September is National Voice Over Month

Not to be too dramatic about it, but it’s about damn time.

Almost every group, organization and/or species has a week or month named in honor of them. Often times it sounds like a joke when you hear some of their names and so too may the impression here now for some, but it’s not.

My friend and fellow Voice Over Talent Dave Courvoisier kinda mentioned the idea in passing when he noticed in his blog about a week or so ago how many voice over activities were taking place in the month of September (more than usual, it seemed).

For example: Amy Snively’s Faffcon is taking place in Portland, Oregon on September 11 & 12th. Joan Baker’s New York City-based “That’s Voiceover” LINK is taking place on September 22nd. These events in addition to the usual voice over seminar suspects like Pat Fraley’s regional seminar in Buffalo, NY on September 25th & 26th mean that the summer slumber has been shaken off.

Then Dave sent me an email Saturday (yes, just this past Saturday) saying this National Voice Over Month idea was gnawing at him and what did I think.

I copied him, Amy Snively and Bob Souer on my answer (because I feel it’s always better to cause trouble in a group); my answer was that Dave’s idea for a National Voice Over Month was the right idea and that we could pull it off in four days…and now we are.

Somewhere in there, Voice Over Xtra!’s John Florian and Voice Talent and Social Media Tour De Force Terry Daniel I believe also got roped into this and I think there are many others who are contributing to this month long event as well. I hope you’ll take time to acknowledge all their efforts when you see them on-line on blogs, podcasts, videos or social media outlets like Twitter or Facebook etc.

Dave grabbed a domain and created a web site, Amy drew up a logo, I helped with some copy and we’re all still actively adding to the program – as a professional voice talent you are sincerely encouraged to participate in whatever manner you feel you want to…maybe comment on blogs, retweet NVOM announcements, or maybe create a Voice Over meetup in your city where all the voice talents get together for a visit.

One of the more interesting things to see was how Dave (the true driving force of this idea) called for a hastily called weekend vote on Saturday from the board of SOVOA to endorse and support September as National Voice Over Month; by Sunday it was passed. Brilliantly executed and kudos to the Board for the response time.

Our goal, I think, is simple and openly self-serving– share with as many people as possible what Voice Over Talents do, who they are and where they can be found. Yes, we are trying to create awareness among potential employers for every voice over professional in this industry but I think we’re also trying build on the credibility we’ve established in the wake of our collective professional works this far.

I’m proud of my very small part in all this because I believe strongly not only in the art and industry of Voice Over but also in the men, women and children who perform within it around the world. We are a talented bunch and it’s not a bad thing that we say that ever so briefly…maybe once a year.

Will you celebrate with us? Let me know how you’ll be a part of National Voice Over Month.

Tags: announcers, blogs, commentary, community, facebook, faffcon, internet, logo design, marketing, National Voice Over Month, social media, social networking, twitter, voice actors, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover advice, voiceover meet-ups by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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Radio Imaging & Promo Master Mark Driscoll

For as long as I’ve known Mark Driscoll’s imaging work (which I think goes back to when he was doing imaging for WLZR in the mid ’80’s) I’ve always thought he was at the top of the radio imaging and promo food chain. For me, his voice quality has been right up there with my voice over hero Ernie Anderson LISTEN

And I’ve never and likely will never come close to sounding like either of them.

But I noticed on Facebook for the first time a link to his blog and if radio imaging is a current or future objective of yours, pay attention to what Mark Driscoll tells you.

Tags: announcers, radio, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover blog by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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He’s performed hundreds of different characters in commercials, cartoons, and video games, but now Wally Wingert has hit the big time as the voice of the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The South Dakota native was recently interviewed on a trip back home.

Tags: announcers, character voices, NBC Television Network, voice actors, voice casting, voice talent, voiceover by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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The Voice of God, Longtime New York Yankees public address announcer Bill Sheppard. Photo Courtesy USA Today - Bill Kostroun, AP

After 99 years on this earth and 50 years as the revered public address announcer for the New York Yankees, Bob Sheppard died July 11, 2010, about 3 months shy of 100 years old.

Wow, what a career her had!

“The Voice of God”, as he was affectionately known, now has a meeting scheduled with his namesake. I’m pretty sure they’re gonna talk baseball at some point.

Tags: announcers, requiescat in pace by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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Sometimes Hollywood actors get crap from non-Hollywood voice actors (of course not me, because I never give anyone crap) about why they were cast as the voices in an animated film.

Well, the voices in the Toy Story series for me have always made me forget who the “big names” were behind the voices. That’s a compliment – that’s how its supposed to be.

And now, watching them exercise their craft in these two videos from Toy Story 3, you may more fully understand why their performances are so amazingly good.

Tags: animation, announcers, film, video, voice actors, voice casting, voice talent, voiceover by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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Social Media VO is the web child of its parents, voice talents Terry Daniel and Dave Courvoisier and their unholy union on the stage of VOICE 2010.

This was a presentation created from scratch, not part of some sales seminar they’ve given over and over. I know because at various parts of the past four months, I’d spoken with both of them and watched their creative process evolve on-line. There was a lot of work put into it and it showed. It was helpful, thoughtful and insightful.

Whether you are a voice talent who needs to enter the social media playing field and feels clueless, a voice talent whose been around social media but could use some pointers or someone not at all in voice over who falls under part of either criteria, this web site would be worth you time and attention.

Tags: announcers, commentary, community, search engine marketing, social media, social networking, voice actors, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover advice by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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