Saturday night, and the backdrop is the Flamingo Hilton.  The guy with me is “Kash” Cashell – news videographer at my station, KLAS-TV (CBS).

Kash had asked if I would MC the NPPA national awards event, being held this year in Las Vegas.  N.P.P.A. is the National Press Photographers Association. (NPPA.org)  If you take pictures for a news organization, this is the elite club you aspire to.  To be even nominated for an NPPA award is congruent to a Pulitzer for a writer, or a Peabody for a broadcast journalist.

Your work can be video, still, web-based, freelance…and you can be recognized for editing and other accomplishments in this field.

NY Times, KUSA, WashingtonPost.com…and many more prestigious news organizations were well-represented.  I was humbled to be in the presence.

But when it was all over, I was lucky enough to be able to undo the tie, and spend a little time with Terry Daniel, voice actor from the twin cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul-area.

Actually, this probably isn’t fair for me to post this pic, ‘cause admittedly, Terry had been partying pretty hearty for a couple of days with 3 other friends from the twin cities, and his dogs were tired (not to mention his nose was red).

We did our best to carry on a conversation over a couple of cold ones, and the din of a monster DJ sound.

What amazes me about Terry is that aside from being a stand-out talent, he just seems to naturally “get” marketing.  I’m not sure he even has a plan, or if he does, he makes it look awful easy.  Regardless, his seemingly effortless work at diplomatic self-promotion seems to work well, he’s always busy with voice work.

Terry is also big on using social networking to subtly make his point with prospective clients that he’s available for work.  He summed it up this way:  “…focus on developing the message based on your personal reputation and trust – not your product or service…and you’ll find success…”

Simple but true.

Oh, here’s another shot…’trying to be a little crazy, and maybe looking more contrived than kooky… but we had fun.

Thanks, Terry, for making a point to find some time with me while you were here in Vegas!

CourVO.