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Gratitude Post.

Doing some work in between volleyball matches at The University of Maryland. I’m in a beautiful conference room, in the house that Gary Williams built recording voice overs and editing audiobooks. In a week I’ll be recording Coach William’s audiobook. In 2 hours I’ll be back on the mic for the Maryland Tournament vs Coastal Carolina. If you would have told me 30 years ago that I’d be doing any of this, while I was announcing lunch menus, at Springfield High School, doing carrier current AM radio at Towson University while cheering on the Terrapins on TV, or while editing Comcast Cable Guide listings, I would not have believed you. Has it been easy? Heck no. I’ve worked by butt off, and continue to each and every day, but sometimes, as my friend Dr. Robyne has taught me, it’s nice to reflect back with gratitude on how far you’ve come. Oh and did I mention Maryland now has Wawa? What a world.

Whew…it’s been a while.  Not that there haven’t been things happening in my voice over world. It’s just…well you know…life. Plus, whenever I write a blog, I have the constant nagging thought, “Does anybody care?” Heck, Do I? I’m not sure I have the answer to that yet. We’ll see where this goes.

Anyway, a few pretty exciting things  have happened in my life as a voice actor.

First, the podcast that I host with Sean Daeley, hit 100K downloads! Shortly after that we published our 100th episode! To say we are shocked is an understatement. We started out very much on a whim. Partly as a way to stay busy and practice our craft. Then it became a sort of chronicle of our own journey. We would talk about the first commercial we booked. The first time we heard ourselves on radio or television. Our first video game, etc. Then it became a  vehicle for passing on knowledge. The voiceover community is incredibly helpful and Sean and I certainly benefitted from lots of kind souls who helped us along the way. We thought the podcast could be a way to give back. It was, and continues to be. The  funny thing is, we became sort of pseudo celebrities in the VO world. We were sponsors and speakers at conferences, on stage at industry events and the like. People would come up to us and tell us they were fans. Its been 7 years now and I still get surprised every time someone tells me they have listened. I thank everyone for their support and taking the time to lend an ear.

On another front, I’m BACK as a public address announcer! Announcing live sports was actually one of the first ways I ever used my voice professionally. Way back in the early 2000s, I was working for my alma mater Towson University. I took a “forced” hiatus when there was a change in leadership and thought I may be done entirely with that aspect of the industry. Then, I attended an audition for the Arena Football League in Washington at the Capital One Arena where the Washington Wizards and Capitals play. There, I met some other local announcers and got the bug again. I continued to network with many of them over the next few years. Jarrod Wronski and Bob Johnson in particular. The former runs a facebook group about announcing which I joined. I hung around mostly observing, until I saw a job posting by Mark Fratto, announcer for the Wizards and Commanders. I applied, not even knowing for what organization it was! It turns out it was for the University of Maryland, and you know what? I got the job! I started doing fill in for all sports there. Shortly after, I became the full time Volleyball announcer, then Wrestling. Since then I  have been referred to a few other jobs, and applied to a few more.  Before I knew it I was working for nearly every school in the state! I’m currently doing sports at Georgetown, University of Maryland, Towson University, Stevenson University and The US Naval Academy! I even got to work an NCAA Regional and Quarterfinal event! I was asked to work the World Lacrosse Championships, Athletes Unlimited professional Lacrosse, Oh, and some Minor League Baseball for the Aberdeen Ironbirds. I am sometimes doing a half dozen events a week and have adopted the moniker “hardest working man in PA” That’s Public Address, not Pennsylvania!

I have always said on the podcast follow the money and that is now true more than ever.

Okay I didn’t really mean to talk this much about one thing, but there you go. I guess, I don’t really know what people want to read in a blog anymore. I’ve certainly tried a lot of different directions, but for now, I’m sticking with shameless self promotion!

I’ll just leave these two other tidbits of updates for now. In the past 6 months I’ve also done voice work for BOTH PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Amazon. Can’t say I expected that, but I am grateful.

Social media is all about growing your brand and staying connected with your online community. In the past, successful social media coordinators differentiated their video content by relying heavily on on-screen captions and text overlay. With the popularization of platforms like Tiktok and Instagram Reels, that trend certainly isn’t going away anytime soon. Instead, the best content creators must continue their search for methods that continue to draw eyes and separate their content from the rest. That’s where voice-over comes in! Here’s how the latest trends in voice-over can contribute to the success of a rising social media channel.

