On Saturday, November 16th I began reading Joe and Ann Cipriano’s Living On Air – Adventures In Broadcasting.

It’s now Sunday, November 17 at about 1:00 p.m. eastern time and I have finished reading it.

Some book reviews may rate the quality of the read based on the “star” system or some other measurement.

Here’s my rating: I read the book cover to cover in 24 hours and I’m sorry the story ended.

If you’re scoring at home that’s a five out of five star rating, a “must-read” and two big thumbs up.

If you have ever worked, now work or want to work as a voice-actor – you must read this book.

If you have ever worked, now work or want to work on-air in radio or television – you must read this book.

If you work (or have worked) both in voice-over and in broadcasting…you HAVE to read this book.

We’re not talkin’ “how to” or here’s “how I do voice-over” type book.

It’s the story of one man’s passion for broadcasting combined with how his talent and luck got him to the top of his profession. And maybe even more so how he worked to pay back the universe (and his friends) for their kindnesses to him over the years.

I don’t really know Joe at all having only met him a couple of times when I was in Hollywood at a voice-over conference years ago. He came across as a simple, good guy – which is something I suppose that shouldn’t be taken for granted in La-La land where egos could overflow the Grand Canyon.

I sensed no overflowing ego in this autobiography.

Like the man I spoke with at the voice-over conference, the story was simple and good- a kind of “here’s my life and yes, I fully understand how fortunate I have been combining my work ethic with the talent I have and my passion for this industry.”

A great true story- with anecdotes about many interesting people – told by one of our own about the business we all adore.

I hope you’ll enjoy reading Living On Air as much as I did.

You can (and should) buy the book here.

Tags: commentary, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover advice // 2 Comments »

Is it actually considered taunting if I say nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-naaahhhh on social media? I think not.

I have received my copy of Joe and Ann Cipriano’s book Living On Air. I’m very excited.

It has a wonderful, personalized inscription from Joe that reads: “Dear Bob Souer, You’re my voice-over hero! Please don’t move to Los Angeles. Love Joe”.

If you want YOUR copy of Living On Air, you can buy it here.

Now all I have to do is learn how to read and I’ll be all set.

Where did I put my Hooked On Phonics cassettes?

Tags: advertising, commentary, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover advice // Comments Off on look what I got?

I can’t believe it’s been two weeks.

The whiskers are growing in well and we’ve raised over $2,100 with thanks to those who donated thus far.

If you haven’t donated thus far…please donate. You’re helping raise money to research Men’s Cancers and those living through the challenges of having it.

You can give either to MY MOVEMBER PAGE or THE MO-VO TEAM PAGE. When you donate to one, you donate to all. Any amount will do….even $5. And yes, we would accept $5,000 if you’re so inclined. The point is we don’t judge.

Right now Movember Voice-Over team members include: Jeffrey Kafer, Johnny Heller, Cliff Zellman, Paul Christy, Chris Mezzolesta, J Christopher, Homero Espinosa,Anthony Gettig, Graeme Spicer, Dustin Ebaugh, Matt Simmons, as well as MO SISTAS (yes, women CAN be a apart of the fund raising effort) Nancy German and Fran McClellan

This week Team Mo-VO welcomes new team members and fellow voice-over talents Joey Pepin and Ryan Calafato!

Please give. Thank you!

Tags: movember // Comments Off on movember 2013 – week 2

Thanks to many of you, the Movember Voice-Over team had rasied almost $1,500 in ONE WEEK!!!

But of course, we need to grow more – facial hair and money. So if you’re not yet one of the many, please donate either to MY MOVEMBER PAGE or THE MO-VO TEAM PAGE. When you donate to one, you donate to all. Any amount will do….even $5. And yes, we would accept $5,000 if you’re so inclined. The point is we don’t judge.

