….I wouldn’t waste your time with this brief announcement.

In fact it’s ME…I’m the biggest questions mark in Monday, January 9th’s Webinar on VoiceOverXtra entitled A New You in the New Year.  ;-}

Between the veteran wisdom of Zoller, and my quirky mix of Social Media exploration, you will get — if nothing else — in that hour-and-a-half teleseminarm– a wonderful stir-fry of brainstorming that will have you rethinking some old ideas for your VO business, and maybe even inspire you with some new ones.

Bettye will present from her vast knowledge of marketing, agency-representation, coaching, and foreign, as well as long-format opportunities.

Then I’ll present with a number of new Social Media trends and techniques, some recent technological advances, and even a couple of predictions for developments in the new year.

For the rest of the 90-minute session (and maybe even over a little)…we’ll field questions.  Anything’s fair game.

Because of my evening schedule as a news anchor, we’re getting started at 1pm PST / 4pm EST.  The cost is $44, and you’ll get a complete copy of the entire session when you’re done.

I’ve put a lot of research into the elements I’m presenting, and I think you will walk away with tangible strategies.

Thanks, and ‘hope to see you there on Monday, the 9th.

CourVO

Clipped from: archive.constantcontact.com (share this clip)

Before you slide that mouse up to click on your next website, let me just offer up a quick “teaser” tidbit of info — a tiny taste of a morsel of information to show you what you will be hearing for AN ENTIRE HOUR during the webinar loosely titled:  “Everything Else” in Social Media…meaning: NOT FaceBook or Twitter.

There’s other social media besides FaceBook and Twitter???!!!  Ho-Boy…is there!  Ever hear of LinkedIn?  YouTube?  Google Plus?  Skype?  Blogging?

OK…TWO tidbits:

TIDBIT #1  How to post your demos on your LinkedIn profile.  LinkedIn is much stronger than FaceBook or Twitter in many ways.  I’ll show you a few.

TIDBIT #2 Why Google Plus is better than Skype for video conferencing.  This is Google’s 3rd atttempt at a successful Social Networking platform, and it’s got Mark Zuckerburg looking over his shoulder.  I’ll tell you why.

HONORABLE MENTION TIDBIT  Many of you already use Skype for an easy phone-patch.  I’ll be going over that, but I’ll also show you how to set-up Skype with your own phone number, so people on a land-line or cell phone can call you on Skype.  The other party does not need to have Skype.

Like I said…there’s much more…pluse we’ll be interviewing the founder and sustainer of VoiceOverUniverse (VU) “Zurek” right off the top of the hour…

Again, here’s the link to sign-up.  It’s Wednesday, August 24th, 2011 Noon PST / 3pm EST.

C ya there!

CourVO

Oh, you’re an expert?…you know absolutely everything there was, is, and will be about your specialty!  Wow!

• You could write the definitive textbook, and speak off-the-cuff at virtually any venue on the subject for which you’re an expert?
• Furthermore:  you obviously feel comfortable with people calling you an expert.  (BTW,  I’m treating the word “guru” synomously, here).
• You unabashedly accept speaking engagements, paychecks, and invitations to do teleseminars, webinars, and write books in your area of expertise.

I’m being sarcastic and cynical here to make a point.

Later this week, I’ll be contributing my part to a 3-part webinar on the value of social media for voice actors.  I am no expert.  I doubt there are ANY experts in social media, although many like to say they are, in promotional materials.

I more like to think I’m a STUDENT of social media.  It teaches me.  In fact, to my way of thinking there is one immutable word that stands between expert and student.

HUMILITY.

Sometimes I like to think I’m an expert, and then I get blindsided, T-boned, or undercut by someone or something from out in left field that shows me how little I really DO know.  Ever had that happen?  Uh-huh.  ‘Thought so.

So if you are so wonderful that you’ve actually paid money to hear what Terry Daniel, Trish Basanyi and Dave Courvoisier have to say about what they THINK they know about Social Media…then it is my responsibility to do all in my power to tell you all that social media has TAUGHT me.

But expert?  Huh-uh.  Student.

CourVO

More info on the webinar at VoiceOverXtra

Terry & Trish in better times

‘Hope you were able to catch Terry Daniel‘s webinar on FaceBook for VO’s last night on VoiceOverXtra’s “Super Socials” series.

