By Peter K. O’Connell

Being a live announcer / Voice of God is like being on a roller coaster — not riding the coaster, DRIVING it.

Some of the hills are smooth, but many of those dips are butt-clenching and can take your breath away.

And live announcers need to control their breathing no matter what happens.

What I have learned in my nearly 45 years of live announcing, hosting and emceeing events is that I don’t have the luxury of getting rattled when things go off script.

“Oh, do things go off script?”

Oh heck yes.

I call it “The Tale of Two Scripts.”

The first script is the text, audio cues, graphic cues, stage position, lighting…everything. It’s the script that you rehearse with and the script you start the show with.

But likely something will change…be it timing, a long-winded guest or someone who is not where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to be there…the show runner or director starts to change things up.

For the live announcer — sometimes called the Voice of God or VOG — (and for everyone else on the production team), this is where the SECOND script kicks in…full of large Xs (noting parts of the script that are now out), lines scribbled through with someone’s typed name replaced by someone’s handwritten name (often misspelled because…live), as well as any number of other marks and adjustments that take place in the middle of the show.

But different from the organized chaos that is backstage at many shows, for the live announcer, it can NEVER, it MUST never sound chaotic. The audience cannot notice any issues from the announcer’s mic.

This is one of the reasons I’ve always enjoyed live work. You prepare like crazy precisely because you know the event probably isn’t going to happen exactly the way everybody prepared for it.

That’s where my experience comes in, both as a radio broadcaster (very live to many STATES at a time) and as a live announcer and host. Besides rehearsing, one of the only practical ways a VOG like me can get really good at the on-mic pivot is to have actually announced A LOT of events.

I can very often calmly adjust because it’s just another day at the office. At least I SOUND calm.

For a live announcer that’s just getting started…well, they will likely learn the very hard way – as we all have.

I just hope it’s NOT with YOUR script at YOUR live event.

About Peter K. O’Connell
Peter K. O’Connell is an award-winning voice actor, broadcaster, live announcer and emcee who has been working behind microphones since 1982. He provides live Voice of God announcing and emcee services for corporate events, conferences, awards programs and other live productions nationwide.

Tags: announcers, broadcasting, live announcing by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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When people hear I’ve done commercial voice over work for national brands like Duracell, Lowe’s Home Improvement, L.L.Bean, and Crest Toothpaste (among others), they often assume that’s all I do. And hey, I get it—big brands, big reach.

But here’s the thing: I genuinely love lending my voice to local commercials and regional commercials just as much. There’s something deeply rewarding about working with a local business and helping them sound like a national brand—without the national brand budget (but make no mistake, keep the national brand paychecks coming, national brands!) 🙂

A great local commercial example?

A recent TV commercial voice over project I voiced for Next Plumbing, a homegrown company in Lafayette, Louisiana. (You can watch the ad below—it turned out beautifully.)

The production team delivered top-tier visuals, so they wanted a voice over artist who could match that level of quality: warm, confident, and relatable without sounding too “salesy.” As a full-time professional voice actor, I brought the same polish and tone that I use for national campaigns, but with a local sensibility that helped the TV spot really shine.

Whether it’s a regional spot for Ford, Maaco, or even the Cleveland Browns, I approach every job—big or small—with the same attention to the voiceover performance detail. I treat every English language spot or narration the same.

As an experienced voice over talent, I know how to bring a message to life in a way that resonates with audiences. From radio voice over to marketing narrations and explainer videos, from YouTube ads to online promos, I offer dependable, high-quality voice over services that help brands connect with their audience. Business size doesn’t matter.

So if you’re in voice casting mode for your next local, regional, or national campaign, I’d love to help. Your project deserves a great voice—and I’d be honored if it were mine.

Tags: announcers, casting, commercials, narrations, radio, voice actors, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover advice by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – November 4, 2024 – – Peter K. O’Connell, America’s Friendly, Neighborhood Voiceover Talent, has released a new voiceover demo featuring examples of his live event announcing for awards shows, corporate sales meeting and charity fundraising events.

LISTEN TO PETER K. O’CONNELL’S VOICE OF GOD – LIVE ANNOUNCER DEMO BELOW:

O’Connell’s off stage, live announcing and pre-recorded announcing work has been heard at events across America and as far away as Korea. This type of announcing work is commonly called the “voice of God” by event industry producers and planners.

In addition to live announcing, O’Connell is also in demand as an on-stage event Emcee or Host at similar live events including awards shows, charity galas and corporate sales meetings.

About Peter K. O’Connell

Voice actor Peter K. O’Connell has shared his voiceover, live announcer (voice of God) and audio production skills with companies around the world.

In addition to his work as a Live Announcer and Emcee for events, Peter’s commercial, narration & web clients include brands like Disney Cruise Line, Tic Tac Mints, iHeart Media, Crest Toothpaste, IBM, SXM Media and AWS.

O’Connell’s company, audio’connell Voiceover Talent, is a Source-Connect equipped voiceover studio that is a division of O’Connell Communications, LLC.

