Professional voice talents Peter O'Connell & Kelly Klemolin

Tuesday I was in Packerland, WI, also know as Titletown (most outsiders know it as Green Bay) for a quick in/out meeting. So I pinged that fact and saw a note back on Facebook from female voice talent Kelly Klemolin who I hadn’t met before and who lives only 30 minutes away near Appleton, WI.

We were able to set up a lunch at the Titletown Brewing Co., and I got to hear all about her voice over career and her business. Super nice lady and very talented. Kelly was very generous to share her time and great stories with me.

Kelly then introduced me to Carl Romey who is basically THE voice of Green Bay (pipes so deep, seismologists in Green Bay have to call him occasionally to see if he’s recording or there’s actually an earth quake). His studio was very nearby our lunch place. Great set up and a very kind man indeed.

None of this planned and all of it because of my social media status updates. That’s just one type of opportunity that social media offers business people who know how to use it.

Tags: commentary, facebook, peter o'connell, social networking, 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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[audio:http://audioconnell.com/clientuploads/mp3/voxmarketising_episode104_090315.mp3]
Click here to download the episode!

â–º (0:00) Show Open: (Voxmarketising Episode #104, Show date: March 15,2009)

â–º (1:00) Welcome:

â–º (1:41) Oversight (Stuff You Might Have Missed):
• Mitch Joel – Don’t force your decision about marketing to consumers using social media based on YOUR uses of social media…focus on their usage of social media. common sense adoption of social media into each consumer or each company’s marketing strategy towards consumers
• Facebook has a new home page or should we call it Twitterbook? The Advance Guard’s Facebook White Paper
• In Memoriam: Paul Harvey and Brian James (Facebook link)

â–º (7:14) VMT Interview (On voiceover or marketing or advertising or all of the above):
Seattle, WA based male voice over talent Jeffrey Kafer

â–º (17:12) Brain Spanking (Funny, Weird, Annoying News of the Day But Stuff That Usually Makes You Think):
• How Google Got Its Colorful Logo
• Review– How to Work a Room: Your Essential Guide to Savvy Socializing.

â–º (20:01) Show Close:
Comment Line – +01 716-989-6151
Email – peter at audioconnell dot com
Blog – audioconnell.com/blog (Subscribe)
Twitter – @audioconnell
Add us to your Linked In or Facebook

Tags: audio'connell voice over talent, commentary, peter o'connell, podcast, podcast episodes, radio, social media, social networking, twitter, voice talent, voiceover, voxmarketising podcast by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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Last December, I was elected to the board of directors of Media Communications Association – International (MCA-I). MCA-I members are over 700 media communication professionals around the world who provide the vital connection between the creative methods and technology. This describes me and about 70% of my client base.

I joined the association in August after having spoken about the group with Connie Terwilliger – a friend, a wonderful professional voice talent and herself a past-president of MCA-I.

There are 25 chapters across the country with another 150 members like me who are (as I call it) unchapterized. As far as I know I AM the Buffalo chapter.

That’s right. I serve on an international board of directors of an association to which the only meetings I have attended have been virtual (except now I’ve personally been to a leaders meeting in New Orleans). Why would I do such a thing?

Well yes I am crazy but that has nothing to do with this! 😉

The business of media in which I have been a professional (read: paid) practitioner since 1982 is a virtual business. Certainly in-person meetings take place often but fully 80% – 90% of my customers I’ve never met. If one is going to run a global business like mine (which “sounds” a lot more impressive than it is) you quickly have to come to grips with that business reality.

So belonging to an association in which my interaction is either phone or web-based is not at all problematic. And all the other benefits of belonging to a professional association (save for the in-person meetings) still apply….and that INCLUDES programming, education, cost-saving programs and networking (think Facebook and Linked-In as to one way that might work). And if your city HAS a chapter in it, all the better for you!

As I am also the MCA-I Membership chair, I am not above offering this infomercial for YOU to join MCA-I too…especially since I’ve created a membership recruitment drive now through April 30, 2009 and if you list my name on your on-line membership application as the referring member, I would enjoy the bragging rights! I can’t win any of the prizes as I oversee the promotion.

And very seriously, if you have any questions about membership, please call me at +01 716 572 1800 and I will be glad to speak with you about it – no matter where in the world you are…though remember I am only uni-lingual.

Tags: commentary, internet, marketing, mca-i, media, peter o'connell, technology by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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This morning I awoke to this news, as did you-

FOX NEWS – February 13 — Continental Airlines commuter plane coming in for a landing in Buffalo, N.Y., dove into a house in snowy, foggy weather, killing all 49 people on board and one person on the ground.

The crash of Flight 3407 sparked a fiery explosion. Firefighters worked through the night to douse the flames.

“The whole sky was lit up orange,” said Bob Dworak, who lives less than a mile from the crash site. “There was a big bang, and the house shook.”

It was the first fatal crash of a commercial airliner in the U.S. in 2 ½ years.

Witnesses heard the twin turboprop aircraft sputtering before it went down in light snow and fog around 10:20 p.m. Thursday.

Flames silhouetted the shattered home after Continental Connection Flight 3407 plummeted into it about five miles from Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

Because of the kindness and concern of my friends, I sent out this – very awkward to write – email that you may have seen:

This is one email I never thought I would ever send and if I wasn’t on your mind today I hope you will forgive the intrusion.