Tonite, Trish Basanyi takes the stage, and she’ll be sharing some great tips for finding work using Twitter.

Then, next Wednesday, I’ll be bringing up the rear, talking about YouTube, LinkedIn, Google +, Blogging, and I’ll be interviewing Zurek live.  He’s the founder/sustainer of the highly popular Voice Over online community VU, or VoiceOverUniverse.

There’s still all the time in the world to sign-up, and if you are a SaVoa member, please tell John Florian at the VoiceOverXtra site, and you’re eligible for some SaVoa promotional materials as an extra incentive.

Click here to see all the details of the 3-part “Super Socials” webinar series.

I, for one, am so lookingn forwrard to Trish’s webinar tonite.  Not only does she have more Twitter followers than any VO I know, but she knows how to make hay out of her contacts.  If you’re like a lot of people, and Twitter has you scratching your head, then this webinar is for you.

CourVO

Even the most cantankerous naysayer has to pay homage to Mark Zukerberg’s creation if they want to keep up with trends…and keeping up with trends could mean the difference between an enterprising, innovative voice acting business or one that feels a little more “left behind” with passing time.

For this reason, VoiceOverXtra‘s 3-part “Super Socials” webinar series puts FaceBook right out front.  Furthermore, this topic gets treatment from the guy who bends FaceBook to his will:  Terry Daniel.

Terry may not have ALL the answers, but he’s so doggone good at covering the essentials, the ever-changing rules, and the savvy VO uses of FaceBook, that you’ll wonder why you don’t spend more time there (like Terry does!).

Monday, Trish Basanyi (who will oversee Part II on Twitter, Thursday, August 18th), Terry, I, and John Florian (VoiceOverXtra’s founder) had a skull session to go over the final “Super Socials” details.  I got a glance at Terry’s presentation and I gotta tell you, it’s a doozie!  You’ll find out how and why to set up a FaceBook business page, how to post your demo’s on FaceBook, and he’ll share a long list of absolute “do’s” and “don’t's” of FaceBook etiquette.  And that’s just for starters!

Each of our sessions run an hour-long with an additional half-hour of Q & A.  If the questions run long and involved, we might even go over that!

Terry will show you how to make FaceBook work in favor of your VO business.   We hope you’ll consider signing up for the entire 3-part webinar…or any one part.

See the “Super Socials” sign-up and information page here.

CourVO

But apparently because of my absence, the show exceeded all expectations, and with the expert duo of George Whittam and Dan Lenard, that’s saying a lot!

For some reason, only the 2nd-half of East West Audio Body Shop is available on U-Stream… but it’s a half-hour of goldedn Q & A by the EWABS Ewoks…be sure to take a listen.

Or if you want to revisit the inaugural EWABS show from the 20th…it’s in segments…just type in EWABS on the U-Stream home-page, and you’ll see all the pertinent links.

My previous blog articles on EWABS:

http://www.courvo.biz/2011/03/the-ewoks-of-ewabs.html

http://www.courvo.biz/2011/03/ewabs-launch-success.html

CourVO

EWABS stands for East West Audio Body Shop.  For more on the basics of this new show, valuable links, and something about the  founders, see my blog The Ewoks of EWABS.

The guys weathered several blank-outs of the signal, but if you can look beyond some inaugural glitches, the show, the concept, the experts, and the give ‘n’ take was all above expectations…and expectations were high, so that’s saying a lot.  George surmounted considerable technical challenges to get both guys on live on U-Stream at the same time…but that’s what George does.

In typical mobile style, I began watching the show on my iPhone4 UStream app while I was out for Sunday walk, and finished-up when I got home, watching on my desktop PC.

To see a replay of the show, go to EWABS on U-Stream.

Nice going George and Dan…everyone wants to see you succeed in the future with more shows of this quality.

CourVO

‘Doesn’t matter.  Niche is so chic or kitschy that it’s become cheeky.

What I’m trying to say is “niche” no longer has meaning.  EVERYTHING = niche, so going by the algebraic law of equality, then, NICHE = everything.

