MOST TRANSPARENT BLOG I’VE EVER WRITTEN” was one of my most-viewed articles EVAR.  Not only that, but hands down, it drew spirited and thoughtful responses on the blog, by email, and on various Social Media sites.

I think it’s safe to say, then, that I’m not alone in my lament.

Many thanked me for being brave, candid, transparent, and honest.  I’m humbled by those assessments.  I really am.  But, honestly, it just felt good to get it off my chest.  It was like this 800 lb Gorilla in the room that everyone was dancing around, but nobody was acknowledging.

Among the great statements in response:

…As we’ve all discovered at various times in our lives, the race is not to the swift, but to he who keeps running…. (dave menashe)

…I am not where I want to be yet in VO but like you am at a place of “Tweaking”…(paul hernandez)

…No matter what the reason for your biz being off, take responsibility for getting yourself back on track. Work on your skills, improve your marketing, network, redo demos, form a VO workout group… (dave fennoy)

…When I don’t know what the next step is, I just take one. It doesn’t matter what it is. It doesn’t matter if it’s the best thing I could do at the time…

…It’s possible to want something so badly that your desperation to have it can actually push it away from you….

…Stop the comparisons to other people! It is the single greatest act of self-negation that keeps us from our good… (all three karen commins)

…Dry spells are the worst, but anyone contemplating a career in VO needs to know they are a reality. If we are truly kind, we give those who are seeking, the TRUTH about the industry… (penny abshire)

…I don’t think anyone can ever be totally secure in the VO business. It is a daily challenge… (michael schoen)

When dry spells come my way, I also take time to nurture relationships in my life needing attention because of previous whirlwind days of work.  (lisa rice)

When I’m having a dry spell, I work on my website and marketing, try to think of new ways to reach potential clients, new ways to develop my business, etc. That way I can say, “I am working, it’s just that I’m working for myself.” (victoria feinerman)

More coaching, better demo, new business plan, etc. I always find a hole in the big picture and improving my skills and marketing have always paid off. So far :) (randye kaye)

There were more, and I can’t excerpt them all, just know that I’ve appreciated all the thoughts.  VO people rock in so many ways!  Why wouldn’t I want to press on to my goals?… This is the greatest community of professionals no one knows about.

Let’s get to work, now!

CourVO

Filed Under: Ruminations Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The Most Transparent Blog I’ve Ever Written

February 22, 2012 By 56 Comments

Ted Williams was smart.  Where’s my placard and street corner?

Forget inviting the avalanche…I’m still waiting for the snow to fall.

In 2012 so far, I’ve had a total of 4 voice over jobs.  No actually,  just 3…one of those was a carry-over from 2011.

Here’s where I trot out the fact that I have a full-time job as a TV news anchor in one of the most high-profile cities in the world…so that’s my default excuse.  Yeah, right.  It’s true I can’t give the full attention to VO that I’d like, but as many of you know, that hasn’t stopped me much.

THE FACTS

In late 2005, I decided VO would be my exit plan from TV.  I threw everything I had into my dream…including tens of thousands of dollars in equipment, coaching, conferences, demos, subscriptions, online memberships, materials, travel, domain names, and the list goes on and on (and on).  That doesn’t take into account the untold hours of late-night auditioning, blogging, and working social media.

You’d think 7 years later, the offers would be pouring in .  They’re not…and I’m not…giving in, that is.

OPPORTUNITY

Here are my thoughts at this juncture:
#1 – Success is close – no question…I’m poised.
#2 –  Helpful friends, willing supporters, and a good reputation are at my disposal.
#3 – I have time to finish my taxes  ;-)
#4 – AFTRA was happy to take my first year’s membership fees (not that that’s a panacea)
#5 – Freelance work is by nature peaks and valleys (gotta remember that.  After all, I unexpectedly had a kick-butt December)
#6 –  (corny as it may sound) NOW is the time for me to REALLY work hard.

ABOVE ALL: This lucky wake-up call and slap in the face is a gift.  Why?
A)  This is an opportunity to re-examine key parts of my business plan
B)   Now is my chance to revamp my marketing, promotions, client prospecting and follow-up schedule.
C)  What better time to commission a new demo?
D)  Here is the moment to dig deep and be honest about my strengths and weaknesses.
E)  This is the point at which I look at the ROI of what I’m doing.  What doesn’t work, I cut my losses.  What does work, I amplify.

REAL WORLD

Yesterday I got an email from a voice actor I don’t really know.  He was seeking my advice.  He was frustrated.  He only had one steady client, and it was tenuous. He was auditioning without results.  He thought he was doing everything right, but was unsure what the next step was.

