Voice Talent Joe Cipriano

Editor’s Note: Having had the pleasure of meeting and briefly speaking with Joe Cipriano for the first time last week at VOICE 2010, I was very happy (and not at all surprised) to hear he has received this award in recognition of his voice over work and his efforts on behalf of the Don LaFontaine Voiceover Lab within the Actors Center at the SAG Foundation offices. Here’s the official announcement from PromaxBDA and Brief Magazine:

PromaxBDA and Brief Magazine are proud to present the 2nd Annual Don LaFontaine Legacy Award to Joe Cipriano. Created collectively by PromaxBDA and Anita LaFontaine to honor the name, memory and defining legacy of one of the world’s most famous voices, the Don LaFontaine Legacy Award recognizes a voice of impact as determined by a specialized industry committee. Through the criteria filter of character, longevity, talent, professionalism and the passion for giving back, this year’s recipient embodies much of Don’s defining legacy.

Joe Cipriano has worked on the air for the NBC, ABC, FOX and CBS Television and Radio networks, and has been the live announcer at high profile events including the Grammy Awards and the Primetime Emmy Awards. Cipriano has more than 20 years of voice talent experience.

He is the co-founder of the newly launched Don LaFontaine Voice-Over Lab at the SAG Foundation Actors Center. The Lab and all of its programs, dedicated to educating and inspiring young up and coming voice over talent, will be offered free to the public.

Don LaFontaine, whose immediately recognizable voice was featured on more than 5000 promos and trailers over a period of more than 30 years, passed away last year. Cipriano will accept the Award at the 2010 PromaxBDA Promotions and Marketing Awards scheduled for the final night of the three day PromaxBDA Conference.

The Don LaFontaine Legacy Award was introduced for the first time at the 2009 Promax Marketing & Promotion Awards celebration as part of the 54th annual PromaxBDA Conference. The PromaxBDA Awards competition is dedicated to celebrating excellence in marketing, design and creative content in the entertainment industry.

Tags: announcers, CBS Television Network, commentary, commercials, Don LaFontaine, NBC Television Network, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover meet-ups by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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These are my friends, old and new, who were at VOICE 2010 and I’d like you to virtually meet them if you haven’t had the pleasure to meet them personally. Unfortunately, I didn’t get pictures with ALL of my friends there so there are some glaring omissions for which I apologize.

I am grateful for the friendship of each and everyone one of them.

Kara Edwards & Dave DeAndrea at VOICE 2010 Red Carpet Reception

Voice Talents Dave DeAndrea, Peter K. O'Connell and little Doug Turkel

Voice Talents Doug Turkel and Kara Edwards

Voice Talents Peter K. O'Connell, Kurt Kelly and VOICE 2010 co-host Dave Courvoisier

Voice Talents Peter K. O'Connell and Connie Terwilliger

Voice Actors Pat Fraley, Doug Turkel, Connie Terwilliger and Liz deNesnera

American Voice Talent Peter K. O'Connell and Austrialian Voice Talent Matt Cowlrick

Voice Talents Jeffrey Kafer and Peter - what's the deal with my hair - O'Connell

Seattle Voice Talents Jeffrey Kafer and Erica Risberg

Voice Talents Amy Snively and Pam Tierney

Voice Talents Pam Tierney and Peter K. O'Connell

The VO-BB Gang was adorned with the necklaces signifing we voice talents as dolphins swimming among sharks. The sharks were never identified as far as I know.

At VOICE 2010's first general session, the great Pat Fraley brought on special guest Brad Garrett who's comedic voice over abilities are amazing.

Fellow Buffalo Voice Talent Dan Lenard presenting a break-out session at VOICE 2010

Three broken bones in her leg couldn't keep Voice Talent Liz deNesnera from presenting during her Telephony break-out session at VOICE 2010

My friend Doug Turkel and I were given a private tour of the new Don LaFontaine Voiceover Lab at the Screen Actors Guild office in LA Video link of the tour is here: https://blog.audioconnell.com/2010/06/09/audioconnell-in-los-angeles/

Michael Woodley, Administrator of the Don LaFontaine Voice Over Lab

The beloved Souer Boys, Voice Talents Bob Souer and Eric Souer

George Whittam's presentation on technology may have been one of my favorites. He's also the technical designer of the Don LaFontaine Voice Over Lab

Voice Talents Zurek - owner of Voiceover Universe - and Peter K. O'Connell

Voice Talents Meg McClellan and Bobbin Beam. Bobbin served again as Co-Host of VOICE 2010 with Dave Courvoisier.

Stephanie Ciccarelli from Voices.com and Voice Talent and owner of Voice-Overs.com Julie Williams at the Voice-Overs.com reception

audio'connell Voice Over Talent president Peter K. O'Connell presenting at VOICE 2010

Voice Over Xtra!'s John Florian with Voice Talents Peter K. O'Connell, Trish Basyani, Doug Turkel, Bobbin Beam and David Kaplan

Tags: commentary, voice 2010, voice actors, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover meet-ups by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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Voice Over Master Don LaFontaine

Yup, I was at VOICE 2010.