NIETZSCHE

You don’t have to be a postmodern existentialist to know there are so many niche’s in voice over, that it’s almost immaterial to have to say it!  VO is  ”everything nebulous niche”.  Each commercial, each promo, each website narration IS ITS OWN NICHE.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a big difference between reading an audiobook and doing an affiliate promo, but that doesn’t mean it’s not all VO.  Voice Over is ALL OF THAT and more.

It’s like telling someone from Italy that you’re from a small city about 50 miles South of Chicago called Kankakee.  ”Oh, you’re from the USA?”  ”Uh…yeah…”
It’s just easier to say “…I do voice overs.”  Then if someone REALLY wants to know…you can dig deeper.

ITCHING TO NICHE

And believe me, you should dig deeper…finding your niche will lead to more bookings for your VO business…the kind of bread ‘n’ butter jobs that keeps you flush while you work at de-throning Ashton Smith atop the kingdom of network promos.  ;)

I say all that to mention an upcoming webinar on VoiceOverXtra Monday.  John Florian —  the VoiceOverXtra jack-of-all-trades — will be hosting Bettye Zoller for a session called:  “BRANCHING OUT TO NICHE MARKETS”.

I spent some time on the phone with Bettye Saturday.  She’s a bright person, with loads of practical experience, and she loves to tell it in her matter-of-fact way.  The price of the webinar is minimal.  The advice you get will more than compensate you for your expense.

Then you can go nibble away at your quiche…or is it niche?

CourVO

The global marketplace is glowing, and why not?  English is emerging as the language of commerce around the world.  To market a product with a wide audience, at some point, you’re gonna want to put a proper English-speaking voice along with the product/service.

Giving the Brits their due for a piece of the pie, that leaves North America as the source of an authentic English sound.

No one preaches this marketplace more than Bettye Zoller.  She’s been working this angle for years…maybe longer than anyone else.

In preparation for an upcoming Webinar on VoiceOverXtra.com, called “Foreign Job Sources for VO”, Bettye told me: “…for this webinar, I had to do serious research and even get help from foreign sources who gave me more input. It is the hardest research on a topic I’ve done for a long time and I hope as many people as possible will tune in…”

The Webinar is April 5th, the price is modest, and you get a download of the session when you’re done.

Click HERE for more details.

BTW, there’s a preview article of Bettye’s webinar on VoiceOverXtra, HERE.

CourVO

Sure we need to brush up on talent skills, but do you have a business plan?  How do you track your financial progress?  What’s your next goal?

Bettye Zoller is an ace talent, and well-recognized voice coach, but lately she’s got an axe to grind about keeping a good business sense about your BUSINESS of voiceovers.

See “below-the-fold” for some answers to a few questions I posed to Bettye about that, but even more so…saunter on over to THIS site, and sign up for a live webinar featuring Bettye next Thursday, November 19th. 

The webinar is being expertly organized by John Florian’s VoiceOverXtra online resource.  If you know Bettye at all, you know she doesn’t mince her words…and always speaks from a wealth of experience in a very frank and engaging manner.  You will learn a lot!

HERE is a link to a FaceBook page with info too.

CourVO

DAVE:  Bettye, most everyone recognizes you as a greatly experienced voice talent and voice coach, but much of your success is due to an astute business sense you’ve honed over the years. Can you offer a few MUST-DO business pointers for voice actors who have neglected this side of their enterprise?

BETTYE: Have promotional materials on hand to mail and to give out. These include attractive postcards with color printing on one side, room to write a personal note on the other. Business cards should look expensive. Do not print them at home. The card stock is thin and looks cheap and the card appears “homemade.” There are several printers on the internet who supply good looking paper products economically. Do not use your photo on these. I prefer that voice talents are “heard but not type cast.” And a note to those who look “terrific” and think their photo should be on everything…you’re typecast too as the “blonde youngster” or the “handsome jock” or whatever. No matter your age or appearance, old, young, good, or not so good, don’t mix visual with voiceover. Unfortunately, the internet sites have upset that balance because most want a photo on the page.

Hire a good accountant to prepare your taxes. Keep records of deductible expenses all year long. This is a business. Act like it! Use the same tax preparer each year. They become familiar with you and your business and do a better job at finding every dollar you can deduct.

Network at least twice each week, preferably, meeting new people. Always have your vo demos and promotional cards with you. Carry a packed shoulder bag or briefcase with you at all times and have a box of promotional materials in your car.