Because many of you know I travel lot, I have been getting calls and emails making sure I was OK following the tragic plane crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 in my hometown of Buffalo, NY last night.

I was not on that plane nor was I even traveling yesterday. Thank you for your concern.

As is the case with any tragedy, when the passenger list is announced many lives will be changed forever. So I would like to ask you -whatever your religious persuasion – to say a prayer for the victims of the crash…those on the plane and those left behind.

Today our city is heartbroken.

Best always
– Peter

That last part about the prayers…please.

Tags: commentary, peter o'connell by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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My business resolution in 2009 was/is actually only one word: execute.

Too often in a business day, I’ll get started in six different directions and lucky if I find the finish line on two of those starts. Same thing the next day to the point where (if you follow the math) lots of stuff didn’t get done.

Well on day to day business, that’s going to happen sometimes but this year (he said with vigor and emphasis!) not on projects or important tasks – not related to clients (their stuff always gets done…money first!)

But like every business person, I’m always studying my business’ trends, activity in the industry etc.

While doing that, a thought occurred to me…should I keep my listings on the pay to play (P2P) voice over web sites?

I do not have a paid listing on the pay to play web sites like Voice 123 because I think these sites qualitatively, quantitatively and financially devalue the voiceover profession. I could rant forever on that but will spare you unless you ask in the comments.

I did keep a free page for SEO/SEM considerations. But the thought had occurred to me on more than one occasion: am I hurting my brand through even a free association with such sites?

Further, by being listed even in a free listing, am I offering an implied endorsement of these types of sites?

Today I got my answer.

On the VO-BB, there was yet another debate about the P2P sites. In the thread I brought up my conundrum. A voice talent friend of mine offered this observation:

“The way I see it, if people in the biz that I look up to are on them (and there are a few folks that are… and do gigs from them) then it’s good enough for me.”

I highly doubt that this person was referring to me in the quote but after reading it I did not doubt that one could see my participation on a P2P site as an endorsement. It was time to execute (I love when the signs are crystal clear).

Voice 123 was very helpful in their (possibly third-world based) on-line chat room with the deletion of my account. In fact, in my history of dealings with the company, this may have been their most impressive display of customer service. For that only, I thank them.

Tags: announcers, branding, commentary, marketing, peter o'connell, search engine marketing, voice 123, voice casting, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover advice by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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Whether this becomes an out and out holiday tradition here at audio’connell’s voxmarketising remains to be seen but suffice it to say I’m at it again.

Based on the enormously popular Unofficial Casting Call for the NBC Nightly News announcer, I am today kicking off the Unofficial Casting Call for the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon announcer job.

Some points of difference between the two casting calls:

1. The Nightly News audition was in response to what I (and many others) felt/feel was a poor performance by a certain actor (who otherwise is very talented). For the Fallon casting call, I have no knowledge of the new announcer’s (Steve Higgins) ability (which I’m sure is great) nor should this thingy we’re doing here be seen as an indictment of his talents…I wish him great success. This is just for fun and nobody here will be getting the Fallon show job.

2. NBC Nightly News had a well known theme. Late Night with Jimmy Fallon has a house band, The Roots, but no theme song that I know of yet so I grabbed a Roots song (“Here I Come” all rights reserved etc.) and edited into a strictly demo theme sample. The music should open up some creative voice imaging opportunities for participants.

The directions to participate are simple and straight forward:

A. Download HERE the demo only theme song (complete with cheering audience to get you into the late night feel)

B. Here is a script (again demo only):

From NBC Studios in New York, It’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Tonight Amy Adams (slight pause) Eddie Izzard (slight pause) and musical guest John Legend

With The Roots

Now here’s your host: Jimmy Fallon!

C. Record your version mixed with the demo theme (note: you should have your audition finish at about :30 seconds into the theme as you’ll note I brought the audience cheering up. If you hit it right it will sound like he just walked out after you said his name. Also remember there would be graphics and likely some animation as part of the intro too.

D. Email it to peter at audio’connell dot com. MP3 file only. File name: YOURLASTNAME_Unofficial_Fallon_Audition

E. I’ll allow submissions until it becomes tedious or boring. Only one entry per voice talent, please.

>>> HERE is where you can LISTEN (but NO voting yet) to all the entrants <<<

Here’s my example to give you a general sense of timing but PLEASE do it with whatever pace and vocal performance style you’d like. Mine is just one way, not necessarily the perfect way.

DEMO EXAMPLE
[audio:http://www.audioconnell.com/clientuploads/mp3/Late_Night_Fallon/OConnell_Unofficial_Fallon_Audition.mp3]

How a winner will be chosen:

i. I’ll get between 3-5 people to serve as judges to pick the top 10 entries
ii. From there I will open up the voting. Don’t vote until I open the voting….I’ll delete any voting posts until I write the “voting is open” post
iii. As for prizes, I got bumpkus. Maybe we’ll get an angel gift giver or someone who wants to re-gift some holiday present, we’ll see.

Anyway, have fun and Merry Christmas. Let’s hear your best stuff!

If you just want to listen to the audition “bed” here it is:

Tags: announcers, commentary, fauxdition, NBC Television Network, peter o'connell, silliness, tv, unofficial audition, voice actors, voice casting, voice talent, voiceover by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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