Generating the Highest ROI Possible in 2022

When it comes to getting the greatest results from your social media efforts, more than half of social media marketers say that sharing videos is the best method to achieve maximum returns. This has become common knowledge at this point in 2022 with the longstanding popularity of Tiktok along with YouTube’s continuous efforts to rival the platform with YouTube Shorts.

But how can you successfully tap into this highly lucrative online space? In my experience, it’s all about aligning your product and the information presented with a voiceover solution that accurately suits your brand. Gone are the days of solely relying on built-in text-to-speech voices to catch the attention of viewers. When users are rapidly scrolling through their social media feeds, a quality video with skilled voiceover acting is the recipe to stand out and hold their attention rather than driving them to keep scrolling with a tired and dated approach.

Finding the Right Voice-Over Match for Your Brand

So, we’ve established that users are more likely to be engaged by video content backed with quality voiceover. But how can you go about finding the right match for your brand? Luckily, the most talented voice-over performers can readily adapt to match your needs. Prior to selecting a voice actor for your own social media campaigns, be sure to request access to demos of their previous work. Once you find the right voice, you’ll be able to establish brand continuity by enlisting their services regardless of the tone or style of your next project.

Grow Your Social Media Audience with Voice-Over

Are you looking for that unique voice talent who can deliver exactly what you need? With more than 20 years of experience, I have become an expert at transforming my voice to reflect a wide variety of intonations. Want to grow your social media audience with voice-over? Reach out to me today!

Back when I fell in love with voice recording, I was a child who instantly gravitated toward micro cassettes and VHS recorders. Things have changed a lot in the years since, and the analog devices I grew up with have been replaced with far more convenient digital alternatives.  One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is my unwavering love for this line of work! Looking to get started in the world of voice-over? Here are a few tips to hit the ground running and sustain success in this field.

Practice Daily

Getting your start in the world of voice-over isn’t all about getting top-notch voice recording gear.  Regardless of the level of equipment you’re working with at this moment in time, make sure you are regularly getting in voice practice. Whenever you practice scripts, be sure to record them to provide yourself a reference to begin honing both your acting and your enunciation skills.

Work on Your Demo Reel

As you begin to seriously pursue a career in voice-over, a strong demo reel is one of the main things that will help you make a name for yourself and stick out from the crowd. Focus on demonstrating your range by tapping into various tones and mediums you have experience with. Looking for some inspo to start making your own demo? Check out mine!

Keep Auditioning and Networking

As voice-over actors, we’re lucky to be part of a field that involves such a vast scope. Make sure you’re taking advantage of that! Even if you have a specific idea of the medium you’d prefer to work with, it can’t hurt to expand your horizons and explore a new facet of the industry. Competition for entry-level gigs can be competitive, so try to stay open to trying new things such as social media marketing, character roles, audiobooks, and commercial work.

Looking to start applying? Check out platforms such as Voice 123 and Backstage to see what’s out there! When it comes to networking, LinkedIn is an excellent resource to start building relationships with like-minded talent.

Get Serious About Voice-Over Acting

Are you looking for that unique voice talent who can deliver exactly what you need? With more than 20 years of experience, I have become an expert at transforming my voice to reflect a wide variety of intonations. Ready to get serious about your voice-overs? Reach out to me today or find me on social media for more tips!

I get a lot of weird outreaches on social media and email. “We’ve been trying to reach you about your car warranty”…check. “Hi, I’m looking to meet attractive men like you”…check. I’ve even received some non sketchy requests from voice over business related people. Due to the success (minor as it is) of our podcast The VO Meter, I’ve become a bit of a minor celebrity in the VERY small VO world. So, every few days, someone reaches out to me asking for advice on microphones, or how to market to a specific genre, or even sometimes how to podcast!

Then there’s this…Recently a person sent me a connection request on Linked In. Their profile said they were a voice actor. Ugh. Usually, I’m VERY giving of my time and energy but this particular week, TWO local friends asked me to speak to THEIR friends about “how to get into voice acting“. I got in contact with both of them and it was fine, but after both conversations in one week my patience was a little thin and my spider sense was up.