DAVE:  How important is it to set stated & reasonable long, medium, and short-term goals to achieve your voiceover dreams?

 BETTYE: I don’t believe we set the goals. I believe “life” brings us opportunities many of which could not be planned in advance. I have never been a “goal setter.” I work every day making the most of that day. I advertise, network, please my clients, get new ones, work with my agents, do all business activities every day…over the years…goal setting is not what I do.

DAVE: In a time when online pay-to-play sites are the popular client lead-generating source of jobs, you often admonish your younger peers to put all the eggs in several baskets when it comes to seeking work opportunities. What other baskets are worth finding and filling, and why?

Not putting your eggs all in one basket means having multiple streams of income. What those are depends on the person, where that person is based, who he or she knows, his or her talents and experiences in the work arena. What is important is to have many ways of generating income other than “acting or singing.” That’s your insurance and provides the money to go to the grocery store and keep the lights on!

DAVE:  How much importance do you put on learning the finer technical points of audio production for today’s crop of voice over talent?

BETTYE:  As for becoming a pro audio engineer…that’s a long road that takes a long time and many experiences. Voice talents today have to be able to record a voice audition. That’s all. Leave the serious mixing and editing to the pros who know how to do it. Concentrate on your voiceover work. Most pro engineers have become good at what they do because they do ONLY THAT. Are you a voice talent or an audio engineer? Becoming both when you’re new at this is nearly impossible and weakens your efforts in both areas as you spread yourself ‘too thin.’

DAVE:  How much of a modern voice-actor’s time should be spent seeking opportunities and creating relationships in the developing world of New Media or Social Networking?

BETTYE: I love social media. FB and twitter are favorites. As a famous actor said to me recently, “where else can I talk to 800,000 people at the same time except on FB?”

DAVE: The voiceover world of today brings some different challenges than those of the late 20^th century, do the opportunities remain rich? I know you are an apostle for audio-books. Can you summarize the promise there, and in any other niches of VO?

BETTYE:  Today’s newcomer to voice work must realize that now, the field is crowded and littered with people who really are not experienced or even talented as voice actors. Just because you “talk” does not mean you are a voice actor. Oh sure, there are plenty of those local jobs around yelling at us to buy a car from this certain dealer in this small town or to shop at this shopping center. That’s local stuff. I’m talking about the big money jobs…the character voice jobs…the major publishers who hire narrators for big-money audio book jobs, the network promo jobs, the KFCs and MASTERCARDS and SEVEN ELEVEN jobs. There are many levels of those who call themselves “voiceover people.” Some will remain small and others will make huge fortunes. Isn’t that the way with all fields of endeavor? Some hairdressers are rather inexpensive while others are charging $500 for a haircut and are the beauty consultants to the “stars.” Everyone finds a level. So be it.

Never concern yourself with “competition.” I don’t believe in it. As the Mary Kay Cosmetic company says, “we’re not worried. Everybody has skin and the world is a huge place.”

Go for it!

_______________________________

Bettye Zoller teaches voiceover workshops and accepts guest professorships at universities worldwide. She books far in advance, so invite her to your location well ahead of time! You can always take note of her activities on her website www.voicesvoices.com. Home is Dallas, so because her recording studio is there, she must stay home part of the time. Thus, many workshops and her private consultations and her recording studio production takes place there. She’s known for her “killer voiceover demos” and people travel far to work with her in her studio. She also produces audio books. She’s an ace audio engineer as well as a voice talent. She learned her craft over a thirty year period as creative director of several production houses before “digital” was a word.

She also consults privately by phone and in Dallas and wherever she travels offers time for private sessions with clients. “Take advantage of my one-on-one sessions when you can. They’re very valuable to my students.”

Over the decades, she’s voiced Chiffon Margarine, Cadillac, Seven Eleven, Disney projects, Simon and Schuster audio, Promos for ABC, NBC, PBS, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Pepsi, Coke, Macys, JC Penney, Avon, the Smithsonian Museum, the Holocaust Museum, Ellis Island, WABC in New York, and so much more. “I can’t even remember the names of most of my jobs…there have been hundreds upon hundreds. It’s a great life and I’m blessed.”