Boy Howdy!  I felt flattered, but unqualified to give him answers.

How many of you are there?

I’m telling you I’m there too, and I’m not giving up.

How big is your dream?  How determined is your spirit?  How far are you willing to go?  What tough decisions are you willing to make?

CourVO

 

 

Filed Under: Ruminations Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Turning Conversation into Cash

February 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Why does the internet generation “get it” about social media, and most of those 30-and-above tend to struggle more with it?

Some of it is just the expectation of the promise and familiarity of online technology.

But most of it has to do with adapting tried and true relation-building principles to this “New Media”.

In that sense, there’s not much new under the Sun.

As trite as it sounds.  It all begins with a conversation.  Kinda like hitting on a prospect at the dance or in the bar, there’s gotta be an opening line (cold call), and the best opening lines are delivered after gauging your prospect (warm call).  There’s also the distinct chance of rejection.

If they don’t answer your email, or respond on LinkedIn…is it that different from not getting a reply to your letter or phone call?

The basics of human interaction in the dance to dollars, as I see them, in a side-by-side comparison old v. new:

Phone, letter, postcard

Email, Tweet, FB Post

direct engagement

targeted tweet/post

conversation

conversation

relationship

relationship

trust over time

trust over time

.
Hmmm….that’s interesting…the final three points are exactly the same!

That’s great, Dave…you say…but I’m much better writing a letter or talking on the phone than spending my time (usually stated as “wasting my time”) on Twitter or FaceBook.  Writing on New Media platforms is actually much more economical and brief.  It’s not hard!  Honesty and good content are never wasted.  Be yourself, in either medium…that’s the trick.

Like a phone-calling, or letter-writing campaign, the key to remember with Social Media is that it’s a marathon, not a sprint.  You will gain the other party’s confidence and trust first BEFORE you even mention what it is you do.  By that time, the deed is done…the sale is made!  You’ve made a friend first, and then a client.

Among the key concepts I’ll be sharing at VOICE2012 with Terry Daniel and Trish Basanyi is the idea of capitalizing on relationships, and building new ones using tried and true principles as old as humankind ON A NEW PLATFORM.  Don’t get hung up on whether it’s Google Plus or FaceBook.  People are people!

For starters, take a quick look at this article from Social Media Today, written by a kid named David Johnson (well, he LOOKS like a kid to me!)  LinkedIn, 5 Ways to Turn Casual Connections into Financial Windfall.

It’s pure gold as far as I’m concerned.

CourVO

Filed Under: Social Media/Networking Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

VO Buzz Weekly

February 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Am I the last one to this party again?

Well, just in case you haven’t heard of it yet, check out VOBUZZWEEKLY.com

It’s a new weekly video program hosted by Chuck Duran and Stacey J. Aswad for the all us voice over types.  I confess I’ve never heard of either of these two hosts, but that could only mean I’m waaaay behind the times. They certainly seem on top of things in this largely interview-based show.  Good energy, helpful VO tips, and worthy interviews from what I can see.  From the website:  “…Every week you will be entertained, informed and amazed by our studio guests who will share personal stories, professional advice and fun trivia all about the voiceover world…”

Logging onto the site will explain more, and you’ll see the links to their first 7 weekly episodes.  Coming soon to an segment soon:  SoCal-based VO pro Joe Cipriano.

I love the way our business just keeps growing, gaining strength, and finding its center.  I think this new show can only help us all.

CourVO

 

 

Filed Under: Interview, Training/Education, Web Resources Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Answers

February 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Puzzled by the upcoming proposed merger of SAG and AFTRA?

Me too.

And as a newly-minted AFTRA member, I haven’t even nearly figure out the way things are, much less the way things might be.

I’ll give the folks at AFTRA high points for trying to provide answers, though.  An upcoming online meeting for AFTRA members only to help answer the questions.  Looks like most of the top brass from both unions will be on the line to sort things out for the attendees.

Here’s the message I got:

SPECIAL ONLINE EVENT

Shape the Future of Your Union:
Learn More about the Proposed Merger of AFTRA and SAG

All paid-up AFTRA and SAG members in good standing are urged to attend an important online meeting to learn the facts and impact of the merger.

Wednesday, Feb. 22, 4-6 p.m. PT; 7-9 p.m. ET

Log in to AFTRA Members Onlyto view this members-only presentation.