Yup, that was almost a week ago and nope I haven’t published a darn thing on this here blog and that a’coz I had a trade show to attend in San Diego (where I am now) and have been busy and tired and making some money.

I have pictures and stories to tell about VOICE 2010 which will come in due time.

But the story that I want to share with you first is that of my visit to the new Don LaFontaine Voiceover Lab at the Screen Actors Guild Foundation’s Actor’s Center.

It’s scheduled to open on June 25, 2010 and its administrator, Michael Woodley, liked one of my blogs posts about the Lab so much, he invited me for a tour when I went out to VOICE 2010.

Here’s the tour:

Tags: commentary, voice 2010, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover meet-ups by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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The PLAN was that I would take a 6:00 a.m. flight from Buffalo to Chicago then on to San Diego where I had some marketing activities to manage before driving up to Los Angeles for VOICE 2010. So Wednesday morning begins….

4:00 a.m. ET (1:00 a.m. PT) Alarm clock has the temerity to awaken me. I remember to turn it off and stop the second alarm from going off lest it awaken Mrs. Audio’connell. I am a good husband, I think to myself. Mrs. audio’connell merely snores at this observation. Total Travel Time: 00:00 hrs.

4:30 a.m. ET (1:30 a.m. PT) Face washed, teeth brushed, dressed in the bathroom (again, lest I wake she who snores) I done the audio’connell baseball cap and drive off to the airport. I laugh as I think of Liz deNesnera’s reference to it being “O’Dark :30” when she left yesterday morning for LA. The birds don’t mind, they are awake and chirping. Stupid birds. Total Travel Time: 00:30 hrs.

5:00 a.m. ET (2:00 a.m. PT) Car is dropped off at the lot, bag is checked at United, security is a breeze. I go over to the US Airways Club but it’s locked. Oh, they don’t open until 5:15 a.m. My, I AM early; I shall go buy my four newspapers – oops, two of them including the local paper haven’t been delivered yet. The shopkeepers say they are always late…much like their reporting. Total Travel Time: 01:00 hrs.

5:30 a.m. ET (2:30 a.m. PT) Having broke fast at the Club, I saunter over to Gate 12 and ask the gate agent if I might be upgraded to Economy Plus for the BUF to CHI route and she graciously does so…then she promptly boards me…on the plane, I mean…I mean I get on the plane. Oh bother, moving on. Total Travel Time: 01:30 hrs.

6:00 a.m. ET (3:00 a.m. PT) The doors on the United flight. And we are ready for pullback from the gate. Until we don’t. And then the pilot advises a weather delay in CHI – a weather-related all stop. Nothing in, nothing out. Sounds like my flight has the stomach flu. Total Travel Time: 02:00 hrs.

7:00 a.m. ET (4:00 a.m. PT) Weather has gone from heavy thunderstorms in CHI to heavy rain which the pilot advises is a good thing. I reckon that with the time change, I have about 14 hours left to get to the VOICE 2010 Red Carpet reception. I still might make it. Total Travel Time: 03:00 hrs.

8:00 a.m. ET (5:00 a.m. PT) Our pilot, who is starting to sound more depressed than his passengers, says he’s called for the jet way to return so we can stretch out. When the gate lady comes on board she says we ought not to get off the plane (can she overrule a pilot? Nah). She thinks we’ll get clearance in the next five minutes. But I’ve decided a reclined bathroom break would be in order, so I get off the plane. Total Travel Time: 04:00 hrs.

8:05 a.m. ET (5:05 a.m. PT) Finishing my business and head for the bathroom sink I hear gate lady say if to get our collective butts on the plane, it’s leaving. Bathroom occupants scatter like mice on the Titanic, startled but refreshed. Total Travel Time: 04:05 hrs.

8:15 a.m. ET (5: 15 a.m. PT) We pull back from the gate…about 10 feet, and stay there. My thought was gate lady was punishing us for getting off the plane and she would show the pilot who is boss. Total Travel Time: 04:15 hrs.

8:30 a.m. ET (5:30 a.m. PT) The pilot gets on the PA and announces that the plane’s radar is on the fritz. While not yet desperate, he sounds pretty sad. He needs to get the radar looked at and he’s called for the jet way’s return to plane so we can all get off and talk to the gate agent about rebooking options. I am off that plane before the first class passengers because I have been through this drill too often for my own good and am first in line to have my gate lady chat. Total Travel Time: 04:30 hrs.

8:40 a.m. ET (5:40 a.m. PT) My flight options are not great because they mostly involve going through weather burdened Chicago. My original hope (and why I booked United and not US Airways where I have more status) was not to fly east to fly west because that just seems to make the travel day longer. My east west journey is 2 ½ hours old and I haven’t left Buffalo. Maybe I’m not as smart as I hope I am. Looking for lemonade in a world of lemons, I plug in my electronics for some valuable charge time. Total Travel Time: 04:40 hrs.

