I’ve met and conversed with Mitch Joel two or three times and not for about a year. So when I thought about writing the opening sentence to this blog as “My friend Mitch Joel has a new book coming out…” I stopped.

Mitch Joel is a very nice guy as far as I can tell but he and I aren’t friends; friendly certainly. Were time and place different, I think we could be friends– I don’t know. But today he likely wouldn’t know my name if he saw me nor does he know the names of my children or even that I have children; I’m absolutely cool with that. We all have business contacts like this.

But I wanted to say “friend” because ever since I met him at the very first Podcamp Toronto where we both presented, truly enjoying his great presentation on personal branding there and then subsequently as I watched the spotlight of social media and personal branding grow on him, I’ve quietly felt proud of him, like you would be of a friend. His blog posts and his insights on Twitter (he makes pretty good use of 140 characters) teach me a lot or at least make me think about things, much like a friend would.

I think that it boils down to Mitch’s overarching message that people need to communicate within social media as real people; we want real interaction – authenticity. Not some sales pitch…not the one way conversations that permeates so much of social media. Authenticity is Mitch’s on-line message for himself and its a key point of his new book, Six Pixels of Separation.

Enjoy this wonderful Twist Image video about Mitch’s book (courtesy of CC Chapman, who actually is a personal friend of Mitch Joel’s) and then please reserve your advanced copy of Mitch’s book.

Tags: commentary, facebook, internet, linkedin, podcamptoronto, social media, twitter, video // 4 Comments »

There were a couple of tweets today (and if you don’t know what that means, head straight to social media dungeon) that referenced password security. Most of us have to have a password to get us into easily two dozen sites.

But some folks are kind of lazy about it OR as I have found, some folks just don’t put that much thought in passwords and that, sincerely, is a bad thing

So for whatever its worth, here is an amalgamation of ideas for creating a really good password for your system. Nothing I suppose is foolproof but you should at least make the effort to lock your doors more securely within your online home.

> You have to use more than six (6) characters in your password and many folks say try eight (8). I saw I guy I know once type about four (4) characters in for a password; he and I had a chat about that!

> Use upper AND lowercase within your password

> You know those characters on the keyboard above the numbers? Integrate them into your password. An example might be if you had an “s” in your password, substitute the “$”. Or just include the symbol randomly…whatever works for your memory best

> One rule of thumb that I thought was pretty smart was do not use a word you can find in a dictionary as a password, it’s too easy for bad guys to run their software that rips through basic password options like that stuff much like a hot knife through butter

> Don’t use other easily remembered stuff like license plates, mother’s maiden name or pet names – the sort of password verification Q&A stuff that we’ve all filled out on sites in case we forget our passwords

> Stay on a regular schedule of changing passwords- doesn’t matter if you change the whole thing or only part of it. But do NOT write it down or share it with anyone

> You also shouldn’t save your passsword in any files on your computer (such as an email)

Now, there are many more qualified folks than me to give you insight into all this but these are some of the tricks I’ve learned. I hope they help you stay safe.

Tags: internet, technology // Comments Off on a chastity belt for your computer

You need to watch and listen hard to this video featuring the story of Coach Don Meyer, winner of the 2009 Jimmy V Award at the ESPYS this year.

Tags: commentary, video // Comments Off on “don’t whine, don’t complain and don’t make excuses”

I don’t put out a call or “ask” like this too often but I hope you’ll join me in voting for two nominees into the (United States) National Hall of Fame (Source: Buffalo Broadcasters Association)

Two Buffalo Broadcasters have been nominated to join the National Radio Hall of Fame. Van Miller and Joey Reynolds are two heavyweights in the broadcasting business, however the competition is daunting and they need your votes to be inducted.

Van Miller

Van Miller was Sports Director of WIVB-TV and long time Voice of the Buffalo Bills from 1960-1971 and 1977-2003. Van holds the record for NFL announcers with the same team. (Editors Note: If you ever heard the play-by-play announcer that NFL Films used during the Buffalo Bills four Super Bowl runs, you heard Van Miller as NFL Films usually uses the local radio feed.)

Joey Reynolds

Joey Reynolds is a WKBW Radio alumnus and Top 40 Superstar of the 60’s. He now hosts a national syndicated talk show weeknights.

Check out the National Radio Hall of Fame press release here.