But we IS a great team 😉 Right now Movember Voice-Over team members include: Jeffrey Kafer, Johnny Heller, Cliff Zellman, Paul Christy, Chris Mezzolesta, J Christopher, Homero Espinosa,Anthony Gettig, Graeme Spicer, Dustin Ebaugh, Matt Simmons, as well as MO SISTAS (yes, women CAN be a apart of the fund raising effort) Nancy German and Fran McClellan

You can also join our team (solicit donations – that’s a part of being on the team) by signing up on the Movember site (via any one of the links above) and picking our team to join.

The only bad news about these posts is the weekly picture but I just want to prove to you that I am growing the whiskers (my promise for your donation). Yes, I know its supposed to be a moustache, but you must take me at my word that really there is little else in this world as visually disturbing as me in a stache. I’m doing the world a service by growing it this way.

Thanks!

Tags: commentary, movember // 2 Comments »

Today is the day, November 1, 2013. The release date for Living On Air by Joe and Ann Cipriano is today and you can buy the book here.

In the book, Joe details:

* The in-studio wrestling match Joe had with Orson Welles over the Gallo Wine commercial auditions. Orson wanted the line to be “We will sell no wine before it’s time.” Joe wanted the line to be “Taste Great, Less Filling”. Orson won the audition and the wrestling match and Joe still has a bad back from Orson sitting on him (voice-over is a very physical business).

* Joe’s longtime affair with Theda Bara, one of the most popular actresses of the silent film era, and one of cinema’s earliest sex symbols. It was a unique relationship because they never spoke to each other but, rather, had staffers hold up giant cards with comments for the other person to read. Tres romantic!

* How very, very early in his radio career, Joe was in the studio late one night, talking off air on the phone with a listener named Mary who had a very sexy voice. A few hours later, Mary came over to the station and rang the station door bell. Joe looked through the peep hole and saw “Mary” was actually a fella named “Murray”, a 32 year old unshaven midget wearing a sundress and stilettos. Joe never opened the station door that night nor did he even leave the radio station for the next 30 days. To this day, Joe won’t work with any client named Murray. Joe still has nightmares.

So these (not really) and other (real) stories will be featured in the book that I of course haven’t read because da book hasn’t been released yet. Cause it’s today…the day you can get the book.

Joe’s likely forgotten more interesting voice-over stories than any of us could collectively ever tell because of Joe’s amazing broadcasting and voice-over career.

So buy the book.

And don’t tell Cip that you heard about the book here. Tell him Courvo told you about it.

I only met Joe once but I think he had a weapon. He’s a tough cookie. Ask Orson. 😉

Tags: broadcasting, commentary, voice talent, voiceover // 1 Comment »

So funny that a year has come and gone so quickly since my last Movember fundraiser. But November 1 kicks off Movember 2013!

As you may or may not remember, the Movember campaign is a charitable excuse/opportunity for men to not have to shave for a month. We get to cover ourselves in facial hair or as its known by people who have to see me on a regular basis “thank goodness it Movember”.

I need YOUR help with either a donation to my page or (if you’re so inclined) join Team MO-VO (short for Movember Voice-Overs).

You can donate $5.00, $5,000 or anything more or less – I’m appreciative of all of it and it all goes to the campaign.

No Cancer is a good cancer and Lord knows we as individuals don’t do ourselves any health favors by what we ingest via food, smoke and general pollution. Combine that with genetics and Cancer is a painful and expensive reality for all of us. But in the spirit of doing what we can, I and my teammates participate in Movember.

Movember’s focus is on Mens Cancers like Prostate Cancer (in the US, one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime making it the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men after skin cancer. In 2013, over 238,000 new cases of the disease will be diagnosed and almost 30,000 men will die of prostate cancer in the US alone) and Testicular Cancer (the most common cancer in young men between the ages of 15 and 35. It starts as an abnormal growth or tumor that develops in one or both testicles. It is a highly treatable type of cancer with a very good cure rate (about 95%) if found and treated early).

So I hope and pray (Happy All Saints Day) that you and your family are healthy and that you never are touched by Cancer. And I hope you’ll share some of your treasure with this cause. Thanks. Truly…thanks!

Tags: commentary, movember // 4 Comments »