9:05 a.m. ET (6:05 a.m. PT) Most of the passengers who had gotten off the plane to talk rebooking are back on the plane but no “get your butts on the plane” announcement has been issued so I remain charging away in the boarding area. Because I feel the need (and likely because I was nudged by my Guardian Angel Dad – world traveler that he was) I go to speak to the gate agent and her face looks odd at that moment. I also notice bags are being UNloaded off the plane (big hint). I ask if we’re going to be able to get out, she says it’s not looking good and I say “well then I will just hang out with you and get myself rebooked.” She directs me to a new lady at the counter and we begin the re-booking odyssey. Total Travel Time: 05:05 hrs.

9:25 a.m. ET (6:25 a.m. PT) The plane empties and the line forms – behind me. I resist the urge to smile at my fortune and the clan behind me ain’t jolly. Total Travel Time: 05:25 hrs.

9:30 a.m. ET (6:30 a.m. PT) The main gate agent announces on the PA that all passengers must go down to the baggage carousel and claim their bags then go to the United Ticket counter (outside of security) to rebook their flights. Everybody…except me because I am in the middle of re-booking already. Again, I stifle a smile. Total Travel Time: 05:30 hrs.

9:40 a.m. ET (6:40 a.m. PT) My new gate agent wants to book me on a US Airways flight to PHL and on to LAX….the dreaded “fly east to fly west” debacle that I was trying avoid. Oh well. Anyway she can reach the US Airways ticket counter. I say “why don’t we call the US Airways Club in the airport?” She doesn’t have that number, so I pull up the handy i-phone and call the main US Airways Club number and they give me the local club’s number. Alas they can’t help us. We need to book the flight at the gate agent’s computer then walk to the US Airways ticket counter (outside security) to get the reservation blessed. Total Travel Time: 05:40 hrs.

10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT) After an unnecessarily long wait for my luggage to come off the baggage carousel, I traipse over to the United counter with my gate agent pal, she gives me her paperwork to take over to the US Airways counter, they get that all squared away and I am booked. Total Travel Time: 06:00 hrs.

11:20 a.m. ET (8:20 a.m. PT) Wheels to PHL. Total Travel Time: 07:20 hrs.

12:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. PT) The Philadelphia airport is not known for great food so I do Chik-fil-a cause I haven’t had any protein all day. Cancelled San Diego Rent-a-car and set up car service in LA. Total Travel Time: 08:20 hrs.

2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT) Wheels up from PHL. I should land about 7:20 p.m. ET or more importantly (4:20 PT) Total Travel Time: 09:00 hrs. (Note this way also my approximate arrival time on my original itinerary.) Total Travel Time: 10:00 hrs.

2:15 p.m. ET (11:15 a.m. PT) This plane has free Wi Fi, maybe I’ll post my first blog from the air. Total Travel Time: 10:15 hrs.

4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT) Blog posed to the web FROM THE AIR. Very cool. Total Travel Time: 12:30 hrs.

7:21 p.m. ET (4:21 p.m. PT) Wheels down LAX. Total Travel Time: 15:21 hrs.

Tags: commentary, voice 2010, voice over training, voice talent, voiceover by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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I’m not sure if it’s cause I look old and decrepit or what, but when I go to professional events, people who know of me but who I don’t really know yet (except maybe sort of on line) often say “Hello Mr. O’Connell, my name is Ken and I’ve (read your blog / seen your videos / listened to your demos / got a warrant here for your arrest etc.)”

Mr. O’Connell?

It’s a sign of respect that I’ve offered to people as well and it’s certainly appreciated…but with me, it’s also unnecessary.

I noticed it a bit at the Voice Talent Production mixer and some other professional events…I’m not any type of hot shot but people know of me and that I’ve been doing VO for a while (a long, arduous while) and so they wonder if it’s OK to say hi to me.

It’s more than OK, it’s encouraged! I’m looking forward to meeting YOU!

And I cannot think of anyone at this week’s conference who should be considered unapproachable.

So as we approach VOICE 2010 and you see me in a conference room or in the hall way or on the corner selling pencils, don’t be shy, say hi.

Tags: commentary, internet, social networking, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover advice, voiceover meet-ups by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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Female Voice Talent Susan McCollom

As you may or may not know, VOICE 2010 starts next week in LA.

As you may or may not know, I’ve been asked to take part in a panel hosted by John Florian and featuring Doug Turkel, Trish Basanyi, and David Kaplan.

I’m talking about voice over marketing and the internet and here’s where my new friend Susan McCollom comes in.

Today I received an email from LinkedIn saying “Susan McCollom has indicated you are a Colleague at Voice 2010”. In her message Susan said:

HI Peter,

I just wanted to introduce myself and connect with you (albeit through cyberland) before the big event begins!! I’m looking forward to meeting you and getting to know you and your work through the course of the conference.

– Susan McCollom

And I of course accepted the invitation.

Folks, there can be no simpler example of how easy it is to market yourself on the internet than the professional exchange that Susan and I had.

There can be no better example of how to prepare for a conference and get in touch with people you WANT to me than what Susan did here. Sure, their will be tons of connections after the show…but to do it before shows her excellent ability to plan and prepare for the show. She will be getting the most for her money, I’m guessing.

I’m looking forward to meeting Susan. Who is looking forward to meeting you?

Tags: commentary, linkedin, marketing, social media, 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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