To vote, follow this link.

Thank you!

Tags: commentary // Comments Off on two buffalo broadcasters need your vote for national radio hall of fame

BUFFALO, New York, July 21, 2009 – – One of western New York State’s leading automotive and truck repair and parts companies, Casullo’s Automotive Service, Inc., has secured the voiceover talents of Peter K. O’Connell for their 2009-10 radio and television advertising campaign.

Casullo’s Automotive and Casullo’s Truck and Automotive Accessories have been a leader leader in automotive, truck and snowplow needs for over 19 years. They have been honored as an annual recipient of the AAA Top Shop Award since 2001, in recognition of their Outstanding Performance in Total Customer Satisfaction

A professional voice talent since 1982, Peter K. O’Connell is president of audio’connell Voice-Over Talent, a worldwide, English language-based voice talent organization. The company also operates International Voice Talents, a company featuring professional foreign language male and female voice actors.

audio’connell Voice-Over Talent and International Voice Talents provide voice talent for commercials, animation, corporate narrations, documentaries, broadcast voice imaging, audio books, podcasts and messaging on-hold (MOH). Industries served by the two companies include advertising agencies, media and broadcast production companies as well as both large and small businesses around the world.

Mr. O’Connell also owns Voice Over Workshop, which provides professional voice over training to novice and experienced voice talent world-wide.

audio’connell Voice Over Talent, International Voice Talents and Voice Over Workshop are all a part of O’Connell Communications, LLC.

-30-

â–º NOTES TO EDITORS

Company Name Pronunciation:
au•dio•o’•con•nell (awe-de-oh-oh-kah-nel) or au•di-o’•con•nell (awe-de-oh-kah-nel)

Company Name Spelling:
Use lower case letters- audio’connell or audio’connell Voice Over Talent

Company Web Sites:
http://www.audioconnell.com

http://www.internationalvoicetalents.com

http://www.voworkshop.com

http://www.ocmarketing.net

http://www.occomllc.com

Company Blog:
http://www.voxmarketising.com

Social Media Connections:
Linked In
Facebook
FriendFeed
Twitter
Naymz

Tags: media releases // Comments Off on MEDIA RELEASE – Casullo’s Automotive Campaign Rolls with O’Connell Voice-Over

If you ever wondered why working as a voice talent in Hollywood can be extremely tough, read the blatant negotiation tactic implemented by the producers of “FUTURAMA” below. Through my agents, I have also received a similar notice and no, I won’t be participating. Thanks anyway.

I’ve not seen news reports of the entire voice cast of Futurama burning en masse in an inferno so my guess is the actors are all trying to renegotiate their contracts. Guess those talks aren’t going so well.

Producers obviously feel the voice actors, whose abilities share at least one third of the show’s success with the artists and writers, must be expendable.

Note to FUTURAMA producers: the voice actors you have are not expendable. I might tell producers that they ought to be ashamed of this tactic but they’re in LaLa land, where there is no shame.

I’m not a huge union guy but this is one small example of why they were originally formed.

los angeles craigslist > westside-southbay > gigs > talent gigs
SAG – VOICE OVER AUDITION – FUTURAMA!!! (WLA)
________________________________________
Date: 2009-07-17, 12:51PM PDT
Reply to: jcd@jcdandridge.com [Errors when replying to ads?]
________________________________________

This is an IMMEDIATE NEED for ANIMATED Voice Over Talent. FUTURAMA is now Casting for these Famous Voices:

IF YOU HAVE REPRESENTATION – DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS AD
————————————–
PHILIP J. FRY
TURANGA LEELA
BENDER BENDING RODRIQUEZ
PROFESSOR HUBERT FARNSWORTH
DR. JOHN ZOIDBERG
MOM
ZAPP BRANNIGAN
KIF KROKER
————————————–

ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS ONLY!

-SAG ONLY
-SUBMISSIONS MUST BE FROM UNREPRESENTED SAG ACTORS ONLY (OTHERWISE, SEE YOUR AGENT)
-SUBMIT TO VO_AUDITIONS@JCDANDRIDGE.COM
-MP3 AUDIO ONLY – LESS THAN 5MB
-DUE: NOW!
• Location: WLA
• it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
• Compensation: no pay
PostingID: 1275134631

Tags: commentary // 2 Comments »