Keith Carson of Top Hat Productions presenting at VOICE 2010

I am ashamed of myself for the length of time it has taken me to properly thank Keith Carson of Top Hat Productions. Were my dear Mother alive she would rip me a new one for taking so long with a proper thank you. That was always a big deal to her and she was/is right.

Here’s the story:

Thursday at VOICE 2010, I pop into Keith Carson’s presentation “Your Voiceover Demo” which not surprisingly was packed. I was sitting on the floor against the wall in the back of the room listening and working on my laptop (busy day).

He’s talking about some good stuff when Keith holds up a CD (which I couldn’t see cause I was in the back on the floor) and says something to the effect of “what a great example of branding this CD has, this is Peter O’Connell’s.”

My head pops up like a gopher in heat cause I have no idea what CD he’s talking about as I hadn’t sent one out in about 5 years. And yet there was one of my CD’s in Keith’s hand as he continues to say how unified and perfect my branding is.

He held on to it…for years!

So with this gracious public compliment I repay him by waiting over a month to say thank you for the kind words. I’m not worthy but I am grateful and I do want to publicly say thank you to Keith for his compliment and his very generous presentation.

Thank you Keith!

Best always,
– Peter

Tags: commentary, voice 2010, voice actors, voice over training, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover advice by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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In my YouTube searches recently, I came across some great videos on radio studios from John Melley because, well, he works in radio and his station just moved into new facilities.

It seems this is a blog you have to sign up for rather than get an RSS feed delivered directly to your reader but its good stuff so check it out.

UPDATE: John HAS now added an RSS button on his blog so you can get it delivered right to your reader. Thanks John.

Tags: blogroll, commentary, voice actors, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover blog by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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With thanks to my friend Ralph Hass for the tip, Andy Boyns has been added to the blog roll.

I believe Andy was at VOICE 2010 and we didn’t get a chance to hang out and I’m sorry for that.

But at least you can read all his cool stuff like I now will.

Tags: blogroll, blogs, social media, voice 2010, voice actors, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover blog by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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I was scrolling through my RSS feeds and noted a post on Voiceover Universe from one John Matthew regarding the door of fame in his studio.

This VU post was originally a post on his blog which until that moment I hadn’t known existed, now I do so now John’s blog is on the blog roll and I am a subscriber.

If you need another reason to subscribe, John describes his blog as “an exploration of the symbiosis between voice acting and everyday life.”

I believe that is the first recorded use of the word symbiosis on any voice over blog anywhere. That alone makes it worth the read.

Tags: blogroll, blogs, commentary, voice actors, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover blog by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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Some will think this stuff and nonsense but I have been stewing about something for while and it has truly been bugging me.

Facebook Fan Pages.

Specifically, should I have one for my voice over marketing?

I have one for the Voice Over Entrance Exam and I have my own personal Facebook page…but do I need a “Fan” page? Sheesh!

Social Media clearly has a narcissistic component to it. Rarely are you asking people on Twitter or Facebook or LinkedIn or on your blog how they are doing – more likely you are telling people who, what, when, where and how you are doing.

There is no ME in team but there sure is ME in Social Media.

Yet most of us play the game and often times enjoy it especially when there is give and take, usually always pleasant.

But I guess it’s the term Fan Page that has bothered me (I think Facebook is trying to get everyone to call it a Like Page but you’re basically asking for fans or for people to vote that they like you.)

That’s awkward to ask and seems kinda desperate in appearance when the Fan Page is about me (the e-book is a “thing” and it helps people – I have no problem with a Fan Page there).

I have joined a ton of fan pages for other people and never gave it a second thought. No, I didn’t think they were desperate at all because of their Fan Page.

But I look at myself differently. It feels like I am being egotistical if I do this Fan Page thing. The old comic line “But enough about me, what do YOU think of me?” comes to mind. Again…awkward is the word that keeps coming to mind for me.

From a business stand point, it could help me communicate with people on Facebook who are interested in my voice over business (the same reason I participate on LinkedIn and Twitter). That’s the big “Pro” in the “Pro/Con” debate that’s been raging in my cranium literally for months.

Well, ultimately that was the deciding factor for me and shamefully, I am announcing I have a Facebook Fan Page now (talk about burying the lead). Peter K. O’Connell – Male Voice Over Talent is what its called (for the SEO lovers out there). In this context, it sounds as ridiculous as “Peter K. O’Connell – Male Model” but, in for a penny, in for a pound.

We’ll have to see how long I can stomach this. I make no promises.

Thanks for listening.

Tags: audio'connell voice over talent, blogs, branding, commentary, facebook, internet, linkedin, marketing, rants, search engine marketing, social media, social networking, twitter, voice over entrance exam, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover advice by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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I’m not sure how I missed it but I’m always late to most parties – voice talent Linda Ristig has a new (to me anyway) blog that I hope you’ll subscribe to.

I enjoyed visiting with Linda at VOICE 2010 and I know I’ll enjoy following her blog.

Tags: blogs, commentary, voice actors, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover blog by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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