– 30 –

NOTES FOR EDITORS

CONTACT:

Peter K. O’Connell Your Friendly, Neighborhood Voiceover Talent

audio’connell Voiceover Talent

P.O. Box 5493 | Raleigh, NC 27512-5493

PH. +01 716-572-1800 & +01 919-283-1516

EM. peter@audioconnell.com

W. audioconnell.com

SOURCE-CONNECT: @audioconnell

COMPANY MEDIA CENTER:

http://www.audioconnell.com/media

PETER K. O’CONNELL VO CREDITS:

VO Credits Link

COMPANY NAME SPELLING:

Use lower case letters- audio’connell or audio’connell Voiceover Talent

COMPANY NAME PRONUNCIATION:

au·di-o’·con·nell (awe-de-oh-kah-nel)

Tags: announcers, Demos, media releases, voice of God by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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LISTEN TO PETER K. O’CONNELL’S VOICE OF GOD – LIVE ANNOUNCER DEMO BELOW:

To be clear right at the outset, I like my voice just fine but I am in no way comparing its power to the Almighty.

For those unfamiliar with the term, a Voice of God announcer is the off-stage voice you hear at live events — introducing speakers, making announcements and helping keep the show moving. You can learn more about my Voice of God announcer and live event services here.

What those in the voiceover, broadcast and event planning worlds might know (but you, gentle reader, may not) is that the term “Voice of God” merely refers to the (usually) off-stage announcing voice you often hear at:

• Award shows and gala banquets
• National sales and marketing meetings
• Charity fundraisers and auctions
• New product introduction events
• Live game shows

…and a myriad of other events where the announcer (me!) helps guide the event flow (I refer to it as Chauffeuring the show from behind the mic). The announcer adds either some necessary excitement or sensitivity to the proceedings. Usually these Voice of God announcing jobs are live and in-person but they also can be pre-recorded and inserted into the production as needed by the event producers.

I have done Voice of God Live Announcing jobs both live and pre-recorded for many years.

But I have been a little remiss in getting my Voice of God announcer demos out there…it is my hope to have rectified my omission with the production of my latest Voice of God Live Announcing demo.

For decades, Peter K. O’Connell has served as a professional live event / “voice of god” announcer, emcee / live host for a myriad of events.

You know that I also do Live Hosting and Emceeing for events (just like the ones listed above), especially if you’ve been to my Voice of God announcing and live event services page.

Most recently, I flew to Chicago a few weeks ago to serve as Emcee and Live Host for the WoVOCon Voiceover Unconference (similar to the FaffCon Voiceover Unconference from some years ago). I’ve been doing those types of hosting gigs for many years as well and still enjoy them.

Looking for a professional Voice of God announcer for your next live event? Learn more here about Peter K. O’Connell’s Voice of God and live announcing services.

Watch / Listen to Peter’s Voice of God – Live Announce Demo Below…..

Tags: announcers, live announcing, voice of God by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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My friend and fellow voice actor Mara Junot will be the announcer for the live broadcast on the Screen Actors Guild Award on Saturday, February 24 at 8pm ET on Netflix.

That statement may surprise you (not that I have a friend but that…well, OK maybe you are surprised I have a friend that’s a real person but…oh shut up).

Anyway, Mara is an extremely talented and versatile voice talent, that’s the whole point.

I have known Mara for many years and while I would not be so arrogant to say we are close friends (we live very far away from each other, also she is young and I am as old as death), if I were to see her next week, we would start talking like it had not been over 4 years since I last saw her.

She’s just that friendly, kind and open. She’s just Mara…I think she’s like that with everybody.

It’s a gift.

While I am (of course) extremely bitter that I did not get the live announcer gig for yet another major award show (my perfect record of “not invited to audition” remains safe) 😉 if anybody else should get the live announcer gig, it should be Mara.

I know my fellow friends in the VO industry who know Mara share my inordinate joy for her on securing this great gig. 🙂

When you see the show and hear her work, you’ll understand. She deserves all good things.

Tags: announcers, live announcing, voice actors, voice casting, voice talent, voiceover by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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The original and current announcer for the syndicated broadcast of “Jeopardy”, Johnny Gilbert

As much as I focus and study the voiceover industry and it’s players, I still miss stuff.

I catch up eventually but I don’t know that I’ll ever catch to voiceover legend and RECORD HOLDING ANNOUNCER Johnny Gilbert, the announcer for Jeopardy.

Rightly so, a lot has been made about the health struggles of beloved Jeopardy host Alex Trebek. As Trebek has worked through his cancer fight, the most recent on-camera work of his now 35 year reign as host of Jeopardy continues to be a perfect as his first days.

But with Alex since day one of this version of Jeopardy has been his off-camera announcer, Johnny Gilbert. Gilbert’s opening line: “This. Is. Jeopardy!” is iconic and he continues his significant announcing duties more than 3 decades later with amazing perfection.

Gilbert is also the Guinness World Record Holder for longest career as a game show announcer for same show, now at 35 years.

Oh and this little side note of this working professional announcer: Johnny Gilbert is 95 years old!!!!!!!

Johnny Gilbert is an amazing voiceover talent.

Here’s some behind the scenes on Johnny’s work.

Tags: announcers, tv by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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