January 1st is not my birthday.

But those social media outlets that demand a birth date in a profile have January 1st listed – I decided to make that my Social Media birthday.

I’m not big on putting a lot of vital personal information out on the web, a birthday being just one example of a person’s personal identity puzzle that those will ill intent could use in a nefarious way.

So thanks for your thoughts and wishes and I accept them in the spirit of kindness and friendship that they are offered.

I hope your new year is blessed, happy and safe.

My friend and voice talent Derek Chappell starts a fun new blog game “Guess That Voice Over Demo” where people listen to a voice over demo and try and guess who’s voice it is.

The first round starts here on November 29, 2011.

Have fun!

wkrp_cast

It has been said: “For those who understand, no answer is necessary. For those who do not understand, no answer will suffice.”

Every year I still enjoy this wonderful piece of TV and I hope you do too. Happy Thanksgiving.

Needles and art.

I like one of those things.

But my agent and friend Erik Sheppard likes both of those things because, well, he’s a bit of a freak (not a bad quality in an agent).

You may have heard about Erik’s Don LaFontaine tattoo…well he’s at it…or guess inking it again.

But this time my shy, reticent agent (ha!) got his latest tattoo broadcast on national television (TLC).

I’m not much of a tattoo guy myself but I thought this was kinda cool…especially since it was somebody else getting drilled.

I already know that I am going to regret doing this.

The “this” is beginning a campaign to be voted Buffalo’s Best Radio Voice by readers (or you) of the very popular local publication Buffalo Spree (a magazine to which our family subscribes).

Every year they do a ‘Best of Buffalo’ ballot and today I noticed they listed “Best Radio Voice” as a category.

While they may mean best disc-jockey or radio personality, that is NOT what the ballot says.

The ballot under the category of “WNY: It’s the people” says “Best radio voice”.

Now my voice has been on a number of radio (and TV) commercials in Buffalo and I was born and live here so I believe I fully qualify as a nominee.

Certainly it’s debatable as to whether or not I have the “best” voice – but as in most elections, ‘qualification’ (in this case being the “best”) seems pretty inconsequential.

This is about ego, hubris and voice over vanity – muscles I have not stretched nearly enough. Contrary to the belief of some, I need to work harder at making an ass of myself and I think this campaign may fit the bill perfectly.

So there you have it…vote and get your Buffalo friends to VOTE HERE and if elected as Buffalo’s Best Radio Voice, I promise to wear my sash with pride. If there was a crown, that could be cool (maybe I’ll sell it on ebay) and I suppose a scepter would be too much to ask for.

I can only hope there is a cash award for winning this silly thing.

According to (via Voice Over Universe) my friend and fellow voice talent Dan Hurst:

WVUD-FM, Kettering/Dayton Ohio_1983

To be fair, it was my airshift DECADES ago and the call letters were WVUD-FM then, now they are WLQT, but still!

All Access announced that Kent and his Saturday night “The Ultimate Party” will replace “Saturday Night Solid Gold” —which really hasn’t been on the air in decades on WVUD ‘er WLQT and certainly hasn’t been worth listening to since Peter K. O’Connell hosted it all those years ago.

Just sayin’….

As anyone will tell you who knows me, I am not a fan of the Sabres slug logo (above) which I hope has gone the way of the Edsel this season and forever more.

BUT I will proudly wear this jersey for a number of reasons:

1. I have never had a Buffalo Sabres jersey, even as a kid and they are my favorite local team…yeah, I AM a bigger Sabres fan than a Bills fan

2. I’m digging the bright yellow color which I think is a practice jersey color

3. The giver, my father-in-law, made me Captain (see the “C”)

4. The number 3 represents the three greatest gifts I EVER got and for whom this day will always be so enormously special

Being Captain of Team O’Connell is an honor in an of itself but to have a jersey just kinda makes it official and I like it.

The fact of the matter is radio stations need Christmas music…badly!

Research seems to indicate that stations (Adult Contemporary or Adult Hits formats mostly) that play 24 hours of Christmas music enjoy a surge in first quarter ratings as a carry over. Radio advertising revenues have been on a steady decline (unfortunately) so I get the economic sense of the business decision.

I understand the competitive argument of being first in the market to get your station playing Christmas music…maybe listeners will think yours is the only station in the market doing it (ha!) so they will stay glued to their radio.

Further, I get that retailers are pushing Christmas shopping to start earlier and earlier so you want your station on in retail stores. Sears announced they will now be open on Thanksgiving Day because family is evidently less important than retail profits.

Knowing all that, I still believe you radio people should start your damn Christmas music the Friday after Thanksgiving!

And you don’t care what I think. And I understand.

* Poorly sung to the music of “Oh Christmas Tree”