Featuring

Robert Reardon, AFTRA National President
Ken Howard, SAG National President
Matt Kimbrough, AFTRA National Treasurer
Amy Aquino, SAG National Secretary-Treasurer
Holter Graham, AFTRA National Vice President
Ned Vaughn, SAG 1st National Vice President
Gabrielle Carteris, AFTRA 2nd National Vice President
Mike Hodge, SAG 2nd National Vice President
David Hartley-Margolin, SAG 3rd National Vice President
Anne Gartlan, AFTRA New York Local First Vice President
Rebecca Damon, SAG NY Division Vice President
Kim Roberts Hedgpeth, AFTRA National Executive Director
David White, SAG National Executive Director

Email your questions for the panelists to [email protected] or on Twitter at #sagaftra

Documents on the merger, FAQ’s and video information are available now at SAGAFTRA.org. Ballots will be mailed on February 27 to all eligible AFTRA and SAG members to vote on this historic change for your union. Learn the facts, so that you can cast an informed vote.

This meeting is only open to paid-up AFTRA and SAG members in good standing. You must log into your member account through AFTRA.com or SAG.org to view this live-stream event. If you are not registered at AFTRA.com or SAG.org, you will need to register in order to access the live stream.

If you need ADA accommodations, please let us know by contacting us at [email protected] or (323) 549-6644.

 

Filed Under: Unions Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Unified Union

February 17, 2012 By 10 Comments

Did I mention I recently joined AFTRA?

No?

Well, I did.

I feel crappy about it…but that’s because my father is turning over in his grave.  I just know it.

He taught me that unions were bad business.  I mean… the lessons were  ingrained.  Drilled-in. Hereditary.

I didn’t really understand at the time.  I do now, and I respect his position, still.  However, I have my own reasons for choosing union, and it took me years to get there.

Broaching this topic is tantamount to inviting a Mac v. PC battle…a stand-off between conservatives and liberals…a classic debate between atheists and Evangelicals.  ’Seems wherever earnest conversation about unions occurs in VO circles, the flame wars begin.

I won’t re-hash that now.

Instead, I’ll point out simply that unionS  (SAG and AFTRA) are on the cusp of a merger.  Union…not unions.

That has great appeal to me.  Maybe…just maybe…union leadership (here comes the commentary) will embrace the future instead of languishing in the past…find camaraderie instead of engaging in rancor…curry common sense, rather than the arcane.  Crap!  There I’ve gone and done it.  Now I’ll get flaming comments.

Hey CourVO…you’ve been in TV News for 30+ years…you mean you’ve never had to join?  Nope.  AND, I proudly live in a right-to-work state.

Here’s the strange thing.  I joined the union, and got a confirming email from my home office in Phoenix.  That’s it.

No FAQ file, no manual, no welcome letter, no explanation of benefits, no employee handbook, no nothin’.  I guess I’m just supposed to KNOW what to do now?

So, Dave, if you feel so bad about this decision, then why’d you join?

Well, I  mentioned the hope of optimism in the merger…and the other thing is this lingering belief that I’ll never break through some perceived barrier to the BIG VO money unless I join.  And speaking of money…that’s the 3rd reason:  joining AFTRA (the least expensive of the two unions) now shoe-horns me in to the merged union for the minimal fee with full rights and benefits to the NEW entity.  Yes, eventually, I’ll be paying a higher annual fee, but this gets me in on a dime (so-to-speak).

There are still lots of questions about that supposed full SAGAFTRA status.  For instance, if I were to consider declaring Fi-Core…how would that stand going into the merger?  The following FB thread is revealing:

 

 

OK, so I guess that settles that.

The rank ‘n’ file SAG and AFTRA members (that’s me!) vote on the merger before the end of the month.  I can only imagine the wrangling over rules and protocols will continue after the merger (and I think the merger WILL happen).

Interestingly, Steven Lowell of V123 posted a valuable analysis of union-contracted jobs made through Voice123.com.  First of all, there’s PLENTY of that sort of thing going on at this often-maligned P2P site, and secondly, Steven makes this observation:  “…the process to work online using union-contracted voice talent has not been innovated well enough to be called “simple”…”.

THIS singular observation is what I hope for the new Union.  Simplicity.  It may be a Pollyanna dream.  Institutions — like the federal gov’t — tend to get top-heavy and mired in its own verbiage and rules.  But for the new union to truly succeed in the 21st century, it’ can’t continue to do 20th century moves.

Please take the time to see Steven’s blog.  The data is displayed in easy-to-read pie charts, and makes a solid point.  http://voicethedream.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/going-there-and-taking-a-look-back-at-union-voice-work-on-voice123/

CourVO

Filed Under: Unions Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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