Sure enough, IMMEDIATELY after accepting the connection request I get a direct message that says in part this “thanks for the connect! I’m actually talking with other actors to see what they think of their agency and if they have any recommendations”

SERIOUSLY? Buy me dinner first guy!

People, this is NOT the way to go about getting a voice over agent! When someone refers you to ANY business contact, they are saying that you are a person they trust. That goes doubly for a referral to an agent. After all, an agent is still very much part of the lifeblood of the entertainment industry. They get you work, negotiate for you and sometimes even refer you out themselves! All that comes with a trust factor that is precious.

Oh, and by the way, even asking for such a thing with an established friend or colleague can be touch and go. It can sour a relationship fast if you are not careful. If you ARE going to ask for a referral to an agent, it had better be from a close colleague, with whom you have a ROCK solid relationship and who knows your talent, your strengths and weaknesses.

Now…having said that, I HAVE referred people to agencies. Even did it this week! I do it a lot actually. ONLY, however, when I know the person, trust the person and have a REAL relationship with them. Friends have done the same for me, and I’m eternally grateful. When done right it can be a win/win for everyone involved. Just be sure you ARE doing it right!

 

When it comes to equipment for voice over, there are a LOT of opinions. Should you use an “industry standard” microphone like the Neumann TLM 103, the Sennheiser MKH-416 or the AKG C414? Should you go for the low end of the scale with something like the AT2020, the MXL 990, or EEK! The Blue Yeti?

First, I’ll tell you, I’ve used all of the microphones above. If you have heard my podcast The VO Meter, this is not news to you. Our “Questionable Gear Purchase” segment is probably the most popular with our listeners because we always have new gear. I’m sure, it’s fun to hear our trial and tribulations, sort of like how it’s impossible to look away from a train wreck!

In spite of all the equipment swapping I’ve done, I may, and I stress MAY have had an epiphany. I LIKE being the Yeoman. My family growing up was decidedly working class. My parents were both public school teachers, and my Dad was a struggling professional musician on the side. We were not in poverty, but we were pretty freaking close. I remember my Mom scrimping on groceries and buying me “bobos”. That’s what the kids called the shoes you could buy at Kmart for less than $20. That’s all my brother and I wore for years. We had very few luxuries. My Aunt used to drop off boxes of chips, cookies and soft drinks because we couldn’t afford those.  I even remember helping my Mom stuff envelopes for a local business so we could get paid a small amount of money as a side job. My Mom was on sabbatical at this point to help raise my brother and I. It was only years later, when my Dad started getting regularly booked in Atlantic City, Philadelphia and New York, and my Mom went back to teach full time that we climbed to the middle class.

As such, I always had a strong work ethic instilled in me. Part of it was necessity. If I wanted to buy something as a kid, I needed to pay for it myself. So, I worked! I had a paper route starting at around age 10. As soon as I could get working papers I got a part time job at Burger King. Then the local grocery store. I would work as much as I could around school and other activities like sports and Boy Scouts. In the latter, I also worked hard and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. All while playing baseball, in several school bands, doing the morning TV announcements, editing the school paper, and working 15-20 hours a week. I eventually was accepted and graduated from college with a bachelors degree.

This background has always left me in touch with the working person. I view myself the same way. So, when I look for equipment for voice acting. I’m am ALWAYS trying to do more with less. That brings me to my current microphone of choice. The Neat King Bee. The original. I actually bought one of these 2 years ago and liked it, but it was in the middle of a huge binge I was on where I was still trying every mic under the sun. I liked it then, but figured it was just okay, or good. After another recent mic bender where I went out and tried a few more mics, I have decided (possibly for now) that Good, is GREAT. The King Bee, both the original and the newly released King Bee II are perfectly fine for what most voice actors need! And if I’m being honest, the style is great too. I just LOVE that black and gold striping on the original as it sits in the honey comb shock mount. Just look at this beauty in my studio!

Could I buy (another) MKH-416 or TLM 103? Yes. Do  I need it? No. The point is, at $200 used and $169 new (for the II) both are great choices for any voice over, and really great for you Yeoman out there.